I'm running out of time to type this chapter, so please update it later. Thank you.
"There's nothing we can do, we've been found out."
Naoki Senju helplessly shrugged. He didn't want to cause bloodshed either, but there were always people who didn't care.
The Takigakure ninja didn't recognize Konan's Akatsuki, but the Konoha Forehead Protector on Naoki Senju's forehead made it clear to them what they should do.
" Konoha ninjas, don't be so arrogant! Now that you've entered Takigakure territory, don't bother going back!"
" Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
Seeing that the ninja appeared to be a Jonin from Takigakure, he thought he had gained the upper hand in the battle and couldn't help but smile smugly. He figured that after killing this Konoha ninja, he would probably receive a high-level ninjutsu as a reward from the village, or maybe even two...
Konan, who wasn't wearing Forehead Protector, also became a target of the Takigakure ninja. This angered Konan, who had just been frightened and then Kunai an undeserved disaster. White pieces of paper fluttered around Konan, ready to transform into Shuriken or kunai that could take lives at any moment.
But Naoki Senju acted much faster than Konan. He hadn't encountered a minor character who dared to provoke him in a long time, so this was a rare experience for him.
The Takigakure's Earth Spear had barely emerged from the ground when it was shattered by even thicker tree roots. Before the Takigakure could escape with wide, incredulous eyes, the vines surrounding him seemed to come alive, starting from their necks and wrapping them up in layers, forming an impenetrable cocoon.
During this process, the dozen or so Takigakure ninjas didn't even let out a scream. Only the Takigakure ninja who appeared to Jonin swung his Kunai weakly twice, but couldn't even cut the vines.
"Is this your true strength?"
"Perhaps, you'll have the chance to see even more in the future."
Naoki Senju walked to the 100-meter-long
Short, light purple hair, a red robe with auspicious cloud patterns, and paper scraps fluttering with her movements...
These characteristics became a shadow in the hearts of all Taki Shinobu.
The first group of ninja from Konan killed their Jonin leader. However, Takigakure quickly assembled a second group to challenge them, but Konan killed their leader as well, and the group scattered and fled.
Then came the third and fourth batches... Perhaps Konan's method of only beheading the enemy was too 'gentle,' or perhaps the will of Takigakure was too firm, until the eighth batch of Takigakure ninja collapsed and fled back to Takigakure, the area near the World of Flowering Trees gradually quieted down.
The process of sealing the Seven-Tails was smoother and faster than Naoki Senju had imagined. Having witnessed the One-Tail, Three-Tails, and especially the Eight-Tails within Naoki Senju's body, the Seven-Tails offered almost no fierce resistance.
The brothers in misfortune remained silently within their own seals, preserving the last shred of dignity for each other. Since they were all sealed away anyway, no one dared to mock anyone else. Even the most talkative Shukaku remained silent.
After becoming the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Naoki Senju finally gained the flight ability he had always dreamed of!
Three pairs of transparent elytra appeared behind Naoki Senju. The vibrating elytra propelled Senju off the ground, breaking free from the constraints of gravity and soaring into the unbound sky.
Konan's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Naoki Senju seal the Tailed Beast in just three hours. One-Tail, Three-Tails, Eight-Tails, and now Seven-Tails —almost half of the Tailed Beast have been sealed by Naoki Senju!
Even the Masked Man couldn't possibly be a match for Naoki Senju now, right?
"What are you staring at? Do you still want to stay here?"
Although the environment in the World of Flowering Trees isn't terrible, it's definitely not suitable for long-term residence, not to mention that it's within the territory of Takigakure, and they'd drive you crazy Tenten.
"... Are you going to capture other Tailed Beast next?"
Konan simply ignored Naoki Senju's teasing; she figured she'd get used to it after spending more time with him.
"No need. The Masked Man can't possibly gather all Nine Tailed Beasts. If he wants to gather Nine Tailed Beasts, he'll have to fight me. Let him gather the other Tailed Beast for me."
Naoki Senju smiled indifferently. Apart from capturing the Tailed Beast itself, the Seven-Tails -Seven-Tails has almost no chance of obtaining its Chakra. Unlike other Tailed Beast, it can summon the previous Jinchūriki. Takigakure is too secluded, so the outside world has no way of knowing who the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki has been.
Obito Uchiha, this is a classic case of luring someone into a trap.
Iwagakure.
Ōnoki irritably pushed the heavy stack of intelligence aside, making it part of the small hill. It contained recent information about the Akatsuki, Konoha, Naoki Senju, Hashirama Senju, and Kirigakure and Sunagakure.
Ōnoki is a little confused about the recent situation in the Shinobi World; it's just too... calm...
Not long ago, Kirigakure had planned an attack on Konoha, which stirred up the entire Shinobi World.
The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, was killed by Orochimaru; the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi in battle; the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, was captured; and the Fourth Raikage A, and Killer B were captured...
One major event after another, rarely seen in ordinary times, occurred, yet the Shinobi World remained eerily calm despite all these events. It was understandable that Sunagakure, having lost its Kazekage, continued to operate as usual, given that Chiyo was still in charge of the village.
But can anyone tell him why Kirigakure can still function normally even after losing the Mizukage and most of its elite ninja?
And then there's the Kumogakure, severely damaged and no longer what it used to be...
Looking at the weakened Ōnoki and Sunagakure around him, Kumogakure was so hungry he was practically drooling, but he had to suppress the pro-war faction in his village.
Based on Ōnoki's extensive experience in scheming, this is definitely not right. What lies hidden beneath the calm surface is probably the most ruthless conspiracy. Iwagakure must not act rashly!
"War is endless; as long as there is a conflict of interest, war will break out..."
Konan muttered to herself the whole way. Naoki Senju's Talk no Jutsu seemed a bit too powerful, directly shattering Konan's hope for peace. As long as there is a conflict of interests, war and death are unavoidable. But how can a conflict of interests be avoided?
Conflicts of interest can range from minor to major. The smallest conflict can be a dispute between neighbors, such as a single person being unable to stand the nightly revelry of the couple next door... the scheming of the grocery store auntie and the vendor... or even a probabilistic event like stepping on someone's foot.
The biggest conflicts are, of course, between nations and between ninja villages. For example, Iwagakure complains that Konoha stole their mission orders, Sunagakure is envious of Konoha's natural resources and superior environment, Kirigakure is unhappy with Kumogakure's repeated imposition of tariffs...
These conflicts of interest are irreconcilable and unavoidable.
The Land of Rain, Amegakure, or more accurately, Amegakure that has become ruins.
Temporary tents were erected around the ruins. These were Amegakure who had returned from a mission only to find that not only their homes were gone, but their entire village was also destroyed.
"How about this gift? If Obito- kun is satisfied, we can discuss the specific details of our collaboration."
Orochimaru grinned sinisterly. He didn't tell Black Zetsu or Obito that the Cursed Seal's ability to control the Impure World Reincarnation was actually quite limited; the stronger the Impure World Reincarnation was, the weaker the control effect.
As for controlling Madara Uchiha... it might be possible if it's a low-quality Impure World Reincarnation, but if it's Madara Uchiha in his prime...