Leaving Konoha for the first time, Naruto was bursting with excitement, completely unaware.
The person closest to him was already waiting for him up ahead.
Jing Xiu paid Naruto no mind. He had already collected the Nine-Tails chakra, and as an adviser to Akatsuki, he had also proposed his plan.
But Akatsuki's leader refused to appreciate it, so he simply busied himself with his own affairs.
"The Uchiha Clan's destruction is imminent. I imagine that old fellow Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to see whether I have any connection to Akatsuki!"
"Why else would he choose to launch the Uchiha Clan Massacre when Danzo moves against Akatsuki?"
"To leave me unable to attend to both ends."
At that thought, Jing Xiu gave an inexplicable smile. "Sending Naruto's squad to the Land of Waves."
"He probably also wants the strongest fighter still openly remaining in Konoha today."
"Kakashi Hatake, known as Konoha's technician, to probe the Land of Waves' strength!"
"Perhaps Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, is hiding in the shadows, protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while also trying to uncover information about me!"
"As expected of the Third Hokage, who has ruled Konoha for nearly forty years!"
"Not a single thought spared for the enemy. Every spear is pointed at his own people!"
Although many thoughts passed through his mind, only an instant elapsed.
The reason Jing Xiu had chosen neither to assist Akatsuki nor to remain in the Land of Waves, instead secretly observing the Uchiha Clan Massacre operation.
Was, fundamentally, Uchiha Fugaku's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.
Although Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami was powerful, and although the naive trio were not right in the head.
For Shimura Danzō to keep all three of them there-or, more precisely, to keep the Rinnegan-was nothing but a fool's dream.
Jing Xiu had originally hoped Nagato could