"Does he really intend to seal all nine Tailed Beasts into the Outer Path Statue? Is he not afraid that I will betray him and take control of that 'ultimate weapon' myself?"
Nagato could never understand why Ryun dared to make this decision, especially since he had repeatedly emphasized that only the Rinnegan could control the Outer Path Statue...
"Perhaps we should not underestimate Lord Ryun's magnanimity. It is also possible that he agrees with your ideas, which is why he is willing to hand over the nine Tailed Beasts..." Konan said after some serious thought.
Her words made Nagato's expression shift, sometimes relaxing with ease, other times frowning with seriousness.
Two days later.
Inside the underground base of Otogakure.
Ryun, Orochimaru, Nagato, Konan, Kakuzu, Sasori of the Red Sand, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan, and Deidara gathered together, each standing on one of the Outer Path Statue's fingers.
"The One-Tails, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Eight-Tails have already been re-sealed into the Outer Path Statue. Next, we will seal the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Nine-Tails, these five Tailed Beasts..." Nagato said, turning his gaze towards Ryun.
"Then let's begin!" Ryun decisively gave the order.
In the next moment, the nine of them simultaneously formed hand seals.
"Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals!"
As the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals began, the Outer Path Statue slowly spat out nine blue chakra dragons from its mouth. After appearing, the nine dragons directly entangled the Two-Tails. In the next moment, a continuous stream of chakra flowed through these illusory blue dragons into the Outer Path Statue's body.
"Today, we are all performing the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals in our physical bodies. Additionally, the Tailed Beasts are also in their true forms. Therefore, the sealing time for each Tailed Beast should not be too long. For the Two-Tails, one day and one night should be sufficient..." Nagato proactively explained.
"It does not matter. I am not in a hurry." Ryun replied flatly.
His main reason for participating in the sealing was to observe the condition of the Tailed Beasts, to see if the modifications he had made on them would be affected.
Under the continuous absorption of the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals, the Two-Tails' aura grew progressively weaker, its body gradually shrank, and finally, after a day and a night, its size reduced to one-fifth of its original form.
As Nagato formed a few more hand seals, the nine great chakra blue dragons instantly exerted force, dragging the shrunken Two-Tails into the abyssal maw of the Outer Path Statue.
"The Two-Tails has been successfully sealed!"
Nagato announced with a relaxed expression.
Ryun carefully sensed the Two-Tails inside the Outer Path Statue, his hands subtly forming a few seals. In the next moment, the entire Outer Path Statue began to tremble in a strange and eerie manner.
"What is happening?"
Nagato was greatly alarmed, unable to comprehend why the Outer Path Statue was vibrating when he had done nothing!
Seeing that his hidden measures were unaffected, Ryun saw no need to waste any more time here.
"I have some matters to attend to. I will leave the sealing of the remaining Tailed Beasts to you..."
The absence of one person performing the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals would significantly prolong the sealing time. However, they could only obey the leader's order and nod in agreement. Even Nagato dared not raise any objection at this moment.
In the next moment, accompanied by a spatial fluctuation, Ryun's figure distorted and vanished in an instant.
"It is actually that ability of Tobi's (masked Obito)!"
Watching Ryun disappear, expressions of shock appeared on the faces of the Akatsuki members.
"It seems Lord Ryun has already acquired that ability of Obito's. His power has probably increased considerably again..." A light flashed in Konan's beautiful eyes, deep admiration evident within them.
"That ocular ability of Obito's grants immunity to all physical attacks. For him to possess this ability now, could it be that he transplanted the other's eyes into himself..." Nagato muttered subconsciously.
"Hehe... It is not a good habit to speculate about the leader's abilities without authorization." Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely.
"It was just a casual remark. Do not be so sensitive. I have no intention of betraying him..." Nagato explained calmly to Orochimaru.
"It is best if that is the case..." Orochimaru replied with a smiling nod.
"Instead of bickering, we should continue sealing the Tailed Beasts... There are still four more Tailed Beasts to deal with. This mission is troublesome enough..." Hidan complained.
Nominally, Akatsuki can only have one leader, and that is Uchiha Ryun. Now that the leader is absent, they are theoretically all of equal rank. Therefore, Hidan would not give face to Nagato or Orochimaru...
Even if one is the former leader of Akatsuki and the other is the leader's teacher...
After leaving the underground base, Ryun returned to the Shadow Mansion. Currently, Kushina and her daughter were both in the Ancient Land of Loulan, so the entire villa was quiet, with only himself inside.
He entered the training room and continued merging the Ten-Tails power within his body. Meanwhile, the Akatsuki organization began sealing the Three-Tails.
All plans progressed orderly in the direction Ryun hoped. Time flew by, and another three days passed.
Inside the base where the one hundred thousand White Zetsu were located.
"Is that guy Nagato still unreachable?" Uchiha Obito asked coldly.
"He should have received the message, but for some reason, he has not replied..." Black Zetsu reported truthfully. He felt that Nagato most likely did not want to pay any more attention to Obito, that clown...
The esteemed leader of Amegakure had been intimidated and deceived for so many years by a junior Uchiha. Meeting would only remind Nagato that he too had been a clown...
"Then keep trying to contact him until he agrees to meet!" Uchiha Obito ordered sternly.
His current eyes were far too weak. He urgently needed a pair of powerful eyes, even just one would do. The Three Tomoe Sharingan could not provide him with any sense of security at all!
"I understand..."
Black Zetsu nodded helplessly.
One week later.
"Finally, it is over!"
Witnessing the Outer Path Statue open its mouth to devour the final Nine-Tails, the Akatsuki members felt both the relief of completing their mission and the anticipation of soon witnessing the emergence of the 'ultimate weapon'.
The moment the Nine-Tails was completely swallowed, the ninth eye of the Outer Path Statue snapped open. A terrifying, chilling aura erupted in the next instant, and its massive body stood up immediately.
"Roar..."
The Outer Path Statue clutched its head and let out a earth-shattering roar. The entire underground base shook violently, and the Akatsuki members instinctively covered their ears.
"Nagato, can you calm it down? If this continues, the base will collapse soon!" Konan shouted.
"This is the Outer Path Statue's instinctive reaction. I cannot control it for now!" Nagato had tried to intervene, but the Outer Path Statue was simply uncontrollable at this moment.
Just as the Outer Path Statue was about to run wild, Ryun's figure suddenly appeared. He reached out and touched the Statue's large foot. In the next moment, the figures of both the man and the beast vanished abruptly.
"Outside the village!"
Nagato shouted a reminder. Immediately, the Akatsuki members rushed out of the underground base.
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