Chapter 143: Please Call Me...

Ever since Uzumaki Jun mentioned last time that there would be a big deal when the war came, Kakuzu had been looking forward to it.

After all, a deal that could be called big by the leader of a country was definitely not something worth just one or two billion. It had to be at least over ten billion to be considered big.

So...

"What are you taking these out for?" Kakuzu frowned as he watched Uzumaki Jun put on the black cloak with red clouds again. He had seen this outfit before, but what was the situation now?

Did he need to dress formally for this business negotiation?

"Ah, we need to hide our identities," Uzumaki Jun said helplessly as he summoned another cloak. "Uzushio can't afford to be too reckless right now."

"Otherwise, the slightest misstep could drag us into the conflicts between the Five Great Shinobi Villages."

This was something Uzumaki Jun had always tried to avoid. After all, Uzushio was still developing. If too many people died because of the war, it would take even longer for Uzushio to grow stronger.

There were still too few people.

"So what identity are we using this time?" Kakuzu asked, frowning. Indeed, hiding their identities was necessary.

After all, his own identity was also something that couldn't be exposed.

He, Kakuzu, was a man who had fought against the First Hokage.

If he were recognized, it would be dangerous.

"Akatsuki," Uzumaki Jun declared righteously. "The mysterious organization we joined last time. An organization fighting for peace in the shinobi world."

"Just from its name, you can tell. 'Akatsuki' means bringing light and hope to the shinobi world."

"The founder of Akatsuki wanted to build a bridge of hope toward world peace through communication between people."

Uzumaki Jun said with a regretful expression, "He just died a bit too early."

"To think there was such a person in the shinobi world!" Kakuzu was shocked and sighed. "I've roamed the shinobi world for decades and never heard of him..."

"What a pity!"

In this era of endless war, there was actually someone who wanted to point out a path of light for this era. What a remarkable person.

Just like Hashirama Senju, another great figure who fought for peace in the shinobi world.

Although he had once assassinated Hashirama Senju, he still greatly admired his ideals of peace. It was just that in the end...

The shinobi world remained unchanged.

"Yes," Uzumaki Jun nodded. "Truly remarkable."

It was just that the founder hadn't been born yet.

The original founder of Akatsuki was Nagato, right? The one who died early.

He wasn't wrong about that.

"But believe in us. We will definitely carve out a path full of hope for this twisted shinobi world." Uzumaki Jun held two pairs of colored contact lenses in his hand as he spoke.

A path of democratic republicanism, a shinobi-style socialist road with unique characteristics. As a transmigrator who had received nine years of compulsory education and grown up under the influence of revolutionary ideals, along with his system...

He still had great hope.

However...

"These eyes of yours!" Kakuzu frowned thoughtfully after seeing Uzumaki Jun put on the contacts. "I think I've seen them somewhere before."

"You probably saw them in ancient records," Uzumaki Jun said, blinking to adjust to the slight discomfort of wearing the contacts. "Because these are the legendary Rinnegan."

This time, he couldn't play the role of Uchiha Shin.

After all, that alias...

Had already been handed over to Konoha.

"..."

Th-this...

Hearing Uzumaki Jun's words, Kakuzu's pupils shrank in disbelief. "The Rinnegan!"

These were the legendary eyes.

"You've seen them?"

"I have," Uzumaki Jun nodded. "I almost inherited those eyes last time."

He had almost been scared to death by Madara.

"By the way, do you want a pair?"

It was safer to disguise everything, from hair to eyes. Since he was now eleven years old and had grown taller, no one should recognize him. After all, few would think that Uchiha Shin was actually an eight-year-old child who was still growing...

"The Rinnegan?" Kakuzu frowned and thought for a moment. He could tell Uzumaki Jun didn't want to discuss the Rinnegan further, so he didn't press the matter and simply said, "Sure."

However...

"Having too many Rinnegan would seem too fake," Uzumaki Jun shook his head. "This time, we're going for a deal, not to make headlines in the shinobi world."

If two pairs of Rinnegan appeared at the same time, the Five Great Shinobi Villages would set aside their hatred and grievances. For their own interests, they would stop the war and unite to figure out what was going on. After all, these eyes were far too intimidating.

"True," Kakuzu nodded. "In that case, anything will do."

Uzumaki Jun thought for a moment and then exchanged for a pair of toad sage mode contacts for Kakuzu. It was just to conceal their real identities, so anything would work.

As for himself...

He needed to intimidate the other party so they wouldn't act recklessly. After all...

There were plenty of shinobi who moonlighted as bandits. To avoid unnecessary trouble, a strong identity was necessary.

Thus...

"From this moment on, please call me..." Uzumaki Jun put on the three-tomoe Rinnegan mask worn by Tobi during the Fourth War and said calmly, "Pain of the Deva Path!"

"The god who brings hope to the shinobi world."

...

Uzushio...

The atmosphere of war was always the most contagious. So when merchants began leaving and Uzushio's police force strengthened security, the civilians of Uzushio knew something was about to happen.

"Shota, do you think something's going to happen recently?" a young man asked his companion. "The mood feels a bit off."

"Yeah, something's not right," Shota frowned. "Many shops in the commercial district have closed. It seems like they've left Uzushio."

"Why would they leave?" Yoma asked in confusion. "Isn't Uzushio a great place?"

Uzushio was the best place he had ever lived. No hunger, no cold, and the shinobi didn't bully them for no reason. You could say there was no better place in the shinobi world than Uzushio.

"I'm not sure either," Shota shook his head. But when he saw someone approaching, he said, "Natsuto's off work. We can ask him."

Last time, when the police force was recruiting, Natsuto was lucky enough to be selected. So in their circle, Natsuto was quite famous. Whenever there were policies or plans in Uzushio they didn't understand, they would ask Natsuto. And Natsuto was a helpful person who never got annoyed by their questions and always patiently explained things to them.

"Natsuto," Yoma also saw him and quickly waved. "Over here."

A short-haired young man, who had been frowning and deep in thought, heard someone call him and snapped out of it. When he saw who it was, he smiled. "Yoma and Shota!"

He ran over to them.

"Natsuto," Yoma was impatient and got straight to the point. "Is something going to happen in Uzushio soon?"

"You..." Natsuto saw Shota also looking at him curiously and hesitated for a moment before saying, "You noticed it too?"

"Yeah!" Yoma nodded quickly. "The mood has been a bit off these past few days. Especially in the commercial district—so many people have left. We..."

"Shut up!" But seeing Natsuto fall silent, Shota quickly stopped Yoma from asking further.

"What?" Yoma was unhappy at being interrupted and snapped.

But Shota ignored him and apologized to Natsuto. "Sorry. If it's confidential, you don't have to tell us. We don't want to get you in trouble."

"Oh, I..." Yoma suddenly realized what was going on and said apologetically, "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's fine," Natsuto shook his head and smiled. "It's not really a secret anyway. You'll find out in a few days."

"And that is..."

"War is about to start again!"