Both Kage-level teams had suffered a crushing defeat in the hidden villages.
One team consisted of the Uchiha genius, a master of ninjutsu, and Kisame, a relatively well-rounded shinobi with excellent sensory abilities. No matter how you looked at it, this duo was far more reliable than Deidara and Sasori.
Nagato had trusted them.
He had believed that this team could easily obtain the intelligence on the Nine-Tails.
But he never expected them to fail as well.
"Konoha is currently under the watch of Jiraiya and Tsunade. To think the Sannin are still so formidable, able to detect and repel you ahead of time," Nagato said in a low voice, looking at the somewhat weakened Itachi.
He had once been taught by Jiraiya. During their training, Jiraiya had demonstrated a portion of his strength. Now, more than a decade later, although the memories were somewhat faded, Nagato vaguely recalled that the various ninjutsu Jiraiya had created were undoubtedly S-rank. With such a solid foundation in ninjutsu, Jiraiya's strength was not to be underestimated.
Nagato's plans had included probing Jiraiya's power, because in the future, he was destined to face his former master. When that time came, a grand spectacle of a battle between master and student would unfold.
"If it was Jiraiya who acted, then your defeat is understandable," Nagato murmured.
But in the next moment, Itachi and Kisame's words made his expression change.
"Neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade made a move."
"Then who else in Konoha could have injured you?!" the Pain that Nagato was controlling cried out in shock. His eyes flickered, filled with apprehension.
Konoha truly was the most powerful of the hidden villages; its hidden strengths were indeed numerous. The Third Hokage had already lost an arm, so it was impossible for him to have the power to injure Itachi. So who was it?
Wait a minute. Itachi is a rogue ninja from the Leaf. Could it be that he still has feelings for the village and went easy on them?
As if sensing the doubt in Pain's mind, Kisame added, "Itachi-san's Tsukuyomi was broken!"
"Even Tsukuyomi was ineffective?!" Nagato was completely floored.
Tsukuyomi was the Mangekyo's ultimate genjutsu. Within its space, everything was under the user's control. Back then, Itachi had used a single Tsukuyomi to take down the long-renowned Sannin and master of serpents, Orochimaru.
Although the Sharingan was not as powerful as the Rinnegan, it was not far behind. At the very least, in the ninja world, the Sharingan was already considered a top-tier Kekkei Genkai, to say nothing of the Mangekyo Sharingan. A ninja capable of breaking Tsukuyomi was definitely not some nameless nobody.
Nagato's expression turned solemn.
"Who was it?" he asked in a low voice.
"It was…" Kisame's expression turned somewhat strange, his lips moving as he spoke. "It was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
"???"
Nagato was stunned.
This was an answer that was completely beyond his expectations.
How could the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki possibly break Tsukuyomi? By all accounts, the Jinchuriki was only a teenager and possessed no Kekkei Genkai. Yet he was able to injure Itachi?
Nagato's expression immediately turned grave. A sense of crisis rose within him. Such a talented individual was a Jinchuriki. This was not good news.
"I need to know the specific details," he demanded.
Itachi and Kisame then recounted the entire process of Naruto's appearance to Nagato. As they spoke, Nagato's expression grew increasingly stiff. He realized he had still underestimated Naruto.
Throughout the entire confrontation, Naruto had maintained an extremely relaxed and effortless demeanor. Itachi hadn't even managed to injure him. The chakra and unknown power within Naruto's body could instantly shatter Tsukuyomi, and had even toyed with it.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is no simple matter," he murmured, looking at Itachi. "Suzaku, before you defected from Konoha, did the Jinchuriki already display this level of talent?"
"His talent back then was indeed impressive. But his Kekkei Genkai is very strange," Itachi said thoughtfully. "A sword that can control one's vision, and an energy that is different from the chakra system. I never thought that in just a few short years, he would have developed his Kekkei Genkai to such an extent that even my eyes are helpless against him. His Kekkei Genkai is no weaker than the Sharingan."
Itachi already regarded Naruto as an opponent on his own level. "I think if we were to fight to the death, the outcome would be uncertain," he said seriously. "Although Tsukuyomi was ineffective, my ninjutsu and taijutsu should be stronger than his." Itachi pondered for a moment before giving a conservative estimate.
"With such talent, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is growing too quickly. Perhaps in another year or two, he'll be able to defeat you with ease. It seems the plan to capture the Nine-Tails will have to be moved up slightly." Nagato's eyes flickered as he fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he spoke:
"Continue gathering information on the Tailed Beasts from the other villages. We'll put the Nine-Tails on hold for now."
Inside the Root headquarters.
The Root intelligence network, entrenched deep within Konoha, quickly learned of the relevant information and reported it to Danzo. Even the Konoha ANBU were unaware that Naruto had effortlessly defeated Itachi, but a Root lookout had witnessed the entire scene.
"To be able to break Tsukuyomi so easily… it seems my precious student's strength is not so simple. His Kekkei Genkai appears to be even more exceptional than I thought," Danzo muttered to himself after receiving the information, his eyes cold and dark.
"This might be a Kekkei Genkai on par with the Sharingan. How intriguing." Danzo's gaze fell upon his own bandaged arm, his eyes filled with greed. He gently stroked his arm. Beneath the bandages, it was covered entirely in Sharingan.
When he desired something, he would stop at nothing to obtain it. Whether it was the Sharingan or the Wood Release, he had taken action for both. And now, that greed, long hidden in the depths of his heart, had resurfaced.
Danzo had a premonition that Naruto's Kekkei Genkai could be one of the cornerstones that would secure his position as Hokage.
To become Hokage, what did it matter if he sacrificed his own student? He had thousands of students and could train more at any time. But the opportunity to satisfy his desires was exceedingly rare.
"It seems it's time to begin the research on Naruto's Kekkei Genkai," Danzo whispered, a twisted smile spreading across his lips. "My dear student will surely be happy to contribute to Root's research. As long as he performs well, the position of Root's leader will still be his."
He let out a cold, sinister laugh, the greed in his eyes practically overflowing.
In the Hokage's Office.
After receiving the intelligence passed on by Itachi, Tsunade and Jiraiya both wore grave expressions. The Akatsuki was composed of Kage-level shinobi. Naruto, having been targeted by them, was undoubtedly in danger.
"Naruto just left the village on a mission. We'll have to place him under protection as soon as he returns."
Tsunade's face was serious. "We need to find a way to help Naruto improve his strength."
"How are we supposed to do that? There's nothing left for me to teach him," Jiraiya said, his face instantly falling into a miserable expression. Having a student who was too much of a genius was its own kind of trouble.
"If all else fails, we'll have Naruto enter the Summoning Realm and learn from the great sages."
Naruto was unaware that his casual actions had drawn the attention of so many different parties. At that moment, he was heading towards the Land of Demons, while two of his clones were heading to the Land of Sound and the Land of Wind respectively. He needed to make use of every available moment.
For some reason, a sense of crisis was rising within him. It was a danger sense he had acquired after becoming a Shinigami and mastering Hollowfication. The feeling was as if he was being targeted by some organization.
He wanted to return to the Land of Demons as quickly as possible, enter the Pure Land for further training, devour more Reishi, and reach the level beyond Kage sooner. That way, he could finally implement his own plans.
In Konoha, the one he was most wary of was Jiraiya. He knew full well how powerful Jiraiya was. A master of ninjutsu and taijutsu, who also possessed Sage Mode. The Jiraiya of today was very likely the strongest person in the ninja world, his strength firmly in the realm beyond Kage-level.
If he wanted to defect, he had to reach a level of strength comparable to Jiraiya's.
The Land of Demons was a necessary destination.