"Madara, those guys outside aren't being honest," Black Zetsu suddenly spoke up, barely managing to defuse the tension for Obito. Through the network of White Zetsu clones, he had gathered a great deal of intelligence.
At present, aside from Uzushio—where White Zetsu clones were unable to infiltrate and thus couldn't gather any meaningful information—every other region's movements were completely within his grasp.
"They're trying to bypass us and make contact with Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools."
The daimyō and the Kage of the various nations were far from united. Let alone this hastily assembled alliance—it was a miracle they were even cooperating for now.
"It doesn't matter," Madara said, shaking his head. "We're only using each other."
"Their goal is to destroy Akatsuki. Our goal is to use them to destroy Akatsuki. To the daimyō and the Kage, the existence of Akatsuki is a thorn in their side."
"They're only cooperating with us temporarily, forced by circumstance."
"As for what becomes of the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Fire—what does that matter to them?"
"In their hearts, the best outcome would be for those two nations to fight each other to mutual destruction. I'm sure they'd be quite happy to divide up the Fire Country's vast lands afterward."
"Let them do as they please."
Madara raised his right hand, then clenched it tightly into a fist. "Before absolute power, all things are but fleeting clouds."
"All we need to do is reclaim the Rinnegan, capture the Tailed Beasts, and continue with the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Capturing the Tailed Beasts would be manageable—but the Rinnegan had to be retrieved, no matter what.
After finishing, Madara turned toward Obito. "To be safe, there's a mission I need you to carry out. This time, you must not fail me again."
"Black Zetsu—you'll assist him fully."
If he had any other choice, Madara truly wouldn't have sent Obito.
He was more trouble than he was worth.
But there was simply no one else available.
"If necessary, you may command the full force of one hundred thousand White Zetsu."
Former Konoha Village—now the Land of Whirlpools.
Envoys from the great nations had traveled thousands of miles to gather here. Their intentions were obvious: to form an alliance and together annihilate the Akatsuki.
The way Nagato had once crushed Iwagakure with overwhelming force, then subdued the Lightning and Water countries to impose his "peace," had become a nightmare to every daimyō and high-ranking ninja—like a Damocles' sword hanging perpetually above their heads.
And when Nagato, under the banner of "Dawn's Light—Ambassador of Peace," began recruiting members from across the shinobi world, it was as if he were digging at the very foundations of their power.
Once their luxury and authority were threatened, such things could never be tolerated.
In their eyes, Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools were no different.
But this time—they were disappointed.
Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools refused their offer of alliance.
"Tell those ignorant fools," Naruto declared coldly, "that anyone who dares to rekindle war will face the most severe punishment."
"If you don't want your countries to suffer, I advise you to abandon this foolish idea now."
"Has it only been a little over a year, and you've already forgotten what Pain said back then? Looks like that lesson wasn't painful enough."
"Do you all want to 'feel pain' again?"
The allied envoy's face darkened until it seemed ink might drip from it. He hadn't expected Naruto to refuse so bluntly.
"So that's how it is, then? You're saying Konoha intends to stand with Akatsuki?"
He raised his voice several notches, shouting, "Do you even understand what that means? Do you know what you're doing, Konoha?!"
That was nearly the entire shinobi world's military might combined!
Did they really think they could stand against the whole ninja continent by themselves?
So what if that so-called Pain had possessed the Rinnegan—did he really think he was the Sage of Six Paths himself?
Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools binding themselves to Akatsuki—such madness was nothing short of suicide.
Naruto raised his voice in turn:
"This is all under orders from Lord Danzō. Lord Danzō seeks peace, and we stand firmly on the side of justice!"
Bullshit!
Who didn't know how Danzō had stolen the Hokage's seat?
Who didn't know how he had schemed to control the Land of Fire and created this 'Land of Whirlpools' in the first place?
The side of justice?
Ha! Spit!
The envoy cursed furiously in his heart.
"You people in Konoha have lost your minds! Danzō's gone insane—ugh!"
Before he could finish, a katana was suddenly pressed against his neck.
A masked Root ninja standing beside Naruto had drawn his blade.
Naruto spoke coldly, " Danzō-sama is not someone a lowly worm like you has the right to insult."
"Get out of my sight. Go back and tell those self-proclaimed great men—tell them to wash their necks and wait."
If they wanted war, then war it would be.
Naruto had long wanted to clean up those so-called nobles and daimyō. He had simply lacked a justification before—but now, the excuse had delivered itself to his doorstep.
Fine. He'd settle everything once and for all this time.
Nagato had been too soft before.
If they were going to fight, they'd strike hard—hit until the enemy had no strength left to rise again.
Let the shinobi world truly feel pain.
"Being surrounded by the entire shinobi alliance," Naruto said, watching the departing envoy's figure fade into the distance, "makes it sound like we're the villains here."
"When in truth, we're the ones standing for justice."
Sasuke and Neji stood quietly beside him, their determined eyes showing unwavering resolve.
"Everyone," Naruto said with a grin, "how about we make this one big?"
"Let's go against the whole world."
"Sounds thrilling, doesn't it?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Sasuke's eyes spun into the Mangekyō Sharingan. With a cool smirk, he said,
"Hmph—just a bunch of small fry."
"One man is enough."
As he grew older, Sasuke's strength was rapidly approaching its peak—his power now increasing at an astonishing rate. He was swelling with pride, bordering on arrogance.
Unfortunately, aside from Naruto, there were hardly any who could truly humble him now.
He was practically itching for a fight—
but no one was strong enough to send him limping home again.
Beside him, Neji crossed his arms and said in a sage-like tone,
"Frogs at the bottom of a well will never know how vast the sky really is.
They stubbornly believe the patch of blue above them is the entire world."
"They… will never see through their own destiny."
"Hahaha! How could you possibly start a fight like this without us?"
A hearty laugh rang out from the doorway as several figures entered the room.
"I heard we're going to war with the great nations," Fū said with a grin, rolling up her sleeves eagerly. "I've been wanting to teach them a lesson for a while now."
"I'm quite content with the life we have now," Gaara said calmly, hands in his pockets. "No one is allowed to disturb it."
No sooner had he finished than Fū hooked her arm through his, smiling—
those damned show-offs.
"The Uchiha clan," declared several voices at once,
"will follow Uzumaki-sama's lead unto death!"
"Notify Nagato," Naruto ordered. "He should be ready."
"Wouldn't want him to get bitten to death by a swarm of ants."
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