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Mastermind of the Akatsuki 332
🕑 Added 2025-02-22 07:00:03 +0000 UTCChapter 332: Zabuza Momochi
Half an hour later, Byakuya and Jūzō left the construction site together.
After hearing about Byakuya’s exploits from Nagato, Jūzō couldn’t hide his shock as he glanced at the seemingly harmless young man beside him. This youth was not only one of the most fearsome individuals in Amegakure but possibly in the entire shinobi world.
Eight or nine years ago, during the Akatsuki’s confrontation with Hanzō of the Salamander and Danzo, it was Byakuya who stepped forward and defeated Hanzō.
In other words, Byakuya had already reached the pinnacle of the shinobi world nearly a decade ago. As for his current strength, even Nagato wasn’t sure of its limits.
Additionally, according to Nagato, the recent change in leadership in Sunagakure was also connected to Byakuya.
Before Byakuya arrived, the Fourth Kazekage had been the supreme leader of Sunagakure. Now, however, the Fourth Kazekage was a fugitive, wanted by his own village.
If Byakuya truly had such capabilities, then this trip to Kirigakure...
Jūzō didn’t dare to continue that line of thought. Swallowing nervously, he silently followed Byakuya, unable to imagine what awaited Kirigakure in the near future.
Even though he was an exile, Jūzō had spent many years in Kirigakure and still held some feelings for the village.
Noticing Jūzō’s thoughts, Byakuya turned his head, smiling as he said, “Jūzō, since we have time, why don’t you tell me about the structure of Kirigakure’s jōnin and its power dynamics?”
Jūzō’s body stiffened, and he hesitated before asking, “Byakuya-sama, are you really planning to take action against Kirigakure and the Fourth Mizukage, as Nagato-sama suggested?”
Byakuya glanced at Jūzō and replied, “Why is everyone so convinced I’m targeting Kirigakure?”
Jūzō didn’t hold back and explained, “Nagato-sama mentioned some details about you. Since you’ve previously made moves against Sunagakure, it’s likely you have similar plans for Kirigakure this time. Besides, a powerful shinobi like you wouldn’t leave your base without a significant reason.”
“Nagato sure trusts you a lot, sharing such intel…”
With a soft snort, Byakuya fixed his gaze on Jūzō. “Yes, I’m planning to make a move on Kirigakure. But you’re an exile now, a part of Amegakure. What does Kirigakure have to do with you anymore?”
Jūzō fell silent. He had never been good with words.
Seeing this, Byakuya knew he needed to work on Jūzō’s mindset. Though Jūzō had once been overwhelmed by Might Guy’s Eight Gates, he was still one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a key figure in Kirigakure.
Smiling faintly, Byakuya asked, “Jūzō, you’ve spent quite a bit of time under Nagato’s command. What do you think of the Akatsuki?”
After a moment of contemplation, Jūzō replied, “The Akatsuki is the best organization I’ve ever encountered. No other group has made ninjutsu accessible and shared it with the common people like this.”
Hearing this, Byakuya followed up, “And what about Kirigakure? How does it compare to the Akatsuki?”
Jūzō answered without hesitation, “Kirigakure is far inferior to the Akatsuki.”
Though he had grown up in Kirigakure, Jūzō’s attachment was to the people and memories of the past—those moments of camaraderie when comrades went easy on each other during the harsh exams—not to the village itself.
To put it bluntly, Kirigakure was the worst place in the entire shinobi world.
During his time as an exile, Jūzō had traveled to many places and encountered various shinobi organizations. Some were mild, others harsh, but none were as extreme as Kirigakure.
He could never forget the feeling of killing an opponent during his graduation exam, nor could he forget the pain of executing his own subordinates.
Every rule in Kirigakure was devoid of humanity, steeped in cruelty and bloodshed. Compared to that, the Akatsuki was practically a paradise. This was the reason he had chosen to join Amegakure.
Recovering from his grim memories, Jūzō turned to Byakuya with a serious expression and asked, “Byakuya-sama, are you going to Kirigakure this time to save the village?”
Staring at Jūzō, who had undergone such a dramatic shift in attitude within a short time, Byakuya froze for a moment.
In a world rife with chaos and brutality, the Akatsuki organization, despite its flaws, was a paradise compared to Kirigakure. Fueled by Yahiko and Nagato’s charismatic persuasion, Jūzō’s devotion to the Akatsuki was, in hindsight, entirely understandable.
Faced with Jūzō’s fervent enthusiasm, Byakuya shook his head slightly and replied, “I’m not going to Kirigakure to save it. Only the ninjas of Kirigakure can save their village. I can provide assistance, but I won’t take action on my own initiative. If you have any good ideas, feel free to share them.”
Hearing this, Jūzō’s expression dimmed. This approach was very much in line with the Akatsuki’s principles.
If the Akatsuki were truly heading to Kirigakure to conquer and wreak havoc, Jūzō wasn’t sure which side he would end up on.
However, even with Byakuya leaving the choice in his hands, Jūzō found himself powerless to come up with a way to save the village.
Several years ago, when the Fourth Mizukage had issued the order to exterminate the bloodline clans, Jūzō had merely stood by and watched as the chaos unfolded. In the end, he chose not to intervene, quietly leaving the Land of Water.
Now, with no viable plans and no real desire to return to Kirigakure, Jūzō found himself unsure of his place.
Seeing the troubled look on Jūzō’s face, Byakuya didn’t press further. Internally, however, he decided that Jūzō was not a viable candidate to replace the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
---
After half a month of travel, filled with stops and delays, Byakuya and Jūzō finally reached the eastern coastline of the Land of Fire. All that remained was to board a ship to reach the Land of Water.
During these two weeks, they had scoured the black markets for intelligence on the Land of Water.
Following years of relentless purges, the bloodline clans within the Land of Water had been almost completely annihilated. Countless Kirigakure shinobi had been implicated, many becoming rogue ninjas scattered across different nations.
Along the way, Byakuya and Jūzō encountered several Kirigakure defectors. However, none of them had the resolve or spirit Byakuya sought, and he dismissed them all as unworthy of becoming pawns in his plans.
At their final stop—a black market in the eastern Land of Fire—Byakuya’s eyes caught a familiar name on a bounty poster. His lips curled into a smile as he silently finalized his choice.
{Zabuza Momochi, S-rank rogue ninja from Kirigakure. Specialist in silent killing techniques. Wanted for attempting to assassinate the Mizukage.}
Standing beside Byakuya, Jūzō also noticed the bounty. His expression shifted subtly upon reading Zabuza Momochi’s crime, and a look of quiet satisfaction appeared on his face.
After all these years under the reign of the Fourth Mizukage, someone had finally dared to make an attempt on his life.
It was something Jūzō had long dreamed of doing—but never dared to attempt.
