Amegakure, at the top of the high tower.

Cold rain washed over every corner of this steel city.

The projections from the Astral Projection Jutsu had all dissipated. Inside the empty grand hall, only Pain (Deva Path) and Uchiha Obito, disguised as Tobi, remained.

Pain stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the gray world shrouded in rain.

His pair of pale purple Rinnegan reflected nothing, only an unfathomable void.

The loss of contact with Kakuzu and Hidan was like a stone thrown into the deep pool known as the Akatsuki, stirring up ripples.

This was not just the loss of two S-rank combatants.

More importantly, it exposed a problem that both Pain and Obito found troublesome.

Their understanding of the Land of Whirlpools was too little.

So little that even the most basic strength assessment had suffered a fatal deviation.

"Kakuzu, a Ninja who has fought the First Hokage and lived for nearly a hundred years, possesses five hearts and has mastered five types of elemental Chakra. His combat experience and survival skills are among the best in the entire Akatsuki."

Obito's hoarse voice echoed in the empty hall.

"Hidan possesses an immortal body and strange curse abilities. As long as he obtains a single drop of blood, even a Kage-level powerhouse will fall into a desperate situation."

"These two people, one responsible for frontal assault and suppression, the other for flanking harassment and curses. Theoretically, this is an almost unsolvable combination."

Obito's analysis was calm and objective.

He knew better than anyone the terror of the Immortal Duo.

Back then, in order to recruit Kakuzu, Nagato had personally stepped in and put in quite a bit of effort.

And Hidan's abilities were something even he found tricky.

"However, such a combination completely lost contact less than half an hour after entering Hidden Waterfall Village."

A grave light flickered in Obito's single eye.

"There is only one explanation for this. They encountered overwhelming power. The opponent found a way to break their respective abilities in a very short time and wiped them out or sealed them with thunderous momentum."

Pain turned slowly, his Rinnegan gazing indifferently at Obito.

"Uchiha Kei... His eyes seem to be able to see through everything."

From Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear to Hidan's curse ritual.

It was as if any strange Ninjutsu or hidden secret was transparent before Uchiha Kei, easily seen through.

This feeling reminded Pain of someone from the past.

The man who also possessed the Rinnegan and called himself a god.

No, Uchiha Kei gave him a feeling even more dangerous than that man.

Because Uchiha Kei could not only see through things, he could also create.

"According to the latest intelligence sent back by Zetsu, the Land of Whirlpools recently demonstrated their ultimate defensive barrier to the Shinobi World: the Gods Maelstrom."

Obito continued, his tone carrying a trace of wariness.

"That power was enough to make a war maniac like the Fourth Raikage voluntarily give up his attack. Zetsu judged that its energy level has already surpassed the category of conventional Tailed Beasts."

A defensive barrier that surpasses Tailed Beasts.

Unheard-of insight capable of easily cracking various secret and forbidden techniques.

Evasive and indefensible Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Plus an Uchiha Itachi who has evolved to the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and whose strength is equally unfathomable.

When these fragments of intelligence were pieced together, a silhouette powerful enough to be suffocating began to emerge before Pain and Obito.

The Land of Whirlpools.

This emerging power established on ruins was no longer a small trouble that could be ignored or temporarily set aside.

It had grown into a true behemoth.

A top-tier enemy that not only possessed powerful strength but was also actively and precisely disrupting their Eye of the Moon Plan.

"We previously focused our eyes on the Five Great Nations and the Jinchūriki they possess, but we ignored this most dangerous variable hidden in the shadows."

Pain's voice carried a trace of emotional fluctuation.

It was a sense of irritation at having his plans disrupted.

"They saved the Three-Tails to win over the Hidden Mist. Now they are interfering with the Seven-Tails to form an alliance with Hidden Waterfall Village. Every step Uchiha Kei takes is like playing a grand game of chess. His purpose is definitely not as simple as just self-preservation."

"He is integrating all the forces he can integrate. While weakening us, he is strengthening himself." Obito took over the conversation. "He knows very well that our target is the Tailed Beasts, so he cuts off our targets before we do. This is no longer a coincidence, but a clear strategic confrontation."

Pain was silent.

He had to admit that Obito's analysis was correct.

They finally confirmed that this emerging force not only possessed powerful strength but was also actively disrupting their Tailed Beast capture plan.

This increased the risk and difficulty of the entire plan geometrically.

If the Land of Whirlpools were allowed to continue developing, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Perhaps one day, when the Akatsuki spent great effort preparing to capture a certain Tailed Beast, they would find that the Jinchūriki had already been protected by the Land of Whirlpools.

By that time, what they would have to face might be an Uchiha army waiting in leisure, as well as that Uchiha Kei who possessed various strange abilities.

"We cannot wait any longer."

Killing intent surged in Pain's Rinnegan.

"Before dealing with other Tailed Beasts, we must first eliminate the biggest obstacle, Uchiha Kei."

He made the final strategic shift.

This was not only because of the loss of Kakuzu and Hidan, but also based on a calm judgment of the future situation.

An enemy who constantly trips you up in the dark and can predict your next move is far more terrifying than those enemies standing in the open.

"You mean... to actively attack the Land of Whirlpools?" Obito's brows furrowed.

"No." Pain shook his head. "Actively attacking that country with the Gods Maelstrom barrier is tantamount to suicide. We cannot fight on the opponent's home turf."

"Then what do you mean?"

"Lure the snake out of its hole." Pain's voice was cold. "The Land of Whirlpools is not an impenetrable wall. Although Uchiha Kei is powerful, he cannot stay in that turtle shell forever."

"He has people he cares about, he has his weak points. As long as he leaves the Land of Whirlpools, that will be our chance to strike."

Obito instantly understood Pain's idea.

"You want to... use the people around him as bait?"

"This is the most effective method." Pain's tone was without any ripples. "And we need more detailed intelligence. Everything about the Land of Whirlpools, from military deployment to the composition of high-level personnel, and then to Uchiha Kei's own ability limits and patterns of action."

"Knowing yourself and the enemy, you can win every battle. I will not make the mistake of underestimating the enemy again."

Obito pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Fine. Intelligence work will be left to me and Zetsu. I will use all resources to investigate the Land of Whirlpools inside and out."

His Kamui Dōjutsu had a natural advantage in intelligence gathering.

"Very good." Pain turned and looked at the rain curtain outside the window again.

"The rings of Kakuzu and Hidan must be recovered. At the same time, we need to find new members to fill their vacancies."

"Before launching a total offensive against the Land of Whirlpools, the strength of the Akatsuki must be maintained in its entirety."

Obito's figure began to twist slowly, about to merge into the void.

"I understand. I will handle it. However... Nagato, let me give you a word of advice."

Obito's voice came from the twisted space with a hint of seriousness.

"Do not underestimate Uchiha Kei. My intuition tells me that he is more dangerous than any enemy we have ever seen. Even... more dangerous than Uchiha Madara back then."

After speaking, his figure completely disappeared.

In the grand hall, dead silence returned.

Only Pain (Deva Path) stood alone.

"Uchiha Madara..."

Pain whispered this name, his Rinnegan devoid of any emotion.

"A god does not need to fear any mortal."

He raised his hand, palm up.

The cold rain seemed to penetrate the barrier of the high tower, gathering in his palm to form a constantly rotating water ball.

"No matter who it is, no one can stop my plan."

"I will make this world feel true Pain, and in that Pain, welcome true peace."

Land of Whirlpools.

Kei, carrying that incredibly precious Seven-Tails Chakra sample, returned directly to his exclusive laboratory on the top floor of the Uzukage Building via Kamui.

He didn't even have time to say hello to anyone before diving in.

For everything happening in the outside world, whether it was the gratitude of Hidden Waterfall Village or the shock and strategic shift of the Akatsuki, he was temporarily uninterested.

At this moment, in his eyes, there was only that key he had just obtained, which was enough to change the pattern of the world.

"System, immediately generate a 3D visualization of the theoretical model of the 'Miniature Tailed Beast Chakra Reactor' and list all required materials and manufacturing procedures!"

Kei issued the command to the empty laboratory.

In his eyes flickered the fanaticism and excitement of a scientist seeing the ultimate theory.

System command received.

The "Miniature Tailed Beast Chakra Reactor" theoretical model is being generated.

The next second, an incredibly complex 3D model, filled with various unheard-of Sealing Jutsu and precise structures, was projected directly into Kei's mind.

It was a multi-layered sphere the size of a basketball, composed of countless layers of silver-white metal and transparent crystals.

At its core was an energy constraint field that looked like a bird's nest, constructed from thousands of miniature sealing runes.

And on the surface of the entire sphere were engraved dense energy conversion techniques, as complex as a circuit board.

These techniques integrated the essence of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique, the Uchiha clan's Chakra conduction technology, and even a part was the product of Kei's modifications based on physical knowledge from his previous life.

Kei looked at this design, which could be called a work of art, and took a deep breath.

An energy revolution that would subvert the entire Shinobi World was about to begin from this small laboratory.

And at the same time, a larger storm was quietly brewing in the shadows of the Shinobi World.

The Akatsuki had focused all its attention on the Land of Whirlpools, this emerging island.

They began to spare no cost to collect all intelligence about the Land of Whirlpools.

From personnel composition to material reserves, to the personality weaknesses and action trajectories of every high-level member.

An invisible net was slowly spreading.