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At the same time, outside the summit building in the Land of Iron.

A man wearing a Whirlpool Mask and a pitcher-plant-shaped figure also appeared in a tree outside the building. They were none other than Obito Uchiha and Zetsu.

"Did you investigate it clearly? Who is that Masked Man?" Obito asked angrily.

Zetsu shook his head. "That Masked Man only displayed your teacher Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique and Nine-Tails Chakra. As for anything else, we know nothing."

"Who could it be?"

"Obito, are you sure it isn't your teacher, Minato Namikaze?" Zetsu said, somewhat uncertain. "Based on my prediction, there's a very high chance it's Minato Namikaze."

"Impossible. I saw Teacher use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal with my own eyes. He has to be dead."

"But aside from him, there isn't a second ninja in the Ninja World who knows the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"There's one more."

"Who?"

"The Second Hokage."

"But he's dead too, isn't he?"

"I heard the Second Hokage had a jutsu that could summon the dead."

"If it's the Second Hokage, then why didn't he use ninjutsu when fighting the Five Kage?"

Zetsu patted his own head again. "You mean he was hiding his identity?"

"Hmph. No matter what purpose this Masked Man has, as long as I don't show up, it has nothing to do with me. I just need to explain things clearly to Nagato so he doesn't interfere with our plan."

"But Obito, you've always met Nagato looking like this. What are you going to do now?"

"Hmph. It's just a small matter. It's not important."

"All right. As long as Nagato doesn't misunderstand." Zetsu said nothing more.

Amegakure.

Konan stood calmly before Nagato.

"That elusive Masked Man who's been appearing recently isn't Madara."

"Is that so? His target is the tailed beasts, and my target is also the tailed beasts. If possible, it would be best to pull him into our camp. If not, it would still be best not to offend him."

"Understood. I'll notify Zetsu." After Konan finished speaking, she hesitated for a moment. "Also, because of the Masked Man, the Five Kage held a summit. There may be other variables."

"Before these eyes of mine, variables can't affect the result."

Nagato was more than a little confident.

Even the demigod was no match for him. Who in the Ninja World could be his opponent?

That masked Madara Uchiha?

Hmph. A man who hid his head and showed only his tail.

He did not even have as much courage as the Masked Man who had appeared recently.

Openly facing the Five Great Ninja Villages head-on!

Nagato believed he was capable of doing the same, but before achieving his goal, there was absolutely no need to expose himself directly.

The day after the Five Kage Summit ended, a wanted notice targeting the Masked Man spread throughout the Ninja World.

The Masked Man possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique and had seized part of the Nine-Tails Chakra.

The bounty amount was directly set at Ten Billion Ryo.

It was practically a capped-out wanted notice. Of course, no Bounty Hunter dared take on such a mission.

Except for one—Kakuzu.

"Skilled men are bold" described him perfectly.

Meanwhile, the Five Great Ninja Villages all formed teams targeting the Masked Man and issued a declaration of offensive and defensive alliance.

Once the Masked Man was discovered, the other ninja villages were to fully support his extermination.

This made the middle- and lower-ranking ninjas of the various ninja villages, which had originally been on the verge of war, breathe a sigh of relief.

The Third Shinobi World War had only ended such a short time ago. If fighting broke out, it would do no one any good.

Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Advisory Council were holding a small meeting.

The topic was not the Masked Man, but the Uchiha Clan.

"Hiruzen, those lunatics of the Uchiha Clan have been constantly stirring up conflicts on the front line. If not for the Anbu mediating, Konoha might already have fought the Cloud Ninja Village."

"Danzo, are you certain it was the Uchiha who caused it? Do you think I'm already too old to serve as Hokage?"

Danzo shut his mouth. What he had been doing had already been discovered, so naturally he no longer insisted.

Root had always been taking actions to incite conflict between the Uchiha and other ninja villages along the border. It was just that, for some reason, the Third Hokage had noticed it this time.

"Hiruzen, we do indeed need to come up with a plan regarding the Uchiha Clan. Back then, everyone saw the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes." Utatane Koharu also spoke up to help Danzo out.

The four of them all knew each other far too well.

"As for the Uchiha Clan, I still need to think it over," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, somewhat reluctant.

At the end of the day, the Uchiha Clan was quite powerful, a fine blade on the battlefield.

It was just that the blade was too sharp and could easily wound its wielder.

"What is there to think about? The Uchiha are an evil clan. Teacher said the same thing!"

"Danzo, don't forget Kagami Uchiha."

"Kagami was an exception!"

"What if there are other exceptions in the Uchiha Clan?"

"Impossible!"

"Danzo! Shisui is an inheritor of the Will of Fire. I've already decided to add Uchiha Shisui to the Anbu, so regarding the Uchiha Clan, we still need to be more cautious."

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

Danzo turned and left. When he shut the door, he used so much force it was as if he had a grudge against it. The door had only just closed before it toppled crookedly to the floor.

"Danzo! Pay for my door repairs!"

A vein jumped on Sarutobi Hiruzen's forehead. Repairing the office door was not something the public funds would reimburse!

Mitokado Homura said, "Hiruzen, regarding alliances with the other ninja villages, did you already settle it during the talks?"

"It's settled. Right, Homura, I'll still need you to coordinate the formation of the team targeting the Masked Man."

"All right." After agreeing, Mitokado Homura turned and left the Hokage Office.

"Koharu, regarding cooperation with the major ninja villages to develop Space-Time Ninjutsu, I'll still have to trouble you with that."

"All right! By the way, Hiruzen, the village's reconstruction work has basically been completed, and the injured civilians have mostly been discharged from the hospital." Utatane Koharu agreed to handle the cooperation and also reported on the village's recent situation.

"Right, Koharu, how are things with Kushina?"

"The Sealing Team checked Kushina's and Naruto's seals. Kushina's seal is very secure. As for Naruto's seal, the Fourth Generation left an opening. Kushina said Minato deliberately left it there."

"Is there any risk?" Hiruzen frowned.

"Jiraiya came back a few days ago. He examined the seal, but as for whether there are specific risks, he may know better. You can ask him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and waved his hand, indicating that he understood.

Utatane Koharu did not try to persuade him further. They were master and disciple; what could there be that couldn't be talked through?

After Utatane Koharu left, an Anbu appeared before Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Go find Jiraiya."

After the Anbu left with a Body Flicker, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not wait long before Jiraiya was brought back by the Anbu.

"What did you call me here for, old man?"

"How much do you know about the seal on Naruto?"

"Minato left a back door that can let Naruto control the Nine-Tails' power. But when it comes to Sealing Jutsu, shouldn't you be asking Kushina?"

"Is it dangerous?"

"There's definitely danger, but Kushina is right by his side. Do you think the Nine-Tails' power could run wild in front of Kushina?"

Jiraiya waved a hand, not seeming to care much, and was already planning to leave.

"Jiraiya, I'm getting old too. Konoha needs a new Hokage."

"Come on, old man. I have an even greater mission. If something hadn't happened to Minato, do you think I'd have come back?"

"Cough, cough, cough. Jiraiya, I really am old." Sarutobi Hiruzen deliberately coughed, indicating that his health was poor.

"Old man, I'm leaving first."

Jiraiya vanished with a poof. It turned out that the one who had come was only a clone.

"Looks like I need to go see Kushina as well." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.

People's hearts really weren't what they used to be. In all of vast Konoha, he could no longer even find a candidate to succeed him as Hokage.