So, broadly, I think the best response here is something along these lines.
[X] Action Plan: Not Actually A Fleshed Out Action Plan
- We would like to accept. Joining Akatsuki would have many benefits, and it's only because of the severe consequences to the Dragonwar and our friends and family and clan that we can't immediately accept.
- (Very Risky) Outline that we are a better sealmaster than Itachi thinks by revealing Lithosealing.
- This cannot be undone - only do it if we are certain we want to be 'acquired' by Akatsuki regardless, and hope we can convince him that the Dragonwar necessitates finding a solution with our family, reputation, and Leaf intact.
- This proves to Itachi that we're not blowing smoke when we insist on being part of the Dragonwar; we're the only one who has any idea how to fix the Great Seal.
- To that end, we would like to try to find a third option.
- We're kind of spitballing here, so we understand that some of these might fall apart after close examination.
- First, do we have permission to bring anyone else into this discussion? Ami is a third party who is trusted by both of us, and a world-class expert at finding third options in tricky political situations. We strongly believe that this situation would be better resolved with her help.
- (Risky) Inform Itachi that Ami is read in on the Necromancy project and heartily approves, and as such is not a OPSEC risk for this discussion.
- If Itachi is planning to kill us if we refuse, this may put Ami in the line of fire! Kei would never forgive us for getting Ami killed, and would most certainly revive us later on to enact a creative revenge.
- If not, here are our ideas.
- First idea: Make our cooperation a concession from Leaf.
- You have Leaf over a barrel. You can change the deal.
- Call it a head for a head or something. Kakuzu was valuable to you, we're valuable to Leaf, and maybe that could balance out.
- Tell them you found our research more valuable than you anticipated.
- Maybe offer concessions to sweeten the deal? Demand less land or something?
- Downsides: hard to sell, if we seem eager instead of reluctant/resigned we could be considered a traitor regardless. Or even if we act perfectly, it's suspicious timing when we're already under suspicion.
- Second idea: Go to Tsunade with Itachi. Bluntly inform her that Akatsuki will be able to bring back the dead shortly.
- She has a few ways to respond to this:
- Option 1: She rallies against it with all her might. Leaf gets bombed, AMITY falls apart, Leaf's ashes get annexed by Rock.
- Absolute best case scenario there: She convinces the other nations that Akatsuki is going to achieve this. The villages band together to fight Akatsuki again in Nagi Island 2. And then after they're gone, AMITY falls apart and Leaf gets annexed by Rock.
- Option 2: She stays out of it. Akatsuki gets Pain and other essies back, they stay unbeatable and continue to enforce AMITY.
- Risky for her. It takes them at their word that they won't just do Nagi Island again.
- Option 3: She cooperates and donates Hazo, who was independently researching resurrection. Leaf gets concessions, such as Jiraiya and other s-classers.
- She can trust this option more, because obviously Hazo is going to push for bringing Jiraiya back.
- Still kinda casts suspicions on Hazo.
- She will likely know about this regardless.
- You publicly announced that you wanted 'dimensional research'.
- We told Asuma about it even if he didn't believe us and he probably wrote it down.
- Shikamaru knows even if he wasn't convinced.
- Ami knows and is convinced.
- We told the Toad sages about our plans to revive Jiraiya, their former summoner.
- Naruto, the soon-to-be Hokage, knows.
- Kagome knows and worked with us extensively on the project.
- Many of our family members know.
- If you let us leave alive we will be obligated to tell our Hokage everything when she asks or get killboxed for treason. And she will ask.
- Really, this just gets ahead of the game.
- (But maybe don't provide a itemized list of who Akatsuki needs to assassinate if it can be avoided, even if concealing it is pretty unlikely at this point).
- Third idea: Make this a public AMITY venture.
- Pros: can probably spin it to Tsunade and get permission for us to help.
- Cons: Causes absolute geopolitical clusterfuck the likes of which only Ami could wrangle.
- Fourth idea: ???
- "Kidnap" us?
- Fake our death?
- Secret shadow clone technique with unlimited range?
- Let us stay here but we become pen pals with Sasori?
- Also, if none of those work... are you going to let us leave alive if we refuse?
- If 'no', then we'll come with you and swear on Akane's Resurrection to cooperate fully.
- Obviously we'd prefer this instead of dying.
- Not sure how we could avoid Itachi immediately bluffing to secure our cooperation.
This is a outline of course, it's too long for a real plan and i'm not a good plan-worderer regardless. But this seems to be what the majority of people would prefer.
