Chapter 300: Change of Position

"What is the current situation in the ninja world?"

Yahiko and others fell into deep thought, not knowing how to answer Bai Ye for a moment.

After looking at each other, they all looked at Bai Ye, their eyes seemed to say: Don't keep us in suspense.

Bai Ye did not hide anything and said directly: "The ninja world is currently in a rare period of peace, but the peace will not last too long. At most in ten years, the ninja world will set off the next round of ninja war."

After hearing this, Yahiko and the others were stunned.

Can the peace in the ninja world only last for another ten years at most? However, judging from the current situation, the war between Konoha and Iwagakure is just a minor one, with no tendency to expand at all.

Besides, after experiencing three brutal Ninja World Wars, all the major ninja villages should know how cruel war is and should not easily start a war again.

But on second thought, the intervals between the previous Ninja World Wars were between ten to twenty years.

This in the end is why?

As if he could see what the others were thinking, Bai Ye began a long speech.

The general meaning is that the major ninja villages chose to negotiate peace at the end of the Ninja World War, not because they loved peace, but because the top leaders of the major ninja villages discovered that there would be no benefit in continuing to fight.

Instead of continuing to fight with the opponent meaninglessly, it is better to sign a peace agreement and temporarily cease fire.

During the peaceful time of truce, a new generation of ninjas will grow up in the major ninja villages and gradually restore the strength of the ninja villages. At the same time, due to the increase in the number of ninjas, conflicts within the ninja villages continue to accumulate.

After accumulating to a certain level, the ninja village will either fall into long-term internal strife or can only expand outward.

For any ninja village, outward expansion is the best means to divert conflicts. If it can defeat other opponents, it would be even better.

If you cannot defeat the enemy, you can at least consume the ninjas from your own village and the enemy village, thus reducing potential competitors.

After hearing Bai Ye's theory, Yahiko and others nodded repeatedly. Bai Ye explained the reasons for the outbreak and end of the Ninja World War very well, but from one perspective, the Ninja World War seemed to never stop.

Doesn't this mean that Akatsuki's ideals will never be realized?

Thinking of this, Yahiko said to Bai Ye:

"Bai Ye, is there any way to prevent the next Ninja World War? I think even if the number of ninjas is limited, the internal conflicts among the major ninja villages will not be reduced."

Bai Ye shook his head slightly, then said:
"I can't prevent conflicts within the major ninja villages, but I do have a way to keep peace in the ninja world for decades, and during this period, no large-scale war will break out."

"What method?" Yahiko asked solemnly.

"Do you remember the time when Konoha dominated the ninja world? Under the intimidation of the first Hokage and the Shura of the ninja world, even if the four major ninja villages wanted to start a war to divert conflicts, they did not dare to start a war at will."

After hearing this, Yahiko fell into deep thought, and the other two also looked thoughtful.

Although they had not experienced the era when the two heroes of the ninja world suppressed the ninja world, they could still get a glimpse of that era from history books.

According to the textbooks of the Hidden Rain Village, it was an extremely depressing era.

For the ninjas of the Hidden Rain Village at that time, the two heroes of the ninja world were just titles, but they were enough to make the entire ninja world feel suffocated. All the ninjas lived cautiously, fearing that they would anger Konoha.

But in the era when the two heroes of the Ninja World were alive, there had never been a large-scale war in the Ninja World.

But the problem is that when Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were alive, they could certainly intimidate the ninja world and prevent other ninja villages from easily starting a war.

However, the conflicts between the major ninja villages did not disappear, but instead became more and more serious.

After Hashirama Senju died, Konoha, which once dominated the ninja world, was immediately besieged by the four major ninja villages. The war lasted for more than ten years and indirectly led to the outbreak of World War II and World War III.

The most crucial thing is that the Akatsuki organization currently does not have the strength to shock the ninja world.

After thinking about this, Yahiko said to Bai Ye: "You mean to let the Akatsuki organization replace the first generation Hokage and Uchiha, but our current strength is not enough to deter the entire ninja world."

"We have developed these very quickly, but at most we can fight on equal terms with one of the five major ninja villages. We don't have the strength to suppress them at all."

Yahiko was sincere in what he said. He was not against Bai Ye's idea, he just felt that it was unrealistic for Akatsuki.

Bai Ye chuckled and shook his head, looking at Yahiko and said, "Yahiko, the Hidden Rain Village is currently at the bottom of the five major ninja villages, but that doesn't mean that the strength of the Akatsuki organization is limited to this level."

"Don't forget that the Kusagakure Village, the Yugakure Village, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Fields are also under the Akatsuki organization."

"With the manpower accumulated by the organization over the years, our strength has far surpassed Konoha. Although we are not among the top five ninja villages, we have already surpassed them."

"Are we stronger than Konoha?"

Yahiko showed a look of surprise, but after thinking about it carefully, he was relieved. The Hidden Rain Village might not have as many ninjas as Konoha, but its high-end combat power had long surpassed it.

But what's the point of surpassing Konoha? Konoha, once the number one ninja village, was often besieged.

Moreover, the fact that they surpassed Konoha was not only due to their own strength, but also due to Konoha's suffocating operations in recent years. If Konoha is given a chance to recuperate, it will soon recover its original strength.

The Hidden Rain Village should just continue to make a fortune quietly. There is no need to take huge risks to achieve peace in the ninja world.

Thinking of this, Yahiko shook his head: "I still think this plan is too impulsive. The Akatsuki organization only needs to be responsible for the ninja villages under its command. The rest of the places are not ours to manage."

"Whether war breaks out in other parts of the ninja world or lives are lost, it has nothing to do with us."

After Yahiko said this, he immediately felt regretful. How could he say such irresponsible words?

The original intention of establishing the Akatsuki organization was to unite more like-minded ninjas to achieve peace in the entire ninja world and eliminate war in the ninja world.

But now, the Hidden Rain Village is considered a big country, and he has become the person he once hated.

However, if he were to act as impulsively as before, not only would he be unable to achieve peace in the entire ninja world, but he would also lose everything he had gained.

After hearing what Yahiko said, Bai Ye didn't say anything more.

Konan and Nagato looked at Yahiko in shock, revealing an expression of disbelief. They couldn't believe that Yahiko actually said such a thing. Was he still the Yahiko who was as dazzling as the sun and persuaded everyone not to give up their ideals?
Although Yahiko's appearance has not changed much now, the shadow of Hanzo the Salamander has appeared in him.

As if he could sense someone was looking at him, Yahiko looked at Konan and Nagato. After seeing their disappointed expressions, he took a deep breath and said:
"Well, Akatsuki still cannot give up its ideals, but I will not let you and your companions die in vain. I absolutely do not agree with you starting a war against other ninja villages."

"Who told you that I'm going to go to war with other ninja villages?"

Bai Ye looked at Yahiko suspiciously, and then said: "Is this just your wishful thinking, or do you, Yahiko, want to start the Ninja World War more than I do?"

Yahiko's face changed. He felt that the resolution he had just made was like a fist hitting cotton, meaningless.

After choosing his words, Yahiko asked back:

"If we don't start a war, how can we intimidate the five major ninja villages? Can we rely on words?"

"Of course we have to start a war, but it won't be a long Ninja World War. If we want to intimidate the five major ninja villages, we must have the power to wipe them out at any time, so that they will obey us obediently."

Having said that, Bai Ye's gaze fell on Nagato.

Yahiko followed Bai Ye's gaze and saw Nagato. When he saw Nagato's Rinnegan, he finally understood Bai Ye's thoughts.

Bai Ye wants to rely on Nagato's power to intimidate the ninja world, but is Nagato's strength enough?
Although Nagato possesses the Rinnegan of the Six Paths Sage, his hard power is at most equal to that of the Five Kage, and he cannot gain an overwhelming advantage over the five major ninja villages.

Thinking of this, Yahiko asked Nagato, "Nagato, how strong are you now? Are you sure you can defeat the Five Kage? How much stronger are you than before?"

"I have never fought the Five Kage, and I don't know if I can defeat them."

After a pause, Nagato continued, "But I am much stronger than I was seven years ago. If I were to face Salamander Hanzo again, I have the confidence that I can easily defeat him."

"However, if I were to face two ninjas of Hanzo's level at the same time, I would be powerless."

After hearing this, Yahiko said to Bai Ye: "Bai Ye, Nagato seems unable to crush the Five Kage. He can defeat the Five Kage, but the Five Kage are often surrounded by Shadow Guards."

"Although the Samsara Eye is the eye of the legendary Six Paths Sage, it is only a legend."

"If the Sage of Six Paths is really as powerful as a god, then he should still be alive now, instead of becoming an unverified legend. Maybe the Sage of Six Paths was just a more powerful ninja a thousand years ago."

Bai Ye's eyes lit up. Yahiko actually said that the Six Paths Sage was probably just a relatively powerful ninja, and not a god above all ninjas.

Yahiko's insights are spot on, but it's a pity that the Sage of Six Paths really is above all other ninjas.

Even though his physical body has been dead for a thousand years, he still lives in the Pure Land and can cross the boundary between life and death at any time and return to the ninja world.

After pondering for a moment, Bai Ye slowly said:

"I need to use Nagato's Samsara Eye, but that doesn't mean I only need the power of the Samsara Eye. Over the years, I have noticed a lot of information and got a piece of information that shocked me."

"What information?" Yahiko and the others became interested and looked at Bai Ye.

Bai Ye said slowly: "Nagato, do you still remember the Outer Path Demon Statue that we summoned? That thing is actually the shell of the Ten-Tails, and it once stored the power of the nine tailed beasts."

"The Outer Path Demon Statue is the outer shell of the Ten-Tails. Did it once contain the power of the nine tailed beasts?"

Yahiko and the others were shocked by the news and couldn't help but say:
"Bai Ye, if the Outer Path Demon Statue is the outer shell of the Ten-Tails, and once contained the power of the nine tailed beasts, how powerful would the Ten-Tails in its perfect form be?"

"I don't know either, but it must be more powerful than the Nine-Tailed Fox..."

After a pause, Bai Ye continued, "As long as we can hunt down the one to nine tailed beasts, seal them all in the Outer Path Demon Statue, and revive the former Ten-Tails, we will be able to gain power that surpasses the five major ninja villages."

"Faced with this force that can destroy the heavens and the earth, all the ninja villages in the ninja world will no longer dare to start a war easily. The time of peace will last for twenty, thirty years, or even longer."

"After all, the power of the Outer Path Demon Statue is different from that of the First Hokage, and it can be passed down."

"As long as we are still alive, there will be no possibility of a large-scale war breaking out in the ninja world."

After listening to Bai Ye's description, Konan and Nagato were overwhelmed with emotion. They couldn't wait to see the day of peace.

They did not expect the ninja world to remain at peace forever; even if it only lasted a hundred years, it would be enough.

At this time, Yahiko seemed to remember something and said:
"Even if the Ten-Tails has overwhelming power and can bring decades of peace to the ninja world, I remember that most of the nine tailed beasts are in the hands of the five major ninja villages and are strictly guarded by the five major ninja villages."

"How did we get the nine tailed beasts without anyone noticing?"

"Perhaps before we succeed in getting the nine tailed beasts, a full-scale war broke out between us and the five major ninja villages. Your plan to collect the tailed beasts and revive the Ten-Tails is not much different from directly declaring war."

Bai Ye shook his head and said:
"Of course there is a difference. I plan to send elite ninjas to secretly collect the tailed beasts. This way, even if a ninja village loses a tailed beast, it will be kept secret and the information will not be told to others."

"Bai Ye, are you planning to take advantage of the discord among the five major ninja villages?!"

Yahiko narrowed his eyes slightly, he almost understood Bai Ye's plan.

The White Night Hunting of the Tailed Beasts was not as high-profile as he had imagined, but was carried out in secret. In this way, even if the five major ninja villages lost a tailed beast, they would not dare to make it public because of mutual fear.

After all, the tailed beasts and the jinchūriki are the strongest forces in the ninja village. Once the tailed beasts are lost, the remaining ninja villages that possess tailed beasts will use the power of the tailed beasts to launch a massive attack.

"Your idea is very good, but once a ninja village notifies the other four major ninja villages, they will definitely keep a close watch on the Jinchuriki, or even imprison him directly."

After a brief pause, Yahiko asked a soul-searching question:
"If you want to capture all the tailed beasts at once, you have to act at the same time. Does Akatsuki really have that much manpower?"

Bai Ye nodded slightly:

"What do you think the organization has been developing over the years? I have already recruited many powerful ninjas. We only need to catch them once to start the plan of hunting the tailed beasts."

"Moreover, these people are not ninjas from the Hidden Rain Village. Even if the hunting of the tailed beasts is exposed, they will not suspect the Hidden Rain Village."

Seeing that Bai Ye had thought it through, Yahiko had nothing more to say and could only nod in agreement.

He also knew in his heart that even if he didn't agree, Bai Ye was already doing it in secret, so it would be better for him to get involved and grasp the bottom line.

(End of this chapter)