Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 201: Target Akatsuki!

"Akatsuki?"

Upon hearing this name, Sasuke immediately recalled Itachi, dressed in his black cloak with red clouds, and the formidable Kisame, who had overpowered both him and Naruto in their previous encounters.

He couldn't understand why Lord Hagoromo was directing his attention towards a mysterious organization composed of S-rank rogue ninjas, especially when it seemed related to the concept of "eternity."

Seeing that Lord Hagoromo had no intention of delving deeper into the topic, Sasuke refrained from asking more questions.

After all, for him now, whether it was the Five Great Nations or the Akatsuki organization, it didn't matter. Regardless of their intentions, as long as Lord Hagoromo gave the order, he would unhesitatingly use his eyes to clear all obstacles from his path.

Sasuke reached up to touch the eyes wrapped in bandages.

He could sense that the time had come.

Just then, Lord Hagoromo said, "The time has come. You can remove the bandages."

Sasuke immediately complied.

Soon, the bandages fell away, revealing his tightly closed eyelids.

Slowly, Sasuke opened his eyes.

In front of Hagoromo Gengetsu appeared a pair of red eyes, still in the shape of a six-pointed star, but now with an added black triangular windmill pattern, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

The second pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, after Madara Uchiha, was officially born.

After a quick examination, Hagoromo Gengetsu gestured, "Go and adapt to them well. It won't be long before your eyes are put to use."

"Yes."

Sasuke, eager to test his new abilities, dashed towards the training ground.

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Meanwhile, Hagoromo Gengetsu stayed in the lab, making preparations for his upcoming plans.

Until Hanare brought the latest information.

"No signs of the Rinnegan in Amegakure?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu took the scroll with cat paw prints from Hanare, opened it, and frowned slightly.

Since he was planning to deal with the Akatsuki, his primary target had to be their leader, Pain.

Neither Uchiha Obito nor Black Zetsu was the main focus.

Only by seizing Pain's Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path could he control the Ten-Tails and the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.

This way, Hagoromo Gengetsu could confidently proceed with his own true plans.

To eliminate Pain, he needed to locate him first.

Because Amegakure was highly isolated, forbidding outsiders from entering, Hagoromo Gengetsu had hired the Ninja Cat Clan to investigate, avoiding any unnecessary disturbances.

Amegakure might guard against infiltrating ninjas, but who would pay attention to the ubiquitous stray cats?

Especially since the Ninja Cats didn't all need to enter; they could simply communicate with the real stray cats using cat language and some fish treats to gather information.

As for the potential findings...

Hagoromo Gengetsu knew that although Amegakure appeared extremely isolated, the villagers knew their rulers, the "God" and the "Angel," who managed village affairs.

The "God" referred to Pain's Six Paths, and the "Angel" was Konan.

If the two were frequently seen in the village, Hagoromo Gengetsu would strike and capture them in one swoop.

But now, the report indicated that they hadn't been seen for some time.

"Out on a mission?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu pondered.

Pain wouldn't always stay in Amegakure.

Whether recruiting Akatsuki members, completing tasks, or capturing tailed beasts, Pain had a history of personal involvement.

Due to Nagato's physical condition, Konan usually accompanied him as a bodyguard.

This was likely the current situation.

Hagoromo Gengetsu asked Hanare, "Has anything significant happened in the ninja world recently?"

Hanare responded without hesitation, "Besides the Uchiha and Konoha incidents, Samui reported that the Fourth Raikage, A, has confined the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki in the Lightning Gorge. Also, according to a source from Kirigakure, their hunter-nin squads have been frequently mobilized, likely pursuing a very important rogue ninja."

Although the village's intelligence wasn't as comprehensive as White Zetsu's, Hagoromo Gengetsu recognized that Kirigakure was likely pursuing the Six-Tails Jinchūriki.

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't overlook this detail and asked for more specifics about Kirigakure's movements.

After a series of questions, Hagoromo Gengetsu tapped his fingers on the table, "Escaping from Kirigakure, crossing the ocean, and reaching the mainland under the pursuit of hunter-nin implies a highly capable rogue ninja."

Being a rogue ninja wasn't easy.

Even a Jonin couldn't withstand a village's pursuit alone.

A rogue ninja who could evade capture until reaching the mainland possessed extraordinary strength.

Such an individual wouldn't be an unknown figure in Kirigakure or the ninja world.

Using the process of elimination, Hagoromo Gengetsu quickly identified the most likely candidate among Kirigakure's notable ninjas.

The Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata.

A Jinchūriki always faced challenges.

Hagoromo Gengetsu recalled that the Six-Tails Jinchūriki had indeed defected from Kirigakure during this period.

If he remembered correctly, his end was the same as other Jinchūrikis, dying after having the tailed beast extracted.

The one responsible was Pain!

Hagoromo Gengetsu's eyes lit up, "In that case, the information aligns."

Simultaneously, the Six-Tails Jinchūriki defected, and Pain went out.

It was likely that Pain had gone to capture the Six-Tails Jinchūriki.

As for the location...

The Tsuchigumo Clan's Mount Katsuragi!

Hagoromo Gengetsu's mind flashed with the image of a young and beautiful face named Hotaru, with her back marred by a particular object that was otherwise enticing.

"It seems we'll meet again."

Hagoromo Gengetsu stood and walked towards his office, instructing Hanare, "Summon Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Izumi, and Uchiha Kei to my office."

"Yes!" Hanare swiftly complied.

Five minutes later.

The three Uchiha, busy familiarizing themselves with their new abilities, arrived at Hagoromo Gengetsu's office.

Handing them three files, Hagoromo Gengetsu said, "Your next targets are these individuals."

Sasuke, Uchiha Izumi, and Uchiha Kei opened their files.

The first thing they noticed was the black cloak with red clouds.

After quickly scanning the rest of the file, the three closed them and looked at Hagoromo Gengetsu, eager and determined, "Yes, Lord Hagoromo!"

Hagoromo Gengetsu waved his hand, "Move out."

With a swift motion, the three vanished.

Left alone in his office, Hagoromo Gengetsu pulled out another file, this one featuring Pain.

"Now, it's time for me to move as well."

With those words, Hagoromo Gengetsu's figure disappeared from the office.