Naruto: One Eye Tenseigan

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Shadows of the Akatsuki



"Well, I wasn't expecting this," he said with a faint smile, his tone easygoing but laced with intrigue. His gaze lingered on the purple-haired boy and the blond man. "Ranmaru and Menma, huh? Looks like we've pulled together quite a team."

Karin blinked, her curiosity piqued. This group carried an air of mystery.

Touma leaned forward slightly, his attention shifting to the group. "Let me give you a bit of background," he said, his voice steady as his gaze shifted to each person in turn.

His gaze settled on the short man with the twin swords. "That's Zabuza. You might've heard of him—one of the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure."

Karin froze, her tea untouched. The name was infamous: Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist. His reputation as a cold-blooded killer and his bold rebellion against the Mizukage had created quite a stir. Yet, as Karin took in his appearance—shorter than she had imagined but no less intimidating—the weight of his presence made her shiver.

Noticing her reaction, Zabuza grinned wolfishly. "What's the matter? Not scared, are you?" His voice, low and gravelly, carried a dangerous edge.

Moving on, Touma gestured to the pale figure next to Zabuza. "And this is Haku. Haku is a descendant of the Yuki clan. Kekkei Genkai: Ice Release from Kirigakure."

Karin's eyes widened. The Yuki clan's Kekkei Genkai was Unique. Yet Haku's serene composure reminded her of a regal ice queen, exuding a cold elegance that seemed at odds with the warmth in his smile. "Pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice soft.

Touma then pointed to the purple-haired boy. "This is Ranmaru. A young orphan from Kirigakure. He has a dōjutsu that gives him extrasensory perception, allowing him to remotely see and hear events from vast distances."

Karin's gaze softened as she looked at the small boy, her earlier curiosity turning to wonder.

Finally, Touma turned to the blond man. "And this is Menma, from the Land of Rice Fields, also known as the Land of Sound. Using ninjutsu through his ocarina, he can perform various techniques like releasing genjutsu, erasing another's memories, and enhancing another's chakra."

Karin's head spun with all this new information. She hadn't expected Touma to know so much about these people.

Finally, Touma turned to the blond man, who sat confidently with a faint smirk. "And this is Menma, from the Land of Sound. He uses ninjutsu through his ocarina to produce effects like genjutsu and chakra enhancement."

Menma leaned back, tapping the ocarina at his side. "I also don't mind lending a hand—or a tune—if things get messy."

The room fell into a brief silence, each person sizing up the others. Karin studied the group carefully, piecing together the potential behind such a unique assembly. Zabuza's sharp edge, Haku's grace, Ranmaru's quiet strength, Menma's unpredictability, and Touma's easy confidence created a dynamic that was undeniably formidable.

Breaking the stillness, Touma's expression grew serious, his casual demeanor shifting as he leaned forward slightly. "There's something important you all need to know," he began, his tone commanding attention. "Stay far away from the Akatsuki."

The room fell into a brief silence. The unfamiliar name seemed to hover ominously in the air until Karin broke it. "The Akatsuki?" she asked, her brow furrowed. "Who are they?"

The room fell into a thoughtful silence as Touma began his explanation, his tone measured and precise. He glanced around, ensuring the attention of everyone present before continuing.

"The Akatsuki," Touma began, "is an organization cloaked in shadows, but their impact on the shinobi world is no less real. Their primary objective is the collection of the Bijuu, the tailed beasts, under the guise of world peace. But achieving this goal is far from simple, and their methods reflect a deep understanding of the world's political landscape."

Zabuza leaned back slightly, arms crossed, as he absorbed the information. Despite his usual confidence, he seemed intrigued. Touma, taking note, continued without pause.

"The Akatsuki is powerful enough to destroy one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. They may not have armies, but their members are elite shinobi—each one capable of feats that defy normal limits. Some of them are strong enough to fight a Kage—and win."

"One of the Akatsuki's greatest strengths," Touma said, "is their ability to manipulate the political landscape of the ninja villages. The five great nations—Konoha, Suna, Kiri, Kumo, and Iwa—are seldom allies. Each vies for supremacy, their distrust rooted in decades of bloodshed and betrayal. The Akatsuki exploits this division masterfully."

Karin frowned, leaning forward. "How so?"

"The big villages are often hostile to one another," Touma explained, "always teetering on the edge of war. The Akatsuki fans those flames, ensuring that no true alliances can form. This allows them to operate without a unified opposition. Rather than attacking villages outright, they exploit the chaos, infiltrating and targeting the jinchūriki—the individuals who host the Bijuu—one by one. It's strategic, efficient, and avoids drawing too much attention."

Zabuza gave a small grunt. "So, they're puppeteers playing with the villages' animosity."

"Exactly," Touma confirmed. "Take the smaller nations as an example. Many of them depend on mercenary groups and missing-nin for protection, especially during times of unrest. The Akatsuki offers their services as a tool for warfare, further destabilizing the political balance. They create demand for conflict, profiting and gaining influence, all while pursuing their true objective."

Haku, who had been silent until now, spoke quietly. "But wouldn't the villages realize they're being manipulated?"

"They might suspect," Touma replied, "but suspicion isn't the same as unity. The great nations are too proud to admit their vulnerabilities or work together. Even when they know the Akatsuki is a threat, they prefer to handle the problem individually, fearing betrayal from potential allies."

Karin's eyes narrowed. "And the Akatsuki counts on that."

Touma nodded. "That's their brilliance. By keeping the villages fragmented, they avoid the risk of a united front. They know that an outright attack on any of the major villages would trigger retaliation, potentially uniting the others against them. Instead, they lurk in the shadows, sowing mistrust while silently achieving their goals."

Touma continued, his tone measured. "Every time one village suspects another, the Akatsuki grows stronger in the shadows."

"Divide and conquer," Zabuza muttered, his voice low but sharp. "Smart. Dangerous, but smart."

Haku, who had remained silent until now, inclined his head slightly. "It explains why they've been so effective without drawing the attention of the full might of the Great Shinobi Nations."

Touma nodded. "Exactly. Each village sees the Akatsuki as someone else's problem until it's too late. That's the brilliance of their strategy. By the time they move openly, the world will already be too fractured to resist them."

Karin furrowed her brows, her unease growing as she asked the question lingering in the room. "Then… what's their purpose in collecting the Bijuu? Why go to such lengths?"

Touma's expression darkened. "The Bijuu are not just tools of immense power—they're the keys to a weapon that the Akatsuki believes will reshape the world."

"A weapon?" Haku asked, his voice calm but wary.

"They intend to create an ultimate jutsu—something they call the 'Mugen Tsukuyomi,'" Touma explained. "A global genjutsu, cast using the power of the Bijuu. With it, they can trap every living being in the world into an illusion of their own design. A place without conflict, without war—a so-called 'perfect peace.'"

Karin's eyes widened in shock. "Trap the whole world in genjutsu? That's insane! How do they even plan to pull that off?"

"They believe the combined chakra of all nine Bijuu is the answer," Touma said grimly. "By channeling that power, they'll cast their genjutsu over the moon itself, reflecting it down on the entire world. Once caught in the Mugen Tsukuyomi, everyone will exist in a dream where their desires are fulfilled. A world where no one would have a reason to fight anymore."

For a moment, the room fell silent as the weight of his explanation sank in. Then Zabuza let out a low growl. "A dream world, huh? Sounds more like a prison to me."

Karin nodded vehemently. "That's not peace. It's just running away from reality! People wouldn't be free—they'd just be puppets living in some fake paradise."

"And," Touma added, his voice sharpening, "there will likely come a time when you face Akatsuki members in the future. It's almost inevitable. For that reason, you need to prepare yourselves. You need to know what you're up against."

He straightened, his demeanor now that of a strategist briefing his team. "Let's start with Itachi Uchiha."

Karin's hand froze mid-reach for her cup. "Itachi Uchiha... isn't he the one who...?"

"Yes," Touma confirmed. "He's infamous for the massacre of his own clan. He's a prodigy who mastered the Sharingan and later the Mangekyo Sharingan. His abilities are terrifying: Amaterasu, a black flame that consumes everything it touches; Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu that traps the target in an illusion so real it can break their mind; and Susano'o, an ethereal warrior capable of both incredible offense and defense."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "But Itachi isn't just about raw power. He's a strategy genius, with extraordinary intelligence that lets him anticipate his opponents' moves before they make them."

Karin shuddered. "That sounds… impossible to deal with."

"It nearly is," Touma agreed. "And in the Akatsuki, members don't work alone. They operate in pairs, not only to complete missions or hunt bijuu but also to maintain balance within their ranks. Itachi is usually paired with Kisame Hoshigaki."

Zabuza's eyes narrowed at the mention of the name. "Kisame? From Kirigakure?"

Touma nodded. "The very same. He's a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, like you. Kisame wields Samehada, a sentient sword that absorbs chakra. He's a master of water-based jutsu and can create entire oceans to gain the upper hand in battle. His chakra reserves are so immense that he's earned the nickname 'Tailless Bijuu.'"

Haku tilted his head slightly, his voice soft but thoughtful. "Itachi and Kisame together... It's hard to imagine anyone standing against them."

Zabuza folded his arms, his expression grim. "So, the Demon of the Mist was replaced by that shark, huh? I've heard of Kisame. Ruthless, even by Mist standards."

"They're not invincible," Touma said, though his tone carried a note of caution. "But defeating them would require exceptional skill, teamwork, and a solid understanding of their abilities. And they're not the only ones."

He stood, pacing slowly as he spoke. "Then there's the duo of Deidara and Sasori…"


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