In the end, Kaito couldn't escape the loving discipline of his great-grandmother. Though his current physique meant the beatings didn't hurt much, to prevent further escalation, he made sure to dramatically fly back with every kick, howling like a slaughtered pig.

His acting...

He was certain it surpassed even the golden disciples of those Tai Chi masters from his past life.

His exaggerated cries of pain eventually made Hikari question whether she'd gone too hard. By the end, she was practically giving him a massage instead.

By noon, the two returned to Amegakure.

Runtu didn't join them—it stayed home to wash off the paint.

And maybe give itself a full-body respray...

With the dog under his great-grandmother's protection, Kaito had no choice but to let it be.

"Hey..."

"Why are you in such a hurry to bring me back to Amegakure?"

Kaito trailed behind Hikari, looking genuinely puzzled.

Hikari glanced back at him and answered calmly,

"To see Konan."

She actually felt a little guilty about Konan.Not a single villager they encountered along the way appeared to be in good spirits. Each face bore heavy dark circles, slightly sunken cheeks, and a sickly pale complexion.

It was hard to imagine the extent of the psychological trauma endured by villagers who had long been deprived of proper rest...

Had they not allowed that boy to run off to the Akatsuki Organization back then, perhaps the people of Amegakure would still be living normal lives.

Especially the leader of the Akatsuki Organization...

Under Kaito's influence, his condition seemed even worse than the man himself.

If you asked her...

That boy might as well have stayed in Konoha back then.

At least tormenting familiar villagers would have been somewhat bearable.

"Hmm..." Kaito pondered her words for a few seconds before nodding in agreement. "Alright, I actually have some business with her anyway."

Hikari paused mid-step, turning to look at him with undisguised alarm in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Kaito asked in confusion, but the only response he got was Hikari quickly putting distance between them, as if his every move might ruin the hard-earned reputation she'd built over the years.

"I just want to build a school in Amegakure!"

This time Kaito noticed his great-grandmother's disdain and hurried to defend himself.

As an ancient relic from the Warring States period who had seamlessly adapted to modern times, Hikari naturally knew about schools.

Moreover, such institutions only existed in major villages.

Despite housing the Akatsuki Organization, Amegakure's overall strength...

Was undeniably inferior to Kaito's original village of Konoha.

Hikari was surprised, as she considered educating children to be a noble endeavor. She quickly closed the distance again, though still somewhat suspicious.

Mainly because...

She worried this boy might completely corrupt the village's children.

"You're not planning to teach personally, are you?"

This question was important to Hikari, but even more crucial for Amegakure.

Because whether the village would become an asylum in the future depended entirely on one man's whims.

"Of course not!"

Kaito blurted out before continuing, "I'm far too busy! I'll just distribute teaching materials and hire instructors!"

Hearing this, Hikari exhaled deeply, the weight lifting from her shoulders.

At least she wouldn't have to face Konan with an entire village of madmen.

Meanwhile...

In the Akatsuki Organization's conference room, its leadership was holding an exceptionally important meeting.

Pain, Konan, and Obito sat on sofas, each wearing different expressions. The long hiatus between meetings had made them strangely unfamiliar with each other.

For a moment, no one knew how to begin.

Konan looked exhausted, her heavy dark circles barely concealed beneath thick layers of makeup.

Though Pain's face remained expressionless, his movements were stiff and halting, making Obito beside him visibly uncomfortable.

Originally, Akatsuki leadership meetings were held regularly.

They discussed intelligence gathering about the Tailed Beasts, personnel and funding preparations, all to ensure their peace plan could proceed smoothly.

But...

Since one particular night five years ago, they hadn't convened a single meeting.

Obito had rarely visited Amegakure in recent years. It wasn't the village's ghostly reputation that kept him away—he simply never found Nagato there anymore.Not even the puppets controlled by this guy could be seen.

Whenever Obito asked Konan when the Akatsuki Organization's plans could be executed, she would either say they lacked funds or manpower. And if he asked where Nagato had gone...

Konan would frown, lower her head, fall into silence, and then proceed to give him the cold shoulder.

After experiencing the Three-Tails' sudden death and the ghostly incidents in Amegakure, followed by the Akatsuki Organization's stagnation—five years passing without a single plan being advanced—Obito's patience had completely shattered.

"How are the preparations for the plan going?"

Obito's voice, brimming with resentment, seeped out from beneath his mask. Konan turned her head toward Pain's direction, pursed her lips, and remained silent—once again giving Obito the cold treatment.

As for Pain, his reaction to Obito's words was delayed by half a beat.

Nagato had indeed gone into seclusion, but compared to Kaito—who could enter a cultivation state with a single blink and emerge five years later—his situation was vastly different.

He had forcibly confined himself to a dark room, vowing not to step out until he mastered the Sage Arts.

The result?

He spent two and a half years studying the techniques in the basement, followed by another year exploring the meridians and Spiritual Energy pathways within his body.

After numerous attempts, he finally succeeded in reaching what Kaito had once referred to as the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

Though he had forgotten about creating the Six Paths of Pain puppets during these years, mastering the techniques had restored his health to the point where he no longer needed to rely on puppets.

Now, he alone could wield the combined combat power of all Six Paths of Pain.

Perhaps even greater.

But honestly...

Had the masked man not brought up the Tailed Beasts collection plan, he might have forgotten about it entirely.

Not that it mattered much.

After all...

Why would a god need external objects to intimidate the world?

At the scene, Pain was lost in thought, Konan remained silent—both were subjecting Obito to emotional neglect. The already simmering rage in Obito's heart threatened to boil over.

"Why won't you speak?"

"Do you even realize..."

"That five years ago was the perfect time to strike?"

Obito was filled with bitter regret.

Though the Three-Tails had been killed by Konoha's summoning beasts back then, the battles in Amegakure had left the other villages weakened.

Had they acted then, capturing at least half of the remaining Jinchuriki wouldn't have been difficult.

The opportunity had been fleeting.

And yet?

The Akatsuki leader vanished, the second-in-command refused to communicate, and when she did speak, it was only to demand money or manpower...

Watching those weakened villages grow stronger day by day, Obito was consumed by regret.

Five years ago—that moment had been the first time he felt his ideals were within reach.

Finally, Pain showed a reaction. He tilted his head slightly, his brows slowly furrowing as he looked at Obito.

"Mortal, mind your tone when speaking to a god."

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