Chapter 177: I Can Do Akatsuki's Mission and Attend the Alliance Meeting
Naraku Uehara didn't have time to worry about much else. He had Kabuto Yakushi guide him again to plunder a pile of snake-related ninjutsu researched by Orochimaru, and taking advantage of the limited-time exchange, threw them all into the exchange list.
Besides that, Kabuto Yakushi wasn't idle either.
Kabuto also had Naraku Uehara dispose of a batch of experimental equipment that Orochimaru didn't use much. These were for the biological science laboratory he planned to open in Amegakure in the future.
This guy always liked to mix his own private affairs into his superior's business.
Naraku Uehara didn't care and even wanted to go a step further, "How about I take everything? Anyway, Orochimaru attacked Konoha again this time. Tsunade will probably send people to suppress Otogakure soon!"
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi looked at Naraku Uehara speechlessly and pushed up his glasses. He somewhat suspected that Naraku Uehara had been eyeing this base for a long time!
First, under the pretext of stealing the Rashomon summoning contract scroll, he attacked Konoha with Orochimaru. Then, in the process, he made Orochimaru the scapegoat. Now, under the banner of Konoha's impending attack on Orochimaru's base, he was emptying Orochimaru's base.
After all, for the past few years, Orochimaru's main energy had been focused on this base.
Some of the scientific experimental equipment here was handmade by Orochimaru himself. Suitable ones couldn't be bought in the ninja world, and they couldn't even find anyone who could remake them.
"Alright, then I'll take it all."
Naraku Uehara took a large pile of sealing scrolls, and after emptying Orochimaru's experimental base, he waved goodbye to Kabuto Yakushi.
Before leaving, Naraku Uehara summoned Obito Uchiha and had him release the Edo Tensei bodies of Orochimaru, the First Hokage, and the Second Hokage.
"Bastard!"
Orochimaru gritted his teeth as he watched Naraku Uehara's receding figure and fiercely clenched his fists, "Naraku Uehara, I haven't settled the score with you yet!"
"Let's settle it all next time!"
Naraku Uehara turned back, squinted at Orochimaru, and after showing a friendly and kind smile, instantly disappeared from Orochimaru's sight.
"It's space-time ninjutsu again!"
Orochimaru's brow furrowed, his expression ugly, "No wonder this guy always appears suddenly, coming and going as he pleases!"
"Lord Orochimaru…"
Kabuto Yakushi helped Orochimaru up, his expression somewhat awkward, "Lord Naraku has completely emptied this experimental base."
Only then did Orochimaru notice that the secret base in Otogakure was already empty. A wave of anger immediately surged up, and he was about to lose control of his temper again!
Unfortunately, he couldn't take his anger out on Kabuto Yakushi.
After all, Kabuto Yakushi didn't have the strength to stop Naraku Uehara.
"I… forget it."
Orochimaru clenched his fists and then slowly released them, saying in a deep voice, "I exposed my tracks again by going to Konoha this time. Tsunade will probably send people to suppress Otogakure soon. This base can't be saved anyway. We're going to the northern base!"
Orochimaru had already foreseen the coming crisis.
In order to mobilize enough manpower to suppress Orochimaru, Konoha had decided to end the confrontation with Iwagakure in the Land of Grass at any cost.
To avoid triggering a ninja world war, Tsunade began to use political and diplomatic means to resolve it, deciding to initiate an alliance meeting.
Besides the Land of Wind and the Land of Water, the two small countries bordering the Land of Earth, the Land of Rain and the Land of Waterfalls, also received Tsunade's invitation.
This Fifth Hokage's methods were even stronger than her teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi's. She used both threats and inducements. This woman Tsunade was really a bit shameless, leaving these countries with no choice but to agree to her demands with sullen faces.
The leader of the most powerful nation in the ninja world, Konoha, had lost all face. There was really nowhere to reason with this kind of thing.
Inside Amegakure.
It was still pouring with rain.
When Naraku Uehara returned to the village, Konan was looking through an invitation letter sent by a Konoha messenger, her face showing some complexity and hesitation.
When Konan heard Uehara's movement and looked up, the hesitation on her face vanished. Her eyes couldn't help but curve into a crescent as she chuckled lightly, "Naraku, you're back just in time."
"Teacher?"
Naraku Uehara's expression was slightly puzzled. He was still not quite used to it. This was the first time he had returned to the village and Konan wasn't angry.
Shouldn't he strike while the iron is hot?
Naraku Uehara decisively took out the Scroll of Seals, squinted his eyes, and handed it to Konan with a smile, "Teacher, a gift for you this time!"
The smile on Konan's face gradually faded, leaving only a trace of doubt and confusion, "This… is it another corpse?"
"No!"
Naraku Uehara patted the Scroll of Seals and explained softly, "This is Konoha's Scroll of Seals. Didn't Orochimaru attack Konoha a few days ago? That guy must have snatched the Scroll of Seals at that time. I happened to infiltrate his base and found this."
"Hmm? You secretly went to track Orochimaru again?"
Konan's brow immediately furrowed. Just as she was about to lecture Naraku Uehara a few words, she subconsciously closed her mouth.
After a moment, the expression on Konan's face eased slightly. She sighed softly, "Ever since Orochimaru mastered the Edo Tensei technique and attacked Konoha twice without a scratch, his strength is different from the past. Don't easily put yourself in a dangerous situation."
"Mm."
Naraku Uehara obediently nodded.
Konan slowly stood on her tiptoes, reached out her hand to tidy Uehara's bangs, and continued softly, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to become a formal member of Akatsuki? Nagato and I have already agreed. It just so happens that there is a rather busy mission recently that needs manpower. But when you go out to perform the mission, you must wear a hood to hide your identity."
"Okay. What mission?"
"Attack the Konoha Anbu in the Land of Grass."
Konan put down the scroll in her hand, picked up another scroll, and said softly, "The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, has made a high-priced commission to Akatsuki, asking our members to help them attack the Konoha Anbu and disrupt the alliance meeting initiated by the Fifth Hokage."
This was the largest single mission Akatsuki had ever received.
However, this mission required a lot of manpower. After all, it was necessary to launch a full-scale attack on the Konoha Anbu throughout the Land of Grass and drive them all out within a day. This was not something a single team could easily accomplish.
Moreover, they would subsequently have to find a way to disrupt the alliance meeting composed of the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, the high-ranking and de facto leader of Kirigakure Mei Terumi, the Sand Village consultant elder Chiyo, and the leader of Takigakure Shibuki.
The simplest method was for Akatsuki's forces to be dispersed to various places to attack the teams of Tsunade, Mei Terumi, and Chiyo, either killing or repelling them.
The risk was also much higher than past missions.
"Alliance meeting?"
After Naraku Uehara was finally happy that he could become a member of Akatsuki, he became a little curious. He hadn't received any news recently.
"This was initiated by the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade."
Konan picked up the scroll that had been on the table before and handed it to Naraku Uehara, "The location is the Land of Grass's daimyo's mansion, and the time is two weeks later. Konoha also invited our Amegakure to participate. Moreover, they want you or Hanzo of the Salamander to participate, but you have to go on an Akatsuki mission…"
Konan slowly raised her head to look at Naraku Uehara and said softly, "To be honest, I'm very willing to let you participate in this meeting. It would be a good opportunity to have the ninja world acknowledge you as the future leader of Amegakure. But Nagato said to let you make your own choice…"
"..."
Naraku Uehara subconsciously gripped the scroll.
After a while, Naraku Uehara suddenly tilted his head back and chuckled lightly, "I'll go to this alliance meeting, and I'll go on the mission at the same time!"
"Hmm?"
"If we just look at the map, whether Iwagakure or Konoha gets the entire territory of the Land of Grass, it would be very dangerous for us who are close to the Land of Grass. This way, almost half of our border would be connected to them."
Naraku Uehara stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and slowly raised his head, "Let the Akatsuki members attack the Konoha Anbu first and drive them all out of the Land of Grass. Konoha will definitely not give up, so the alliance meeting will definitely continue, right?"
Naraku Uehara pinched his fingers and chuckled lightly, "Then I'll go and participate in the alliance meeting and see if I can reach some terms with Konoha, for example, obtaining some defensive key points."
This was equivalent to eating from both sides.
On one hand, he would use the mission commission from Akatsuki and Iwagakure to put Konoha at a disadvantage in the struggle for the Land of Grass. On the other hand, he would use his identity as an Amegakure ninja to help Konoha seize the land of the Land of Grass and counterattack Iwagakure at the same time.
Naraku Uehara was very clear in his heart.
The area of the Land of Grass was no less than that of the Land of Rain. It would be good enough for Amegakure to get a part of it; it was impossible to get too much.
"..."
After Konan was silent for a while, she suddenly held his hand, and her other hand caressed his cheek. The corners of her lips curved into a smile as she said softly, "Nagato was right, Naraku has really grown up!"
"Uh, I guess so!"
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Uehara suddenly felt his face getting a little hot. His thumb gently caressed Konan's fingers, feeling that her fingers were a bit slippery.
The rain outside the window grew heavier.
A young kunoichi with her hair in a bun suddenly said loudly from outside the window, "Lady Angel, we were just patrolling here and found that someone has intruded…"
"Hmm? Ajisai?"
Konan subconsciously withdrew her hand, slowly turned her head to look at the girl who had entered, and explained softly, "No one has intruded. Naraku is back."
"Senior Naraku is back?"
Ajisai paused outside the window for a moment, clenched her small fists, then bowed to Konan and retreated.
"Hmm, do you have to patrol in such heavy rain?"
Naraku Uehara looked at Ajisai's figure stepping into the rain with some curiosity, "Isn't the Rain Tiger at Will Technique used for sensory defense?"
Konan shook her head and said in a low voice, "We always have to cultivate the habits of the village's ninjas. Sooner or later, Amegakure will have to rely on young people like you."
"How could that be?"
Naraku Uehara raised an eyebrow and shook his head with a light laugh, "Teacher Konan is only thirty-two years old this year! Still very young!"
This was the truth.
The thirties were a woman's most mature time.
Konan's face instantly turned cold as she said softly, "Alright, since you're back, go and see Nagato. He must miss you very much too."
"Mm."
Naraku Uehara nodded and said softly, "I also brought him a gift. It should be able to help him."
"Wait…"
Just as Uehara was pushing the door to leave, Konan's hand suddenly moved lightly. Sheets of origami formed a paper umbrella, which she handed to Naraku Uehara, "It's raining heavily outside. Don't get your clothes wet again."
"..."
Naraku Uehara looked at the paper umbrella with a hard-to-describe expression. With such heavy rain outside, would a paper umbrella really be useful?
Besides, with his constitution, how could he be afraid of getting wet in the rain!
After leaving Konan's office, Naraku Uehara looked around and saw a team of Amegakure genin patrolling in the pouring rain.
Three people were sharing two oil-paper umbrellas.
Ajisai was walking in the middle, looking a bit pitiful.
Hmm, had Amegakure's funds become so tight since he left?
"Here, take it!"
Naraku Uehara handed his paper umbrella to Ajisai in the middle and said softly, "You guys have to continue patrolling. I'm going to the central tower to see Lord Pain. I don't really need an umbrella."
"Yes."
Ajisai shyly extended her hand and said timidly, "I don't want your things, but I know this umbrella was made by Lady Angel, so I will accept it."
Naraku Uehara: "..."
So you like Konan but not me?
What's wrong with all the little girls in the ninja world!
But just as Ajisai reached out her hand to take the paper umbrella from Naraku Uehara, the chakra on the simple paper umbrella suddenly dissipated. The entire umbrella fell apart, turning into sheets of white paper that fell into the water.
Ajisai slowly raised her head, a trace of grief and indignation gradually appearing in her eyes, "Senior Naraku, did you do that on purpose?"
Who in the entire Amegakure didn't know about Ajisai's admiration for Konan!
What Uehara had destroyed was a paper umbrella made by Konan!
Naraku Uehara slowly turned his head to look at the window of Konan's office. A tall figure was standing there watching, none other than Konan.
Naraku Uehara looked at the grieving and indignant little girl, shook his head, and sighed, "To be honest, you might not believe it, but I also want to go and ask my teacher."
(End of Chapter)
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