Mastermind of the Akatsuki

After receiving the Allied Shinobi Forces' commander Byakuya's order, the teams of Jinchūriki from each village arrived at the designated meeting point.

As Naruto's supervising jōnin, Kakashi was naturally among them. But upon seeing Byakuya and Jiraiya leading the group, Kakashi felt increasingly uneasy.

Logically, with Byakuya as the commander, the strongest shinobi in the Allied Forces, and Jiraiya ranking easily within the top five, Naruto should be perfectly safe under their protection.

But based on Kushina's information and his own speculation, Byakuya's identity likely wasn't just the leader of the Allied Forces and the Akatsuki. He might have secretly struck a deal with the masked man and others to hunt down the Tailed Beasts together.

Leading the Jinchūriki to this so-called Turtle Island was, in that sense, stepping into a trap. But it was merely a theory. Without evidence, he couldn't accuse the commander of the Allied Forces. Doing so would only be regarded as a betrayal.

Byakuya noticed Kakashi's expression and walked over with a reassuring tone. "Kakashi, relax. This mission to protect the Jinchūriki will go smoothly. Better to focus on how we'll handle the masked man. Remember what I said? You're the only one who can deal with him."

Kakashi's heart jolted. To him, Byakuya's smile was just a demon's disguise. He couldn't grasp Byakuya's true intent, why ally with the masked man in secret, yet take command of the Allied Forces?

Jiraiya also came over to reassure him. "Kakashi, don't worry. With us around, even if we have to face Madara Uchiha's real body, we can put up a fight."

'What I'm worried about isn't Madara... It's Byakuya.'

Kakashi kept his thoughts to himself. He could only force a smile. "I understand the strength of Commander Byakuya and Jiraiya-sama. I was just thinking, who really is the masked man? Why is he helping Madara?"

"Who knows?" Jiraiya sighed. "Maybe just another Uchiha who lost his way."

He turned toward Konoha, concern written all over his face.

Madara and the masked man might target the Jinchūriki, but if they struck Konoha while most of its power was gone, the village wouldn't be able to mount a proper defense. But if the Allied Forces didn't consolidate their strength, they'd be crushed one by one.

Jiraiya didn't know what the Infinite Tsukuyomi world Madara spoke of looked like, but his instincts told him it would be a world without hope, without individuality. Entrusting life and death to another… was pure foolishness.

Once everyone was assembled, Byakuya pulled out a dozen flying devices from a scroll. These were the latest inventions from the Akatsuki's R\&D division. As long as wind-style chakra was supplied regularly, they could fly.

Jiraiya and Kakashi blinked in surprise.

They hadn't realized the chakra tech in the shinobi world had advanced so far. But after hearing about the aircraft's flight speed, they relaxed. These devices consumed a lot of chakra. Even with users replenishing them, they could only last two or three hours. Their speed was just two to three hundred kilometers per hour.

Not even as fast as an elite jōnin running at full speed.

With their chakra levels, both Jiraiya and Kakashi could easily cross over a thousand kilometers in one night.

Naruto, Gaara, and Killer Bee quickly adapted. After understanding how to use the devices, they began test flights. Thanks to their Tailed Beasts, the chakra drain was negligible.

After the test, the group praised the machines. However, the shinobi from Kumogakure and Sunagakure began to feel uneasy. Rain's technology was advancing far too fast. If war broke out between them and Amegakure, the consequences would be disastrous.

The thought alone was too terrifying to continue.

---

One day later, under the guidance of Kumogakure shinobi, Byakuya's group arrived at Turtle Island.

Located in the eastern sea of the shinobi world, Turtle Island was a legendary location. According to fishermen, the island drifted unpredictably, appearing in dense fog and vanishing once the mist cleared.

Other villages had also been trying to locate it.

The reason was simple, besides being a place to train Jinchūriki, it was also a prime training ground for chūnin and special jōnin.

If they could strike there, they'd severely hinder Kumogakure's next generation.

Upon seeing the island clearly, everyone finally understood why it was called Turtle Island.

It wasn't because of the shape, it was a turtle. The island existed on the back of a colossal summoning beast.

Jiraiya couldn't help but exclaim, "How can a summoning beast this massive exist in the shinobi world? It's on a completely different scale than the toads from Mount Myōboku!"

At his comment, the Kumogakure shinobi leading the way smiled proudly.

It was thanks to this turtle that Kumogakure could continuously produce perfect Jinchūriki. Compared to it, the so-called three great sanctuaries of Konoha were nothing.

Byakuya quietly sensed the turtle's chakra. Its chakra reserves were no less than a Tailed Beast's.

Unfortunately, the turtle seemed to have been asleep for a long time. Otherwise, Byakuya would've loved to communicate with the behemoth, to learn more about the world's ancient history.

The sages of the three great lands had lifespans of over a thousand years. A turtle this old surely had lived just as long.

Thinking this, Byakuya turned to the Kumogakure shinobi. "Can this turtle communicate with humans? If possible, I'd like to speak with it."

The shinobi responded warily, "Commander Byakuya, what do you want to talk to it about?"

Byakuya smiled. "I sensed an immense chakra from it, one that rivals the Tailed Beasts. I was wondering if it could help us fight Madara Uchiha."

The shinobi let out a breath of relief and replied, "Lord Island Turtle has been asleep for many years. Only a special horn can wake it, and even then, only part of its consciousness can respond."

He paused, then added, "And Lord Island Turtle has no interest in fighting. Otherwise, Kumogakure wouldn't have lost in every Shinobi World War."

Byakuya sighed softly, then motioned for them to move on.

As the group moved across the island, Byakuya wore a faintly disappointed expression.

Jiraiya noticed and walked over. "Byakuya, what's with the long face? Something bothering you?"

Byakuya gave a casual smile. "Nothing major. It's just that my strength has hit a bottleneck, I can't seem to break through. I've been looking for ways to improve."

"If I stay stuck at this level… I'm not sure we can truly defeat Madara."

Jiraiya raised a brow in curiosity. "Byakuya, your strength is already beyond imagination. I honestly can't think of any way you could get stronger. But earlier, I heard you say you wanted to talk to the turtle. Why?"

Byakuya glanced at the ground, then toward Naruto in the distance. "Well, since you asked, I won't hide it. I've been looking for ways to harness natural energy. Human chakra is limited, if I want to go further, I need to tap into nature's power."

"Natural energy… that's Sage Mode, isn't it?"

Jiraiya thought for a moment, then said, "Byakuya, you want the island turtle to teach you how to use senjutsu? If you ask me, you're better off going to one of the Three Great Sage Regions. Only the sages truly understand senjutsu."

Byakuya's eyes lit up. "Jiraiya, you call yourself the Toad Sage, does that mean you've mastered senjutsu?"

Jiraiya nodded and pointed at Naruto. "Not just me, Naruto's also learned senjutsu. But training in senjutsu takes a long time. Even if you joined us at Mount Myōboku, it'd still be hard to learn it in a short period."

Byakuya said flatly, "Funny, I've never seen either of you use it."

Jiraiya's expression stiffened slightly before he explained, "My senjutsu isn't complete. I need assistance from the Toad Sages to fully enter Sage Mode. But that kid Naruto, he's fully mastered it. He was born for senjutsu. Still, Byakuya, with your talent, you might have a similar gift. How about I summon Fukasaku and Shima and see if they're willing to introduce you to Mount Myōboku? If it could make you stronger, it'd be worth it."

Hearing that, Byakuya's smile widened. "Jiraiya-aniki, you really are generous. But I'm not a Konoha shinobi, so maybe I shouldn't."

Jiraiya shook his head. "Konoha and the Uzumaki are family. And besides, if we don't help you get stronger, who knows how we'll get past Madara Uchiha?"

"Well then, I won't say no, aniki."

After repeated invitations from Jiraiya, Byakuya reluctantly agreed to go to Mount Myōboku. That had, in fact, been one of his goals in bringing Jiraiya to Turtle Island. He wanted to meet the Great Toad Sage.

The Great Toad Sage had lived for over a thousand years and once orchestrated the defeat of Kaguya through the Six Paths brothers.

In terms of being a mastermind, he was a true elder in the profession. And even an elder should exchange experience, share thoughts and insights.

Hearing the conversation between Byakuya and Jiraiya, Kakashi's mouth twitched slightly. He was already numb to all of this.

He realized that Byakuya's real objective might be Mount Myōboku, but there was nothing he could do. He could only wait for the moment Byakuya exposed himself, then he could act.

Not long after, the group arrived at the center of Turtle Island. This was the island's core: the place for meals, rest, and access to various training zones.

After eating, Killer Bee led Naruto and Gaara off for training.

The training mainly involved communication with their tailed beasts and controlling their chakra. Only those who achieved full harmony with their beast and could perfectly wield its chakra could be called a perfect Jinchūriki.

And every perfect Jinchūriki that had appeared in the shinobi world had been Kage-level.

---

Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Byakuya listened to a Kumo-nin explain the island's various zones and secret sites.

The most unique location on Turtle Island was undoubtedly the "Falls of Truth."

After entering the Falls of Truth, one could see their truest self. Defeating the evil within would significantly improve one's chakra control.

Byakuya glanced at Jiraiya and said, "Jiraiya, how about we visit the Falls of Truth? Let's see if we can gain anything."

Jiraiya considered it for a moment, then nodded.

He didn't know what his evil self looked like or whether he could overcome his own weaknesses. Before long, the two arrived at the legendary waterfall.

A Kumo-nin was already standing there. But just moments after entering, the once confident Kumo-nin looked as though he'd aged decades, his face drained and weary.

Seeing this, both Jiraiya and Byakuya were deeply intrigued.

What had that Kumo-nin seen in there to be so shaken after only a few minutes? Did it show something that would be socially devastating?

At that moment, a nearby Kumogakure jōnin explained, "Looks like he failed to overcome himself. The Falls of Truth aren't so easy. His strength may have just reached its limit."

Byakuya nodded, then asked, "Guide, did you pass the Falls of Truth?"

The jōnin's expression changed slightly, and he stammered, "I failed back then too. But it's not a big deal, I never wanted to be a Jinchūriki or the Raikage anyway. But Lord Jiraiya, Lord Byakuya… you two might just succeed."

Is that a reverse-psychology taunt?

Byakuya and Jiraiya exchanged glances, clearly seeing through the jōnin's little trick. But since they were already here, they figured they might as well give it a shot.

Jiraiya took a deep breath and walked toward the Falls of Truth. "I'll go first, let's see if this old man can defeat the evil within."

Byakuya nodded slightly and let Jiraiya go first. Jiraiya stepped up to the waterfall and slowly entered. He remained inside for a full ten minutes before finally walking out.

Compared to before, his face was filled with exhaustion.

Seeing this, Byakuya asked curiously, "Jiraiya, what did you experience in there? Did you defeat the evil within you?"

Jiraiya was silent for a long while, then finally nodded. "Facing your inner self is harder than I imagined. When I saw my darker side, I realized, I've been running away all this time. Running from the responsibility of being one of the Sannin, from the duty of becoming Hokage… from my own ideals."

"And did you beat him?" Byakuya asked seriously, hoping to glean something useful.

Jiraiya shook his head and sighed. "I don't know. Maybe that's something you'll only understand once you've gone through it."

Byakuya frowned slightly. He felt like Jiraiya had just dumped the problem on him. But since Jiraiya had already gone in, there was no way he could back out now.

Rising calmly, Byakuya stepped into the Falls of Truth.