After bidding farewell to the Fifth Hokage, Itachi left the area of ​​Konoha Village, still absent-minded as he walked along the road.

He kept thinking about what the Five Dynasties had said.

Nobles are the exploiting class, and the common people are the oppressed class... From a certain perspective, even if ninjas are powerful, they are still objects of exploitation by noble daimyo...

Is the ninja village system really that bad?

Itachi was questioning his life, but Godai's impassioned words still echoed in his mind, and he couldn't help but ponder them, as if he had found some profound truth.

If I had known Godai when I was a child... well, back then Godai was taken into Root by Danzo, and my father wouldn't have allowed me to have much contact with Godai at that time...

Itachi suddenly stopped and said calmly:

"Come out."

Splash~~~

In the river beside them, the water surged and rolled upstream, revealing a tall, imposing man with long, dark blue hair, a face and skin resembling a shark, sharp teeth, and shark gills on both shoulders.

This person carried a large sword on his back and was also wearing a black robe with red clouds. He was Itachi's partner, Kisame Hoshigaki, an S-rank rogue ninja from Kirigakure.

"Itachi, you're still as perceptive as ever." Kisame Hoshigaki smiled meaningfully and said, "Itachi, you still can't forget Konoha."

Itachi remained expressionless and said indifferently:

“I already told the leader before I came, you must know that. I’m familiar with Konoha’s barrier, and now Konoha is about to do something big, so I’m here to gather intelligence.”

Kisame Hoshigaki chuckled:

"I know, but it's not good that you went alone and left me behind, is it? We're partners, after all. What if I go back and report to the leader..."

Itachi remained calm:

"Because you are not familiar enough with Konoha, and you are too conspicuous and easy to expose. According to the information, the three legendary Sannin have all returned to Konoha Village, plus the Fifth Hokage. If our identities are exposed, we will be in great danger."

Kisame Hoshigaki remained noncommittal.

"If you say so, then it is."

He didn't actually plan to report it to Pain, after all, his partnership with Itachi was actually quite harmonious.

However, Itachi's actions left him no choice but to think.

Perhaps Itachi trusted him too much?

Kisame Hoshigaki asked:

"Should we go to Konoha again? To see Itachi's younger brother?"

Itachi's expression remained unchanged as he said:

"No need. I've already received the information and it's completely confirmed. As for Sasuke..."

A cold laugh:

"That's a stupid guy, not worth my time."

Kisame Hoshigaki had a strange expression, but he didn't refute Itachi.

The two began their return to the Land of Rain.

On the way, after a long silence, Itachi finally couldn't help but ask:

"How severe is the control that the nobles of the Land of Water exert over Kirigakure?"

Kisame Hoshigaki paused for a moment:

Why ask such a question?

After pondering for a moment, he replied:

"It shouldn't be as serious as the Land of Fire. After all, the Land of Water is isolated overseas, with the sea as a natural barrier. It's weak in offense but strong in defense. Naturally, its dependence on the Land of Water's finances isn't as severe."

"However, Kirigakure must still respect the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Water, and the position of Mizukage also needs to be recognized by the daimyo."

After saying that, Kisame Hoshigaki asked in surprise:

"Itachi, you've been thinking about the reforms proposed by the Fifth Hokage of Konoha? How could that possibly succeed? The Fifth Hokage wanted to abolish a system that had been in place for thousands of years in the ninja world; that would be making an enemy of the entire ninja world!"

He shook his head and said:

"The Fifth Hokage has no chance of winning; he is destined to fail."

Kisame Hoshigaki was not optimistic about Cao Ya's reforms, as they would provoke a backlash from all the countries in the ninja world. Perhaps under political pressure, the various ninja villages would set aside their past grievances and unite to attack Konoha.

Konoha could be destroyed.

That Fifth Hokage was incredibly unwise... Someone who single-handedly brought Konoha to its current prosperity shouldn't be a short-sighted fool... Cao Ya, what was that Fifth Hokage thinking...?

Kisame Hoshigaki couldn't understand what had caused the Fifth Hokage's shortsightedness and madness.

Itachi, his expression unchanged, gave an "Oh," quickened his pace, and hurried back to the Land of Rain to report to Pain.

Akatsuki needs to act quickly, demonstrate its strength, and reveal its intentions to arouse the hostility of the ninja world, thus helping to alleviate the pressure on Konoha.

The Fifth Generation must succeed...

******

******

Cao Ya returned to Konoha, and everything was ready; he was just waiting for the day the meeting would be held.

He absolutely cannot allow failure!

This world is so sick; it must be corrected!

A day later, the Hokage Building's top-floor conference room was filled with people. The front row was occupied by important figures, including department heads, vice-heads, and ninja clan leaders.

None of the attendees were weak; the worst among them were Jonin-level.

Apart from those who were on missions and couldn't return, all the Jonin and elite Jonin from the village came to the meeting room.

Even the retired Jonin who were enjoying their later years came out and unanimously requested to attend the meeting.

Later, there weren't enough seats, so the young Jonin had to stand. It was only after the staff of the Hokage Building brought chairs that they had a place to sit.

Cao Ya entered the venue with a calm expression. Without greeting anyone, he silently sat down in the central position at the head of the table.

The Hokage has arrived; the meeting is about to begin.

Cao Ya coughed lightly and said calmly:

"Everyone's here, let's start the meeting."

He scanned all the Jonin and elite Jonin from left to right and said:

"Today's meeting topic is the abolition of the daimyo and noble system. Feel free to share your opinions and thoughts, and don't feel pressured."

The room fell silent for a moment, and none of the key figures in the front row spoke.

Instead, it was an ordinary, elderly Jonin in the back row, with a broken arm and a scar on his face, who had retired and was now attending this meeting.

He said loudly:

"The Five Dynasties period, the topic you set is problematic."

Cao Ya smiled slightly:

"Oh, how so?"

The one-armed old ninja said:

"If you abolish the daimyo and nobles—let's assume you've succeeded—who will fund Konoha then? Konoha's very survival will be in jeopardy."

"Konoha is the village of fire, and it should obey the leadership of the daimyo. This was established by the first daimyo. Fifth daimyo, if you want to change this, aren't you just altering the established laws of our ancestors?"

“Great names and nobles, a lineage that has remained unchanged for a thousand years, it has always been so.”

"If you want to make changes during the Five Dynasties period, aren't you just erasing history?"

The old Jonin with the missing arm spoke passionately, delivering a scathing critique that was both overt and covert, implying that the Fifth Hokage's actions would lead Konoha into an abyss.

Cao Ya was speechless. That old ninja's eloquent rebuke must have been prepared countless times in his mind.

Cao Ya smiled with narrowed eyes:

"Anyone else has any objections? Please feel free to speak your mind. We in Konoha don't allow one-man rule."

He glanced at Orochimaru, Hiashi Hyuga, and the others without making a sound, and they all understood.