The Shocking Truth: Tsuchikage's Surprising Alliance with the Akatsuki Revealed!

The Naruto series has been filled with controversies and secretive connections, but nothing compares to the shocking revelation of the Tsuchikage's illicit affairs with the Akatsuki. At the Five Kage Summit, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, confessed to hiring the Akatsuki on multiple occasions to handle the Hidden Stone Village's dirty work.

Given that the Akatsuki had long been recognized as a threat to the shinobi world even before the Summit, this revelation came as a seismic surprise to the other nations. While the Tsuchikage's secret dealings with the Akatsuki cast doubt on his trustworthiness as an ally, the situation is actually much more complex than it appears, lending some plausibility to the Hidden Stone Village's unconventional decision.

The Tsuchikage's Ties With the Akatsuki

The Tsuchikage's covert connections with the Akatsuki originated a few years prior to the events in Shippuden, driven by the necessity to procure a more cost-effective military asset. As building a shinobi army would have depleted their already limited resources, Onoki devised a plan to enlist the Akatsuki for their high-level missions. Despite the Akatsuki's reputation for undertaking arduous missions at lower costs, their affiliation with rogue shinobi and criminals made them a morally dubious choice for the Tsuchikage. Nonetheless, hiring them served as a means for the village to conserve resources and safeguard its shinobi from dangerous assignments. This practice of contracting other organizations for missions is not uncommon, as demonstrated by the Wind Daimyo's decision to employ the Hidden Leaf, which ultimately led to an invasion by the Hidden Sand.

Using the Akatsuki for the Hidden Stone’s covert operations did have its advantages for Onoki. By hiring the criminal organization, the Hidden Stone could maintain their anonymity since the Akatsuki had no allegiance to any specific nation. This ensured that no other country could attribute the resulting assaults to the Hidden Stone. It is important to mention that the Tsuchikage only employed the services of the Akatsuki during the early days of their existence, before they embarked on their ambitious quest to capture all nine Tailed Beasts. Once the Akatsuki eliminated the Jinchuriki of the Hidden Stone, it is highly probable that the Tsuchikage severed his clandestine ties with the criminal organization.

The Reason Behind Hiring the Akatsuki

The Hidden Stone has engaged in numerous horrifying acts and committed war crimes throughout its history. However, it is out of character for such a powerful nation to join forces with the notorious Akatsuki. This drastic measure suggests that the Tsuchikage had no choice but to make this decision, a fact that becomes apparent when Onoki reveals the true motive behind this controversial alliance. At the Five Kage Summit, Onoki discloses the reasons that compelled him to collaborate with the Akatsuki, placing the entire blame on the Hidden Cloud Village.

Despite the Five Great Nations enjoying a period of peace and stability, the Hidden Cloud Village remained determined to obtain secret jutsu and strengthen its formidable army. This posed a direct threat to the Hidden Stone's peaceful existence, prompting the Tsuchikage to consider raising his own well-equipped shinobi army. However, Onoki quickly realized that the costs involved in training such an army would be excessive, leading him to rely on mercenary groups for dangerous missions in foreign lands.

Additionally, the Hidden Stone faced pressure from the Feudal Lords of the Land of Earth, who believed that having an army was wasteful considering the current era of disarmament and peace. With limited resources and a poorly trained army, the Tsuchikage had no choice but to turn to the Akatsuki as a more affordable option to ensure the safety of the Hidden Stone from impending threats.

What Missions Did the Akatsuki Carry Out for the Hidden Stone?

The Tsuchikage never explicitly discussed the details of the Akatsuki missions, but there are hints of espionage and assassinations. The Akatsuki was willing to take on any task, suggesting that they were hired for the most dangerous missions, too risky for the Tsuchikage's own shinobi. These included S-rank missions like spying on other nations, carrying out assassinations, and engaging in espionage.

The Hidden Stone primarily focused on gathering intelligence on the Hidden Cloud Village, as the two villages had a troubled history marked by tragedy and violence. Onoki had numerous encounters with the Raikage, which made him well aware of the Raikage's aggressive and power-hungry nature. Due to this, the collaboration between the Tsuchikage and the Akatsuki was primarily driven by the actions of the Hidden Cloud Village.

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