The Hidden Rain Village.
In a dark and damp underground space, the members of the Akatsuki gathered once again using the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
Several colorful holographic projections stood on the giant fingers of the Gedo Statue, radiating varying auras of oppression.
At this moment, a huge projection screen stood in front of everyone, playing the promotional video released by the Land of Snow to the entire world.
In the footage, Kazahana City was brightly lit, and the dazzling aurora concert was mesmerizing.
"Ooh!"
"This chick is not bad!"
"Look at that figure, that voice!"
Hidan rested his scythe on his shoulder, completely immersed in the passionate atmosphere of the concert.
Looking at the radiant Koyuki Kazahana on the screen, he whistled excitedly.
"If she is sacrificed to Lord Jashin, she will definitely make a great offering!"
"Am I right, Kakuzu?"
Kakuzu glanced at him coldly, far too lazy to pay attention to this lunatic.
His gaze was fixed on the rows of brand-new buildings, the bustling port, and the neatly dressed civilians in the background as he silently estimated the total assets of this so-called Mutual Aid Society.
As the screen switched, the style abruptly changed.
It was the scene from the final segment where the Destroyer Legion charged across the snowfield.
Their heavy armor ignored the ninjutsu bombardments, and their giant chakra swords tore through Kumogakure's defensive line.
That emotionless, bulldozer-like violent aesthetic sent a chill down one's spine even through the screen.
"Tch."
Deidara looked at the bulky heavy armor on the screen, curling his lips disdainfully as his eyes filled with contempt.
"This kind of aesthetically devoid iron can does not deserve to be called art at all!"
"Un!"
However, when several ice crystal bombs detonated in the crowd and bloomed into gorgeous, fatal ice flowers, his eyes lit up slightly, and he leaned forward a bit.
"This kind of gorgeous explosion is actually worth watching."
"Although it still cannot compare to my bombs, it barely passes."
"These are..."
"...are they puppets?"
Sasori of the Red Sand was hidden inside the hunchbacked Hiruko, a pair of cold eyes peering through the gaps in its shell, staring intently at every subtle movement of the armor on the screen.
"No..."
"The movements are too smooth, completely lacking the stiffness caused by chakra threads."
"This is a bit interesting."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of interest.
"If we can peel open this iron shell and turn the person inside into a new human puppet..."
"...it should make a fine collection."
"This technology combining biology and machinery might bring new inspiration to my art."
"Do not underestimate them too much, Deidara, Sasori."
The previously silent Kisame Hoshigaki suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.
He reached out to touch Samehada on his back, his tone carrying an unusual trace of seriousness.
"That Nine-Tails brat is much stronger than you guys imagine."
Kisame recalled the golden chain wrapped in Haoshoku Haki that day in the forest, which had repelled Samehada with a casual strike, and a flash of deep apprehension crossed his eyes.
"During our last fight, my Samehada was practically scared out of its wits by him."
"That brat is a true powerhouse."
Looking at the shadow on the screen that never showed its face yet seemed ubiquitous, Kisame sighed.
"I felt back then that he would be extraordinary in the future, but I did not expect that after such a short time, he would actually get himself a country to play with."
"That truly is an enviable ambition."
Itachi Uchiha, who had been silent all along, finally raised his head slowly.
"We might have all gotten one thing wrong."
His voice was as calm as water, yet it made everyone perk up.
"We have always treated him as a lucky brat possessing the power of the Nine-Tails."
"But look at the people around him—Orochimaru and Tsunade, two of the Sannin, are by his side."
"There is also this Uzumaki clansman in the video who is capable of suppressing Tailed Beasts, as well as those heavy armored warriors who can go toe-to-toe with Tailed Beasts."
"Even now..."
"...how many more powerhouses are lurking in the shadows remains an unknown."
Itachi paused, his gaze seeming to pierce through the screen as his tone grew somewhat heavy.
"His influence has already encompassed nearly half of Konoha's upper echelons, and he is continuously devouring the surrounding resources."
"He is not playing a ninja house game; he is fundamentally subverting the rules of this world."
"If we do not strangle him in the cradle while his wings are only partially fledged, he will grow into an existence even more troublesome than the Five Great Nations combined."
After saying this, Itachi closed his eyes again.
Beneath his cold exterior, an indescribable ripple stirred within his heart.
Sasuke... what kind of monster are you desperately trying to chase after?
"Strangle him in the cradle?"
"Easier said than done."
The earth writhed for a moment, and Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground.
White Zetsu's half of the face wore a rare look of helplessness as he spread his hands.
"Though I do not want to admit it, the current Land of Snow is simply a forbidden zone for me."
"A forbidden zone?"
Pain tilted his head slightly.
"That is right," Black Zetsu said in a low voice, chiming in from the side.
"That Naruto Uzumaki used some unknown method to spread a massive sensory network across the skies of the Land of Snow."
"The moment my spore clones step onto that frozen earth, even before getting close to the core area, they are instantly located."
"And then..."
"...they are precisely sniped by those golden chains from God knows how far away."
"I have already lost more than a dozen clones, and I have not even touched a corner of the Daimyo's Mansion."
Hearing this, a hint of cold light flashed in the single eye of the mysterious masked man standing in the shadows.
A sensory network?
Precise sniping?
This Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's growth rate had completely exceeded common sense.
It was not just his expansion of strength; what was even more terrifying was that he had also built a massive faction completely detached from the ninja world's system and highly exclusionary.
If he were allowed to continue developing, once that so-called new order took shape, it would inevitably become the biggest variable for the Eye of the Moon Plan.
And it might even...
...threaten his plan itself.
"Since we cannot see through it, there is no need to look anymore."
"Destroy it directly."
The Deva Path Pain stared apathetically at the screen, with absolutely no emotion in his Rinnegan.
His voice was flat, as if he were simply sentencing an ant to death.
"Since this country is too noisy..."
"...and refuses the gaze and intervention of a god, then let this country..."
"...experience Pain."
Pain raised his hand and issued an unquestionable order.
"Kakuzu, Hidan."
"You two are responsible for cutting in from the underground black market, hunting down their upper echelon, and cutting off their cash flow."
"Since they like doing business, let them have no business to do."
A gleam of excitement appeared in Kakuzu's eyes, as if he saw extra cash waving at him.
"No problem, the mission will be completed perfectly."
"Sasori, Deidara."
Pain looked to the other side.
"You are responsible for a frontal attack, creating chaos, causing destruction, and testing the quality of that pile of iron cans."
"If that so-called 'new order' stands in our way, then blow it into ruins."
Pain's voice was bone-chillingly cold, echoing in the empty cave.
"If possible, capture the Nine-Tails directly."
This was the first time since the establishment of the Akatsuki that two groups of core members, totaling four S-rank rogue ninjas, were dispatched simultaneously against a single target.
This meant that in the Akatsuki's eyes, Naruto Uzumaki was no longer just a simple capture target.
He was a chess player qualified to play against them.
The four figures bowed to accept their orders, then slowly dissolved into the darkness.