To be honest, Hyuga Neji might need to thank Uehara, after all, because of Hinata's rise, he, the branch family cousin, finally had a day to shine.
"Alright, let's not waste any more time."
Hatake Kakashi took out a map, placed it on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Let's start discussing the main issue now! How exactly should we search for the whereabouts of the Akatsuki and the Fifth Kazekage! Uehara, do you have any information?"
"I have some."
Uehara Naraku nodded with a heavy expression and began to introduce the information on Akatsuki: "Over the past few years, the members of the Akatsuki frequently infiltrate the Hidden Rain Village, but without exception, they have all been repelled by Lord Hanzo.
Occasionally, when I was ordered by Lord Hanzo to pursue them, I summarized their escape patterns, and they tend to retreat towards two directions frequently."
Uehara Naraku pointed in a direction on Hatake Kakashi's map: "One direction is towards the Land of Earth, which is understandable, as a few years ago during the Land of Grass incident, the Third Tsuchikage Onoki of the Hidden Rock Village colluded with the Akatsuki."
Uehara Naraku pointed in another direction on the map: "The other direction leads to the Land of Birds, west of our Land of Rain. Based on speculation, they might have a base in the Land of Birds."
"And according to the information I've obtained..."
Uehara Naraku slowly turned his head towards Granny Chiyo, and asked in a deep voice: "Has the Hidden Sand Village been attacked by a terrifying giant beast with a peculiar appearance, limbs beneath its body, and wings on its back?"
"That's right."
Granny Chiyo nodded with a grim expression, responding softly: "The members of the Akatsuki rode that giant beast to invade the Hidden Sand Village, causing us heavy losses."
"Then they may very well be in the Land of Birds."
Uehara Naraku touched his fingers, speaking softly: "At the very least, they passed through the Land of Birds. A few days ago, a squad directly under Lord Hanzo found such a giant beast landing in the mountains of the Land of Birds, and there were a few members of Akatsuki on it...
Later, after the news of the Akatsuki attacking the Hidden Sand Village came, I believe that those were the members of the Akatsuki launching an assault on the Hidden Sand Village. It's possible they rode that flying giant beast back to the Land of Birds, which is why they were able to move so quickly."
"In the mountains of the Land of Birds?"
Temari's eyes flashed with a glimmer of hope: "Then let's quickly go to the Land of Birds to search for the Akatsuki's base and find Gaara's whereabouts!"
Granny Chiyo looked doubtfully at Uehara Naraku: "Where did your intelligence squad find this location, and why did they go to the Land of Birds?"
"Um…"
Uehara Naraku smiled awkwardly: "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, anyway we've abandoned that idea. The Land of Rain is a small country, after all, and Lord Hanzo hopes we can become a major power, so in terms of territory…"
"So you plan to invade the Land of Birds?"
Granny Chiyo's voice suddenly rose an octave.
Uehara Naraku's expression also turned extremely grim, he coldly looked at Granny Chiyo and said: "How is the Hidden Sand Village any different from us? Haven't you invaded other countries over land many times throughout history?
From the First Ninja World War to the Third Ninja World War, the Hidden Sand Village almost always invaded Konoha or the Land of Rain. If it weren't for your village's Fourth Kazekage wanting to seize our Land of Rain's territory, I wouldn't have killed him!
Moreover, our intention to occupy the Land of Birds is to save the civilians there from your Hidden Sand Village's conflict with the Hidden Rock Village! Not long ago, Lord Hanzo already gave up on this idea, focusing on protecting the Land of Rain, so what right do you have to criticize us?
Oh, that's right, just because you're a major power, you can invade smaller countries at will, is that it? You can't even protect your own village, your village's leader was captured, and you still want to seize neighboring land?"
Uehara Naraku's series of questions left Granny Chiyo speechless.
Apparently, upon hearing Granny Chiyo's accusations, Uehara Naraku's emotions became highly agitated, and it was evident to everyone.
The expressions of everyone in the room became somewhat grave, with Hatake Kakashi and Temari feeling a bit embarrassed.
After all, they had invited Uehara Naraku here, and yet before they even started the operation, Uehara Naraku and Chiyo had started quarreling.
"Enough."
Uehara Naraku looked coldly at Granny Chiyo, and said in a deep voice: "Fine then, let the ninjas of your major powers go rescue him! We little ninjas dare not get involved with you..."
"Uehara!"
"Senior Uehara!"
"Uehara-sama!"
The group hurriedly stopped Uehara Naraku from leaving.
Hatake Kakashi felt even more awkward, softly explaining: "Uehara, Lady Chiyo, this isn't the time to quarrel among ourselves. The most important thing is to defeat the Akatsuki and rescue the Fifth Kazekage, right?"
What on earth!
How did the conversation turn into a debate about major countries discriminating against small countries?
When did they ever say they discriminate against small countries? Why did the topic drift so far, just a few minutes ago, they were still discussing the Akatsuki's intel in harmony?
Hatake Kakashi felt a bit of a headache.
Not only Hatake Kakashi, but even the others felt a bit of a headache; they too couldn't quite understand why the discussion completely veered off and stirred such a big conflict.
"Sorry, there's no need."
Uehara Naraku looked at Hatake Kakashi, with an expression like he was about to gets angrier: "You handle it yourselves, I'm going back to our own little village!"
Right after he finished speaking, he truly turned to leave.
"I'm sorry!"
Granny Chiyo suddenly called out loudly to stop Uehara Naraku and slowly bowed, intending to apologize: "I was oversensitive, I shouldn't have doubted you."
"Senior Uehara!"
"Uehara!"
The crowd quickly stopped Uehara Naraku.
Uzumaki Naruto quickly spoke up, persuading earnestly: "Uehara, we've never thought that way, we've always considered you a friend!"
"Yeah, Senior Uehara."
"Uehara-sama."
Temari respectfully bowed and pleaded earnestly: "No matter what past conflicts we've had, haven't we chosen to forgive each other?"
"..."
Uehara Naraku was silent for a while, nodded and said: "I am willing to forgive and contribute my efforts for peace, and I also hope you can forgive my emotions. Perhaps it's because my mood wasn't good either!
To speak a bit confidentially, the day before I left Hidden Rain Village with Miss Temari and Mr. Kakashi, because I chose to continue pursuing the Akatsuki instead of allowing the Hidden Rain Village to use this opportunity to attack the Land of Wind, thus I was subjected to insults from the radical martial factions."
Uehara Naraku let out a long sigh: "If it weren't for Lord Hanzo's foresight in recognizing the potential harm from such a dangerous organization as the Akatsuki, I might have already been forced to quit by those radicals."
"..."
Granny Chiyo and Temari looked at Uehara Naraku in disbelief.
Sweat was trickling down the cheeks of the old and young women from the Hidden Sand Village, clearly they hadn't expected that there were indeed people in the Hidden Rain Village who wanted to attack the Land of Wind!
Yet, this is quite normal after all...
Such a golden opportunity for expansion, which ordinary Rain Village Ninja would let it pass?
Granny Chiyo slowly lowered her head and sincerely spoke: "I'm very sorry, Uehara Naraku-sama, I wasn't aware of your situation in the Hidden Rain Village."
"Apologies, it was my lack of emotional control."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, sighed and said: "Fortunately, my teacher still holds some position in the Hidden Rain Village, along with the merit from the previous Land of Grass event, alas, every family has its troubles, thankfully Lord Hanzo sided with us…"