I, Uchiha Hikaru, have joined the chat group.

Chapter 418 The Red Moon Descends!

A week or two passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, several major events occurred in the ninja world—

The first event was the resurrection of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who had been dead for many years. He defeated the legendary ninja Madara Uchiha and saved Konoha from his clutches. Therefore, with the unanimous support of the Konoha ninja and the people, he replaced the Third Hokage and once again ascended to the position of leader of Konoha.

The second event was that on the eastern border of the kingdoms of Wind and Fire, someone witnessed a devastating storm sweeping in from the land of Rain, only to vanish before the dark clouds loomed over the city.

The third event was that the Akatsuki organization, which had been lying low for a long time, suddenly unveiled its mysterious veil and launched a series of attacks in just a few days, capturing a group of Jinchuriki, including Killer Bee and Yugito Nii. With overwhelming strength, they repelled the pursuing forces sent by several ninja villages and then left triumphantly.

Actually, there's a fourth thing.

Madara Uchiha, who had just fought Minato Namikaze, quietly returned to Konoha, disguising himself as an ordinary Uchiha to observe the changes within the clan and the village. However, this last detail was highly confidential, known only to a handful of people besides Hikaru Uchiha and a few others, such as Fugaku and Shisui, which is why it didn't cause widespread panic or attract much attention.

Compared to these major events, the Ninja World War, which was still in its warm-up phase, seemed insignificant.

Yes, that's right.

While Uchiha Hikaru was in seclusion training in "Super Saiyan Mode," war was indeed raging in the Naruto world. For example, Sunagakure was at war with Konoha on the border of the Land of Fire over the "Konoha's alleged kidnapping of Gaara"; and small groups of troops from Iwagakure and Kumogakure had also arrived at the border of the three countries, resulting in several small-scale skirmishes, but it was not yet time for a major battle.

As a result, the disappearance of the seven Jinchūriki caused Iwa and Kumo villages to lose their composure, and they successively proposed to convene the Five Kage Summit to discuss the whereabouts of the Jinchūriki.

Konoha responded positively to this.

As for Sunagakure and Kirigakure, one of their Jinchūriki had already been lost, and the other had been crippled by Madara and Obito, so they had no energy to pay attention to the call for the Five Kage Summit.

Of course……

Another theory suggests that the three major events mentioned earlier are actually connected, meaning the entire incident was a staged performance orchestrated by Konoha and Akatsuki. Therefore, considering the outcome—all the Jinchuriki from other ninja villages were captured, while only Konoha's two Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto and his son Minato Namikaze, remained alive—this contrast makes it hard not to suspect foul play.

In fact.

Although the entire reasoning process was wrong, the result was correct.

That is to say, Konoha and Akatsuki are indeed in cahoots now.

……

The highest point of Amegakure Village.

That's the place Nagato liked to stay in the most.

Wearing a black robe with red clouds, Uchiha Hikaru stood atop the tower, watching the raindrops fall from the sky, and rubbed the back of his neck somewhat awkwardly.

"By the way, is this really the uniform for your Akatsuki organization?"

"The fabric doesn't feel that comfortable either; it seems even worse than the knock-off I made before... Don't you guys notice this when you wear them?"

"...?"

Behind Uchiha Hikaru.

Esdeath stood there without saying a word.

Nagato and Konan exchanged a bewildered glance, with the latter explaining, "Well... while the Akatsuki has a considerable amount of funding, the vast majority of it is used to purchase various ninja tools and military supplies. Funds for clothing purchases are limited, so please forgive us, Hikaru-senpai."

"If you wish, we can contact the shop to have a black robe with red clouds custom-made for you using high-quality fabric. Miss Esdeath and Mr. Minato can also have them made together..."

"Then forget it."

Uchiha Hikaru waved his hand, glanced at Konan with a somewhat subtle look in his eyes, and refrained from asking her, "Did you use all the funds to buy explosive tags?"

"Are those Jinchūriki still causing trouble?"

"Fortunately... they have now basically accepted the reality of their chakra being sealed and are resting peacefully in their rooms. The Jinchuriki named Killer Bee has been singing, dancing, and rapping, which has caused dissatisfaction among the other Jinchuriki, so we have arranged a separate room for him."

Xiao Nan responded again.

Hmm...that's right.

Not long after, the highest leadership of the Akatsuki organization changed hands once again. From Uchiha Madara, it became Uchiha Hikaru, who is now of a higher seniority.

The disappearance of Jinchuriki from various ninja villages...

Of course, she did all of it.

With the Flying Thunder God seal left by Minato Namikaze as a guide, coupled with Hikaru Uchiha's current extraordinary strength to destroy stars with one hand, capturing seven Jinchuriki from such a small place as the ninja world would be a piece of cake, and he wouldn't even need to leave home in person.

The reason there are seven is that the jinchūriki of the two tailed beasts, One-Tail and Nine-Tail, have already fallen into her hands, so there is no need to capture them again.

And now...

"The chakra of the nine Jinchūriki is all here."

"It's almost time."

Uchiha Hikaru glanced at the sky.

It was already evening.

A dark red sun had just set below the horizon, while the hazy moonlight poured down from the sky, illuminating the entire ninja world.

[Anonymous: I'm starting now.]

[Eternal Sister: ...Yes, Kushina and I are ready. Please, Hikari-san, make your move.]

[Bulma: Quick, turn on the group live stream! I want to see what Kaguya Otsutsuki really looks like. Is it true that her eyes are only white and I can't see anything else?]

【…】

Uchiha Hikaru turned his attention away from the chat group, let out a soft breath, and then looked up at the moon.

With each blink of an eye, a crimson flame appeared.

Then, the pattern rotates.

At the same time, Killer Bee, Yugito, Roshi, Utakata, and others, who were in the Akatsuki's prison, simultaneously felt their bodies stiffen. Their chakra poured out like water, flowing along a channel in the void and converging into Uchiha Hikaru's eyes, causing the shape of her kaleidoscope pupils to subtly change—

It was a unique pattern, intricate and ancient, that did not belong to any Uchiha clan in history, and seemed to contain some kind of ancient rhythm.

This moment.

Uchiha Hikaru suddenly had a subtle feeling.

It was as if her entire being had transformed into a tree at that moment, and the branches of the tree were her own divine consciousness, extending outwards and in all directions, reaching far and high, gradually connecting with the bright moon in the sky.

As the power of the pupil is poured in.

A faint blush appeared quietly on the edge of the bright moon.

then……

It expanded rapidly towards the entire lunar disk!

The red moon has arrived!

(End of this chapter)