Chapitre 274: Chapter 274: Believe It or Not, I Do
As Konan pondered why Kakuzu hadn't reported the masked man's true identity to Nagato after the incident in the Land of Water, she realized there were only two possibilities.
The first was that Kakuzu had been won over by the masked man, so he chose to conceal this information.
The second, and perhaps more likely possibility, was that Kakuzu was helping Uchiha Akira keep the secret. After all, Akira didn't seem to want to broadcast the identity of the masked man to the world.
Given the circumstances, Konan felt it was more probable that Kakuzu was acting on Akira's behalf to hide this information.
Why? Because, in essence, the Akatsuki had already become the masked man's organization. He didn't need to risk alienating Nagato by secretly recruiting Akatsuki members.
So, why would Kakuzu help Akira hide this secret?
Konan believed the most likely explanation was that Kakuzu had fallen under the influence of Kotoamatsukami.
Also, knowing Akira's character—being somewhat of a miser—Kakuzu, with his remarkable talent for making money, would have been the perfect informant for Akira. If Akira needed a spy, who better than Kakuzu?
"Enough. There's no need to tell me any more lies," Nagato said, cutting through Konan's silence as she wrestled with her thoughts.
"No, Nagato, everything I'm saying is true. I saw it with my own eyes. I'm not lying to you. Kakuzu has been compromised—he must have been caught in Uchiha Akira's Kotoamatsukami!" Konan insisted.
"Have you considered that what you saw may only be what Uchiha Akira wanted you to see?" Nagato replied coolly.
"The Sharingan's genjutsu isn't limited to Kotoamatsukami. What if you've been caught in another illusion? What if your actions right now are exactly what Akira intends? Perhaps he's trying to sow distrust between us, aiming to destabilize the Akatsuki from within."
Nagato's gaze bore into Konan's, his voice growing more intense. "If I were Uchiha Akira, I'd use Kotoamatsukami on someone like Itachi, or maybe even you, instead of Kakuzu."
Konan furrowed her brow, frustrated. It felt like communicating with Nagato had become impossibly difficult.
When someone stops trusting you, every word you say becomes suspect. How can you communicate meaningfully when everything is met with doubt?
"Fine, Nagato…" Konan said after a long, silent pause, her expression heavy with disappointment. "Let me just tell you the information I've gathered."
"First off, the masked man is not Uchiha Madara. He's from the Uchiha clan, but he was just a boy, about 18 years old, when the Uchiha massacre happened. If you're interested, you can investigate his identity from that angle."
"Second, Kakuzu is almost certainly under Akira's Kotoamatsukami, so pay close attention to his actions."
"Third, your Rinnegan isn't something you were born with as an Uzumaki. No one from the Uzumaki clan has ever naturally awakened the Rinnegan. It was transplanted into you by Uchiha Madara before he died, with the intent that you would one day use the Rinne Tensei technique to resurrect him."
"Your life, and the existence of the Akatsuki, have both been manipulated by others from the shadows."
"And finally, there's a greater power behind the scenes—one that even manipulated Madara. The waters surrounding the Akatsuki are much deeper than you realize, Nagato. I've come here today to warn you."
"Whether you believe me or not, that's entirely up to you," Konan said, laying out all the key information she had gathered.
Nagato listened in silence, giving no clear indication of whether or not he believed her.
Konan sighed inwardly. She knew Nagato wouldn't believe her so easily.
Was this how things had come to be between them? Did Nagato really no longer trust her?
"So, is that why you're here today? Or is it why Uchiha Akira sent you? He wants to plant doubt in my mind about the Akatsuki, doesn't he?" Nagato finally spoke, his face making it clear that he didn't trust her at all.
Konan could see the disbelief written plainly on his face. There was no point in continuing to argue.
"I've told you everything I know about the Akatsuki, but I also came here to talk about the Eye of the Moon Plan," Konan said, not bothering to wait for Nagato's response.
She knew he didn't trust her anymore, so she continued speaking, whether he was listening or not.
"Uchiha Akira knows all about the Eye of the Moon Plan," she said. "And he told me that he doesn't entirely oppose the idea."
"If people could spend their lives in happiness, does it really matter if that happiness is real or not? Whether the joy is fake or genuine doesn't really matter in the end."
"However, Akira pointed out a critical flaw in the Eye of the Moon Plan—what about future generations?"
"If everyone in the world is trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi, living in an illusionary paradise, who will bear the responsibility of continuing the human race? What happens when those people's lives inevitably come to an end?"
Konan's voice was calm as she laid out the major flaw in the Eye of the Moon Plan, one that Akira had pointed out to her during their conversation.
Nagato's expression darkened as he considered her words. As much as he hated to admit it, he had to acknowledge that Akira had raised a very real concern.
Even if everyone entered the dream world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, how would they reproduce? Would he be able to force them to procreate while they were dreaming? That idea seemed absurd.
"I've said everything I came here to say," Konan continued. "If we don't resolve this issue, the Eye of the Moon Plan will ultimately lead to the extinction of the human race."
Having delivered her message, Konan felt a sense of relief. Whether Nagato chose to believe her or not was no longer important to her. She had done her duty and could leave with a clear conscience.
Nagato remained silent, clearly shaken by what he had just heard. Konan took one last look at him before turning to leave.
Since Nagato no longer trusted her, there was no reason for her to stay.
The flaw in the Eye of the Moon Plan was real, and she was confident Nagato would realize it too. With that knowledge, she felt her journey hadn't been in vain.
Staying with the Akatsuki was no longer an option for her. Nagato would only grow more suspicious, thinking she was working as Akira's spy.
It was time for her to go.
Besides, there were many questions Konan still needed answers to, questions only Akira could help her with.
For example, who was the masked man, really? Who was the true mastermind, the one even Madara had been manipulated by?
Konan wanted to uncover these truths.
As she made her way out, Nagato's voice called after her, "Wait, Konan! Where are you going?"
"I'm heading to the Leaf Village to continue gathering information. Why? Do you want me to stay? Can you really trust me if I stay with the Akatsuki?" she replied, turning her head slightly to look back at him.
Nagato opened his mouth to say something, to tell her that he trusted her, but the words wouldn't come out. He just couldn't say them.
"If you can't say it, then don't force yourself," Konan said, a faint, understanding smile on her lips. Then, she turned and left without looking back.
"Sigh…" Nagato watched as Konan's body dissolved into countless paper fragments, which floated away into the night. He let out a long, weary sigh.
On an emotional level, Nagato wanted desperately to believe her.
But his rational mind told him that Konan might be nothing more than a spy sent by Uchiha Akira.
If that were the case, he couldn't allow her to remain with the Akatsuki.
Keeping her around would only lead to more paranoia and distrust within the organization, which would ultimately be more harmful than letting her go.
Although he knew it was the logical decision, Nagato still felt a deep sense of loss as he watched her leave. She wasn't just a fellow member of the Akatsuki; she was the only person left in his life that he considered family.
Thinking back on her words, Nagato's mind was filled with unsettling thoughts. Had his life, and even the very existence of the Akatsuki, been manipulated by forces beyond his control? Was the Rinnegan really something Madara had implanted in him for his own purposes?
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