Hiruzen's proposal was unanimously approved on the spot by everyone.
When it came to decisions of this nature, everyone still trusted the old Hokage's judgment.
After all, this was something he excelled at.
The only exception was Danzō, who stubbornly maintained his contrarian stance, refusing to yield even in defeat.
However, everyone was already accustomed to his platypus-like behavior and paid it no mind.
"Since that's settled, I'll go track down the Two-Tails first."
Seeing that the group had reached a consensus, Masashi didn't waste time. He retrieved a clump of Matatabi's chakra from a sealing scroll, then vanished into thin air with the Flying Thunder God.
The big cat he had his sights on was not going to escape.
He had already decided where he was going to keep Matatabi.
With the experience he'd accumulated from his first life, he was now well-versed in the chakra interconnection mechanism.
A bijuu's chakra was incredibly potent in this regard. Holding just a small portion of its chakra was like activating a navigation system.
Once out of the town and without any Flying Thunder God markers, Masashi switched to using the Body Flicker to travel.
Judging by the feedback from Matatabi's chakra, it hadn't yet been captured, which was a great relief to him.
Dodai, who had been granted the Lightning Imprint, was undoubtedly a top-tier ninja in Kumo. This mark was essentially an ID for the elite there. However, he wasn't strong enough to disrupt Masashi's plan to claim Matatabi.
In Masashi's eyes, the only two people capable of challenging him for the Two-Tails were Orochimaru and Nagato.
Nagato had the Gedo Statue. Orochimaru had his cunning intellect.
For now, capturing a bijuu essentially meant sealing it.
It could be sealed into a human body to create a jinchūriki, or into a special container. However, as far as Masashi knew, there were only two such containers, one in Suna and one in Kumo.
The third container was the Gedo Statue.
Theoretically, Masashi only needed to worry about Nagato, but when it came to Orochimaru, he always felt the man could pull off anything.
The Raikage was dead, and the remaining Kumo unit wasn't a concern. Now that official business was concluded, it was time for him to indulge in his personal interests.
Masashi had now mastered the Lightning Release Body Flicker in its original form.
Unlike when he first copied the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he had now overcome the hurdle of releasing chakra throughout his body thanks to his efforts, Sage Techniques, and Uchiha bloodline.
While he couldn't reach the level of the Hyūga clan in this regard, he had indeed crossed the threshold.
As a result, he had truly mastered the Lightning Release Body Flicker.
But to be fair, it wasn't on par with the Fourth Raikage, but it was likely comparable to the Third Raikage before he became Raikage. Masashi had met the Third Raikage in person during his first life—he was among the group that had tried to kill him.
However, killing the Fourth Raikage wasn't about revenge.
He wasn't one to dwell on past grievances, nor was he interested in clichéd "repaying the father's debt" narratives. His motive was purely for Konoha.
If Konoha thrived, there would be less competition. With less competition, the Uchiha clan would prosper, and he could enjoy a more comfortable life.
In the peaceful era that was about to begin, Masashi had already decided to experience life to the fullest.
Traveling like Jiraiya, exploring different cultures and traditions, sounded like an excellent plan. Moreover, since he wasn't searching for some "Child of Prophecy," there was no heavy mission burden to weigh him down.
But he increasingly felt something was off lately. Even though the Uchiha crisis had been resolved, he was busier than before.
He thought it was time to take a break and remind everyone—he didn't hold an official position in the Hokage's office. The one with a formal role was Shisui.
Shisui had joined the advisory council, which was now managed by Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu.
---
The shadows of the trees had blended with the night sky, but finally, Masashi saw that familiar blue glow.
Not only did it have visual effects, but sound effects as well.
It sounded quite lively.
He perked up, fully activating the Lightning Body Flicker, and rushed over.
When Matatabi appeared in his sight, several people were surrounding it.
These people were not attacking but instead focused their gaze on him, who was enveloped in lightning.
He came to a halt and looked at the large blue cat ahead.
"Akatsuki has already withdrawn. What's the meaning of pursuing us?" Nagato asked coldly.
In his view, the outsiders were always after Konan.
He had promised Yahiko to protect her.
Her safety was more important than the grand plans of Akatsuki because it was not only their shared dream but also a sacred promise.
"I'm not here for you," Masashi replied.
He took a step forward and then stopped.
"What do you mean?" Nagato asked.
"I said I'm not here for you. Don't interfere with my work."
From the flow of chakra, it was clear these people were preparing to use ninjutsu.
"You killed the Raikage. Have you considered the consequences?" the lone Kumo ninja present asked.
In his mind, Masashi was here to kill him. The Akatsuki members had already told him as much.
With such a lineup, it wasn't that he doubted the Fourth Raikage's strength—it was just a hopeless situation.
"Has Kumo thought about the consequences of repeating its past actions?" Masashi countered.
While Konoha had initially been prepared to kill the Raikage if negotiations failed, that was one matter; how it was spun diplomatically was another.
In diplomacy, Konoha would firmly accuse the Kumo of attempting to repeat its past transgressions, only to be exposed and countered.
Afterward, Konoha would still extend an olive branch.
For the Kumo, the most unfortunate aspect was that Konoha's far-fetched reasoning would be quite convincing to other villages.
Causing trouble during negotiations was practically a Kumo tradition. Everyone had experienced it firsthand, and Konoha had paid the highest price for it.
"Do you think the outcome will be the same if you try the same trick again?" Masashi said. "But for the sake of peace, Konoha is willing to negotiate with you again. That's why you're still alive."
"You won't kill me?" Dodai was startled. However, as a close confidant of the Raikage and a key figure in the succession process, he quickly grasped Konoha's intentions.
He refrained from voicing any complaints—it would be pointless.
Kumo valued one principle above all: Power is justice.
The strongest person in the village becomes the Raikage. The strong dictate the truth.
Masashi was a strong man. He was not, and thus had no right to protest.
"No, we won't kill you. You may leave," Masashi said, waving dismissively. "Return to your village, but don't rejoin your unit. They participated in Kumo's attempt to endanger the Hokage and are targets for elimination."
Without a word, Dodai turned and left.
There was no point in mentioning the Two-Tails, which was right in front of him. Kumo could simply steal another.
If they couldn't match Konoha, they could steal from other villages.
There were also rogue jinchūriki wandering the world like missing-nin.
But if Kumo ceased to exist, even if there were 100 tailed beasts in the world, they would mean nothing to former Kumo ninjas.
Watching the swift departure of Dodai, Masashi felt a sense of admiration.
The greatest strength of the Kumo ninjas was their pragmatism, adaptability, and flexibility. They weren't stubborn.
At least among the jonin, this was true. Once they recognized the disparity in strength, they adapted.
But the Akatsuki members remained motionless.
Orochimaru smirked faintly, spreading his hands and taking a step back when Masashi looked his way.
Kakuzu said nothing.
Konan kept her face icy.
Masashi shifted his gaze back to Nagato.
"What's wrong? You still want to fight?"
Nagato's expression was the epitome of a poker face.
This level of emotional suppression was something Masashi had only seen on Fugaku's face—when he wasn't practicing his calligraphy.
He poured all his emotions into his brush strokes.
But Nagato's inner turmoil wasn't as calm as Masashi imagined.
He was hesitant.
The Two-Tails was right in front of him, and with the combined strength of their group of four, they could fully suppress it and ensure its sealing into the Gedo Statue, advancing their goal of collecting tailed beasts early.
In Nagato's understanding, the statue was a special container for sealing tailed beasts.
However, one thing he did understand correctly was that sealing a tailed beast into the Gedo Statue required time.
The chakra from the Eight-Tails wasn't enough to fully replenish his depleted reserves. His current state was, essentially, only temporary.
The Preta Path's ability to convert an enemy's chakra into his own stamina was the only thing sustaining him. But the Rinnegan itself was extremely chakra-intensive, forcing him to constantly expend stamina to maintain its power.
Though Nagato was unaware, his Uzumaki and Senju bloodlines granted him extraordinary stamina. Without these, Madara wouldn't have chosen him as the vessel for the Rinnegan.
But one thing he did know: using the Gedo Statue's sealing technique would instantly drain him, undoing his temporary boost.
After testing Masashi's strength earlier, he had a rough estimate of his capabilities.
The Gedo Statue's power hadn't been able to kill Hanzo back then, so it certainly couldn't defeat Masashi now. Masashi's mastery of the Flying Thunder God was enough to ensure he remained invincible.
If Nagato reverted to his weakened state, his power would undoubtedly decline. While he could still protect himself, Konan might not make it back to Amegakure safely.
Still, he decided to give it a try.
"This is the payment we received from Kumo."
"That's the funniest excuse I've heard all year." Masashi shook his head. "That cat is mine."
"That's too domineering!"
Masashi's tone turned colder as he stared at Nagato. "Why so much nonsense? I don't care about Akatsuki's affairs, but please don't provoke me."
"Or what?"
"It's simple. I'll go to Ame and wipe out all your subordinates. Let's see how much you can accomplish without anyone under you."
Nagato clenched his fists tightly.
Even a god couldn't operate an organization alone, and he knew full well that he wasn't a god.
Masashi's gaze remained indifferent.
With Obito, he could understand him to some extent. But with Nagato, he had no such patience.
Understanding Obito wasn't just about knowing one's enemy; it also stemmed from their childhood bond. Part of him still wanted to drag Obito home for a plate of strawberry daifuku.
But Nagato...
A person who treated someone else's dream as their own and worked tirelessly for it—a perfect tool, utterly misguided and deluded.
He wasn't even half the man Obito was.
Yes, Obito had been thoroughly manipulated, but his mind wasn't clouded. He knew what he wanted and what others were trying to impose on him.
"Don't let him threaten you, Nagato," Konan suddenly interjected.
"You're partly to blame for the mess he's in now."
Masashi didn't like this woman.
Her final stand to protect Nagato's body had been beautiful, but her current state was utterly pathetic.
A love triangle turned into this level of disaster—it was ridiculous.
Ignoring the pair, he turned his attention back to the Two-Tails.
It was now fully awake.
"When did you place me under genjutsu?" it asked.
"When I broke the seal, I preset it," Masashi admitted. "But I mean you no harm, and you should be able to sense that."
The Uchiha's genjutsu, a pure application of Yin Release, was particularly effective on tailed beasts. They could clearly discern whether the caster harbored malice toward them.
"Compared to other humans, that seems to be true," Matatabi replied cautiously, eyeing the humans surrounding it. "But Yugito is already dead. I don't want to be sealed again. Your conflicts have nothing to do with me. I'm leaving."
"Matatabi, you can't survive like this," Masashi said, shaking his head. "The world has no place left for you to roam freely. It's harsh, but it's reality. The world has grown smaller, but you tailed beasts haven't changed."
He gestured toward the Akatsuki members.
"See? The moment you regain your freedom, people like them will come after you."
"Empty words! I'd rather fight than be sealed again," Matatabi growled.
"I told you, I want you to be my companion, not to seal you," Masashi replied. "The Uchiha clan's lands could be your sanctuary. Matatabi, it's time to adjust your perspective. The world changes, but bonds don't. You all remember Hagoromo, don't you? His belief in mutual understanding as true power was his final wish for harmony between you and humanity."
Matatabi froze, its restless energy suddenly still.
Of course, the nine tailed beasts remembered that old man.
For them, he was one of the few warm memories of humanity—a memory so ancient it was almost forgotten, including the fact that Hagoromo himself had been human.
But the words he spoke to them in his final moments were etched into their hearts.
How did this Uchiha know so much? No one else had been there back then.
"But you just want to make me your weapon, don't you? That's what you always do to us," Matatabi said.
"Well…" Masashi scratched his head, carefully choosing his words. "I think my understanding of 'companion' might be different from yours."
Tailed beasts naturally distrusted humans. If he phrased things poorly, his plan to recruit Matatabi would fail.
It was only because Matatabi could sense his goodwill through the genjutsu that it was still willing to listen. Otherwise, it would've already lashed out, as it had with A.
Even Nagato and his group were curious now, watching Masashi intently.
"What do you mean by 'companion'?" Matatabi asked.
It believed that Masashi truly didn't want to seal it—but he definitely wanted to ride it.
Matatabi simply wanted to live freely.
Yet, as Masashi had said, the world no longer allowed tailed beasts to roam as they pleased. If his idea wasn't too unreasonable, perhaps it could consider it.
"Well, basically if someone comes after me, you help me fight them, and if I want to go after someone, you help me then too," Masashi decided to be honest, believing that sincerity was important when asking someone to be partners. "Of course, the same goes for you—if someone targets you or if you want to take someone on, I'll back you up."
Matatabi tilted its massive head, clearly confused by this explanation.
Nearby, Nagato's group was equally exasperated.
"Why don't you just say you're looking for a fighting partner?" Konan said.
Everyone else nodded in agreement, even Orochimaru.
Masashi ignored them, his gaze fixed on Matatabi with hopeful anticipation.