The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

They've already decided to bet everything on Uzumaki Menma, on Kougaku Village.

Shikaku naturally needed to immediately adjust his mindset, change his thinking, and consider the issue from the perspective of Hidden Light Village.

The enemy, no longer hiding in the shadows, decided to strike directly.

This in itself is a very clear and strong signal.

Not to mention someone like Uchiha Madara. As the head of the Jonin team in Konoha, Shikaku had some information about the Akatsuki organization. He heard that they were all S-rank rogue ninjas from various ninja villages, with his own Uchiha Itachi being a classic example.

If this organization was initially established and controlled by Madara Uchiha.

Its terrifying nature is self-evident.

It should be noted that the Akatsuki members who died at the hands of their own Tenkage were all extremely powerful.

Who knows if Madara Uchiha had any other tricks up his sleeve?

Shikaku felt that he needed to think things through more carefully. Even with Hashirama Senju and Konoha, they could still be on the safe side.

"Forgive my bluntness, Lord Tenkage, but you could use this meeting to inform Konoha of this information. No matter what Uchiha Madara's intentions are, Konoha will never tolerate his existence. We can deal with Uchiha Madara and the Akatsuki first."

Shikaku continued, his expression serious.

A blatant case of using someone else to do one's dirty work.

If we're talking about who harbors the greatest animosity towards Uchiha Madara in this world, it's definitely Konoha Village.

No matter how deep the relationship was between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

Madara Uchiha's betrayal of the village, the battle at the Valley of the End, and the subsequent annihilation of the Uchiha clan—these are all real events that happened.

The two are completely irreconcilable.

Shikaku believed that as long as Konoha Village obtained accurate information about Uchiha Madara, and Hidden Light Village also expressed a willingness to negotiate, Konoha Village would most likely deal with Uchiha Madara first, if not 100%.

And even if we take a step back and assume the worst...

The Hidden Leaf Village also doesn't trust the Hidden Light Village and still considers Menma to be the biggest threat.

They also suffered no losses.

This will bring all three parties into the open for confrontation.

That is the main intention.

We can't let one party really benefit from this situation.

"What exactly Madara Uchiha's target is is indeed uncertain at the moment, but the Akatsuki's initial plan was for us, the official members, to capture the tailed beasts of the various ninja villages one by one, and then..."

Itachi, sitting to the side, followed up on Shikaku's words and, in relatively concise language, recounted all the information he had gathered over the years about the Akatsuki organization.

This includes, but is not limited to, the organization's structure and its intentions.

And members of the organization.

The most important one, of course, is the leader who possesses the Rinnegan—Pain.

Of course, Itachi also revealed the information about Pain's mysterious disappearance.

While the exact outcome remains unclear, the appearance of Madara Uchiha makes the answer quite obvious.

Shikaku, Minato, and Sasuke, who were standing nearby, became increasingly alarmed as they listened. Sasuke, in particular, had initially thought that his brother had joined a terrorist organization with some strength and a little bit of ability that could threaten the five great ninja villages.

My older brother might just be the strongest one in the organization.

I never imagined this organization could be so terrifying.

Madara Uchiha has even appeared!?

And the more I listened, the more it sounded like an organization personally established by Madara Uchiha.

In fact, that's not the case. The Akatsuki organization was always the brainchild of Yahiko and his two companions, especially Yahiko. When the organization was first established, all the members were essentially "powered by love".

At that time, it was clear that Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan could not bring any real benefits to the members of the organization, and could not even guarantee basic safety. The organization's operation was sustained by their passion and fighting spirit.

This is why Madara always wanted to kill Yahiko.

With Yahiko around, the Akatsuki organization, especially Nagato, would absolutely never act according to Madara's will.

This was later proven.

Yahiko died.

When Obito impersonated Madara Uchiha to approach Nagato and Konan, he could easily manipulate them without them even realizing it. While the Akatsuki's development couldn't be said to have completely deviated from its original course, it certainly went against Yahiko's initial intentions.

From this point of view...

The Akatsuki organization was indeed established by Madara Uchiha for his own resurrection and for the Eye of the Moon Plan.

Only poor Nagato learned the truth about all of this on his deathbed.

His entire life was dedicated to Madara Uchiha.

“Rogue ninja from various countries, the Rinnegan, Menma, I think you should act more cautiously, just like Shikaku said. If Madara Uchiha really possesses those legendary Rinnegan, the situation will be completely different.”

Minato spoke in a very serious tone.

Although it is only an eye that exists in mythology.

It's not very clear what kind of abilities he has.

However, as long as it is associated with that Sage of Six Paths, it is not too much to treat it with the utmost caution.

"Hehe, there's no need to be so nervous, Dad. Everything is under my control. Besides, this battle isn't just about me; Toneri is with me too. No matter who the enemy is, even if it's Uchiha Madara, it won't make any difference."

Mianma maintained his calm and collected demeanor, and said with a faint smile.

Madara Uchiha?

I'm not afraid of the freckles at all.

Don't bother embarrass yourself.

If Toneri were to make a move now, he would be qualified to confront Madara Uchiha head-on. Of course, Madara Uchiha would definitely have a higher chance of winning, as he has had his Rinnegan for many years and his combat experience and skills are absolutely superior to Toneri's.

The odds of them winning are roughly 60/40.

This is a difference in 'quantity'.

It's not a difference in 'quality'.

Minato and Shikaku were both momentarily stunned when they heard Menma's confident words.

This is no ordinary enemy, nor is it some monstrous or inferior creature.

It was Uchiha Madara, who possessed the Rinnegan.

Is this really the attitude we should have towards it?

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 531 Before the Battle

Minato frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

"Hmph, Menma is right. He's just a criminal. Menma doesn't need to lift a finger; I'll take him down myself!"

The person standing to the left of Menma let out a cold snort, and a powerful aura of chakra emanated from their entire body.

"Buzz!"

In synchronous time.

Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed in Sheren's pure white eyes.

A surge of powerful pupil energy spread outwards.

"!?"

"this!?"

"Well!?"

The expressions of the people around them changed drastically the moment they sensed it.

Especially Sasuke and Itachi, who both possess the bloodline limit of "eyes"—the Mangekyou Sharingan—could sense the terrifying pressure emanating from Toneri's eyes.

This is a sense of awe from a different dimension.

It's a gap at different levels.

'What kind of eyes are those?! An advanced form of the Byakugan?! But...?'

Sasuke involuntarily widened his eyes, his pupils filled with shock. As a member of the Hyuga clan, which was once on par with his own Uchiha clan in Konoha, Sasuke had heard of the Byakugan's power.

However, that is based on the comparison between the regular Sharingan with tomoe and the Byakugan.

Once the Sharingan undergoes a qualitative change and evolves to the level of the Mangekyou Sharingan, the Byakugan becomes utterly incomparable.

He is highly suspected to be Toneri from the Hyuga clan.

Sasuke initially thought that Toneri was strong in other aspects, and that his eyes were just like those of the Hyuga clan, a pair of Byakugan that could only be compared to the ordinary Sharingan of their clan.

Now it seems that's not the case at all.

This feeling, this demeanor.

Especially the immense power emanating from his eyes.

The Byakugan is comparable to a regular Sharingan with tomoe!?

Sasuke now feels that his Mangekyou Sharingan is a joke compared to this person's special 'Byakugan'.

Are those eyes comparable to the Eternal Eye?

Or perhaps!?

A thought that Sasuke absolutely refused to believe popped into his mind.

Because if that were the case, how would I possibly surpass that despicable, glaring guy?!

Is that rolling your eyes?

Minato looked at Toneri with a hint of shock in his eyes.

"No, these eyes are called Tenseigan, the ultimate form of Byakugan. They are a pair of eye techniques comparable to Rinnegan. Father, don't worry. With Toneri by my side, no enemy is to be feared. The ninja world will eventually be under my control, and no one can stop me and the Hidden Light Village from advancing."