Journey to the Land of Water

There had been no suspense surrounding Hidan joining Akatsuki. After all, quite a few people in Akatsuki were curious about his immortal body, including Yota.

Well, several people in Akatsuki had been hoping Hidan would join. That way, they would not have to worry about being unable to find a test subject in the future.

As for whether Hidan was willing to be experimented on? What a joke. Did they really think the people in Akatsuki needed a test subject’s consent before experimenting on them?

Of course, Hidan was no harmless fellow either. Though he was not exactly bright, his abilities were indeed bizarre and unfathomable.

Yota had even begun considering bringing Hidan under his control. His abilities would be devastatingly effective against the pirates of the One Piece World.

In any case, those matters could wait. He was not at the Rain Ninja Village right now; he was attending a meeting through the Projector Technique.

At the end of the meeting, Obito Uchiha once again brought up his grand plan to collect the Tailed Beasts, hoping they could begin retrieving them immediately.

"I’ve already recovered the Chakra of the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails," Yota said directly. "And since I’ve gathered the vast majority of the organization’s funds, I think I can sit this mission out, right?"

Obito Uchiha had no way to argue against that. Deva Path Pain simply nodded. "Tobi, you should have arrangements in Mist Ninja Village, shouldn’t you? Then the two Jinchuriki there will be yours to handle."

"The Land of Water is isolated overseas and has little contact with the other nations. Even if you acquire those two Tailed Beasts, it should not draw the attention of the other countries."

Obito Uchiha immediately found himself unable to voice his grievances. The Three-Tails’ Jinchuriki was the Fourth Mizukage under his control, one of the greatest trump cards he currently held.

In the original story, Akatsuki’s development had always proceeded according to Obito Uchiha’s plans. Thus, he had not cared about Mist Ninja Village. Because of Rin Nohara, he had even harbored resentment toward it and had carried out a bloody massacre within the village.

But now, although Akatsuki had grown stronger, it was showing faint signs of slipping out of his control. At this point, Mist Ninja Village had become extremely important to him. He truly did not want to kill the Fourth Mizukage, because that would inevitably cause Mist Ninja Village to slip from his control.

"Well… perhaps we should consider this carefully… How about starting with the One-Tail?"

Deva Path Pain cast Obito Uchiha a cold glance. It made his heart pound as he muttered inwardly, Could Nagato Uzumaki really have seen through something?

"Akatsuki has already grown large enough to attract trouble. I do not want to see the Five Great Nations Allied Forces joining together to attack Akatsuki. Do you understand?" Deva Path Pain said coldly.

Obito Uchiha gritted his teeth in fury. Ever since Yota had arrived, nothing had gone right. Now Nagato was speaking to him in that tone, clearly no longer caring in the slightest about his identity as Madara Uchiha. Or rather, he no longer believed he was Madara Uchiha at all.

Still, Obito Uchiha ultimately agreed. "Fine. I will bring back the Three-Tails and Six-Tails!"

At the same time, he began calculating inwardly. I can use Mist Ninja Village to suppress the Bloodline Limit ninja, then take the chance to rescue and recruit some of them, appearing before them as their savior.

That way, although I’ll lose a Mist Ninja Village I can manipulate indirectly, I’ll gain some powerful subordinates. It won’t be a loss…

Obito Uchiha’s plan was admirable, but unfortunately, someone had already set their sights on those Bloodline Limit ninja.

Once the meeting conducted through the Projector Technique ended, Yota made his decision. His next destination would be Mist Ninja Village!

Mist Ninja Village’s three most famous Bloodline Limits were all incredibly valuable. The Kaguya Clan’s Shikotsumyaku could be considered one piece of the Ōtsutsuki clan bloodline puzzle. Ice Release would be astonishingly effective in the One Piece World. Even the Hozuki Clan’s Water Transformation Technique would be stronger in the Pirate World than in the Naruto World. After all, it was a low-tier version of Elementalization, and far fewer people there could wield fire and lightning than in the Naruto World.

"Big brother, are you sending me home?"

A childish girl’s voice interrupted Yota’s thoughts. He raised his head to see three-year-old Hinata Hyuga staring at him with a pair of Byakugan.

Behind her, Neji Hyuga stood like a little attendant. Yota reached out and rubbed the little girl’s head. "What? You don’t want to go home?"

"No, that’s not it." Hinata Hyuga blushed and fidgeted with her fingers. "Will I be able to see you again later?"

Though she was only three years old, children in the Naruto World had always matured early. Hinata Hyuga already knew that contact between ninja from different ninja villages was taboo, which was why she asked.

"Don’t worry." Yota spoke nonchalantly. "You’ll definitely see me again."

Yota did not think Konoha could stop him from coming and going. They might even be happy about it. The integrity of top-tier ninja was not low, but ninja villages had never had much integrity. Groveling before someone they could not defeat was nothing shameful for a ninja village.

"Then let’s make a pinky promise." Hinata Hyuga stared at Yota with her Byakugan, earnestly holding out her little finger.

Yota could not help but laugh as he extended his own little finger and hooked it with Hinata Hyuga’s. A satisfied smile immediately appeared on the little girl’s face, and she scampered away with quick pattering steps.

Naturally, someone would escort Hinata Hyuga home. If necessary, her uncle Hizashi Hyuga could personally escort her.

In any case, Jiraiya should have already handed all the intelligence over to Konoha. Hizashi Hyuga removing the Caged Bird Curse Mark was no longer a secret, yet Konoha and the Hyuga clan had still chosen to turn a blind eye, had they not?

To Yota, Hinata Hyuga’s matter was merely a minor interlude. He had no intention of keeping this three-year-old girl in Sound Ninja Village. The Hyuga clan of Konoha was where she belonged.

Now he was ready to cross the sea and head to the Land of Water. He absolutely had to obtain the Bloodline Limits of the Kaguya Clan and Yuki Clan.

However, two others would be accompanying him on this operation: Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sand.

When those two heard during the Akatsuki meeting that Obito Uchiha was heading to Mist Ninja Village in the Land of Water, they showed nothing on the surface, but both had secretly begun thinking of going there to pick up the leftovers.

Akatsuki naturally operated in pairs. Both of them had something of a scientist’s temperament and were highly skilled in human modification. Being kindred spirits, they naturally formed a team.

Thus, after the meeting ended, the two held another private discussion. Sasori of the Red Sand wanted to collect some Human Puppets, while Orochimaru wanted to collect Bloodline Limits. Once they reached an agreement, they immediately prepared to head for Mist Ninja Village.

Naturally, Orochimaru would not hide such a matter from Yota. Since Yota had already intended to go to Mist Ninja Village, he set out alongside the two of them.