Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 216 Uehara Naraku, our Akatsuki organization is paying close attention to you.

"Naruto, Sakura, Chiyo, Sai, if they try to surround and kill us, or capture Naruto, we should hold our ground and wait for reinforcements, or move towards Guy's location..."

Uehara Naraku glanced at the Akatsuki members' positions, his gaze growing increasingly serious, and his voice even rose slightly: "If they want to retreat, I'll be responsible for holding off their strongest ninja. You guys figure out a way to rescue the Fifth Kazekage from Deidara, or go and hold them off too!"

"clear!"

Naruto and the others nodded in agreement.

Uehara Naraku is indeed a very cunning ninja.

Both the Akatsuki members and the Konoha ninjas firmly believed in this, so they all acted according to Uehara Naraku's plan.

This must be the pinnacle of life, right?

One person's wisdom dictates the course of the battle between the two sides.

Uehara Naraku secretly gave himself a thumbs up.

As expected, Nagato immediately grasped Uehara Naraku's message. He glanced down at Deidara and Sasori beside him and said in a deep voice, "Now that Uehara Naraku is here, he might have other reinforcements behind him. Let's retreat!"

"Okay!"

"clear!"

Sasori and Deidara were about to turn and leave.

Their actions immediately attracted the attention of the others. Uehara Naraku flew towards Nagato, shouting in a deep voice, "Move now!"

"yes!"

Naruto Uzumaki, Sai, and Sakura Haruno rushed towards Deidara almost simultaneously, but Deidara seemed to have been on guard and piloted the giant clay bird beneath him into the air.

"Super Beast Imitation Painting: Bird in the Clouds!"

Sai could only quickly draw a flying bird.

Unfortunately, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno could only throw their shuriken in the direction Deidara flew away, as neither of them had much ranged attack capability.

Fortunately, when Uehara Naraku rushed to Nagato's side, he noticed the commotion and raised his hand to release a flame towards Deidara's location!

"Don't be so presumptuous, Uehara Naraku!"

Nagato watched as the flames knocked Deidara's flying bird down from the sky, and couldn't help but shout a low voice before engaging Uehara Naraku in a fierce battle!

The two have never officially faced off before.

Nagato grew increasingly surprised as the fight progressed, a subtle smile even creeping onto his lips: "Heh... it seems you spent a long time honing your taijutsu after I mocked you back then!"

"Of course."

Uehara Naraku almost couldn't keep up his smile, but he still forced a look of anger and said, "I don't want to disappoint you, teacher, so I've worked harder than anyone else all these years!"

After blocking Nagato's fingers, Uehara Naraku punched him in the chest: "Everyone praises me as a genius who rose from humble beginnings, but I worked my ass off to gain my teacher's approval. Don't use the word 'genius' to erase my efforts!"

"..."

Nagato was completely stunned.

At that moment, he couldn't tell whether Uehara Naraku was telling the truth or not.

After all, many people have seen Uehara Naraku's efforts in Amegakure over the years. He has been diligently training from morning till night, and when he has nothing to do, he will practice hand seals alone.

Whenever Akatsuki members or Amegakure ninjas occasionally encountered Uehara Naraku, he was almost always practicing hand seals alone, or rather, Uehara was researching his own ninjutsu.

Honestly...

Uehara Naraku's hand seal speed really doesn't live up to his efforts.

Fortunately, Uehara Naraku chose another path. Even though his hand seals were not fast, his ninjutsu was extremely powerful.

Uehara Naraku had been with them since he was twelve years old.

At that time, they had not yet occupied the Land of Rain. Konan doted on him and could hardly bear to leave him alone in an unfamiliar base. Every time Konan went out on a mission, she would use the pretext of training Uehara Naraku and take Uehara with her.

Uehara Naraku did not disappoint Konan's expectations. He executed every mission flawlessly, even risking his own life to gain Konan's approval and become a member of Akatsuki.

In fact, Xiao Nan had already acknowledged his power.

However, the path of Akatsuki was too dangerous, and the future was uncertain. At that time, Nagato's life was hanging by a thread, and every time he used the Rinnegan, his life force would decrease...

Uehara Naraku's appearance brought a new light to their lives.

Later, they killed all their enemies from back then, occupied the Land of Rain and Amegakure, and ensured that there were no more homeless orphans in the Land of Rain.

Akatsuki's plans were on track, Amegakure was gradually becoming stronger, and Nagato's life was temporarily saved.

Most of these were accomplished by Uehara Naraku.

Was he trying his best just so as not to disappoint his teacher?

Nagato couldn't help but secretly glance at Uehara Naraku's face, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. That twelve-year-old child back then is now twenty years old!

Over those eight years, who knows how much effort Uehara Naraku had secretly put in?

Not only Nagato felt this way.

Even Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno, who were still engaged in fierce combat nearby, couldn't help but look at Naraku Uehara after hearing his words.

They also remembered what Uehara Naraku had said.

When Uchiha Sasuke was once called a genius, he also said those words with disdain to others. He worked his hardest, so how can you use the word "genius" to erase a person's efforts?

This moment.

Naruto's affection for Naraku Uehara is rising rapidly.

Sakura Haruno's affection for Naraku Uehara skyrocketed.

"..."

Uehara Naraku punched Nagato in the shoulder, snapping Nagato out of his daze. He instinctively released a repulsive force by waving his hand!

Shinra Tensei.

Uehara Naraku suddenly crossed his arms across his chest, simultaneously releasing all his strength to cease resistance.

Because Shinra Tensei has a weakness.

If the opponent is stronger than the caster, they will knock the caster away!

Uehara Naraku wasn't really confident; if Nagato were to be thrown back by the recoil of Shinra Tensei, that would be a real disaster...

As expected, Uehara Naraku was sent flying backwards!

However, he did not give up his ability to resist, and with his hands clasped together, he unleashed a massive water-style ninjutsu: "Water Release: Roaring Waves!"

A massive tsunami rose from the ground of Uehara Naraku and swept towards Nagato and the others. The first to suffer were Granny Chiyo and Sasori of the Red Sand, who had to abandon their fight and drift with the current.

Until Nagato slowly extended his palm, stroking the approaching tsunami, and whispered, "Hungry Ghost Path!"

The massive tsunami was absorbed by him in an instant!

Naruto Uzumaki shouted at Naraku Uehara, "Uehara, ninjutsu has no effect on him. I suspect he also possesses the ability to absorb chakra!"

"I know he has that ability! But how can I attract his attention without using powerful ninjutsu!"

Uehara Naraku responded loudly, and after watching Nagato casually absorb the chakra of the Roaring Waves, he flew towards Nagato's location again!

Even though Nagato and Uehara Naraku both held back, the battle was far more exciting than anyone else had imagined.

The physical combat alone amazed everyone!

Kakashi Hatake was powerless against Nagato, while Naraku Uehara fought Nagato to a standstill!

Unfortunately, Uehara Naraku was still helpless against Nagato, and even became somewhat exhausted towards the end of the battle, unable to stop Nagato from supporting Sasori and Deidara...

However, the Konoha ninjas and Chiyo may not have been without any results!

At least with the combined efforts of Naruto Uzumaki, Sai, and Sakura Haruno, they broke through Deidara's bomb blockade and found Gaara from the clay giant bird that Uehara Naraku had shot down!

but…

The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, is now a corpse. It's hard to say whether this battle to reclaim the Kazekage title should be called a success or a failure.

"snort!"

Nagato swept everyone away with a single palm strike, coldly saying, "Since you want a corpse, then take it back!"

"asshole!"

Naruto Uzumaki stared at Nagato and the others with a ferocious expression.

Sakura Haruno and Granny Chiyo also looked rather grim.

Sasori snorted coldly, looking displeased at the stolen corpse: "The Fifth Kazekage, that was the material I wanted to use as a puppet, the third collectible I wanted... Granny, you shouldn't have come."

"scorpion."

Chiyo slowly clenched her fists, looking at Sasori and saying each word clearly, "Sunagakure is my home. I will not let anyone who harms Sunagakure go unpunished. For the sake of the village, I am willing to sacrifice everything, even kill my own family!"

"This is the darkness of the ninja village."

Sasori of the Red Sand sneered at Granny Chiyo, his face full of disdain, and said, "You're willing to sacrifice your own families for the village, have you forgotten the original purpose of establishing the village—to protect them?"

"..."

Chiyo's face was as if struck by lightning.

However, Chiyo reacted the next moment. She shook her head, personally cradled Gaara's body in her arms, and said coldly, "Lord Uehara, Naruto, Sakura, Mr. Sai, let's go!"

"Don't leave..."

Deidara roughly pulled out a clay bomb!

Uehara Naraku stood in their way, blocking Deidara's pursuit. He sized up Nagato, Sasori, and Deidara, and slowly retreated, protecting Chiyo and Naruto.

Nagato stopped Deidara, saying in a deep voice, "Deidara, step back! Now that brat Uehara Naraku is here, he certainly won't take any risks easily. There are definitely reinforcements behind him!"

This statement serves as a reminder to both Deidara and Uehara Naraku.

Uehara Naraku's lips twitched. It seemed that Nagato was still worried about his safety. As a spy, he naturally had to respond with intelligence.

Uehara Naraku snorted coldly and said, "You really know me well!"

"certainly."

Nagato clenched the ring on his hand and said in a meaningful, deep voice, "Uehara Naraku, we in Akatsuki are paying close attention to you, so we will never miss any information about you, brat."

"snort!"

Uehara Naraku leaped onto a large tree, clenched his fists, and looked at Nagato, saying, "Don't worry, Akatsuki guys, once I return to Amegakure and gather my forces, we'll have a chance to meet again soon!"

This goodbye sounded like it was said with a hint of deep resentment.

After watching Uehara Naraku and the others get further and further away, Nagato waved and said, "Alright, go back and report to Konan! Uehara will be back soon!"

(End of this chapter)