The resistance from Kusagakure wasn't fierce at all. After all the higher-ups were brought under control, the village was forced to sign an alliance treaty.
According to the treaty, if either Akatsuki or Kusagakure was attacked, the other party would automatically be considered part of the war and take responsibility for fighting the enemy together.
After the agreement was signed, Pain summoned the nearby Akatsuki members and ordered them not to harass the civilians.
Uchiha Itachi and Kisame nodded calmly, showing no objections.
Kakuzu and Hidan, on the other hand, looked annoyed as hell—especially Hidan. The whole reason he joined Akatsuki was to preach his twisted religion and kill people. Now being told not to kill anyone?
That was more painful than killing him.
Still, even Hidan knew better than to run his mouth recklessly in front of Pain, so he just sulked in silence.
Seeing the rebellious attitudes of some members, Pain couldn't help but feel the growing importance of cultivating proper talent.
These rogue ninjas were excellent for fighting and killing—but when it came to governing a village or guiding development?
Yeah… completely useless.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have ended up as missing-nin in the first place.
But when it came to actually managing a village and using Kusagakure to develop Amegakure… Pain didn't have much experience either. Most of Amegakure's administration had always been handled by Konan, while he focused on bigger matters.
After thinking for a moment, Pain suddenly had an idea—
The Land of Waves.
More specifically… Uzushiogakure.
Of course, they were technically enemies now.
But if he sent a puppet instead?
That might still work.
After all, both Amegakure and Uzushiogakure were currently opposed to the Five Great Nations. Their interests didn't directly conflict—at least, not yet.
Making a decision, Pain turned to Konan and gave orders:
"Konan, stabilize Kusagakure's leadership for now. Don't let news of the alliance with Amegakure spread."
"Itachi, Kisame—you two patrol the borders. Don't let Iwagakure shinobi cross into the country."
"Kakuzu, Hidan—clean up the rogue ninjas in Kusagakure. You can keep whatever spoils you find."
Hidan's eyes instantly lit up.
Now that sounded like a proper job.
—
In a shadowy corner of Kusagakure, Obito and Black Zetsu silently observed everything from afar.
After watching for a while, Black Zetsu spoke, his tone grim.
"Obito… Nagato is slipping out of our control. He's no longer focused on collecting Tailed Beasts. Now he's thinking about building power like a ninja village."
"What the hell did he talk about with that Uzumaki brat? Why has he changed so much?"
Obito's face darkened as well.
Even though Naruto—now the leader of Uzushiogakure—was strong, if Nagato cooperated with him, they might actually have a chance to take him down.
But clearly… Nagato had no such intention.
Once news spread that Akatsuki had taken over Kusagakure, the entire ninja world would start paying attention to them.
And that would make the "Eye of the Moon Plan" much harder to carry out.
After thinking for a moment, Obito said slowly,
"Everything is still under control."
"Nagato wants to develop like a proper ninja village. Even if we agree… the other rogue ninjas—and the Five Great Nations—won't."
"When reality hits him, he'll realize how naïve his ideas are."
"And when that happens… he'll come back to the Tailed Beast plan."
Black Zetsu glanced at Obito, who sounded confident as hell, and couldn't help but think—
So basically… you've got no better plan and are just waiting it out.
Still, he didn't say it out loud.
After all, he didn't have a better option either.
All he could do… was wait.
After all, even though Indra's reincarnation had appeared…
He was still too young to truly manipulate.
—
Meanwhile…
After dispelling the shadow clone he had left in Kusagakure, Naruto absorbed all its memories.
From Amegakure's takeover of Kusagakure to Pain's method of control—none of it surprised him.
Amegakure, constantly drenched in rain, needed proper land if it wanted to expand.
And aside from the Land of Fire…
The only real target was the Land of Grass.
But if Amegakure suddenly annexed a buffer state between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, what would Konoha and Iwagakure think?
"Hanzo the Salamander made a comeback?"
Yeah… that would scare the hell out of everyone.
Which meant Amegakure's existence would inevitably draw the attention—and fear—of Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
How Nagato handled this situation would depend entirely on his ability.
Naruto smirked slightly.
He hoped Akatsuki could hold on a bit longer.
After all… things were just getting interesting.
Shaking off his thoughts, Naruto bought a few sticks of candied hawthorn and handed one to Karin.
Although Karin had refined chakra, she was still far from being a proper ninja. So for now, they could only travel slowly toward Uzushiogakure.
Naruto didn't mind.
He treated it like a vacation—taking in the scenery and culture of the Land of Fire.
Because once he got back…
It would be nothing but work, work, and more damn work.
Seriously, he hadn't even officially graduated as a ninja, yet here he was running an entire village. What kind of bullshit was that?
After traveling for a while, Naruto noticed something interesting—
People in the major cities of the Land of Fire actually lived pretty well.
Sure, there were still rogue ninjas around, but compared to smaller countries?
This place was basically paradise.
As for the rural areas?
Yeah… same old story.
Ninjas didn't bother showing up, leaving bandits and thugs to run wild.
After about a month, Naruto and Karin finally left the Land of Fire and boarded a ship back to Uzushiogakure.
Inside the cabin, Karin was diligently studying medical books.
With her glasses on, she looked like a quiet, intellectual girl.
But when she was alone?
She'd randomly grin like an idiot, hug her blanket, and roll around like she'd lost her damn mind.
Naruto glanced at her once… then decided to pretend he hadn't seen anything.
Looking out at the rough sea through the window, Naruto entered his sealed space.
Inside, Kurama, Isobu (the Three-Tails), and Minato Namikaze were playing a card game Naruto had created out of boredom.
"Attack!"
"Substitution!"
"Eat this Tailed Beast Bomb! If you don't have a Substitution Jutsu, you're screwed!"
Watching a Tailed Beast and the Fourth Hokage get completely addicted to a card game, Naruto held his forehead.
He deeply regretted introducing this nonsense to the ninja world.
At that moment, Kurama noticed him and asked curiously,
"Hey, Naruto, why don't you add a new card? Something stronger than the old man and the Fourth Hokage?"
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Because if new cards aren't stronger, who the hell would use them?"
Kurama nodded seriously.
"Then make a 'Nine-Tails Sage Mode' card. It should be the strongest."
Naruto's eye twitched.
When the hell did this fox become such a natural game designer?
After the game ended, Kurama sulked his way back into the cage, clearly pissed about losing. Isobu went off to nap like he didn't give a damn about anything.
That left only Naruto and Minato outside.
They looked at each other for a few seconds.
Minato smiled gently.
"Naruto… I don't have much chakra left. The future is yours now."
"But with your strength… you probably don't need anyone's help anymore."
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