The Lightning Prison Plan begins!
The glow of the sunset gradually faded, the deep red turning into crimson, and then into light red.
Finally, when all the red light disappeared, the sky, which suddenly seemed high and distant, took on a solemn expression.
Konoha is even quieter at night, and from the Hokage Rock on the back mountain, you can clearly see the lights of thousands of homes below.
In tens of thousands of villages, three figures vanished like ghosts, like three tiny drops of water disappearing into a vast ocean, without attracting anyone's attention.
At the gate of Konoha, a slender figure stood there, his black pupils fixed intently on the main road leading away from the village.
"If you can't find the true meaning of life, you can come to me..."
Tōka's words echoed in Itachi's ears and planted a Seed in his heart.
"The next time we meet, I may have already found it." Itachi took one last look at the gates of Konoha before turning and walking back home.
After leaving Konoha, Tōka, Karin, Yakumo headed north, quickly crossing the border of the Land of Fire, towards their destination— the Land of Waterfalls.
The Land of Waterfalls is located north of the Land of Fire, bordering the Land of Earth. To the north lies the sea, and to the east is the Land of Frost.
The Land of Waterfalls is a country composed of many Waterfall. The huge Waterfall prevent invasions from other countries and act as natural protective barriers.
Hidden among the towering Waterfall lies Takigakure) in one of them.
Splash...
Even from a great distance, you can clearly hear the rushing sound of the cascading water.
Under the sunlight, the splashing water droplets are crystal clear, scattering the colorful sunlight and forming beautiful streaks of crimson.
Tōka leaped onto a towering ancient Big Tree, standing on its branches. The water spray that hit her face in the wind was refreshing and invigorating.
Even under the sun, you won't feel the slightest bit of heat; instead, you'll feel a slight coolness.
Through the rushing water, Tōka caught sight of two figures wearing Wind Chime Hat and dressed in Red Clouds on a Black Background walking slowly towards the other side of the Waterfall.
One person was hunched over like a hunchback, while the other was tall and burly with a pair of alluring green eyes.
"You arrived pretty quickly!"
Tōka stretched out both hands, fingers spread and grasping in mid-air. An Attractive Force erupted from his palms Karin and Yakumo, dozens of meters below, suddenly felt their bodies lighten.
Immediately afterwards, under an invisible force, their bodies floated up in a strange way.
The initial speed was not fast. When they were two or three meters off the ground, their bodies paused for a moment, and then they suddenly accelerated with a whoosh.
In an instant, Karin and Yakumo were lifted into the air by Tōka, one in each hand.
Karin hasn't yet learned how to climb trees Water Walking, while Yakumo already understands precise chakra control.
All the Tōka put Yakumo down, while Karin was tucked under their armpits. With a swift movement, they leaped towards the Waterfall.
Seeing this, Yakumo quickly followed, knowing that Tōka was training her physical fitness.
Despite years of physical training, Yakumo's physique hasn't improved dramatically, but he can still keep up with daily ninja marches.
Splash!
The closer you get to that enormous Waterfall, the louder the buzzing sound becomes.
Standing at the top of the Waterfall, two dark figures were already waiting there.
"So slow, Tōka!" The low, hoarse voice was filled with impatience as Xie glanced displeasedly at the two little ones behind Tōka.
It must be because we have to carry these two burdens that we're moving so slowly!
A chilling aura emanated from Sasori, and Karin and Yakumo shrank back behind Tōka in fear.
"Anyway, there are still people who haven't arrived yet, right?" Tōka nonchalantly found a large rock to sit on, and Karin and Yakumo quickly followed.
"Hmph, that Kisame..." Sasori's face darkened, a cold glint One Flash in his eyes.
Kakuzu, who came with Sasori, sat cross-legged by the river, with a huge black leather trunk on his lap.
The box contained the bounty for a Rogue Ninja he had just hunted down.
From the Tōka appeared until now, Kakuzu hasn't looked up once; his gaze has remained fixed on the bounty on his legs.
To be precise, Kakuzu's counting their money!
"What was Iwagakure's reply?" Tōka glanced at Kakuzu, who was busy making money, and then turned to Sasori to ask.
"How could that old man Ōnoki not go all out for such a good opportunity?" Sasori sneered and said coldly, "Besides, if Iwagakure and Kumogakure continue to waste time like this, it will only benefit Konoha."
Upon hearing this, Tōka nodded secretly; everything was as he had anticipated.
Ōnoki is indeed tough and stubborn, but he's not stupid.
Ōnoki would never let go of an opportunity that could extricate Iwagakure from its predicament while severely weakening Kumogakure.
Don't say it's just a temporary surrender to Kumogakure...
"How many people can Iwagakure send? And what's the commission they'll give us?" Tōka's eyes One Flash slightly as he pressed on.
"How could that old fox Ōnoki possibly reveal the ninja he dispatched to us? However, I conservatively estimate it to be over three thousand elite troops," Sasori's low, hoarse voice rang out.
Elite troops? That means at least three thousand Chunin, with a ten-to-one ratio of Jonin, which means there are also three hundred Jonin.
With the addition of the Kage-level Ōnoki personally visiting the Land of Lightning, it was quite a significant undertaking.
Finally, Scorpion spoke again.
"As for the commission, you'll have to ask that guy."
Following Sasori's gaze, Tōka's eyes fell on Kakuzu. Kakuzu was in charge of Akatsuki's finances, and he usually handled commission negotiations.
Under Tōka's suspicious gaze, Kakuzu froze as he counted the money in his hand, then glared at Tōka with a gloomy expression.
"Ten billion! Ten billion!" Kakuzu roared in a low voice.
"Because you said you couldn't expose Kisame and yourself, we only have two Kage-level on our side. Ōnoki will give each of them 500 million."
"Half the money has already been prepaid; the other half will have to wait until things are done!"
Five hundred million?
Tōka stared at Kakuzu with an idiotic look, making Kakuzu's temple throb with bulging veins. If he weren't outmatched by Tōka, he definitely...
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy, and Scorpion stood aside with an air of anticipation.
Unfortunately, Kakuzu is destined not to fight Tōka.
"Make Ōnoki pay the remaining 500 million before we take action." Tōka's words broke the silence, and also made Kakuzu's face even more gloomy.
"This is against the rules," Kakuzu said, frowning.
Unlike the villages of the Five Great Nations, Akatsuki, without revealing the Land of Rain, was merely a group of Mercenary who could not be openly acknowledged.
Because of the Kage Level strength displayed by Kakuzu and Sasori, Ōnoki was willing to pay half of the money upfront.
"Hmph? Rules?" Tōka sneered, glancing at Kakuzu with a mocking look. "You're really getting more and more out of touch, Kakuzu."
"You..." Kakuzu was speechless at Tōka's words, and the Earth Grudge Fear on his arm suddenly jumped out.
The jet-black lines floated in the air, sending chills down one's spine.
Like a series of tentacle monsters, Kakuzu's pair of demonic green eyes looked even more bewitching and terrifying at this moment.
"Having survived this chaotic era, don't you understand that strength is the rule?" Tōka ignored the murderous aura emanating from Kakuzu.
Ten years ago, Tōka was not afraid of Kakuzu, let alone today, ten years later.
If it weren't for the fact that using the Tenseigan would stop the Natural Energy transformation sealed at the brow, it would be a different story.
This means that the awakening of the complete Sage Body will have to be postponed again.
Therefore, in recent years, unless necessary, Tōka Budong Budong the Tenseigan 'Tenseigan abilities.
"Understood." Despite his displeasure, Kakuzu still agreed with Tōka's words.
Although Akatsuki currently has few official members, their strength is exceptionally powerful. The strength of Orochimaru, Sasori, Pain, Konan, and Kakuzu among the official members is beyond doubt.
Meanwhile, Pakura and Shiro, who are substitutes, have also made great progress in recent years.
Especially Pakura, who already possessed the strength to fight against Jonin, and even Elite Jonin, when she joined Akatsuki.
With the passage of time, he has now acquired strength that is almost at the Kage Level.
Although Bai is still young, no one dares to underestimate his Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
The tense atmosphere eased, and the two girls standing behind Tōka secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Their gazes towards Kakuzu changed completely at that moment.
The two lively little ones immediately became well-behaved, shrinking beside Tōka and not daring to breathe.
"Kisame is too slow!" Sasori became impatient again as the show was not going to start.
"No, they're already here." Tōka's eyes lit up slightly, and he smiled.
Rustling...
A series of light footsteps echoed in the forest upstream of the great river, followed by three figures that swept through the air. They were none other than Kisame of Akatsuki, who was hiding in the Land of Water.
And Hozuki Mangetsu, who was controlled by Tōka, and Tōka's eldest disciple Kaguya Kimimaro.
"Sharks Face, you're too slow!" Sasori glared at Kisame with displeasure and snorted.
"The Kirigakure is quite a distance from here..." Kisame wasn't explaining to Sasori, but rather to Tōka, "These two are..."
"Hmm." Tōka nodded affirmatively. He had already asked Hozuki Mangetsu to inform Kisame about Karin and Yakumo's identities in advance.
Their status Genin in Kirigakure has already been registered.
Kisame handed over two Forehead Protector, both bearing the Forehead Protector of Kirigakure).
Karin took it without a care, put it on her forehead, and tied her hair back.
Yakumo looked at Tōka with a puzzled expression.
"The Forehead Protector doesn't mean anything; what matters most is where your heart is." Tōka didn't explain, but instead told Yakumo not to worry about it.
They needed an identity to infiltrate Kumogakure, and that identity was that of Kumogakure Kirigakure Ninja participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams!
The Lightning Prison Plan was launched under the guise of the Chunin Ninja Exams Kumogakure.
In order to end the cold war with Kumogakure, Iwagakure Ōnoki personally lead the participating Genin into the Land of Lightning to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams held by Kumogakure.
In order to show their recognition of Kumogakure's strength, Kirigakure also submitted State Letter in advance.
In other words, Iwagakure and Kirigakure are indirectly yielding to Kumogakure.
Whatever the reason, the Raikage would not refuse the Genin of genin from both countries to travel to the Land of Lightning to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
Karin is too young and weak; aside from her innate Physical Healing, she is of no use whatsoever.
Tōka would not allow Karin to use her Physical Healing. The only purpose of having Karin appear was to make her the team's eyes and ears.
That's right. During the journey from the Land of Waterfalls to the Land of Lightning, Tōka will help Karin master Mind's Eye of the Kagura!
In addition, the team's combat strength is also very strong.
After awakening the Shikotsumyaku), Kimimaro alone is enough to take on an entire squad, not to mention Yakumo, who has awakened her Kekkei Yakumo (Kekkei Genkai) and can provide remote support.
As for the Jonin the team, Hozuki Mangetsu was appointed. On the surface, Hozuki Mangetsu was the Jonin Kirigakure, but in reality, he was controlled by Tōka.
Kisame remained hidden in the shadows to deal with any unexpected situations, while Kakuzu and Sasori were Mercenary hired by Ōnoki.
With everyone in place, the group quickly disappeared into the depths of the Waterfall in the Land of Waterfalls.
The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Bang!
The Raikage smashed the desk in two with a single punch. Raikage assistant, unfazed, adjusted his glasses and continued reading the documents in his hands.
"Those cowards from the Land of Wind, that spineless bastard Rasa!"
The Raikage roared in exasperation.
After Iwagakure yielded and Kirigakure followed suit by sending Genin squad to participate in Kumogakure's Chunin Ninja Exams, the Raikage was overjoyed.
But who knew that the news that followed was that Sunagakure was once again aligning itself with Konoha.
Unlike Sunagakure, which only caused trouble on the border of the Land of Fire, Kumogakure and Iwagakure were in a cold war for several years. Although there were no large-scale clashes, both sides suffered considerable losses.
Especially for Kumogakure, due to the cross-sea operation, the supplies were almost double those of Iwagakure!
"Sunagakure and Konoha have reconciled, and neighboring Small Nation are flocking to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams. That's all." The Raikage calmly finished reading the report and stood aside.
Only Chunin Ninja Exams held by powerful villages are recognized by the entire Ninja World.
The Raikage had assumed that with both Iwagakure and Kirigakure sending representatives, other Small Nation would also align themselves with the Land of Lightning.
Unexpectedly, just because Sunagakure surrendered, Small Nation near the Land of Fire...
"I'm so angry!" Raikage smashed the window with his fist and stormed out in a fit of rage; he needed to vent his anger.
Otherwise, they might start fighting as soon as they see Ōnoki!
That old geezer, Ōnoki, can make people so angry they'll spit fire.
Meanwhile, Ōnoki and his group, on their way to the Land of Lightning, received news that Sunagakure and Konoha had reconciled.
"That idiot Raikage must be furious, huh!" Ōnoki narrowed his eyes and casually tossed the intelligence Scroll to his deputy.
If we take down Kumogakure this time, next time it'll be Konoha!
The Ninja World will ultimately belong to the Land of Earth, the Iwagakure, and Ōnoki will be the great man who unifies the Ninja World!