"Get lost! What do you mean, 'unreliable group'?
"There are tons of people who want to join us, but I haven't accepted them.
"Our Congregation's name will resound throughout all heavens and worlds in the future. Every member will be an elite capable of handling the world on their own." Natsuki said, pretending to take the badge back.
Hanabi, startled, quickly clutched the club badge to her chest.
"No way! I'm already a member. You can't take it back!
"If big sister can awaken the Tenseigan, then I can definitely do it too using the same method." Hanabi declared, waving her fist confidently.
…
Drip, drip...
At the same time, within the Land of Rain.
In a dark cave.
The sound of water droplets hitting the ground echoed sparsely but incessantly.
Several figures stood indistinctly on a protruding rock platform.
If anyone from the ninja world saw them, they would be greatly shocked.
Because these people were the most dangerous and wanted S-rank missing-nin from various villages.
Each one of them possessed terrifying strength and had committed numerous unforgivable acts branding them as unforgivable criminals.
Such as: Uchiha Itachi, who claimed to have wiped out his entire clan.
Kakuzu, the number one bounty hunter who assassinated all the high-ranking officials of his own village.
Sasori of the Red Sand, who assassinated the strongest ninja in his village - the Third Kazekage.
That's right, this was the Akatsuki, which would later instigate the Fourth Great Ninja War.
These S-rank missing-nin were mostly evil individuals known for attacking their own people.
"Heh, I didn't expect Konoha to have fallen so far as to let a 12-year-old Genin become Hokage.
"I wonder how much his head is worth?"
Kakuzu, the treasurer of Akatsuki, who had a fanatical obsession with bounty, muttered.
If only he knew that the billions of bounty he painstakingly accumulated over the years as a bounty hunter was being used by Konan to buy Exploding Tags, what would he think?
"Konoha has been declining since the Third took charge. Now, there's a lack of successors, which is why a child became Hokage.
"Even though rumors say this child is outstanding."
"I think it's time to bring Konoha into the embrace of our Lord Jashin." Hidan, his partner, chimed in.
"Has the former number one ninja village, Konoha, become so weak?
"Leader, shouldn't we visit Konoha first?
"Let the art of explosion bloom first in this number one ninja village."
Deidara excitedly suggested, as if he wanted his art to shake the entire ninja world the next moment.
"Itachi, Kisame. You've just encountered Konoha's new Hokage. How did the encounter go?"
Pain asked. Currently, Nagato was still appearing as the leader in the form of Tendo Pain.
Except for Zetsu and Obito, other members of Akatsuki didn't know of Nagato's existence.
"Strong! He's extremely strong! The pressure he gave us was even more intense than the former Third Hokage.
"Konoha might regain its glory under his leadership.
"After all, he's only twelve years old. As long as he doesn't die early, his reign could even surpass the Third Hokage."
Itachi frowned, recalling the scene when he and Kisame Hoshigaki faced Natsuki.
Honestly.
He, who was recognized as a genius by the entire ninja world, at that moment, truly understood what it meant to be outdone. There's always someone stronger out there.
He was younger than himself, yet possessed all sorts of strange powers.
He could also easily suppress both him and Kisame single-handedly.
Although he, as a Konoha spy, had secretly held back, it seemed like the other party hadn't gone all out either.
And this person was also Sasuke's classmate.
He really couldn't figure out how such strength could be achieved in such a short amount of time. He'd never heard of such a Kekkei Genkai existing in the entire ninja world.
It was as if...
"It was as if his power didn't belong to this world.
"Its too peculiar to the point that it doesn't resemble Ninjutsu at all." Kisame added his recollection in a timely manner.
To Kisame, the most orthodox ninja in the entire ninja world, who believed every Ninjutsu required proper hand seals to be used, he himself was the most normal ninja.
And those ninjas with Kekkei Genkai who could use various powerful abilities without hand seals were, in his opinion, completely spoiled by the heavens.
A ninja should use hand seals properly.
"Genius? Aren't we all geniuses?
"Even you, Mr. Itachi, almost wiped out the renowned Uchiha clan at the age of thirteen.
"This twelve-year-old Hokage, no matter how strong he is, can't be stronger than your Mangekyou Sharingan, right?"
Hidan, a believer in Jashin and possessing immortality, grinned.
He didn't believe that Konoha could produce another genius younger than Itachi.
Otherwise, Konoha would be too terrifying, having famous geniuses in every era.
"Then you're welcome to cause some trouble in Konoha.
"That way, you'll most likely get to see the 12-year-old Hokage, and understand it yourself." Kisame, standing near Itachi, revealed a slight smile, his tone mocking.
"Bah, Like I needed your permission. I'm not the east bit scared to stroll around Konoha, the so-called number one ninja village." Hidan was fearless.
Jashin had granted him immortality, and he feared no one. Turning to his partner in the same group, he said:
"How about it, Kakuzu? Konoha has been ravaged by wars and is weak now. There are a lot of bounty to be collected there."
Before Kakuzu could respond, a pitcher plant-like figure emerged from the rock wall.
It was Zetsu, the Akatsuki's main source of intelligence:
"Oh dear, this isn't a good time to make a move.
"Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, has brought back Tsunade and is preparing for her to become Hokage.
"That is to say, in addition to that strange little Hokage, Konoha will now have two more Kage-level experts.
"Of course, Danzo Shimura, Konoha's darkness, cannot be underestimated either."
The news brought back by Zetsu instantly calmed down the S-rank missing-nin.
Even Hidan stopped his arrogant demeanor.
He did have immortality, but he was equally vulnerable to powerful Sealing Techniques.
And the Legendary Sannin were all masters of an exceptionally large number of Ninjutsu, some of which could seal him forever.
Konoha was indeed the number one ninja village.
Even in its decline, it still possessed undeniable power.
Konoha's number of Kage-level powerhouses was more than any other ninja villages.
"Alright, we still have some preparatory work to do before we can start our ful scale assaults.
"I can give you a heads-up in advance. The upheaval will make throughout the world at that time will be enough to shock the entire ninja world."
Pain made a timely remark with the pressure of rinnegan, making the arrogant missing-nin lookhslt their bicking and focus on him.
"Right, there's one more piece of news.
"Recently, a very interesting group of bounty hunters has appeared in the ninja world."
"Mr. Itachi, it's your clansman. Maybe you know her."
Zetsu dropped another piece of information.
"Her name is Uchiha Izumi, and she has also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."