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  "Heh—Leader? A leader hiding in the shadows? Let's see what this 'anization' of yours is all about."

  Shinnō ripped off his red headband, as if unleashing a seal. The withered muscles beh his skin twisted and bulged, writhing with a life of their own.

  "Eight Gates Released Formation — Gate of Death: Open!"

  Chakra exploded from within him, his power surging to its peak. Invisible shockwaves rippled outwards, rustling the leaves beside Bck Zetsu's head. "Tsk, the legendary Eight Gates—though it seems—a bit—off."

  The Eight Gates Released Formation. By opening the body's chakra pathways, a Shinobi could temporarily gain immense power, a tenfold—even hundredfold—increase, depending on the user's skill.

  The eighth gate, the Gate of Death, came at a cost. The user's life force would be ed, leading to—death.

  But Shinnō showed no signs of pain or strain. And the power he dispyed, though impressive, wasn't the—expoial increase expected from the Eighth Gate.

  Bck Zetsu cluded this was—a modified version. But still—a gate opened without the usual drawbacks was a formidable power.

  ...

  Thump—

  One moment, Shinnō stood tall, radiating power. The , he was on his knees—no, not kneeling, forced down by an unseen force, a pressure even his enharength couldn't resist.

  He roared in frustration, his muscles straining against the invisible weight, like a—demon trapped beh a mountain. First his khen his torso, smmed into the earth, pinning him.

  The true Eight Gates, fueled by life and youth, unleashed a Shinobi's full potential, a hundredfold increase in power. Not everyone who opehe Gate of Death deserved to be called—Guy.

  If it were Might Guy, the result might be different. He'd likely defeat the Six Paths of Pain in seds. But without knowing Nagato's location—he'd still die.

  The Six Paths of Pain desded, their bck robes billowing in the wind.

  Paiending a hand, focused on Fūka Shūgetsu.

  A clear threat. Cooperate, or share Shinnō's fate.

  Fūka Shūgetsu nodded, awestruck by their power.

  Shinnō tile. Pain, uttered a single word: "Shinra Tensei."

  Invisible force smmed into Shinnō, driving him deeper into the earth, and crag the ground around him.

  Preta Path flickered frabbing the regeing Shinnō, and began abs his chakra.

  "Hmm—iing chakra…"

  The other Paths heir gazes fixed on Shinnō.

  Pain stepped forward. "Join us, or die."

  Bck Zetsu shook his head. "I told you, Shinnō-sama. Our leader isn't—patient. While we're ied in your—Sky Shinobi teology, it's not—essential. This…"

  He gestured towards Human Path. "This is the Human Path. His Soul Absorption extraemories—every st one. You'll die, and your secrets will be—ours. Choose wisely."

  If the Edo Tensei allowed for the use of the Eight Gates, Bck Zetsu would have already had Pain eliminate Shinnō.

  Theoretically, aensei could be strohan the inal. Unlimited chakra, instant regeion—powerful advantages.

  But there were exceptions: those like Hashirama, whose natural abilities were—superior; those like Madara, whose power exceeded the Edo Tensei's limits; and those like Shinnō, whose teiques relied on—life force.

  A living Shinnō was more valuable than a dead one.

  Shinnō, finally realizing his—predit, his face torted in fear.

  He'd po cooperate if they were stronger, using the Sky Shinobi's teology as leverage. If they were weaker—he'd destroy them, preserving the Sky Shinobi's secrets.

  But now—even with the Gate of Death open, he was no match for them. And that—fat one was abs his chakra!

  He couldn't win.

  Shinnō yielded. The Preta Path released him.

  He k, gasping for breath.

  "A wise choice, Shinnō-sama."

  ...

  Two new Akatsuki robes appeared. "From now on, you're—colleagues. We'll fulfill our promises. Cooperate, and you'll be—rewarded," Bck Zetsu said.

  "Fūka Shūgetsu, you'll work with Sasori, providing him with your chakra armor teology. When not on missions, you return to the Land of Snow. But when called upon—you are Akatsuki."

  "Shinnō, you'll—upgrade him." Bck Zetsu gestured towards the Asura Path. "You don't have to—share all your secrets, but—some Sky Shinobi tech would be—appreciated."

  Bck Zetsu turo Pain. "Leader, if you'll—keep the Asura Path here."

  Pain nodded, and the other Paths asded, vanishing into the sky.

  The Asura Path would be—enhanced, and upgraded with Fūka Shūgetsu's chakra armor and the Sky Shinobi's teology.

  Shinnō and Fūka Shūgetsu's faces darkehey'd walked into a trap, their ambition leading them—astray.

  The anization's promises—they were like—empty checks. They'd have to pay—upfront.

  Bck Zetsu ehe hideout, heading for Hiruko's b.

  Hiruko, engrossed in his research, ignored him.

  He'd hit a wall.

  The Edo Tensei's power was—limited. The bloodline limits within the resurrected Shinobi weren't—pure enough. His Ghost Bud es couldn't absorb them.

  How was this possible?

  He'd been obsessed with enhang the Edo Tensei's power, preparing for his own—assion.

  "Hiruko, I need your help with—a few resurres."

  Hiruko, irritated, stopped his work and took the list Bck Zetsu offered.

  He g the—non-human tags and frowned. "What—is this?"

  "I don't uand it either. But this is what—they desire," Bck Zetsu said, gesturing towards his notes. "Wealthy, iial people—perhaps they've—grown tired of—the usual?"

  "You're joking, right?" Hiruko tossed the list aside. "Resurreg—this? You're insulting my art!"

  "I only resurrect men and women. Take it or leave it."

  Hiruko's principles were—clear.

  He needed funding for his research. He couldn't waste time on—this.

  "They simply don't uand. They think humans—die too easily. Show them the Edo Tensei's power, and they'll—resider." He gestured towards a retly resurrected Shinobi.

  Hiruko's modifications had—improved the Edo Tensei's—aesthetics. The bodies looked—less—decayed.

  "See? This is—a proper human."

  "But I still o submit this report to our leader. And I haven't—collected the necessary—materials," Bck Zetsu said, holding a—dead chi. "I'll find the human—samples. But—could you—resurrect this?"

  "The report is just—for show. As long as the money is real—it doesn't matter. And materials—Amegakure is full of them. Be discreet, and no one will notice. Or—try the Land of Earth."

  Bck Zetsu's eyes lit up. He had an idea.

  ...

  Konan wasn't fully—itted to Nagato's cause. She used "proteg Nagato" as an excuse to avoid—unpleasant tasks.

  Her loyalty wavered.

  And this Edo Tensei pn—it was—too much for her. She wasn't—ruthless enough.

  "Perhaps—I —pnt a seed of doubt."

  Bck Zetsu left the hideout.

  Even if the resurrected—creatures were human, Konan would still carry out the mission. But—it would bother her.

  His pn only involved Nagato and Hiruko.

  Konan—her explosive tags were for Amegakure's defense, nothing more.

  She cked the necessary—lineage. She was—expendable.

  But—as a catalyst?

  Her betrayal could—fuel Nagato's emotions, unlock the Rinnegan's true power.

  Nagato wasn't strong enough yet. Bck Zetsu had to—push him.

  And with Konan gone, Nagato would be—vulnerable.

  Emotiohe key to the ōtsutsuki's power. Not just Indra's desdants, but Asura's as well. The strohe emotions, the greater the power.

  Look at Madara. He'd done everything to gain power. And Hashirama? He just wao be friends with Madara, and somehow—he became stronger.

  Even Bck Zetsu, them for turies, hadn't fully uood. Perhaps—Asura's desdants also possessed a—hidden power, amplified by emotions.

  He would manipute Nagato, guide him doath of—darkness.

  "The Fire Daimyo's Guardian Shinobi—they were retly buried. Use their bodies."

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