Amegakure, the Village Hidden in the Rain, had been absorbed into the Allied Shinobi Forces. Its people were finally free from the devastation of war, no longer suffering under the oppression of conflict. Yet, despite this newfound peace, their lives remained incredibly difficult.
Wedged between three major nations, Amegakure had once been a constant battleground and a crucial transit hub for shinobi from these countries. Despite the underlying tensions, trade had to continue, turning Amegakure into a chaotic but vital center for commerce – a place where survival was a daily struggle.
However, with the cessation of hostilities and the gradual improvement in relations between the three great powers, Amegakure found itself in an increasingly precarious position. Direct trade routes now connected the nations, eliminating the need to pass through the Land of Rain. The roads were poorly maintained, and the relentless downpour made preserving goods nearly impossible. Consequently, the Land of Rain was effectively abandoned.
The lives of its people didn't improve; instead, they grew even harsher. Amidst the persistent rain, a man with striking orange hair, cloaked in a black robe, walked slowly through the desolate streets of Amegakure. He observed the growing poverty and despair etched on the faces around him. Finally, he stopped, tilting his head back to let the rain wash over his face.
"So, this is it," he murmured to himself. "This isn't my timeline anymore. I've come to the future... I've truly arrived in the future!"
Had Naruto and Sasuke been present, they would have instantly recognized him: Nagato Pain, the Deva Path.
"Has fate brought me to the future to show me the error of my ideals?" he wondered aloud.
He had believed that the absence of war would bring improvement. That was the driving force behind his plan to gather all the Tailed Beasts and execute his grand design. But now, it was clear that even without war, the situation hadn't improved; in fact, it had worsened. To enact true change, he would need even greater power.
The power of the Tailed Beasts wasn't merely a tool to threaten the Five Great Nations into maintaining peace within the shinobi world. More importantly, it held the potential to create an entirely new world – a world where the very root of all suffering could be eradicated.
At that moment, Nagato's thoughts underwent a profound shift. The plan to capture the Tailed Beasts would continue, but now with an even fiercer resolve. Their power wasn't just a deterrent; it needed to be mastered, controlled, and ultimately wielded to reshape reality.
Meanwhile, at the Akatsuki hideout, the base stood in ruins, looking as though it had been deserted for years. One by one, the members of the Akatsuki began to materialize. Drawn by an unseen force, the Akatsuki had, for the first time, truly assembled in its entirety.
Orochimaru, Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, Kisame, Kakuzu, Hidan, Konan, Zetsu, and Nagato – all ten members of the Akatsuki were now present.
"When did the base get into such a state?" Orochimaru muttered, his gaze sweeping over the dilapidated surroundings. This was the Orochimaru who had recently defected from Konoha, his ambition for power still burning intensely.
Sasori turned to Orochimaru, his voice sharp. "More importantly, why are you here, Orochimaru? Didn't you leave the Akatsuki?"
Orochimaru was taken aback by Sasori's words. He had only just joined the Akatsuki; when had he ever left? The thought had crossed his mind, but it was not something he had acted upon.
"Wait a minute, weren't all of you supposed to be dead? How are you all alive again?" Kisame, who hailed from the time just before the Fourth Great Shinobi War, was utterly bewildered. Watching the others appear one after another felt like witnessing ghosts.
"Did the leader revive you all?" Kisame asked, shaking his head in disbelief. Even if the leader possessed such power, surely he wouldn't waste it on bringing these people back.
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu was inwardly seized by panic. Having arrived from the timeline of the Fourth Great Shinobi War, he was deeply concerned that the others might uncover his true intentions. But it seemed... they were all completely oblivious. If that was the case, perhaps things weren't so dire after all.
"What are you all talking about? Who's dead?" Deidara interjected, his usual boisterousness bubbling to the surface. "Weren't we just about to start the plan to capture the One-Tail? Why am I suddenly here?"
As the Akatsuki members stood there, each grappling with their own confusion, Pain, the Deva Path, suddenly descended from the sky, his figure framed against the rain-soaked clouds. He looked down at the assembled group and spoke.
"Welcome, everyone, to a new era. It appears that due to some unknown force, we have been brought to the future."
The future? The members' eyes narrowed slightly. Though surprised, they quickly regained their composure. For the Akatsuki, there was little they hadn't already encountered or accepted. Even being thrust into the future wasn't enough to fundamentally shake them.
"Leader, what do you mean? You brought us all to the future?" Sasori inquired.
Nagato offered a faint smile. "I don't know. I don't know what force brought us here. But upon arriving, I realized something even more significant: even without war, tragedy persists."
A momentary silence fell over the group. The Akatsuki had been formed with the very purpose of preventing war. Yet now, Pain was stating that even in its absence, suffering continued. It seemed as if their initial efforts had been in vain.
"Thanks to this mysterious force that has transported us, I was able to witness this reality firsthand. Otherwise, I might never have believed that the absence of war wouldn't necessarily lead to a better world."
"Therefore," Nagato continued, his voice gaining a new weight, "we need to reconsider our approach. Perhaps the true path to peace isn't through mere threats, but through... domination."
Domination. The word sent a ripple of unease through the assembled Akatsuki. Was their leader proposing to rule the entire shinobi world? Could the Akatsuki, even with their formidable strength, truly achieve such a monumental feat? It seemed an impossible ambition.
"Perhaps simply discussing it is not enough. We need power – the power of the Tailed Beasts. They will become the primary force through which the Akatsuki will establish its dominance over the world."
As he spoke, Nagato's gaze, through the Rinnegan eyes of the Deva Path, swept across the group. "There are nine Tailed Beasts, and there are ten members of the Akatsuki. If each of us were to become a Jinchūriki, then dominating the world might not be an impossibility."
"Do you wish to attempt it? To master the power of the Tailed Beasts and rule the world, ushering in an era of true peace through absolute control?"
The members of the Akatsuki exchanged glances, a flicker of something akin to excitement igniting in the eyes of all except Itachi. Even Black Zetsu, regardless of Nagato's specific intentions for the Tailed Beasts, saw an opportunity. If they could indeed capture all of them, it might just pave the way for his own long-term goals in this unforeseen future.
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