Naruto: I, who didn't want to be hacked to pieces, saved the ninja world.

"Don't be so nervous. I called you here not to attack you. My relationship with your current Hokage... should be pretty good, right?"

Nagato's tone was questioning when he said this.

However, Itachi Uchiha was indeed not as nervous as before; it seemed that Aoba Shirakumo had also mentioned this to him.

The leader of Akatsuki might join Konoha someday...

Could it be today?

Itachi Uchiha's mood became strange.

The Rinnegan does not have the ability to read other people's minds from a distance. Since Nagato could not see through Itachi Uchiha's thoughts, he simply pointed it out.

"Because of Konan, who was the former vice leader, I once made a promise with the current Hokage of Konoha."

"Once we have gathered all the Tailed Beasts, we will have a fair fight. If I win, all the Tailed Beasts will be mine; if I lose, they will be his, and I will join Konoha."

Uchiha Itachi suddenly realized why Shirokumo Aoba had said that back then.

Does that mean that Shirokumo Aoba already had the confidence and strength to surpass the Akatsuki leader back then?

Uchiha Itachi considered himself to have some talent, but compared to Shirakumo Aoba, he was probably like a frog in a well.

He remembered that Sasuke had wanted to defeat Shirakumo Aoba since he was a child, and he wondered if he could achieve this goal after awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan.

"So, the leader is going to fight the Hokage now?"

Despite the myriad thoughts swirling in his mind, his expression remained expressionless, devoid of joy or sorrow.

Nagato shook his head. "The Eight-Tails is not yet under our control, it's not the right time..."

As he spoke, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and his voice rose a few decibels, "However, after my battle with Shirokumo Aoba, no matter the outcome, the Akatsuki will no longer stand against Konoha. But, Uchiha Itachi, can I trust you?"

"..."

Itachi Uchiha paused for a moment. Instead of answering directly, he asked, "What does the leader want me to do?"

"I will personally go to Kumogakure tomorrow, but I need someone to accompany me to ensure my safety."

Nagato did not hide anything at all.

This is also why he has been hesitant to go to Kumogakure to capture the Eight-Tails.

Although his physical strength is not weak, he is ultimately disabled by his legs and is a genuine wheelchair user.

The Fourth Raikage is known for his speed, which inevitably carries risks.

"Understood, I will go to Kumogakure with you, leader."

Itachi Uchiha didn't hesitate for long before agreeing.

He had originally planned to secretly follow them when they went to capture the Eight-Tails, which was something he had agreed upon with Baiyun Qingye.

He was also eager to see his younger brother...

After the important matters were discussed, the atmosphere at the scene immediately fell silent again, and Itachi Uchiha wanted to leave.

But Nagato spoke up again for no apparent reason.

"Speaking of which, did you know that Shirokumo Aoba is now the Daimyo of the Land of Fire?"

"Uh-huh?!"

After a brief moment of distraction, Itachi Uchiha's expression crumbled once again.

-

As for Kumogakure at this time, it had already begun to assemble its troops after the Kusanagi incident.

Now, almost all the ninjas who were originally on missions outside have been recalled to the village.

We await only the daimyo's command.

Chapter 672 A World Where Only the Hidden Cloud Village is Wounded

The Raikage Building in Kumogakure.

"Has Baiyun Qingye gone mad?"

The Fourth Raikage steadied himself, nearly falling off the chair, and looked at the intelligence report on the table with an expression of utter disbelief.

He truly hadn't expected that Shirokumo Aoba's ambition wasn't the Five Great Ninja Villages, but the Five Great Nations.

Even when he was in a bad mood, he would only outwardly comply with some of the daimyo's outrageous orders, but he had never thought of doing something so rebellious.

"They're really crazy."

With an expression that couldn't hide his shock and complex emotions, hope said, "We should soon receive the daimyo's order to attack Konoha."

Ninjas are forbidden from attacking daimyo or nobles; this is the underlying logic of how the entire ninja world operates.

Anyone who violates this rule will face a combined attack from other countries and ninja villages.

If you target other ninja villages, those villages might not unite against you because they already have their own conflicts.

But if you dare to attack a daimyo, and there isn't much conflict between the daimyo, plus the need to solidify the correctness of the bloodline theory, then the daimyo will unite against you.

"Although we don't know why Baiyun Qingye did such a thing, it's still a rare good thing for us."

After a brief moment of shock, hope uttered a profound statement.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Raikage quickly understood and a long-lost smile appeared on his face. "That's right. Since Shirokumo Aoba dared to challenge the position of Daimyo, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, the Land of Water, and the Land of Earth will definitely put pressure on their ninja villages."

"Even if they have a good relationship with Konoha, they should still show some respect in the face of the Daimyo's orders. This Shirakumo Aoba has only just captured Sunagakure and Kirigakure, yet he has already committed such a rebellious act. He will only put himself on the opposite side of the entire ninja world."

“That’s right. Although Shirokumo Aoba is powerful, he is not invincible.” hope’s expression was extremely serious. “Konoha is also no match for the entire ninja world.”

The reason they didn't dare to go to war with Konoha wasn't because they were afraid of Shirokumo Aoba's strength, but because they were wary of the three major ninja villages that Konoha had integrated, as well as Iwagakure, the sixth village, betraying them.

Given the current situation, regardless of whether Sunagakure and Kirigakure will still wholeheartedly help Konoha, the possibility of Iwagakure betraying them has at least been greatly reduced.

This is indeed a good thing for them.

"Yes, now we just need to wait for the Daimyo's supplies."

The Fourth Raikage nodded as well.

Since it's about helping a daimyo, the daimyo certainly can't be stingy. Even if they don't make a fortune, at least they should be provided with enough basic war supplies.

"By the way, did any of the people who came back this time have any information about the Akatsuki's location?"

The Fourth Raikage then remembered something else.

Long ago, the Hidden Cloud Village began searching for the location of the Akatsuki organization throughout the ninja world.

There's always a saying: "You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days."

They also wanted to find the headquarters of the Akatsuki and take the initiative to attack, but unfortunately, they haven't heard anything for so long.

"Still no." hope shook her head with a wry smile.

"Let's leave it at that for now. Most of the ninjas from Kumogakure have already returned, so there's no need to be afraid of them."

Upon learning that there was still no information, the Fourth Raikage was at a loss.

But I'm not as nervous as I used to be.

Akatsuki is just a mercenary organization, and it's impossible for them to compare with a regular military organization like Kumogakure.

-

However, apart from Kumogakure's grand display, creating an atmosphere of impending doom, the other ninja villages...

Sunagakure Village.

"Lord Kazekage, Shirokumo Aoba has become the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind will definitely order us to besiege Konoha. What should we do?"

Maki asked Gaara's opinion somewhat eagerly.

However, Gaara, who was in the position of Kazekage, remained calm and didn't even lift his eyelids.

“Teacher Maki, if it’s a request from the Daimyo, we don’t need to pay attention to it.”

"But...that's a daimyo after all..."

Maki hesitated for a moment.

Gaara then raised his eyes. "Teacher Maki, don't forget that the Daimyo hasn't provided any supplies to Sunagakure since the Third Shinobi World War. Currently, more than half of Sunagakure's finances and jobs are provided by Konoha in Sunagakure's commercial district."

"Even if we send troops at the Daimyo's request, do you think the villagers, and the ninjas who have already benefited from Konoha, will agree?"

"I understand now."

Maki felt somewhat helpless, but this also fueled his dissatisfaction with the daimyo of the Land of Wind.

If the Land of Wind had been willing to give Sunagakure more support after the Third Shinobi World War, things wouldn't have ended up like this.

Although Sunagakure is currently on a path of steady and positive development, this has come at the cost of sacrificing the village's sovereignty!

But since it has already happened, let's just let nature take its course.

Everything is the best arrangement.

Hidden Mist Village.

The increasingly graceful Bai walked into the Water Shadow's office with a look of anxiety on her face.

"Lord Mizukage, something terrible has happened! The situation in Konoha..."

"It's white, that's right!"

However, before he could finish speaking, Mei Terumi interrupted him with a look of schadenfreude.

"How did things go with Zabuza last night?"

"what?"

Bai's fair and delicate face flushed red, and she quickly tried to steer the conversation back on track.

"Lord Mizukage, I have urgent business. Lord Aoba has now become the Daimyo of the Land of Fire..."

"This is no emergency, it's a good thing."

Mei Terumi waved her hand dismissively as usual. She was only slightly surprised when she first learned that Shirokumo Aoba had become a daimyo. That guy had once said that he would unify the entire ninja world and then marry her.

At the time, she thought that guy was just talking big, but now it seems it's only a matter of time.