Akatsuki's Meeting / Mei Terumī Arrives in Konoha.

"Teacher Cangyue, aren't you afraid of me?" Naruto Uzumaki's face darkened, and his hand gripping Cangyue's clothes trembled.

"Who do you think I am? It would be strange if I were afraid of the Nine-Tails' weak power," Aogetsu Hyuga said with a slight smile, placing his hand on Naruto's head. "Even if you go completely berserk, I can easily stop you."

Afraid of a mere Nine-Tails fox?

What a joke!

He can now easily make the Nine-Tails kneel down like a dog with just a glare.

"Nine-Tails or whatever, you're an important person to me..." Aogetsu Hyuga almost blurted out, then changed the subject with a light laugh, "You're an important student to me."

The Nine-Tails imp is an important tool for him to complete the Master-Disciple Mission, and a tool to help him gain the power to show off!

"Teacher Cangyue ..." Naruto Uzumaki's childhood memories cracked and shattered, transforming into the memories of Team 7's arduous training.

A warm feeling welled up in Naruto Uzumaki's heart.

Thank you, Ms. Cangyue.

"Naruto is Naruto, isn't he? How could we be afraid of someone as stupid as you? Don't ask such a stupid question!" Sakura Haruno said speechlessly.

Forget about the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, all I know is that Naruto is stupid!

"Sakura -chan..." Naruto Uzumaki's eyes welled up with tears.

"Stop asking stupid questions. The Nine-Tails almost destroyed the village. What does that have to do with you, Naruto? Whoever has a grudge should go after the Nine-Tails." Aogetsu Hyuga glanced at Sasuke and said, "Look at that Uchiha brat, he dreams of having your power."

"Boring." Sasuke Uchiha put his hands in his pockets, snorted coldly, and turned his head away, gritting his teeth with a very cold and gloomy expression.

Dislike the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox?

Give it to me!

I will use this power to take revenge!

He really wanted power, whatever that power was, even if it meant paying a terrible price!

"Anyway, you all better work hard. You must learn summoning within five days. If you don't learn it in five days, you'll have to wait for the next Chunin Ninja Exams." Aogetsu Hyuga waved his hand and turned to leave.

"Teacher Cangyue, after we learn the Summoning Technique, will we be as cool as you were just now?" Naruto Uzumaki regained his composure and looked at Aogetsu Hyuga with anticipation.

Hateful.

I want to be in the spotlight too!

"It's hard to say. As I just said, you think summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path cool because I'm cool." Aogetsu Hyuga paused, turned back to look at Naruto calmly, and said with a smile, "But once you can perfectly summon, you should be able to show off a bit too, probably."

After saying that, Aogetsu Hyuga air.

Naruto Uzumaki pouted, clearly annoyed, and said, "What's wrong with him? All he knows is how to show off."

Naruto Uzumaki looked at Sasuke, his smile bright and cheerful, and said, "Sasuke, let's have a competition! I'll be number one again this time!"

"You? Ridiculous. How could I possibly lose to a mere loser?" Sasuke Uchiha put his hands in his pockets and left, intending to return to the Uchiha Clan for quiet training.

"Sasuke alright, but you, Naruto, don't you dare slack off on your training. If you can't participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams because you didn't finish your training, you'll be sorry!" Sakura Haruno glared at Naruto, then turned and quickly walked into the forest. She also planned to find a quiet place to concentrate on learning the Summoning Technique.

"Tch, what's so great about that arrogant Sasuke? Just wait, I'll summon a giant Toad and surprise you all!" Naruto Uzumaki.

Chapter 63 Akatsuki's Meeting / Mei Terumi Arrives in Konoha.

The border of Amegakure.

Inside the dark cave.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, as large as small mountains, stood inside the cave, as stable as a real stone statue.

Several illusory figures, like projected images, stood on the fingers of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Deidara's projection sat cross-legged on the stone statue's fingertips, licking his palm with his tongue, and said with annoyance, "Boss, can you please not call me unless it's absolutely necessary? I'm currently creating supreme art, hmm!"

"Listen patiently, the leader probably has a new mission for us." Scorpion's projection lay on the ground like a centipede, its tail swaying slightly and making a creaking sound, a hoarse voice emanating from inside the Puppet.

"Since Uncle Sasori has said so..." Deidara was interrupted by a shout before he could finish speaking.

"What the hell is art? To worship such a useless thing as art is blasphemy against the Lord Jashin!" Hidan's projection was arrogant, with a strange Scythe on his back.

"Damn it!" Deidara's face darkened, a [ ] mark appeared on his forehead, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes. Pointing at Hidan in the distance, he roared, "Art is beautiful but fleeting; it's only beautiful in the instant it disappears. How could an idiot like you possibly understand the greatness of art, huh!"

Hidan pointed his sharp Scythe at Deidara in the distance and said angrily, "Who understands what you're saying? Only the Lord Jashin is worthy of worship!"

Deidara reached into his pouch, his eyes wide with rage, and roared, "Hidan! Even Buddha can only tolerate three times! If you talk nonsense again, I'll decide your cause of death, hmm!"

Evil God?

What kind of toy is that?

My art is the greatest, yeah!

"Ha! I'll use you for the ritual next time. I'll grind your cooking into a pulpy mess!" Hidan grinned arrogantly. If everyone present hadn't been projections, he would have already slashed at Deidara with his Scythe.

Kakuzu's projection emitted a deep voice, "Whether it's an evil god or art, these are all illusory ideas. The only thing you can trust is money."

No one spoke much, not even Uchiha Itachi in the corner or Kisame Hoshigaki who was watching the show.

Pain stood atop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, calmly surveying the crowd with his Rinnegan, and said in an indifferent tone, "Aogetsu Hyuga."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was slightly taken aback.

Pain said, "He is currently taking over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and his actions are a major problem for Jinchūriki."

He thought Aogetsu Hyuga was quite strong, especially his strange blue eyes, which seemed to have Dojutsu Power close to that of the Rinnegan.

"Huh? Aogetsu Hyuga? Who is this guy? Is he very powerful? If he is, then let's offer him to the Lord Jashin!" Hidan was full of doubt.

Aogetsu Hyuga?

Who cares who he is.

No matter how strong I am, it's not as powerful as the power bestowed upon me by the evil god!

Deidara said, "Aogetsu Hyuga... I've heard of this kid. He's apparently known as the Disaster Ninja. Let's use my art to take care of him when we meet him, hmm!"

Rumor has it that Cangyue is very strong.

But even the strongest art cannot compare to mine. Explosion is the most beautiful and the most powerful art, yeah!

"The people of Aogetsu Hyuga seem to be quite valuable." Kakuzu pondered for a moment. He had heard rumors about Aogetsu Hyuga, but no matter how strong the rumors were, he was still just a brat.

Aogetsu Hyuga?

If I remember correctly, Cangyue is very valuable; a head of him can be exchanged for two billion coins!

Let's find some time to deal with Cangyue, and then exchange her head for money.

Having lived through the era of the First Hokage, he had no need to care about the rumors surrounding Cangyue.

Pain said indifferently, "Aogetsu Hyuga is strong; he possesses a unique Dojutsu Power, but his strength is below mine."

He didn't put on airs or make boastful claims.

No matter how strong Aogetsu Hyuga is, his power is definitely below that of the Rinnegan!

After all, the Rinnegan is the power of creation, the eye of the legendary Sage of Six Paths, possessing the power to create the moon.

Aogetsu Hyuga is just a mortal, how could he possibly rival the power of a god!

"Rinnegan ..." Uchiha Itachi slowly opened his eyes, revealing his crimson Mangekyou Mangekyō Sharingan, and glanced indifferently at Pain's Rinnegan.

Mr. Cangyue is very strong and possesses the mutated Dojutsu Power of the Hyuga Clan, but the Rinnegan is the power of the Sage of Six Paths, and Mr. Cangyue has no way to resist Rinnegan.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is in Team 7, Sasuke seems to be in Team 7 as well.

Judging from Pain's attitude, Akatsuki may be planning to deal with Cangyue soon and then capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki ahead of time.

Get stronger as soon as possible, Sasuke.

I'll wait until you become stronger so you can seek revenge.

"Boss, Aogetsu Hyuga may be very strong, but you have the legendary eyes, that's just too unfair, hmm!" Deidara glanced at Pain's Rinnegan.

The legendary power of the Rinnegan...

Whether it's Pain or Uchiha Itachi, their eyes are those that scorn my art!

My art of explosion is the greatest, yeah!

Everyone glanced at Pain's Rinnegan and concluded that no matter how powerful Cangyue was rumored to be, he couldn't possibly resist Pain, who possessed legendary power.

After all, most people in the Entire Shinobi World have heard of the legend of the Sage of Six Paths.

And Pain, the leader of Akatsuki, possesses this legendary power!

As for Aogetsu Hyuga...

What significance do the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai Rinnegan?

Most importantly...

All the Akatsuki members present were S-Rank missing-nin with Kage Level strength, so there was no need to care about Aogetsu Hyuga.

Especially Kakuzu.

I survived a battle with the First Hokage, so why should I care about someone as insignificant Aogetsu Hyuga?

Everyone has their share of rumors and tales!

"The plan to capture the Tailed Beast is being moved up. If Aogetsu Hyuga insists on being an enemy of Akatsuki, then we'll deal with Aogetsu Hyuga it," Pain said. "Once we've captured the Tailed Beast, I'll activate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."

"In the name of the gods, hunt the Tailed Beast!"

"Understood." All the Akatsuki members responded. None of them had any interest in capturing the Tailed Beast; they were just doing something as a side job after joining Akatsuki.

Suddenly.

"Boom--" The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path beneath the Akatsuki members' feet trembled violently before turning into a wisp of white smoke and vanishing into thin air.

"Huh?"

The members of the Akatsuki were slightly taken aback.

Where is the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?

Where did that huge golem go?

Pain just said he would activate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path soon, and then the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path vanished into thin air!

Was it the golem that Leader Pain took away?

I think so.

"What's going on..." Pain's face remained expressionless, but a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He hadn't taken the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, so where had it gone?

Only by using the Dojutsu Power of the Rinnegan can one summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

He is the only one in the entire world who possesses the Rinnegan!

Strangeness.

Pain's Rinnegan narrowed, and he slammed his hands heavily onto the ground.

A burst of pale white smoke filled the area, but the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path did not appear.

Pain was stunned.

It's broken!

My connection with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path has been severed!

What happened?

Could it be...?

A cold killing intent flashed in Pain's eyes, and the image of a Masked Man appeared in his mind.

Could it be that Masked Man who claimed to be Madara Uchiha used special methods to summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?

The problem is... the Masked Man doesn't have the Rinnegan, so how could he freely control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?

But that's also possible.

After all, the Masked Man claims to be Madara Uchiha, so whether it's true or not, he must have some tricks up his sleeve!

"Weng"—pure white paper scraps fluttered in the air, all of them solidifying together to form a graceful, tall figure.

"Madara Uchiha... the Masked Man?" Konan's pretty face was cold and aloof as she glanced indifferently at the empty cave.

"It should be," Pain said in a low voice, "No one other than him and me should know the summoning method of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."