Namikaze Estate.
The courtyard, usually quiet and deserted due to its sole occupant, was now bustling with activity because of a banquet.
"Welcome!" Nara Shikamaru gestured for the guests to enter. Since Naruto didn't have any proper relatives, the organization of this Jonin promotion banquet had fallen entirely to the two of them.
"Please sit over here!" Naruto Shadow Clones #6 through #10 assisted in receiving the guests.
Clones #11 through #20 were in charge of the dishes for tonight's banquet.
Clones #21 through...
It had to be said, the Shadow Clone Technique was truly a remarkably versatile ninjutsu. The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, who invented it, was a true genius, Naruto thought to himself.
Some of the arriving guests, Naruto had never even met before. Although the invitations had been sent out after discussions with Nara Shikaku, Shiranui Genma, and the others, if he didn't know them, but those who supported him did, then it was as if he knew them too. Building a network of connections, once one reached a certain level, was actually quite simple.
Today's banquet, rather than being his promotion celebration, was more of an opportunity for Nara Shikaku and the others to help him rally support for the upcoming Sixth Hokage candidate preliminary elections. It sounded absurd, yet it was very much a reality.
"Congratulations!"
Gradually, young ninja of his own generation began to arrive at the banquet.
"You look a bit worn out," Naruto said, looking Uchiha Sasuke up and down. "Is it because of the Iwagakure incident?"
Uchiha Sasuke nodded slightly. For the past month, to convince the Five Kage that the Shinobi Squad's existence was meaningful, he, along with Deidara and the others, had been scouring the shinobi world for traces of Akatsuki. They had made many small gains, but no major breakthroughs. They had destroyed several Akatsuki hideouts, but hadn't encountered a single core Akatsuki member. According to their deductions, Akatsuki should have been busy extracting Tailed Beast chakra during this period. Although it was unclear how long it took the Gedo Mazo to extract the chakra of one Tailed Beast, the combined chakra of the Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails—a total of four beasts—would definitely not be a small amount to process.
"Don't think about all that miscellaneous stuff today. Get some good rest." Naruto had a shadow clone guide Sasuke into the banquet area.
"Perhaps your subordinates have already told you, but I feel it's still necessary to inform you: the Seven-Tails is about to revive."
Naruto nodded slightly. A year ago, after the Seven-Tails had its chakra refined into pills by Otsutsuki Urashiki, it had lost all vital signs and entered a state of revival. Calculating the time, it should indeed be reviving around these few days.
"With only three Tailed Beasts left for the Ten-Tails' revival, what exactly are you waiting for?" Sasuke's voice was very low. If Naruto's body hadn't undergone an evolution two days prior, he might not even have heard him.
Just then, a group of people in pristine white kimonos, clearly "Byakugan" users, led by Hyuga Hiashi, walked up to him.
"Naruto-kun, congratulations!" Hinata, her long hair gently resting on her shoulders, her hands clasped before her, gave a slight curtsy.
Naruto returned the gesture and stepped aside. "Welcome, everyone."
If the ninja who had arrived earlier represented Nara Shikaku and the others' influence, then those arriving from now on represented his own "influence." The Hyuga clan, his parents' old subordinates, "friends" he had made during missions in this period, and...
"Naruto, congratulations!" Led by Ino, dressed in a green jumpsuit, all the friends he had made at the Academy arrived.
"I'm glad you could all come," Naruto said with a smile.
"What's with that tone? With Jonin Namikaze's vast estate and fortune, surely you wouldn't mind a few of us freeloading?" Ino chuckled.
"Today, food, drinks, and beverages are all unlimited supply!" Naruto declared grandly with a wave of his hand.
"Is there yakiniku?" Akimichi Choji asked, scratching his head with a smile.
"There is."
Inside the estate.
The Jonin were discussing in low voices.
"The current younger generation is truly more outrageous than the last. First, it was Uchiha Sasuke, now it's Uzumaki... Namikaze Naruto."
"The new waves push the old. We will eventually become the old waves dashed upon the shore," one with an optimistic attitude said. "Besides, apart from these two, there probably isn't anyone else who could host a promotion banquet of this caliber."
"True. Their current strength has long since transcended the framework of a mere village ninja..."
"The Fifth Hokage is here!" "Huh? The Two Great Advisors are here too?!"
To be honest, it wasn't just them who were astonished; even Naruto himself hadn't expected these two to come. The delicacy of their relationship needed no explanation; everyone present was aware of it. There was no reason the two advisors themselves wouldn't be aware of it.
"Welcome!" Naruto invited the two elders in. His internal confusion was one thing, but since they had come to his door, he couldn't exactly turn them away, could he? As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face.
With the arrival of these important figures, the banquet officially began.
Meanwhile.
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Naruto Shadow Clone #1 stood atop a mountain peak, gazing at the distant Village Hidden by Clouds, enveloped by mountains and swirling mist.
Shwoop!
The "puppet" Otsutsuki Urashiki appeared beside him.
"I'm rather curious, how did you know I was here?" Shadow Clone #1 asked, tilting his head.
"It's a simple hypothesis: if Kumogakure were to be invaded on a large scale by Akatsuki, where would I be observing the battle?" Uchiha Sasuke, far away in Konoha, was controlling Otsutsuki Urashiki's corpse through the March of the Dead technique. Due to the unique nature of the Otsutsuki clan, Mangekyo dojutsu couldn't control their souls along with their bodies, but Sasuke clearly wouldn't give up such a powerful combatant. Thus, he was using it as a second "Pain" body.
"And you were so certain I would definitely come to observe?" Shadow Clone #1 asked.
"The current situation is one you've allowed to develop. If you didn't show up, not even a dog would believe it," the "puppet" Otsutsuki Urashiki stated flatly.
"Tell me, if people found out that the captain of the Shinobi Squad, upon learning of Kumogakure's impending invasion, not only failed to issue a warning but instead chose to watch from the sidelines, who would be the one considered to be 'allowing' it?" Shadow Clone #1 asked curiously, watching the flashes of explosions beginning to appear in Kumogakure.
"Uchiha Sasuke isn't in the Land of Lightning. Many people saw him attending his 'friend' Namikaze Naruto's Jonin promotion banquet." The "puppet" Otsutsuki Urashiki remained unmoved. "Compared to that, I'm more curious: did you choose to hold your banquet at this specific time because you calculated Akatsuki's Tailed Beast chakra extraction schedule?"
"How could that be? It's all just a coincidence," Shadow Clone #1 denied it outright.
The "puppet" Otsutsuki Urashiki naturally didn't believe him. Coincidence, my ass! Whose coincidences happen in such a perfect series?
"Disrupting the balance of the shinobi world, what is your objective? To gain prestige and become Hokage?" he asked once more.
"Roughly the same as your thoughts," Shadow Clone #1 said, crossing his arms and withdrawing his peripheral gaze. "Let's change the subject. How long do you think Kumogakure can last under a full-scale assault by all of Akatsuki?"
As the two conversed, a massive ring of water suddenly appeared in the sky above Kumogakure.
ROAR!
A series of ferocious roars echoed as the Outer Path Nagato summoned the Gedo Mazo and several giant summoning beasts.
"The moment the Fourth Raikage allows Killer Bee onto the battlefield will be when this battle ends."