Chapter 68 – Return to the Land of Fields, Recognition from Family

Konan asked Nagato, confused, "Why break off from Obito? Wouldn't it be better to use his strength to complete the plan?"

Nagato shook his head and coughed lightly.

"He's not someone who truly desires peace. I'm certain he has his own agenda."

Konan didn't press the issue.

"Should we remove Kisame, Gakuya, and Uchiha Itachi from the organization then? Weren't they all Obito's recommendations?"

"No need. Obito's identity has been exposed—no one will trust him anymore. We just need to carry on with our plan."

"But with Zetsu gone, we've lost our intelligence network. Konan, I'll leave that part to you now."

"Understood."

...

Gakuya returned to the Land of Rain with Uchiha Hikari at his side. As they landed, they were greeted by the familiar faces of Karin, Uchiha Izumi, and Neji Hyuga.

After saying hello to each of them, Gakuya turned to Neji.

"Getting used to living here?"

"It's fine… it's just that it's always raining."

"No worries, we're about to move to the Land of Fields. The weather there's pretty similar to the Land of Fire." Gakuya grinned. "So, where's that little girlfriend of yours?"

Neji immediately tensed up.

"Brother, you should send her back to Konoha. She's not like me—her parents are still waiting for her."

"Alright, alright, we'll send her back," Gakuya chuckled, summoning a puppet falcon. "You take care of it. Give her a proper goodbye."

Neji sighed, recognizing that teasing tone.

"Got it."

Gakuya then turned to Karin and Izumi.

"You both ready? It's time to leave the Land of Rain."

Yukari nodded. "Everything's packed."

Karin was also there, lugging her suitcase.

Gakuya reached out and ruffled her red hair. "Feeling sad?"

Karin shook her head seriously. "Wherever you are that's home."

It was time for a new base of operations. The Land of Rain had always belonged to Pain, but the Land of Fields—that was truly Gakuya's domain.

Everything there was under his control, and the next phase of his plan would unfold on that soil.

Now that Obito had likely severed ties with Nagato, Gakuya knew he would no longer be welcome in Akatsuki either.

Just as they were preparing to leave aboard the puppet falcon, sheets of white paper began to flutter down from the sky, forming a person—Konan.

"You don't have to leave the Land of Rain," she said. "You were just another one of Obito's victims."

Gakuya yawned. "Doesn't matter if Akatsuki expels me or not. I'm leaving the Land of Rain either way. If there are missions, just contact me."

Konan didn't try to stop him. "Akatsuki welcomes those with real power—not schemers."

Gakuya smirked to himself. Schemers? Compared to me, Obito's plotting is child's play. That fool Uchiha… not even capable of independent thought. If he'd stopped to think for a second, he would've seen through Madara's plan.

Creating a genjutsu world where everyone's dreams come true, where all the people you've killed are reborn in an illusion… what a laughable concept.

"For the peace of the shinobi world, I'm honored to contribute," Gakuya said with mock sincerity.

At that moment, he noticed another puppet falcon flying out of the Land of Rain—this one carrying Tenten.

His eyes immediately shifted to the Sharingan. With a flicker of chakra, he cast a genjutsu to erase all of her recent memories.

The situation in the Land of Rain must not reach Konoha—not yet.

Gakuya still needed Akatsuki's help in tracking down the Tailed Beasts.

Bidding farewell to Konan, he and his companions soared across the skies, heading for the Land of Fields, which lay to the north of the Land of Fire. Their journey would take several days.

...

Once they arrived and settled in, Gakuya got everyone assigned to their new quarters. Soon after, Black Zetsu approached him.

"Obito's been expelled from Akatsuki," Zetsu said. "He wants you to keep tabs on their movements and continue advancing the Eye of the Moon Plan."

"Where is Obito now?"

"He's holed up in the base that Lord Madara left behind. Obito still has his uses… no need to kill him yet."

Gakuya's eyes narrowed. "Dead men are often more useful than the living… but you're right. Now isn't the time. That moment will come."

Black Zetsu grinned. "I look forward to seeing your plan unfold."

Since joining forces with Gakuya, everything about the Moon's Eye Plan had gone frighteningly smoothly. Gakuya's strength and cunning left nothing to be desired.

Zetsu felt closer than ever to saving his mother.

If only Gakuya had been born a hundred years earlier—he could've devoured both the Asura and Indra reincarnations and revived her long ago.

After Zetsu left, Gakuya found Kabuto, who was still buried in his research.

"Gakuya-sama, what are your orders?" Kabuto asked with respectful deference.

"Lure Uchiha Sasuke to our side—use Orochimaru's name to draw him in," Gakuya said plainly.

The previous failure had taught him a lesson: he'd underestimated the power of Asura's chakra. Who would've thought a reincarnation could shrug off the Yachihoko, one of the most potent ocular techniques?

"I understand."

"Keep it quiet," Gakuya added, though he knew Kabuto was already meticulous to a fault. The reminder was probably unnecessary.

He then took Neji on a tour of his research facility. It had gathered talented researchers from across the shinobi world—many of whom had been ignored or stifled by their home villages.

Nations had long neglected science. Most of these researchers had led miserable, unfulfilled lives—until Kabuto gave them purpose.

With another ten years, Gakuya believed he could even create clones. Who knows? Maybe one day he could raise a full Ōtsutsuki army—let those aliens witness the terrifying power of shinobi technology.

"So, what do you think?" Gakuya asked with a proud smile.

"It's incredible… like a completely different world from the outside," Neji said, eyes wide at the glowing monitors and advanced equipment.

"Our first project here is a forbidden technique called Heaven's Resurrection," Gakuya explained. "A jutsu that can bring the dead back to life."

"My ultimate goal is to surpass the Sage of Six Paths… and revive our parents."

That name—Sage of Six Paths—was enough to send a shiver down the spine of any shinobi. To most, he was the pinnacle of power.

Neji hesitated. "Will it be like the war with Konoha? Causing countless deaths? If our parents were here, I don't think they'd want you to do this."

Gakuya didn't flinch. "But this will bring true peace to the shinobi world. Everyone will unite under a single goal. People will finally begin to understand one another."

"Every great goal requires sacrifice."

"Even the First Hokage built peace on the corpses of his enemies. History will remember my achievements."

Gakuya laid out his ambition clearly, hoping to win over the last family member who mattered to him.

Neji was silent for a long moment… then finally nodded with determination.

"I'll always stand by your side, Brother."

Gakuya smiled and tousled his hair.

"Then train hard. We've got a lot of work ahead."

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo