274Gaara is coming to vote.AI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 274: Gaara Comes to Pledge Allegiance
Powerful air currents jetted from the soles of his feet.
The meteorite in his chest supplied energy.
Naruto controlled his direction, reaching tens of thousands of meters into the sky in a few seconds.
His initial speed was extremely fast.
He spread his hands, revealing black holes in his palms, and Chakra transformed into beams of light that swept straight across the sky.
They only disappeared at the edge of his vision.
The range was very far.
And he could also increase its power by boosting the output.
Naruto's mind stirred, and he opened the weapons on his arms again.
The armguards extended to both sides, revealing a rocket launcher.
It was very similar to the Asura Path of the Six Paths of Pain.
Or perhaps Sasori had used it as a reference.
The rocket flew out.
Faint Chakra lines trailed behind it.
Naruto could easily control it to turn and track.
It finally exploded in a cloud, affecting an area of nearly a hundred meters.
The power was quite astonishing.
Naruto clasped his hands together, and the meteorite in his chest rippled, as pale purple light spread out, forming a crisscrossing light membrane.
An energy shield.
The maximum capacity depended on the amount of Chakra input.
Of course, if he encountered a super powerful attack directly, there wouldn't be enough time to increase the Chakra.
But for general Ninjutsu, defending against it wasn't much of a problem.
Naruto dispelled the shield, clapped his chest, and an endless stream of Chakra immediately gushed out.
Like a Tailed Beast Ball, it gradually condensed before him.
He used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to the Desert of Illusions and threw the energy orb.
With a resounding boom, the ground shook, and a giant crater appeared.
Exceeding a hundred meters in diameter.
Although it couldn't compare to Kurama's Tailed Beast Ball, it was no worse than Shukaku's.
"As expected of Sasori of the Red Sand."
Naruto exclaimed once more.
This steel battle suit was truly the Puppeteer's magnum opus.
It didn't have much technology.
However, it also meant that mass production was unlikely.
The energy source alone was difficult to obtain.
Naruto returned to the Treehouse.
Sasori seemed to remember something and reminded him, "You can fully use your Ninjutsuthrough it and gain a certain amplification."
"Oh?"
Naruto became interested, forming hand signs, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A huge fireball spewed from his mouth.
It was a circle larger than when normally cast.
He formed hand signs again.
A water dragon rose from the ground, extinguishing the fireball.
Playing with fire in the forest wasn't a good idea.
"Land of Snow's technology?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow and asked.
This was extremely similar to Fukahō Natori's Chakra Armor back then.
"Yes."
Sasori nodded faintly and said, "I thought it was pretty good, so I added it to the puppet."
He had indeed received many surprises in the Tianming Organization.
Chakra Armor was one of them.
As a Puppeteer, he inherently needed to strengthen his own defense.
And he wouldn't always be inside hiruko.
With this technology, his strength had advanced to the next level.
He could use his Ninjutsu through hiruko.
Naruto couldn't help but smile.
Puppet plus armor, it was a movable armor.
If this thing were a bit bigger, wouldn't it be a Gundam?
Although he didn't need it, it would be a devastating weapon in ordinary wars.
The decisive factor in war lay with Ninja.
After all, Ninja possessed the ability to destroy heaven and earth.
One strong individual destroying a nation was not a big problem.
So, it couldn't be calculated according to ancient warfare.
The best approach was Ninja fighting Ninja, and ordinary armies fighting ordinary armies.
The Tianming Organization was responsible for the Ninja aspect.
The rest was left to En Yui.
It wasn't that Naruto had nothing better to do; it was that the Land of Fire needed the baptism of war.
Especially the nobles.
If they weren't dealt with, how could the world be changed?
And it was best for the common people, meaning the army, to handle it themselves.
Only then could the inner shackles be broken.
If the Tianming Organization did everything, they might only end up with a group of hothouse flowers, lacking strong willpower.
Naruto didn't say anything more to Sasori.
Merlin had already mentioned the Gundam matter.
It was just a matter of time.
He took off the steel battle suit and began practicing Ninjutsu again.
After Fire Release came Water Release.
He could conveniently learn Senju Tobirama's Ninjutsu with Sakura.
Immediately after, Naruto met Mizukage Mei Terumī.
"You can use Water Release too?"
When Mei Terumī arrived at Sasuke's Courtyard with the Anbu, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
As the Mizukage, she naturally couldn't sneak into Konoha; she had to do it openly, first meeting Hokage Tsunade.
"It's nothing."
Naruto secretly thought, 'Fortunately, you haven't seen Lava Release and Boil Release.'
Otherwise, you'd suspect me of secretly learning your Bloodline Limit, or colluding with Nagato and participating in the Tailed Beast capture operation.
Mei Terumī rolled her eyes and didn't pursue the topic.
For Naruto, a mere Water Release was indeed nothing.
She was just surprised that such a powerful person would still learn Water Release.
"Is there something?"
Naruto greeted Sakura and left the courtyard.
"It's about the Akatsuki Organization."
Mei Terumī walked and looked around.
She couldn't help but feel envious.
Although Hidden Mist Village had earned a lot of money through the Tianming Organization, it was far from Konoha.
It would probably take several more years to catch up to its pace.
The greater possibility was never catching up.
After all, Konoha earned more money and wouldn't stop.
"Ah, that."
Naruto was not surprised at all.
He was actually a bit annoyed by this matter.
When he made a bet with Nagato, he blurted out and sold Hidden Sand Village and Hidden Mist Village to his senior brother.
But going back on his word was not his style.
"You should also understand that the Akatsuki Organization's next target is very likely our Hidden Mist Village."
Mei Terumī took a deep breath and asked, "Hidden Mist Village and the Tianming Organization have cooperated quite happily; you wouldn't just ignore us, would you?"
Naruto twitched his mouth.
Why did it feel like she was calling him a scumbag?
"Why don't you bring Hidden Mist Village to join Konoha?"
"...?"
Mei Terumī suddenly looked at him, and a few seconds later, she brushed her hair, "What? You want to keep this big sister?"
"No."
Naruto shook his head and said, "Aren't I giving you a solution?"
"Tsk, you men."
Mei Terumī snorted lightly, "If Hidden Mist Villageleaves the Land of Water, it will lose its foundation. I think you should find another way. Besides, isn't what your Tianming Organizationvalues in our cooperation the various resources of the Land of Water?"
"That's also true."
Naruto paused and said, "The last option is for you to temporarily obey the Akatsuki Organization's orders."
"Are you serious?"
Mei Terumī frowned and asked, "That doesn't sound like the you I know."
"Oh? What kind of person am I in your eyes?"
Naruto asked casually.
"A tough guy."
Mei Terumī laughed.
"???"
Naruto was speechless; what the heck was a tough guy?
But he understood what she meant.
"I had a bet with the Akatsuki Organization. I won't tell you the specifics, but I can guarantee that if you don't resist, the Akatsuki Organization won't do anything to your Hidden Mist Village, nor will it endanger our business."
Mei Terumī's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
No wonder this guy sat by and watched the Akatsuki Organization annex Hidden Cloud Villageand Iwagakure.
It turned out they had already communicated.
She sighed softly and asked, "Are you just going to hand this big sister over to another man like that?"
"They'll come back anyway."
Naruto shrugged, saying indifferently.
"…"
Mei Terumī felt a surge of powerlessness.
The weak get beaten.
Hidden Mist Village was just an insignificant bargaining chip in front of the Akatsuki Organization and the Tianming Organization.
They could only be slaughtered at will.
She couldn't say anything either.
Since things had come to this, Mei Terumī could only follow Naruto's suggestion.
Otherwise, her fate would probably be the same as Iwagakure and Hidden Cloud Village.
After Mei Terumī left, Naruto met Gaara again.
"The Land of Wind Daimyo has already decided to cooperate with the Akatsuki Organization."
The very first sentence, straight to the point, was different from Hidden Mist Village's situation.
Naruto glanced at him and poured him a cup of tea.
The relationship between the Land of Wind and Sunagakure had always been complex.
Due to the failures in the previous Ninja WorldWars, Sunagakure's aid was drastically reduced, forcing the Kazekage to embark on the path of a gold miner.
Now, it seemed normal for them to communicate with the Akatsuki Organization beforehand.
"What are your thoughts?"
Naruto asked.
Gaara was a very responsible Kazekage.
He truly worked his heart out until his dying breath.
But Sunagakure's environment severely limited his abilities, and the Land of Wind held them back even more.
No matter how diligent he was, it could only be that way.
Becoming strong was truly too difficult.
"This is a letter from the Land of Wind yesterday."
Gaara didn't answer his question, taking out a letter from his In my arms and handing it to him.
Naruto opened it and scanned through it.
There wasn't much to say, actually.
It was just an order for Sunagakure to implement a non-resistance strategy and quietly wait for the Akatsuki Organization to take over.
Hmm, this letter had a strange sense of familiarity.
Naruto guaranteed with the latter half of Six-Ears that this thing was written by Karen.
"If we refuse, the Land of Wind will sever ties with us, and aid will naturally cease. Moreover, we will face attacks from the Akatsuki Organization."
Gaara's tone was calm, as if he was talking about something unrelated to him.
Naruto was a little confused by his attitude.
Actually, according to the alliance between Sunagakure and Konoha Village, he could have asked Tsunade for help.
Although it might not succeed.
After all, it concerned the Akatsuki Organization, and Konoha had no reason to agree.
The premise was that Gaara didn't know about the Tianming Organization's existence.
With Tianming, Konoha naturally wasn't afraid of the Akatsuki Organization.
But since he knew, why would he do that?
"I investigated the Tianming Organization."
Gaara continued, "With your wealth, you can fully cover Sunagakure's expenses, so I want to join your Land of Fire and protect the Daimyo together with Konoha."
"???"
Naruto had never expected Gaara to have such a plan.
At first glance, it seemed extremely unreasonable.
But upon closer thought, it was understandable.
Firstly, because Sunagakure itself lived a rather hard life; leaving the desert might lead to a better life.
Secondly, he said 'join the Land of Fire,' not 'Konoha Village.'
According to the long-standing one-country-one-village system, the Daimyo and nobles provide funds, the Ninja villages receive funding, and in turn, obey their orders and protect them.
But it didn't say that an entire country only had one Ninja village or one Ninja force.
For example, the Land of Fire had the Fire Temple.
Gaara's meaning was that they wanted to be on equal footing with Konoha.
Finally, if they moved to the Land of Fire, their environment would be greatly improved.
As for the Land of Wind losing Sunagakure, there was no need to worry; a second Ninja village would appear.
It would just be slightly weaker.
"You trust the Tianming Organization that much?"
Naruto couldn't help but ask, "There must be many people in your Sunagakure who object, right? Although you say you'll have equal status with Konoha, you'd still be subject to the Tianming Organization. Would you be willing to live under someone else's roof?"
"The opposing Ninja have already been dealt with by me."
Gaara looked at him and said, "I don't trust the Tianming Organization; it's just that the strength gap is too great, so trust or not trust is meaningless."
He was different from others; he had witnessed the battle between the Tianming Organization and the Akatsuki Organization and deeply understood how terrifying this guy in front of him truly was.
He was an existence who could easily destroy Sunagakure alone.
Since that was the case, what was there to fear?
Besides, he genuinely thought Naruto was a good person, someone he could get along with.
Gaara had been restricted by the Land of Wind for too long and was already fed up.
If the Daimyo was unjust, then he couldn't be blamed for being ruthless.
Compared to the Akatsuki Organization, he preferred the Tianming Organization.
After all, Naruto had saved him twice.
If he had any designs on Sunagakure, why would he wait until today?
"That reason is acceptable."
Naruto stroked his chin.
Although it was a bit offensive, he truly wasn't very interested.
The only valuable thing in Sunagakure was Shukaku.
The rest was really not that great.
It could be seen from the original work that Sasori and Deidara alone could wipe them out.
It was arguably the weakest of the Five Great Villages.
Comparable to Hidden Mist Village.
"If you agree, I will move Sunagakure to the southwestern border of the Land of Fire, no need for too good a place."
Gaara's attitude was quite humble.
The Land of Fire was vast and rich in resources, but the most fertile part was the central area.
Which was where Konoha Village was located.
And the southwestern border, adjacent to the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind, had the worst conditions.
Though still better than the desert.
At the same time, Gaara also conveyed another meaning.
Their Sunagakure could guard the southwest of the Land of Fire.
After all, there were several countries to the west, while the east was a vast ocean.
With Sunagakure there, their Konoha Village's pressure would be much lighter.
"I only have one condition."
Naruto raised a finger and said.
Sunagakure coming to pledge allegiance was naturally a good thing; he had no reason to refuse.
And the price he paid was almost negligible.
The Tianming Organization had plenty of everything except money.
Supporting a Sunagakure wouldn't even be one percent of their expenditure.
"Tell me."
Having conditions was normal.
If there were no conditions, Gaara would be a little afraid.
Although he and Naruto were friends, they hadn't become confidants like in the original work.
As the saying goes, even brothers settle accounts clearly; he felt more at ease if things were made clear.
"It's simple: like Konoha, you must operate according to the Tianming Organization's system."
Naruto was rarely serious.
Ninja were essentially under an employment system.
Many people were heartless and unrighteous.
They contributed little to society and instead created chaos.
What he wanted to do was change this system.
To get more Ninja to engage in different professions.
Instead of fighting every day.
Konoha was developing towards this trend.
Sunagakure, if it wanted to join, must also comply.
"That's natural."
Gaara nodded and said.
In his opinion, this condition was too simple.
Since the Tianming Organization provided the funds, it was only right to abide by their rules.
"You don't understand the Tianming Organization's system yet, which is why you answered so readily."
Naruto patted his shoulder and said, "Since you're here, stay for a few more days and learn."