Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 239 A Grand Show About to Begin! (Fourth update, bonus chapter for Dark Star's donation!)

After leaving the small dark room, Tsunade and Uehara Naraku returned to the Hokage's office and chatted for a while. Now that the alliance plan was confirmed, the next step was to implement it.

Uehara Naraku, Gaara, and Terumi Mei will act together with Tsunade, thus forming a powerful main combat team.

As for the other main combat team, it was led by Jiraiya himself, directly bringing along the previous generation of Ino-Shika-Cho.

This configuration…

It's a little scary.

The strength of these two main combat teams alone is more than enough to defeat Kakuzu, Kisame Hoshigaki, and six other Akatsuki members!

Even the encirclement teams are not to be underestimated in terms of combat strength. Among them are Team 3 led by Might Guy and Team 7 led by Kakashi Hatake. These two exceptionally strong teams are also tasked with encirclement missions.

The six members of the Akatsuki organization are really not enough.

After the meeting ended, the Konoha ninjas began preparations in advance, and hundreds of sensory ninjas set off for the areas where the Akatsuki were active.

Uehara Naraku began to think about how to make arrangements.

Konoha has an incredibly strong hand. Even with a spy among them, this lineup is not something that Kisame Hoshigaki and Kakuzu, along with six other members, can handle.

to be frank.

The force sent by Konoha, if he weren't there, would probably be enough to wipe out the entire Akatsuki organization.

Besides Jiraiya and Tsunade, they also sent out a guy named Might Guy, and Naruto Uzumaki who could use the power of the tailed beasts and wield the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. This really gave Uehara Naraku a headache.

Uehara Naru had no choice but to call for help.

Uehara Naraku secretly used his will to control an Edo Tensei body that he hadn't spoken to for a long time, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, who was by Yakushi Kabuto's side.

A base thousands of miles away.

While Kabuto was diligently conducting his experiments, a coffin was quietly opened, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, suddenly emerged, his mouth uttering the voice of Naraku Uehara.

"There's something I need you to do."

After pondering for a moment, Uehara Naraku said softly, "I'm a little inconvenient right now, so I need someone to assist Uchiha Obito in drawing the attention of the two powerful teams."

"Very simple."

Kabuto pondered for a moment, then chuckled and adjusted his glasses before whispering, "Lord Naraku, tell me who those two teams are! I'll send out suitable Edo Tensei bodies, and the Fourth Hokage can use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take him there."

Uehara Naraku nodded and said, "The first team consists of Jiraiya, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza."

"I see."

Kabuto nodded and said softly, "Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, and the previous Ino-Shika-Cho trio? Perhaps we could just send the Fourth Hokage there himself; he and those people are old friends!"

That makes sense.

Uehara Naraku frowned and continued softly, "I'm just worried he might leak information. But if we extinguish the Fourth Hokage's will, what if he gets sealed away due to poor performance in battle?"

"Lord Naraku, could you send one more person?"

Kabuto chuckled and offered his suggestion: "There's probably no one more suitable than the Third Hokage!"

"That's brilliant! We can help them choose their opponents."

Uehara Naraku couldn't help but want to praise Yakushi Kabuto a little; this guy always liked to use people with whom he had bonds in battle.

So the final result...

The pharmacist became a dream-fulfilling master.

Uehara Naraku slowly raised his finger, chuckled, and said, "Then I'll have the Second Hokage fight Tsunade and our team; and the Third and Fourth Hokage fight Jiraiya's team."

"Um."

Kabuto nodded, his face gradually becoming more serious: "I will also go with the Fourth Hokage to prevent anything from going wrong with Lord Naraku's plan."

"Yes, that's fine."

Uehara Naraku nodded.

After arranging his opponents and allies, Uehara Naraku urgently contacted Uchiha Obito, asking him to pass on information to Hoshigaki Kisame and, incidentally, issue his own orders.

"I have already taken care of the two most troublesome squads for you. Now, Kakuzu, Hidan, Ameyuri, and Hozuki Mangetsu are to retreat, leaving only you and Uchiha Itachi to cover the rear."

"In a little while, contact Lord Pain and have him create Deidara and Kimimaro's puppet figures to cover your retreat, in case anything unexpected happens."

After finishing his sentence, Uehara Naraku was still a little uneasy and added, "If Might Guy becomes too troublesome, I will have Obito Uchiha intervene if necessary. Remember, you must ensure the success of Itachi Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki's battle!"

The Elephant Puppet is one of the abilities of the Rinnegan. It allows a ninja thousands of miles away to control an ordinary ninja as a sacrifice. The sacrifice possesses 30% of the controller's chakra, but can use their equipment and bloodline limit.

However, once the chakra is exhausted, the puppet will die.

In this grand scheme, Uehara Naraku went to great lengths, truly utilizing many of his connections.

Kisame Hoshigaki didn't hesitate either. He relayed the information sent by Naraku Uehara and immediately ordered Kakuzu, Hidan, Ringo Ameyuri, and Hozuki Mangetsu to retreat, while he and Itachi Uchiha would cover the rear.

Hidan was still somewhat reluctant, and while holding his sect's equipment, he complained, "It's rare for me to want to kill a few more people to offer enough sacrifices to the Jashin-sama..."

Kisame Hoshigaki coldly sized up Hidan and said in a deep voice, "Our leader ordered us to obey Uehara's command. The enemy is very powerful, and we could lose our lives if we're not careful."

Hidan pouted and muttered in dissatisfaction, "Then tell the leader that I don't want to obey his orders. This chance..."

Click!

Hidan's head was chopped off!

Ringo Ameyuri leisurely chewed on a lollipop, nonchalantly sheathed her ninja sword, squatted down, grabbed Hidan's hair, and turned to leave, carrying his head with her.

Ringo Ameyuri is straightforward and decisive in her actions.

Hidan stared blankly at his own body lying on the ground, cursing, "Are you crazy, woman? How dare you cut off my head... Ouch, ouch, ouch! Don't pull my hair! Hey, Kakuzu, take my body with you!"

"idiot."

Kakuzu glanced at Hidan, bent down and carried Hidan's body on his back, catching up with Ringo Ameyuri's footsteps. Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't help but smile and also joined their group.

After watching them leave, Kisame Hoshigaki chuckled and looked at Itachi Uchiha: "Because our team is the strongest, that's why we were sent to cover the rear. Mr. Itachi, you shouldn't have any objections, right?"

"no."

Itachi Uchiha shook his head.

After a while, Itachi Uchiha spoke softly, "This is also the last time I will see my old friends. Didn't you already arrange my fate?"

After returning, Itachi Uchiha will duel with Sasuke Uchiha.

As for the outcome of the duel, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki were both very clear about it; they had already made it clear to each other long ago.

"You still have a chance to change."

Kisame Hoshigaki looked at Itachi Uchiha and advised, "If you still want to change your fate, you'd better tell me in advance. Otherwise, if you disrupt your plans, I'll be in a lot of trouble."

My fate was already sealed.

Uchiha Itachi stretched out his palm, watching the sunlight filter through the leaves and cast a shadow on him.

Yes, his fate was sealed.

but…

Sasuke's fate can still be changed.

Whether Sasuke Uchiha will return to Konoha in the future, or be protected by Kisame Hoshigaki and his mastermind, depends on their upcoming battle with the Konoha ninja.

Unfortunately, Itachi Uchiha was unaware that this confrontation was deliberately arranged for him, for which someone was willing to go to great lengths.

Konoha Village.

In a secluded corner, Uehara Nara quietly released the reanimated Second and Third Hokage, observing their condition with great satisfaction.

"What a pity! If I weren't worried about you leaking information, I would really like to let you see your old friends!"

"You wicked brat!"

Tobirama Senju frantically mobilized his chakra, attempting to break free from Naraku Uehara's control, but his power was simply insufficient.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naraku Uehara with a somber expression, and sighed sadly, "Naraku Uehara, are you finally going to make a move against Konoha? A villain hiding in the shadows can never defeat a righteous person in the sunlight..."

Uehara Naraku glanced speechlessly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, shook his head, and said, "Sigh, Third Hokage, don't you know how terrible your reputation is in the ninja world right now? Oh well, I'll let him tell you after I resurrect Sarutobi Asuma using the Edo Tensei!"

"Asuma?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression shifted, then gradually returned to calm: "So Asuma also fell victim to this? That kid..."

"That's about enough for now!"

Uehara Naraku formed several hand seals, briefly extinguishing their will, then chuckled and said, "Time is running out..."

After doing all that.

Tobirama Senju extended his hand and placed it on Hiruzen Sarutobi, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take him away from Konoha.

The land of rain.

The base of the Akatsuki organization.

After receiving the information and requests from Uehara Naraku, Pain immediately used the Transformation Technique to create Transformation Puppets of Kaguya Kimimaro, Uchiha Sasuke, Haku, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Deidara.

The members of the Akatsuki organization are quite important.

It doesn't matter if these created puppets die.

Deidara sat cross-legged in the base, controlling his Elephant Puppet with a somewhat displeased expression: "Transferring all my chakra only leaves me with 30%, the utilization rate is way too low! I might as well just unleash a super explosion!"

Pain shook his head dismissively and said, "Do whatever you want, as long as you can cover Kisame and Itachi's escape."

"Of course we have to cover Itachi's escape back!"

Sasuke Uchiha clenched his fists and muttered, "How can I kill him if he doesn't come back?"

Now, everyone is ready.

Uehara Naraku glanced with satisfaction at the main storyline progress, which had increased by a few percentage points, and then looked at the comparison between the two factions.

Konoha's side: Jiraiya and the previous Ino-Shika-Cho team, Tsunade, Mei Terumi, Gaara and Naraku Uehara (spy), Might Guy and his Team 3, Kakashi Hatake and his Team 7, and a group of sensory ninjas.

Akatsuki's side: Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori of the Red Sand (Elephant Puppet), Deidara (Elephant Puppet), Haku (Elephant Puppet), Kimimaro Kaguya (Elephant Puppet), Sasuke Uchiha (Elephant Puppet).

Hidden participating members: Kabuto Yakushi, Obito Uchiha, the Second Hokage, the Third Hokage, and the Fourth Hokage.

Who would have thought that Uehara Naraku's meticulously planned drama was actually just to lure out a Kotoamatsukami crow raised by Uchiha Itachi?

Thank you to the Dark Star Emperor for the reward. Here's an extra chapter. This chapter was a bit abrupt, and I revised it for a long time, deleting quite a bit, because I was afraid of being criticized for being too weak. I'll be able to get a small climax tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)