Starting as the Hidden Mastermind from Naruto

Chapter 181: Your Excellency, We're on the Same Side!

The bonds in the ninja world are always strange.

Sasuke Uchiha joined Akatsuki, but without learning the truth about his clan's extermination, he still held a sliver of a bond with the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

However, he didn't think he had a chance to turn back, so he just casually told Kakashi Hatake a piece of unnecessary information.

After Sasuke finished speaking, he broke away from his former teacher and was about to head to another part of the battlefield.

This scene was witnessed by Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha looked at his younger brother with a complicated expression. He probably knew what Sasuke had said to Kakashi, but his heart was faintly nervous.

Although this was a battlefield, everything was under the surveillance of Naraku Uehara in the distance. Did Sasuke even know how to be a spy?

Did he really think a symbolic fight could clear him of suspicion?

Fortunately, besides Itachi Uchiha, there were other understanding people on the battlefield.

Kakashi Hatake glanced at Sasuke, who was about to leave. He quickly gathered a ball of electricity in his hand and fiercely pierced Sasuke's shoulder.

This idiot disciple!

Kakashi Hatake looked at Sasuke Uchiha's incredulous eyes, slowly approached him, and whispered in a low voice, "Sasuke, don't casually leak information to others. Remember, protect yourself within Akatsuki. Naruto is still waiting for you!"

"..."

Sasuke Uchiha immediately realized his mistake.

After seeing Sasuke injured, Itachi Uchiha leaped over, pulled Sasuke behind him for protection, and fiercely kicked Kakashi Hatake away!

The Akatsuki organization completely gained the upper hand.

Kakashi Hatake couldn't open up a new front, couldn't contend in a frontal battle, and couldn't deal with the surprise attacks from the air, leaving the Konoha ninjas with no way to resist.

Shikaku Nara finally had no choice but to issue the order to retreat, "Tell everyone, retreat south to the border to regroup. Leave three Anbu teams behind to cover the rear!"

Seeing the Konoha ninjas retreating one after another, the members of Akatsuki did not hesitate either. After quickly dealing with the Konoha Anbu, they pursued the main Konoha force.

The Konoha ninjas were completely routed.

Nagato adjusted the kasa hat on his head and said softly, "That big shot from Konoha, did he still choose not to act even when they were on the verge of complete collapse?"

The information Nagato obtained from the Human Path's Mind Reading technique indicated that Konoha had arranged for a big shot here, but that big shot had not yet appeared.

Naraku Uehara raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly, "Of course, a big shot can't just act casually. He's probably at the border!"

At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.

There was indeed a big shot nearby.

Naraku Uehara's guess was not wrong. That big shot was one of Konoha's Sannin, Jiraiya, but this was a coincidence.

After Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki heard about the destruction of Kusagakure, they hastily changed their travel direction and rushed to the vicinity of the Land of Grass. They planned to continue their journey east to the Land of Hot Water after the alliance meeting ended.

Unfortunately, this alliance meeting was destined not to be held on schedule.

The original meeting place was the Land of Grass's daimyo's mansion. However, now that the Konoha ninjas had been driven out of the Land of Grass by the Akatsuki organization, how could this meeting be held?

Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki soon saw ninja teams retreating to the border of the Land of Fire one after another. They also saw Kakashi Hatake, Shikaku Nara, and others.

"Kakashi, what happened?"

"Iwagakure hired the Akatsuki organization."

Kakashi Hatake wrapped the wound on his hand and said in a deep voice, "The Akatsuki organization unprecedentedly gathered more than a dozen S-rank rogue ninjas and launched a strong assault on us. With insufficient combat power, we couldn't form any resistance."

"Hmm?"

A trace of surprise flashed across Jiraiya's face, and he asked with some confusion, "The members of Akatsuki should all act in pairs, right? Are you sure it was them?"

"Certain."

Kakashi Hatake covered his forehead and lowered his head, saying softly, "The most troublesome thing now is the alliance meeting Lord Hokage wanted to hold. We've lost the Land of Grass, so the meeting that was supposed to be held soon can't proceed as scheduled…"

"Then…"

Naruto Uzumaki frowned and asked, "Teacher Kakashi, since there were so many Akatsuki members, did you see Sasuke?"

"..."

Kakashi Hatake fell silent.

Was this the time to ask about Sasuke?

Alright, it was indeed time to ask about Sasuke.

Kakashi Hatake nodded and looked at Naruto Uzumaki, "Sasuke has become much stronger, Naruto. He should be much stronger than you are now…"

"Mm, I know."

Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists.

Watching this scene, Kakashi Hatake didn't know whether he should tell him about Sasuke leaking intelligence to him. After all, if Naruto Uzumaki, in a moment of hot-headedness, rushed back to persuade Sasuke to return, it would get Sasuke killed.

This matter could only be buried in his heart for now.

Shikaku Nara suddenly walked over and explained softly, "Kakashi, Lord Jiraiya, it would be one thing if Iwagakure hired Akatsuki just to drive us out of the Land of Grass. But what if they also hired Akatsuki to attack the members of the meeting?"

"What?"

"Would the Akatsuki organization be so bold as to attack the high-ranking officials of various countries?"

"As long as you give them enough money, they would even dare to attack a country. As for just attacking and assassinating high-ranking officials, that seems to be the mission they are best at."

"If I remember correctly."

Kakashi Hatake rubbed his temples and said in a low voice, "This afternoon, Lady Chiyo and Lady Mei Terumi should be arriving in the Land of Grass! I'll immediately send people along the route to support and warn them!"

"Okay."

Shikaku Nara nodded and continued, "Lord Hokage has already learned of our withdrawal from the Land of Grass and has ordered us to hold our position here and await her next command."

"What about the alliance meeting?"

"Lord Hokage's meaning is that it must be held at the Land of Grass's daimyo's mansion! Even if the time is postponed, it must be held there. Otherwise, it could easily cause the already loose alliance to collapse!"

Shikaku Nara shook his head and sighed softly, "This time Lord Hokage is traveling, besides the Hokage Guard Platoon, she has also brought us a batch of support troops, presumably in preparation for a long-term station. I didn't expect we would have to launch a counterattack first."

"The Akatsuki are not so easy to deal with…"

Kakashi Hatake sighed faintly.

If the members of the Akatsuki organization were not defeated one by one, the power they had when gathered together was too terrifying!

However, Kakashi Hatake's worries were unnecessary.

Because according to the agreement between Akatsuki and Iwagakure, they only needed to drive the Konoha ninjas out of the Land of Grass, allowing the Iwa ninjas to take the opportunity to occupy the entire country.

This mission was completed very quickly.

From the time the Akatsuki members entered the Land of Grass until they left, not even a full day had passed, and they had completely wiped out the Konoha ninjas.

Since the Land of Grass was occupied by Iwagakure, Tsunade certainly couldn't hold the alliance meeting at the Land of Grass's daimyo's mansion today.

Onoki of Iwagakure probably felt that hiring the Akatsuki organization was indeed cheaper than fighting a war himself. After happily paying the final installment, he sincerely invited the Akatsuki organization to withdraw from the Land of Grass.

After all, these S-rank rogue ninjas had conquered the Land of Grass in a single day and defeated several hundred Konoha ninjas overnight. Onoki was also a little uneasy.

After Kakuzu seriously counted the money, he said with some emotion, "The mission is over so quickly? This money was really easy to earn."

If it were just him and Hidan, they might not have been able to repel the Konoha ninjas.

However, with the entire Akatsuki organization gathered, even Naraku Uehara and Nagato, wearing their kasa hats, barely made a move.

Besides being easy, Kakuzu even felt a little regretful, "It would be great if we could get a few more big commissions like this."

"Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Naraku Uehara took out his Amegakure forehead protector from his ninja tool pouch and put it on, "I'm going to attend the alliance meeting held by Konoha's Fifth Hokage. Maybe she'll even invite me to watch Konoha's counterattack on the Land of Grass!"

"..."

The various members of the Akatsuki organization looked at Naraku Uehara with confusion.

How good was this person's mentality? Yesterday, he commanded them to drive the Konoha ninjas out of the Land of Grass, and today he was watching the Konoha ninjas attack.

On one side, a dark member of the Akatsuki organization.

On the other, an emissary of Amegakure.

What kind of brain wiring did this Naraku Uehara fellow have to be able to play two roles?

Can't you just be a normal person?

Why must you make your life so messy?

The members of Akatsuki looked up at Naraku Uehara's departure with reverence, each with different thoughts, especially Sasuke Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, whose expressions were very complicated.

At noon.

A small town on the border of the Land of Fire.

Tsunade arrived here leading a large number of reinforcements.

Under the command of the two war veterans, Tsunade and Jiraiya, the Konoha Anbu launched a sneak attack first, followed closely by the ordinary ninja troops. They re-invaded the territory of the Land of Grass and occupied the Land of Grass's daimyo's mansion.

Although there were still a few Iwa ninja fortresses around this daimyo's mansion, the mansion itself was at least back under Konoha's control.

The high-ranking officials of the allied ninja villages had all received the news. Originally, after Konoha was driven out of the Land of Grass, everyone thought Konoha would lose face. But the two Konoha Sannin launched a beautiful counterattack and recaptured the territory of the Land of Grass.

In the afternoon.

All of Konoha's allies arrived at the agreed meeting place.

From Kirigakure, Mei Terumi.

From Sunagakure, Chiyo.

From Takigakure, Shibuki.

From Amegakure, Naraku Uehara.

(The latest novels are first released on 69shu bar!)

Life is always full of accidents and surprises. The ninja responsible for receiving Naraku Uehara happened to be his old friend, Kakashi Hatake.

Under Kakashi's guidance, Naraku Uehara entered the gates of the Land of Grass's daimyo's mansion with lingering fear, "How terrifying! I never expected Konoha to have such immense power, to conquer a small country from Iwagakure in a single day!"

"Well…"

Kakashi Hatake didn't know how to answer.

It was indeed something to be proud of that Konoha had such a strong military force, but the reason they lost the Land of Grass was purely due to his own dereliction of duty, which led to the Land of Grass being conquered by the Akatsuki organization.

However, Kakashi Hatake also happened to have a question, "Hey, Uehara, what about Kimimaro Kaguya and Haku, whom you brought to Konoha for the Chunin Exams last time?"

During last night's battle, Kakashi Hatake felt that those two looked familiar. He made a special mental note of it and wanted to take this opportunity to probe for some intelligence from Uehara.

"They defected."

Naraku Uehara's face immediately fell, and he said coldly, "Mr. Kakashi, your friend is really something! While I was away in Konoha signing the treaty, he lured my two companions to defect and join Akatsuki!"

"Hmm?"

Kakashi Hatake fiddled with his fingers.

Kakashi Hatake pressed his forehead again and asked, "What, you know about Akatsuki too?"

"Heh, you're asking me?"

Naraku Uehara's expression was very unpleasant, even with a hint of ridicule in his eyes, clearly he was genuinely angry, "The person who founded the Akatsuki organization and gathered S-rank rogue ninjas, wasn't it your friend, Obito Uchiha?"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly hearing news of Obito made Kakashi Hatake a little stunned. After all, it had been some time since he had received any intelligence about Obito.

"Was Akatsuki founded by Obito?"

"That's right."

Naraku Uehara glanced at him and said in a deep voice, "Back then, he once proposed using the Akatsuki organization to collect funds for Amegakure. Lord Hanzo approved his proposal and sent many people to help him, but he betrayed Lord Hanzo, took all the people into his own hands, and left Amegakure."

A woman stood in front of Naraku Uehara and said coldly, "No wonder I saw you with three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist back then. Weren't you the one who lured them to defect? This is also your own fault, for being too trusting of others!"

This voice sounded very firm.

With such a firm attitude, it must be that woman Tsunade.

Before Naraku Uehara could respond, another woman's voice fell into his ears, "Hmm? Were you the one who lured those three rogue ninjas from our village to defect?"

"Hmm?"

Naraku Uehara slowly raised his head. What came into view was the large expanse of white on Tsunade's chest, followed by an angry face. Clearly, she was not happy.

Standing next to Tsunade was another brown-haired woman.

Naraku Uehara had seen this woman before too.

It was Mei Terumi from Kirigakure.

Originally, there was a questioning look on Mei Terumi's face, but when she got a clear look at Naraku Uehara's appearance, her face suddenly changed color, "It's you, you little brat! The defections of Zabuza, Kisame, and Mangetsu were all incited by you?"

Although Naraku Uehara had grown up, his features were still recognizable!

Wasn't this the little fellow she thought was scavenging for food in the Land of Water?

So this little fellow wasn't scavenging for food back then; he was there to lure the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of their village to defect?

And she even gave Naraku Uehara a bag of cookies!

Mei Terumi herself had even confidently said that if Uehara couldn't get by in the Land of Water, he could go to Kirigakure to find her!

And she even told him her name.

Damn it, just thinking about it made her feel overwhelmingly ashamed, and a trace of anger surged up!

Mei Terumi's eyes instantly became murderous. She looked up at Naraku Uehara, who was about the same height, and pinched his chin with her fingers, "You little brat, after doing such an outrageous thing to Kirigakure, you still dare to appear before me?"

"That was all Obito Uchiha's fault."

Naraku Uehara frowned, looking at Mei Terumi's collarbone, then quickly looked away and explained softly, "Obito Uchiha controlled your country's Fourth Mizukage, and then used the Fourth Mizukage to force the three Seven Ninja Swordsmen to rebel. I am very clear about these matters."

Anyway, this was also the truth.

What's more, Obito Uchiha was already dead. Now that both his corpse and coffin were in his hands, he could say whatever he wanted, couldn't he?

Mei Terumi glared fiercely at Naraku Uehara, somewhat resentful that he had exposed Kirigakure's embarrassing affair in public.

The next second, Mei Terumi suddenly turned her head to look at Tsunade, "Lord Hokage, I have some things I want to discuss with this one alone. May I?"

"Please, go ahead."

Tsunade nodded casually, turned, and left with Kakashi Hatake. After a moment, she turned her head again and specifically looked at Naraku Uehara, "This is the emissary of Amegakure. Lady Mei Terumi, just don't cause a death."

"Don't worry."

The brown-haired beauty chuckled lightly, covering her lips, "Our Kirigakure just has an old score to settle with him."

After seeing Tsunade leave, Mei Terumi pulled Naraku Uehara's body and pressed him against a nearby wall!

The brown-haired beauty slowly leaned towards Naraku Uehara, her lips close to his ear, her warm breath exhaling, "You little brat, do you still think you're a victim? You tricked me back in the Land of Water…"

"The bag of cookies you gave me was snatched away by someone."

Naraku Uehara's expression looked somewhat innocent. That bag of cookies was indeed snatched away by Haku.

Mei Terumi questioned coldly, "Who snatched it?"

Naraku Uehara spread his hands, "A stray child looking for food in a garbage dump."

"Wait…"

Mei Terumi subconsciously rubbed her temples and said coldly, "You bastard, do you think I'm here to settle the score with you over that bag of cookies?"

"At least you should wait a bit longer…"

Naraku Uehara also slowly leaned closer to Mei Terumi's ear, speaking intimately beside her ear, "Don't act rashly. We're on the same side. Mr. Mangetsu Hozuki and I are friends. You certainly don't want him to be exposed with no one to help cover for him, right?"

"..."

Mei Terumi was instantly silent.

It had to be said, Mangetsu Hozuki's infiltration was very successful.

For Mei Terumi, Mangetsu Hozuki was a necessary spy to investigate the Bloody Mist Incident within Akatsuki, and also the hope for rebuilding the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the future.

His safety was indeed very important.

And since Mangetsu Hozuki had even informed Naraku Uehara of his identity and become friends with him, it was clear that he also believed Naraku Uehara was a trustworthy person.

But she still needed to test him.

After all, within the entire Kirigakure, only Mei Terumi knew Mangetsu Hozuki's identity. She didn't really think Mangetsu Hozuki would leak his own intelligence.

"Heh…"

Mei Terumi's red lips gradually moved closer to Naraku Uehara's ear.

Just as Uehara felt Mei Terumi's breathing getting closer and closer, this woman suddenly gently licked Uehara's earlobe with her tongue. Her voice turned into a warm breeze entering Naraku Uehara's ear, "Little brat, what do you mean? Does that traitor Mangetsu Hozuki want to return to the village?"

Naraku Uehara frowned, pressed the back of Mei Terumi's head with one hand, and, like an innocent simpleton, asked in a small voice, "Hey, aren't you his senior? Didn't he entrust his younger brother to your care?"

"..."

Mei Terumi was a bit stunned.

Alright, connection successful. Uehara could be considered one of their own.

But could someone tell her, what on earth was going on with Mangetsu Hozuki? As a spy, why would he tell all his affairs to an Amegakure ninja!

(End of Chapter)

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