Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 301 The Akatsuki Organization Suddenly Begins to Operate

Orochimaru suddenly said, "The power of the Dragon Veins has stirred; they are beginning to return."

His hands moved rapidly, forming hand seals that transformed into a series of afterimages. Almost instantly, he activated dozens of massive sealing arrays that recorded data, working in conjunction with ten continuously operating sealing arrays to record all data in every conceivable way.

The most important means of recording information is the sealing belts wrapped around the four Konoha ninjas.

They will follow another ninja from the ninja world into the connecting passage between the two worlds, and transmit back all the information about the passage and even the other ninja world.

Orochimaru stared intently at the dozens of sealing arrays in front of him, along with a dozen or so Konoha ninjas, maintaining the sophisticated instruments connecting the sealing arrays to the electronic computer.

Just as Orochimaru said, the power of the Dragon Vein suddenly began to boil, connecting with four Konoha ninjas from parallel timelines, drawing out another very similar Dragon Vein power from their bodies.

But to everyone's surprise, the four Konoha ninjas did not leave through a wormhole or a distorted spacetime portal. Instead, they stayed in place, glowing, and weakened their existence by making their bodies ethereal.

Along with the seals on their bodies, the four Konoha ninjas gradually became transparent, and the light they emitted simultaneously intensified, as if they were being gradually erased by some strange power.

Orochimaru and his companions are skilled in Summoning Jutsu, while Natsume and Minato Namikaze are also proficient in Flying Thunder God Technique, demonstrating their deep understanding of the power of space and time.

They were certain that the power that gradually erased the four Konoha ninjas was the power of space-time, with the power of time dominating and the power of space playing a secondary role.

None of the three fully trusted the sealing array, and each focused on sensing and trying their best to remember it.

When the white light flashed, the four Konoha ninjas disappeared at the same time, and the boiling dragon vein suddenly calmed down, returning to its original normal pulsating state.

Xia Zuo laughed: "So it really is true that you can travel between different times and spaces through the dragon vein. This has now been confirmed."

Orochimaru relaxed and finally had time to stick out his tongue and lick his cheek.

He feigned a troubled expression and complained, "Oh dear, there's so much data to record. I don't know when I'll be able to get anything done."

Orochimaru couldn't suppress the smile in his voice, which made Minato Namikaze and Natsume exchange a smile. Natsume said, "Then we won't disturb you any longer, senior. You can concentrate on your work."

After saying that, the two Hokage left the laboratory side by side.

After they left, Minato Namikaze asked, "Fifth Hokage, when and how do you plan to promote your ideal of reaching for the stars?"

Xia Zuo replied, "Ideals are the most sincere and powerful thing in the hearts of young people, so I plan to start by promoting them at the Ninja Academy, and then promote them to ninjas under the age of 20."

"As for older ninjas, I won't promote them."

"The treacherous life of a ninja always instills an overly cautious and defensive mentality in people. If you try to spread any message to them, they will become even more wary and suspicious."

Minato Namikaze smiled and nodded. Since the Fifth Hokage, Natsume, had already thought of this issue, he would not say anything more.

Over the next few days, Xia Zuo left Loulan and returned to Konoha Village to promote his ideals of reaching for the stars to the children of the Ninja Academy and the youngest ninjas.

But as soon as he returned to the village, he was attacked by a golden-haired girl with twin ponytails in the middle of the night, right in his own bathroom.

Xia Zuo couldn't refuse this sudden attack. He could only fight back with all his might, completely suppress the enemy's arrogance, and then start negotiating.

Four hours later, Xia Zuo completely defeated Jin Mao. His twin ponytails had long been completely undone and could only be draped over his shoulders in a slightly disheveled manner, which instead revealed a strange charm.

Tsunade asked dejectedly, "I'm fully prepared, why can't you give me a child?"

Xia Zuo smiled gently and said, "Because I feel that the most suitable time has not yet come, and you are no match for me. In every sense, you are my defeated opponent, so I cannot force you to agree to your request in advance."

Tsunade was seething with hatred, but she didn't dare to actually bite him.

Because she knew that Xia Zuo's skin was tougher and more elastic than cowhide, and that biting it would only cause her gums to bleed.

Even his most sensitive areas couldn't cause Xia Zuo the slightest pain; they only brought him pleasure.

Tsunade grew angrier the more she thought about it, but there was nothing she could do. She could only turn her head away from Natsume and not let him see her blushing face.

Tsunade did not stay overnight. After regaining some strength, she changed her clothes and left dejectedly.

Unfortunately, although she had a close relationship with Xia Zuo, she was not the mistress of Xia Zuo's house.

That evening, Uchiha Izumi, the head of the Uchiha clan, returned to his home and then boldly climbed over the wall into Xia Zuo's yard.

Quan naturally pushed open the door and walked into Xia Zuo's room, then snuggled directly into his arms.

Xia Zuo asked curiously, "Why are you here so late? What urgent matter has happened?"

Uchiha Izumi gave a soft "hmm" but didn't speak. Instead, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, which made Xia Zuo smile and block her red lips, taking a passionate kiss.

After letting out a satisfied sigh, Izumi licked her lips before speaking: "Our Uchiha informants in Sunagakure report that Sunagakure was attacked this afternoon. Their Fifth Kazekage was defeated by the invaders and has gone missing."

Hearing Quan's words, Xia Zuo was slightly taken aback, then realized what had happened.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and the slightest hint of his terrifying aura made Uchiha Izumi, who possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, feel her body stiffen.

Xia Zuo noticed that the delicate body in his arms had stiffened, realizing that he had lost his composure, and immediately composed himself.

He explained to Uchiha Izumi, "I know who did it."

Who knew that Izumi said, "I guessed it too. It's the Akatsuki organization from Amegakure. With our Konoha's control over the ninja world, only they have this kind of fighting power."

Xia Zuo was very satisfied with Quan's intelligence. After a moment of tender affection, he said, "These guys have been lying low for four years, and they finally couldn't resist starting to cause trouble."

Do you know anything about the other tailed beasts and their jinchūriki?

Uchiha Izumi hummed in agreement: "I came back so late to contact the clan's intelligence agents."

"As you instructed, brother, I activated the intelligence agents in Takigakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure to ascertain the situation of the Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki."

"Among them, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Kaede, from Takigakure, had already met with misfortune half a year ago. However, their high-ranking members were also killed and replaced with shapeshifters, which is why it was not exposed in time."

"The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Uta, who defected from Kirigakure, has disappeared. The valley where he lived in seclusion bears the marks of a massive battle, indicating that he was forcibly defeated and taken away."

"The Three-Tails Isobu, which Kirigakure has not yet recovered, has also disappeared. Since it revived in the sea, it left no trace of battle. It is unknown whether it migrated or was captured."

Xia Zuo said, "It should have been captured. The Three-Tailed Isobu is the laziest of the nine tailed beasts. Unless it gets hit on the head and is completely outmatched, it will never move."

"Four years ago, Isobu died along with the Fourth Mizukage, a Jinchūriki, in the coup in Kirigakure. Based on the timeline, he should have just been resurrected not long ago."

"I think the Akatsuki have been holding back until today in order to wait for the resurrection of the Three-Tails, Isobu, so that they can gather the tailed beasts in the shortest possible time and catch our five great ninja villages off guard."

Uchiha Izumi agreed, "Brother is right, many Jinchuriki have been involved in accidents."

"The Four-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure, Rōshi, the new Five-Tails Jinchuriki after Han's incident, and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki of Kumogakure have all gone missing."

"Adding to the recent incident involving the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure and Gaara, the Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast, the number of Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki involved in the incident has reached seven."

Xia Zuo frowned slightly: "The Akatsuki organization is really fast, and their targeting is very strong."

"So, the only ones who haven't gotten into trouble yet are Naruto and Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. It seems they're saving the toughest challenge for last."

Xia Zuo sneered, "No matter how they rank themselves, they'll all break their teeth in Konoha Village."

Naruto Uzumaki is his disciple. Not counting the previous training and upbringing, three years have passed since he formally became his disciple, and his strength is no longer comparable to what it used to be.

Orochimaru believed that he needed more of the Orochimaru Substitution Technique to protect himself from harm in order to fight Naruto Uzumaki.

However, since it is a sparring match with a senior ninja, Naruto Uzumaki will not use the power of the Nine-Tails, relying entirely on the ninjutsu and taijutsu he has trained himself.

However, if it comes to a life-or-death battle, Naruto won't tolerate Orochimaru. He will definitely team up with Kurama immediately and launch a frenzied attack in a half-tailed beast form, trying to kill Orochimaru in a short time.

Naruto Uzumaki is able to work perfectly with Kurama, making him a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. His overall strength has reached the level of a Kage-level ninja, and he is not someone that can be bullied by just anyone.

Moreover, from now on, Naruto Uzumaki will stay in Konoha Village and will never leave.

Xia Zuo wanted to see if Nagato or any other fool dared to run wild in Konoha Village, which was under the rule of the Fifth Hokage.

No matter who it is, he will beat them until they are in trouble on both sides, and then reward them with a double whammy.

Uchiha Izumi frowned and asked, "Brother, we know it was the Akatsuki who did it, so why didn't you immediately notify the four great ninja villages, remind them that their Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts are missing, and then help them retrieve their Tailed Beasts?"

Xia Zuo gently pinched her nose: "Izumi, never be a black crow that foretells danger. We're informing the four great ninja villages now. Do you think they'll thank us?"

"No, they won't thank us; they'll hate us instead."

"Because it was our reminder that they found out something had happened to their family's Jinchūriki, they will hate us for knowing how incompetent they are."

"Perhaps, in the minds of these bastards, the enemy who stole their Jinchūriki is not as hateful as us, who told them the truth."

"Therefore, I will not proactively provide them with information, nor will I proactively offer them assistance."

"If you want Konoha Village's help, you must recognize just how incompetent you are, come to Konoha Village on your own initiative, and sincerely beg for my help."

"At that time, I will seriously consider whether to offer help."

"After all, you can't make a sale by rushing people. What Konoha Village wants are real benefits, not worthless verbal thanks."

Uchiha Izumi laughed: "I understand. My brother deliberately condoned the Akatsuki's activities, wanting to make the four great ninja villages suffer enough so that they would willingly offer up their core interests and beg our Konoha Village for protection."

"That's exactly what I mean," Xia Zuo said with a smile. "Although the world no longer has the basic conditions for unification, I still want to integrate the power of the ninja world and use it for my own purposes."

"Therefore, I need a powerful enough enemy to force the four great ninja villages to come closer to me."

"Although it's still a little short, Akatsuki has Nagato, and his Rinnegan should be fully mature, giving him enough power to threaten the Four Great Shinobi Villages."

Uchiha Izumi: "I understand. Then we'll be relaxed on the outside but vigilant on the inside, making sure Naruto is safe and sound. The rest is just waiting for the other ninja villages to come knocking."

Xia Zuo said, "That's right. We'll wait until Killer Bee of Kumogakure is in trouble, wait until the four great ninja villages discover the existence of Akatsuki, and wait until they realize they can't defeat Akatsuki."

"Then the initiative will fall entirely into my hands. Although it's not as interesting as unifying the world directly, the power I can mobilize is almost the same as unifying the ninja world."

While Xia Zuo and Uchiha Izumi were discussing the issue of tailed beasts and jinchūriki, Kirigakure and Iwagakure were unaware that their most important assets were in danger, while Kumogakure and Sunagakure were in chaos to varying degrees.

The most chaotic place was Sunagakure, which had lost the Fifth Kazekage. The Sunagakure ninja had no choice but to bring out Chiyo and Ebizo, who had already retired, to temporarily take charge of the village.

But Chiyo and Ebi are too old; even when fishing, they are drowsy and worried that the other might suddenly pass away while they are joking.

They simply didn't have the energy or ability to manage the affairs of a ninja village, and besides, they didn't want to return to the power center of Sunagakure.

However, when Chiyo and Ebizo saw the photos of the enemy taken by the Sunagakure ninja, they were both stunned.

They recognized both enemies, especially the bald guy with a tail.

That thing is called Hiruko. It's not a ninja at all, but a high-level puppet made by a puppeteer from Sunagakure.

Even though Chiyo and Ebizo's minds aren't working properly, they can still recognize Hiruko at a glance because Hiruko is a work by Chiyo's beloved grandson, Sasori of the Red Sand.

When Sasori of the Red Sand went missing, Hiruko also disappeared from Sunagakure.

Chiyo dared not waste any more time. She interrupted the Sand Village ninja's argument and said decisively, "We in Sand Village cannot handle these two enemies!"

"Request reinforcements! Immediately request reinforcements from Konoha!"

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