"The Hokage is right. To deal with the Akatsuki, or rather, Uchiha Madara, forming a joint army of the Five Great Shinobi Villages seems very necessary," Mifune suggested, following Namikaze Minato's words.
"A joint army?" The Fourth Raikage's expression changed.
Namikaze Minato nodded, "That's an excellent suggestion!"
"When facing an enemy like Uchiha Madara, one can never be too careful. Moreover, Asuma sensed another hidden force within the Akatsuki Organization."
"Hokage, what is this hidden force?" Mei Terumi asked.
Namikaze Minato looked at the masses of White Zetsu on the ground and said, "These plant-like individuals!"
"They appeared on the battlefield during the Third Great Ninja War. Our Konoha has captured them several times since then. You should have seen their abilities just now. Based on the current intelligence, their numbers are considerable."
Mei Terumi looked at the White Zetsu on the ground and said, "They can absorb chakra. Ordinary shinobi would indeed have a very difficult time against them."
"I have no objection to forming a joint army!" Mifune stated. "If we form a joint army, we can have unified command, preventing us from being picked off one by one by the Akatsuki Organization, like what happened when the Seven Tailed Beasts were captured."
"Tsuchikage, Raikage, Kazekage, what are your opinions?"
Onoki spoke, "Forming a joint army is not a problem. The issue is, who should be given command of this joint army?"
Mifune said, "If you all decide, it will only lead to endless arguments. Therefore, I hope you can respect the position and opinions of a neutral country and allow me to make a proposal!"
His gaze swept over everyone. "Among the Five Kage, who is the most suitable?"
The Fourth Raikage immediately replied, "Konoha, Suna, Kiri, and Iwa. The Akatsuki members all come from your villages, and even some among you have cooperated with the Akatsuki Organization in the past."
"You cannot be trusted at all!"
Onoki's expression sank slightly. Mei Terumi remained expressionless. Gaara frowned slightly. Namikaze Minato's expression was calm.
Mifune looked at the Fourth Raikage and said, "Raikage, that statement is too biased. Rogue ninja cannot represent the stance of their respective villages. As for cooperation... the current situation is different. I believe no one wants to become Uchiha Madara's puppet and live the rest of their lives in a dream."
The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth at this and scoffed, "That's also why I'm still here."
"Among the Five Kage, I am the most suitable candidate to lead!"
Mifune shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry, Raikage, you are not convincing!"
The Fourth Raikage roared in anger, "What do you mean by that?"
Mifune calmly raised his hand and pointed at the wall that the Fourth Raikage had previously broken. "As a leader, one naturally needs great strength. However, Raikage, your temper is too explosive. If a leader only acts with brute force, it will not be good for the entire joint army. It might cause the joint army to fall apart like this wall."
The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth in fury but could not refute him.
Mifune continued, "This is the answer I've reached after calm deliberation as a neutral country!"
He then looked at Gaara. "It is still too early for the Kazekage to bear such a great responsibility. Other countries will likely not be convinced, as the title of Kazekage alone is not enough."
"As for the Tsuchikage, he is already advanced in years, giving the impression of lacking in decisiveness."
"Although the Mizukage is strong and vigorous, she ultimately lacks overwhelmingly impressive battle records, which might not convince others."
"Therefore..."
Mifune looked at Namikaze Minato. "The Hokage is currently the most suitable candidate. He possesses great strength, a calm mind, is in his prime, and has the most understanding of the Akatsuki Organization's situation."
"What do you all think?"
Gaara was the first to respond. "General Mifune's analysis is very objective. Sunagakure has no objections!"
Mei Terumi glanced at Namikaze Minato and said, "The Hokage is indeed the most suitable candidate!"
Between the Tsuchikage, Raikage, and Hokage, for her, the Hokage was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.
Namikaze Minato, who had been silent, finally spoke. "I am deeply honored to receive everyone's recognition, and I am willing to take on this important responsibility!"
"Wait!"
The Fourth Raikage shouted, "Hokage, our opponent was once from your Konoha!"
Just as Namikaze Minato was about to reply, a samurai from the Land of Iron rushed in. "General, all Kage, we have received news from Kumogakure that the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has been forcibly taken away by the Akatsuki Organization!"
Boom!
The table in front of the Fourth Raikage instantly shattered into pieces. "Damn it!"
Mei Terumi's expression sank. "It seems we can no longer afford to hesitate on the matter of forming a ninja joint army!"
"Otherwise, if Uchiha Madara manages to unify all Nine Tailed Beasts, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Mifune looked at the Fourth Raikage and said, "Only the Nine-Tails remains now. I believe the Hokage will not let the Nine-Tails fall into Uchiha Madara's hands under any circumstances!"
The implication was that the Hokage was the most trustworthy!
The Fourth Raikage let out an angry snort, but he no longer objected.
Onoki remained silent, which meant he implicitly agreed.
Because he knew there was an even more troublesome individual in Konoha.
Seeing that a consensus had basically been reached, Sanju immediately said, "Then, it's decided!"
"And regarding the Allied Forces, we samurai of the Land of Iron will also join, because Uchiha Madara's actions are no longer a war between ninjas."
"This is a war for everyone!"
Onoki said, "Then let's get rid of the Akatsuki Organization as soon as possible!"
"Hokage, you have the most intel. So, while the Allied Forces are being assembled, the more detailed our intelligence is, the better, especially the location of the Akatsuki's hideout, and those vegetative states you mentioned."
Namikaze Minato nodded, "Tsuchikage, rest assured, we have been working on this, and Asuma has personally taken action."
"The Akatsuki Organization cannot hide!"
...
Just as the Five Kage were meeting, when the news of the Eight-Tails being sealed arrived from Ukya's side, Sarutobi Asuma also emerged from the experimental base.
Then, his figure vanished from Konoha and appeared under the Sage Tree in the Land of Rain.
Next, a grand show was about to be staged.
Amegakure, shrouded in mist and rain.
Inside the tall tower, Nagato and Konan stood side by side.
"Do we really have to do this?"
"Sarutobi Asuma, do you really trust him completely?"
Konan asked worriedly.
She had never trusted Uchiha Madara, and naturally, she had never trusted Sarutobi Asuma.
For this reason, she had been making preparations all along.
Nagato said calmly, "I don't trust him; rather, I'm seizing an opportunity to achieve Yahiko's dream!"
"I've witnessed his power!"
Konan fell silent, and after a while, she said, "Are you really going to hand over the Rinnegan to Uchiha Madara?"
Nagato showed no hesitation, "It wasn't mine to begin with."
"He's here!"
The next moment, the Six Paths of Pain appeared and, under Konan's gaze, disappeared into the rain.
On the surface of the large lake south of Amegakure.
Sarutobi Asuma stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping around. He was certain that in the original story of his past life, Konan had died in this very water.
So many explosive tags, what a spendthrift woman!
He wondered if he could afford to support her himself in the future.
As he was thinking, figures appeared not far away.
The Six Paths of Pain!
Sarutobi Asuma smiled as he looked at them, and then his Chakra Cloak enveloped his body, with nine pale purple chakra dragons coiling around him.
Ion Style Chakra Mode!
This combat mode of the Kekkei Tōta Ion Release was, in fact, a combination of the previous Scorch Release Chakra Mode and Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
Deva Path Pain, seeing Sarutobi Asuma in this state, revealed a hint of surprise in his eyes.
The last time he fought Sarutobi Asuma, he hadn't seen this mode.
Clearly, over the years, he had undergone another astonishing transformation.
"Attack!"
Deva Path Pain shouted, and at the same time, he thrust his palms forward, unleashing Banshō Ten'in with all his might to seize Sarutobi Asuma.
The other five Paths of Pain coordinated with Deva Path Pain to attack Sarutobi Asuma.
However, Sarutobi Asuma's attack was faster.
The moment his body leaped forward, the nine dragons on his body raised their heads and roared. As they roared, light converged, and then beams of high-temperature plasma shot out.
Boom, boom, boom!
The water surface exploded, and steam billowed.
Sarutobi Asuma didn't even glance back, his figure soaring upwards towards Amegakure.
A moment later.
A White Zetsu emerged from the bottom of the water, looking at the corpses of the Six Paths of Pain floating on the water surface. He couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine, "This Sarutobi Asuma is indeed the greatest enemy. This guy's strength is too formidable. That power just now, it wasn't Scorching Release... could it be a Kekkei Tōta?"
"With such strength, even with the Rinnegan, Nagato is probably no match for him."
"As expected, a backup plan is necessary, but the Rinnegan cannot fall into this person's hands."
Even though they were far apart, Sarutobi Asuma could still sense White Zetsu's presence.
This is great!
A smile spread across Sarutobi Asuma's face as he flew over Amegakure and then entered the mountainous region, landing on a mountain peak.
Opposite him, Nagato stood on another mountain peak, with Uka on a peak beside that.
Today was the day they would go offline.
However, the true purpose of this staged event wasn't Uka and the others, but to allow Konan to integrate the Amegakure shinobi into the Allied Forces.
This was Sarutobi Asuma's promise to Nagato.
Of course, the purpose of this grand spectacle went far beyond that.
In the distance.
Black Zetsu watched from a tree, gazing afar. "I didn't expect a battle like this. If it fails, it'll be quite troublesome!"
"Still, letting Nagato test this person's strength doesn't seem bad."
With a backup plan, Black Zetsu's focus on Nagato was no longer as critical.
Of course, the prerequisite was that the Rinnegan was not lost.
If the Rinnegan were lost, he would have to activate his second contingency plan.
As he was thinking, a brilliant burst of light erupted in the distance, followed by a booming sound.
The great battle had begun!
Nagato was in the air, dodging multiple beams of light.
"That attack couldn't even be deflected by Almighty Push,"
Black Zetsu was slightly surprised.
He then saw that after Nagato, unable to dodge and forced to absorb the light beams, a figure enveloped in green light ascended from the sky. Accompanied by a rumbling sound, the figure moved at high speed through the air.
"It's the Eight Inner Gates, pure Taijutsu!"
Black Zetsu recognized it.
Then he was startled, as Sarutobi Asuma, using his physical strength and accompanied by raging flames, broke through Nagato.
Boom!
Nagato was sent crashing down from the sky, smashing into the mountainside in a cloud of dust.
"He lost that quickly..."
Black Zetsu muttered to himself, then saw a colossal figure rise up.
A golden Susanoo!
It was Uka!
"It's truly surprising that an outsider obtained the Sharingan, awakened the Mangekyo, and can even wield Susanoo of this caliber."
As Black Zetsu was thinking, he then witnessed a shocking scene.
The figure enveloped in green light actually shattered the Susanoo's Chakra Blade with a single punch, and then kicked the Susanoo to pieces!
Although it wasn't the complete form of Susanoo, being destroyed so easily was still shocking.
"However, it's still far from enough..."
Black Zetsu thought to himself.
Immediately, he saw storm-like flames engulf the battlefield.
He knew that the Tenshin Group should have all emerged.
Mountains collapsed under the onslaught, and the sounds of destruction continued.
Suddenly.
A black sphere flew high into the sky.
Chibaku Tensei!
Black Zetsu knew that was Nagato's strongest technique.
If this move was also ineffective, then only the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path remained.
However, before the black sphere could take effect, Black Zetsu saw a massive purple beam of light shoot into the sky, shattering the sphere.
The ground shook, and the trees swayed.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path appeared as Black Zetsu had predicted, and then a dragon made of chakra roared out.
However, to Black Zetsu's slight disappointment.
This attack was blocked!
"Adamantine Sealing Chains barrier!"
"Someone who isn't of the Uzumaki bloodline has cultivated this technique to a level that even the Uzumaki clan hasn't reached."
Black Zetsu had to admit, this Sarutobi Asuma was truly extraordinary.
However, his heart immediately tightened.
This was because Sarutobi Asuma's Adamantine Sealing Chains had actually broken through the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's chakra dragons, and were now aimed at sealing the statue itself.
Boom!
Suddenly, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path vanished.
Immediately after, Black Zetsu turned his head and saw space warp as Uchiha Obito appeared with an injured Nagato.
"Let's go, everyone else has been dealt with!"
Uchiha Obito said.
Black Zetsu saw that Nagato's Rinnegan was still intact and secretly let out a sigh of relief.
...
On the battlefield.
Sarutobi Asuma collected the "bodies" one by one, then his figure disappeared.
Amegakure.
Inside a tall tower.
Sarutobi Asuma's figure suddenly appeared beside Konan.
"Where's Nagato?"
Konan asked instinctively.
Sarutobi Asuma replied, "Don't worry, he's fine. He was just rescued by that Uchiha Madara!"
"Do you think you can succeed?"
Konan stared at Sarutobi Asuma.
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "You've already seen my strength. If I can't succeed, Nagato won't be able to either."
Noticing the Akatsuki Organization robe on Konan, he added, "You should take off that outfit."
"The Five Great Shinobi Villages are about to establish a Shinobi Alliance, and you need to represent Amegakure in joining it."
Konan was silent for a moment before asking, "Can you guarantee Nagato will live?"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled confidently, "Yes!"
"Even if he dies, I can pull him back from the Pure Land!"
Konan nodded upon hearing this, "I will do as you say."
"Very good!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded.
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