Naruto, what kind of Hokage would you be if you didn't roll around!

Even so, the aura contained within the Gedo Mazo still made even the Akatsuki members, these fearless S-rank rogue ninjas, feel extremely terrified!

On the ten fingers of the Gedo Mazo, the remaining Akatsuki members stood.

The leader, Payne, once again activated the Illusionary Body Technique.

On the colorful, hazy, illusory figures, pairs of eyes quietly opened...

Pain's Rinnegan swept across the dwindling number of members, yet his eyes showed no emotion whatsoever, as if everything were meaningless.

"Next comes the final operation..."

Payne's voice, as cold and detached as the Way of Heaven, rang out.

Beside him were Xiaonan's beautiful yet equally cold eyes.

On one side were Kisame Hoshigaki's ferocious, shark-like eyes, and Itachi Uchiha's calm and indifferent eyes.

On the other side was a mysterious masked man named "Afei," with only his right eye showing.

Finally, with its enormous lettuce head atop it, it coldly observed everyone.

These are all the current members of the Akatsuki organization.

It is completely incomparable to its heyday.

Kisame Hoshigaki chuckled: "Boss, although I don't know what your so-called final operation is, the Akatsuki is probably short-handed right now..."

Payne's voice was as cold as the heavens.

"It's ok."

"This time I will take action myself."

For a moment, everyone was taken aback.

Itachi Uchiha gave a barely perceptible smile.

"Are you personally going to capture the Nine-Tails?"

Payne replied indifferently, "That's right."

Ah Fei stroked his chin and nodded repeatedly.

"Oh dear, that's true. The Nine-Tails is in the strongest village, Konoha. Apart from the leader, I'm afraid no one else can capture it!"

"Even if the leader were to intervene, it might not be enough... cough cough cough..."

Black Zetsu coldly said, "Shut up, Tobi! With Lord Pain personally taking action, the Nine-Tails is naturally easy to capture!"

Bai Jue asked with some concern, "Eh? Really?"

"Even if it's Lord Pain, Konoha is an entire village, full of powerful and talented individuals. Can one person really infiltrate it and successfully capture the Nine-Tails?"

Neither the teasing nor the worries of the crowd could cause the slightest ripple in Pain's eyes of reincarnation.

He completely ignored everyone and continued to issue orders.

"Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, you two are responsible for capturing the Three-Tails from Kirigakure."

"To be precise, it is the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, namely Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure."

Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha nodded silently.

"it is good."

"You will be in charge of collecting and transmitting intelligence."

"As for Afei, he will stay at the base to provide support."

"Understood, boss!"

"it is good."

Bai looked around in despair and couldn't help but sigh.

"The once thriving Akatsuki organization is now reduced to just us..."

"Hidan, Kakuzu, Deidara, Sasori, including Orochimaru who defected before..."

"They're all dying..."

Black Zetsu said coldly, "That's right, and most of them died at the hands of one person..."

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Abi: "Ah, it was the same last time when I went with Kakuzu to capture the Three-Tails. I never thought he would die at Naruto's hands. If I hadn't run fast, I'm afraid I would have..."

Kisame Hoshigaki: "Heh, back then he was just a kid, but I never imagined he'd become such a major threat to the Akatsuki so quickly. You could say he single-handedly destroyed most of the Akatsuki. Even though he's an enemy, I have to admit, he's quite a remarkable guy..."

Itachi Uchiha: "Those who died all looked down on Naruto Uzumaki, which is why they met their demise."

"Chief, even if it's you, I still have a word of advice..."

"Don't underestimate him."

Payne replied indifferently, "I know."

"Naruto Uzumaki is indeed the Akatsuki's greatest nemesis, but he is also the most important material for the Tailed Beast Weapon Project."

"Whether for public or private reasons, he must be successfully captured."

"And this task can only be undertaken by me personally."

Xiao Nan frowned slightly.

“Payne, although I cannot sway your resolve, however…”

"I think it's best not to start a full-scale war with the entire Hidden Leaf Village, but to focus on infiltration, disruption, searching, and capture, and to achieve a quick victory."

Payne said, "Yes, that's what I'm planning to do."

"The real show is about to begin, and I won't take unnecessary risks by starting a war with Konoha."

"Once we successfully capture the Nine-Tails, and of course the Seven-Tails in Konoha, plus the Three-Tails in Kirigakure, our final plan can be fully launched."

"It won't be too late to start a war with Konoha Village then."

Xiao Nan finally breathed a sigh of relief: "I understand."

"I will go with you."

"Ah."

Payne said, "Our plan is more than half complete; the next operation will be the final one."

"Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, we must capture the Three-Tails no matter what!"

"Yes, boss."

"clear."

"Afei, you stay here to guard the Gedo Mazo. Once we get the Three-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails, everyone else should immediately begin the sealing of the Nine-Tails Illusionary Dragon Seal. Once we complete this technique, all of Akatsuki's plans will be completely finished."

"By then, the entire ninja world will fall into the hands of our Akatsuki organization, and everything will be under our control."

"Peace or war..."

"It will all be decided by God!"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines: "Yes, Chief!"

A slight ripple finally appeared in Pain's Rinnegan eyes. He seemed to see the future—himself, Konan, and the deceased Yahiko...

Words I've always longed for.

peace.

……

Konoha Village, Hokage's office.

Tsunade had just finished processing a large stack of documents, and even she felt a little tired.

She stretched lazily, her face still as beautiful as a young girl's, but her figure was exquisite and curvaceous, almost devilishly so...

Shizune smiled slightly: "Thank you for your hard work, Lady Tsunade."

Tsunade did not answer, but looked out the window.

She stood up and opened the window.

From here, you can overlook most of Konoha Village.

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the ends of Tsunade's hair at her temples, making them slightly disheveled and falling down. Tsunade subconsciously gathered them up with her hand, a smile appearing on her lips.

The air was filled with the noisy sounds of children playing and laughing, the streets were bustling with traffic and the cries of vendors filled the air, showcasing the rare peace and prosperity of the ninja world.

Every now and then, ninjas could be seen moving through the village, silently protecting its peace.

Tsunade bent down slightly, rested her chin on her hand and her elbow on the windowsill, and looked down at Konoha.

"Jiraiya isn't here, and neither are Naruto and the others. It seems a bit lonely..."

Shizune chuckled, "Even when Jiraiya and Naruto are around, Tsunade always seems to find them annoying..."

Tsunade smiled and said, "That's just how human nature is..."

At that moment, her gaze drifted toward the training grounds of Konoha Village not far away.

That's where "Naruto's team" trained together.

However, now that Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata are not in the village, the remaining people seem to have lost their usual enthusiasm.

"Huh? Class 3 isn't here either?"

Shizune chuckled, "Didn't you personally send Kai and Squad 7 to carry out the mission?"

"How could I have forgotten..."

She also stepped forward and looked in the direction of Naruto's team.

"Class 7 isn't here, Class 3 isn't here either, the two most energetic teams are both out..."

"No wonder the remaining children all seem so listless..."

"Even so, they haven't forgotten their training, which shows that Naruto's strict requirements for them have been effective..."

Tsunade looked at the children who were making the most of their training during breaks in their missions and couldn't help but smile.

"Naruto?"

"That guy not only worked incredibly hard himself, but he also inspired everyone to work together..."

"Once he returns from Mount Myōboku, his strength will undoubtedly advance by leaps and bounds once again. Needless to say, he will have completely surpassed me, Jiraiya, and Sarutobi-sensei!"

Shizune couldn't help but feel incredibly hopeful: "I'm afraid that's indeed the case..."

"Naruto's strength was already quite formidable. He killed so many Akatsuki members, and he also mastered Jiraiya's ultimate trump card, Sage Mode. Naturally, he must have surpassed his master..."

"I really want to see just how much he's grown up..."

Tsunade closed her eyes and smiled.

"Naruto is probably already the number one person in Konoha in the true sense now."

Jingyin was slightly taken aback.

But then he nodded silently.

"That's right..."

"Although Naruto is very strong, I always thought he had a bright future..."

"But now that Lady Tsunade says so, it is indeed true..."

"Naruto is probably the strongest person in the village now!"

"I almost didn't realize that..."

Shizune looked again at the children who were training diligently, and she was even more shocked by Naruto's talent, aptitude, and level of effort...

"He... he's only a little over fourteen years old..."

Tsunade smiled gently: "Perhaps this is what they mean by 'like father, like son'..."

"Minato was the same back then, shining brightly at such a young age."

"However, Minato did not become the strongest in the village at the age of fourteen like Naruto."