Chapter 212
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Not only Sasori but also Konan turned their puzzled gazes toward Orochimaru, seeking clarification. Even Nagato, concealed in the shadows, seemed to harbor unspoken curiosity, though his expression remained unreadable.
"Come on now!" Orochimaru said, his tone laced with a tinge of impatience. "The Sharingan isn't limited to the basic three-tomoe form. There's a far more powerful evolution!"
Though he was slightly disappointed not to see any shock or awe from Nagato, Orochimaru masked it well. After addressing Sasori's question, he pressed on, his voice brimming with dramatic flair.
"The individual I'm speaking of has awakened a power that exists only in Uchiha legends: the Mangekyō Sharingan. It is a rare and extraordinary evolution of the Sharingan—eyes once wielded by the fabled Madara Uchiha himself."
Orochimaru's lips curved into a sly smile as he continued, "And with these eyes, the individual I'm referring to is said to rival even the 'God of Shinobi,' Hashirama Senju, who brought peace to the warring clan era."
His words hung heavy in the air, stirring a mix of interest and unease among the group.
Orochimaru thought he detected a flicker of emotion in Pain's usually impassive eyes when he mentioned the name "Madara Uchiha." Perhaps it was just surprise, he mused, at the legendary figure's name being brought up in such a context.
However, what the speaker dismissed as insignificant carried deeper weight for the listener.
While Pain maintained his composure, Konan almost faltered, her expression betraying a brief crack in her stoic demeanor. Madara Uchiha—wasn't that the identity of the masked man working with them? And now Orochimaru was claiming that Uchiha Toshiro possessed the same eyes as this supposed "Madara"?
"Mangekyo Sharingan?"
The one to voice the question wasn't Konan, but Sasori, his mechanical voice tinged with genuine curiosity. "Is that an advanced form of the Sharingan? What distinguishes it?"
Sasori's inquiry mirrored Konan's unspoken thoughts, showcasing why he was a valuable addition to their ranks despite his cold demeanor.
Konan had always been cautious of the so-called Uchiha Madara. This new information presented an opportunity to dig deeper into the truth behind the Mangekyo Sharingan and its enigmatic power.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan is a higher form of the three-tomoe Sharingan," Orochimaru explained, his tone laced with intrigue. "Unlike the basic magatama pattern, the Mangekyo has a unique design for each wielder and grants individual abilities, known as Mangekyō techniques. Most notably, it unlocks Susano'o, an overwhelmingly powerful ability capable of turning the tide of any battle."
Orochimaru's vested interest in recruiting Toshiro went beyond the organization's goals. His sharp gaze briefly flicked to Pain, whose statue-like demeanor hadn't changed, though Orochimaru suspected there was more brewing beneath the surface. A faint gleam of ambition flickered in Orochimaru's own eyes.
He wasn't one to let his assets slip away easily, and Toshiro had taken a significant share of his resources and efforts. The idea of leveraging Toshiro within the Akatsuki served multiple purposes for Orochimaru—though his motives were far from transparent.
"Mangekyo Sharingan is no small matter," Orochimaru concluded with a subtle smile. "But with the leader's strength and influence, recruiting Uchiha Toshiro into the organization is well worth attempting."
At that moment, a hoarse male voice broke the silence.
Zetsu, clearly uneasy about Toshiro awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, saw an opportunity in Orochimaru's proposal to recruit him into the organization. Letting Akatsuki deal with Toshiro seemed like a more favorable approach than relying on Obito to eliminate him.
Even if Toshiro's strength was formidable, Pain should be able to suppress him if necessary—or at least exhaust the power of his eyes. In doing so, it might open the door for Obito to manipulate Toshiro, perhaps by offering to restore his vision, and ultimately make him a pawn in the grander scheme.
"Oh? So, you think it's worth a try?"
Pain's piercing eyes locked onto Zetsu, his gaze heavy with authority. After a moment of tense silence, he spoke, his tone as composed as ever.
"I'll consider it."
Deep down, Pain harbored a deep distrust of the so-called Uchiha Madara. This situation presented a perfect opportunity to probe the true extent of the Mangekyo Sharingan's capabilities and unravel potential secrets.
However, Zetsu's eagerness gave him pause.
Could this Uchiha Toshiro be connected to Madara?
The coincidence was too striking to ignore—the man was also a member of the Uchiha clan and had recently awakened the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan. Zetsu's insistence on recruiting him only deepened Pain's suspicion. The situation reeked of conspiracy.
"There's no rush to decide on this matter just yet," Pain finally declared, his voice calm but firm. "The priority now is completing the tasks from Iwagakure"
Recruiting Toshiro into Akatsuki would require careful deliberation. For now, it was more prudent to focus on fulfilling their obligations to Iwagakure.
The support of the organization's benefactor was a priority above all else.
"Zetsu, you are the most suitable person to handle Iwa's request this time. I'll leave this mission to you."
Having already learned the specifics of the task from Konan, Pain was confident that the assignment was a perfect fit for Zetsu's capabilities.
"One part of the mission involves locating a ninja named Roshi, and the other..."
"Roshi?"
The moment the name was mentioned, Zetsu's reaction was immediate, and even Orochimaru couldn't hide his surprise. Both of them were acutely aware of Roshi's significance.
As the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, Roshi was not just any ordinary ninja. Orochimaru, a former high-ranking member of Konoha, was well-informed about the elite forces of Iwa Shinobi. Zetsu, on the other hand, was an expert on the tailed beasts and their hosts—Roshi's identity was no mystery to him.
"That's quite intriguing," Orochimaru murmured, his serpentine eyes narrowing with suspicion.
To him, this mission carried a peculiar air. If Iwa's Roshi—an elite jinchūriki—had truly gone missing, why would they turn to a mercenary group like Akatsuki for help?
"What's the matter?" Konan asked, her tone laced with confusion. Orochimaru's cryptic remark had caught her off guard.
She had been the one to accept the mission from Iwa, and at the time, it had seemed straightforward. But now, Orochimaru's skepticism was enough to make her reconsider. Perhaps there was more to this task than met the eye.
"It's nothing too serious," Orochimaru replied, his voice calm yet tinged with intrigue. "It's just... curious, given the Roshi's identity."
He paused, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Perhaps Iwa assumes Akatsuki is unaware of who Roshi really is. That might explain why they felt confident entrusting this mission to us."
After briefly pondering Iwa's peculiar behavior, Orochimaru set the matter aside. His focus now shifted to Pain; after all, dealing with the enigmatic leader was far more critical than dwelling on unrelated curiosities.
Still, the thought lingered—what might happen if Toshiro and Pain were to clash? Would he have the chance to...
"Zetsu, this mission is yours," Pain's commanding tone broke the silence, dismissing any distractions.
Iwa had entrusted Akatsuki with two missions this time, both seemingly tailored for Zetsu's unique abilities.
"Once you're done, keep a close watch on Uchiha Toshiro's movements," Pain added, his expression unreadable.
"The missions themselves are manageable," Zetsu replied, his voice low and deliberate. "But tracking Uchiha Toshiro is another matter entirely. His movements are elusive."
The irony wasn't lost on him. That Iwa's jinchūriki had gone missing and now entrusted Akatsuki to locate them was, in Zetsu's opinion, almost poetic. It seemed the organization was the perfect choice for such a peculiar request.
Tracking Uchiha Toshiro was no simple task. His unpredictable movements, coupled with his mastery of Hiraishin and flying summons, made him nearly impossible to locate. During Orochimaru's last commission, they had only managed to find him by sheer coincidence. Otherwise, it's likely his trail would have gone entirely cold.
"This matter, along with the mission from Iwa, doesn't require urgency. Take your time," Pain instructed calmly.
"No problem," Zetsu replied, his tone composed.
With that settled, the focus shifted to recruiting suitable ninjas into the organization. But there was no rush—while minor recruits were easy to find, the truly powerful individuals were a rare breed and required patience to secure.
"Nagato, are you seriously considering bringing Uchiha Toshiro into the organization?"
In the Rain Ninja Village, atop a high-rise building whose architecture exuded an inexplicable sense of mystery, the question hung in the air, charged with tension. The dim light reflecting off the rain-soaked walls added to the gravity of the conversation, as if the very structure was weighing in on the decision.
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