Chapter 329: All Actors are in Place

Having an elder in the family is like possessing a treasure.

As long as this elder is not a puppet of Akihara Kagura.

The words of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, clearly invigorated many ninjas, and even the more mature-minded ones couldn't help but nod in agreement.

As long as they are doing the right thing, and as long as their goal is to protect the ninja world, they must not waver in their resolve, no matter what the enemy does!

Accompanied by the speech of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, the Will of Stone of Rock Village spread rapidly, saving the ninja coalition, which was in a precarious situation...

Unfortunately.

Their opponent had already lost interest in entangling with the ninja coalition.

Land of Lightning.

On a huge turtle island.

No one knows how old this turtle is, as it has been roaming the Land of Lightning for ages. A vast forest and a complete ecosystem have developed on its back.

Similarly.

This is also the training ground for the jinchuriki of Cloud Village.

The two most critical jinchuriki in this war are here.

This is the place where Cloud Village's jinchuriki train, which is why Cloud Village has always been able to deploy jinchuriki in wars. Each generation of jinchuriki trains here, reflecting their inner selves before this waterfall.

Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, is considered the most outstanding jinchuriki in the ninja world. He has been easygoing since childhood and is responsible for leading Uzumaki Naruto to this waterfall, hoping Naruto can achieve full tailed-beast transformation and have the power to protect himself in this war.

Yamato leads a team of Anbu ninjas to protect them, also worried about any unforeseen incidents with Uzumaki Naruto, ready to stop him from going berserk at any moment.

During this period, Killer Bee has acted as Uzumaki Naruto's mentor, continuously teaching him how to train under the waterfall, until today's session.

It's about time...

For Uzumaki Naruto to move on to the next step of his training.

"Behind the waterfall!"

Killer Bee made a gesture and walked into the waterfall: "Let me show you... the training ground of Cloud Village!"

Following Killer Bee's lead, the group walked behind the waterfall, discovering a hidden world. The waterfall served as a natural barrier, blocking all prying eyes.

After passing through the waterfall, they saw buildings hidden deep within. Several towers of varying sizes stood inside, with headless statues positioned on either side.

"It's here..."

Killer Bee raised his finger, pointing deep into the structure: "Begin the fight with the Nine-Tails!"

With that, Killer Bee walked further in.

"Is it here?"

Uzumaki Naruto followed Killer Bee step by step.

"Yes, idiot!"

Killer Bee nodded while leading them inside and started introducing the place: "This is the place where the spirits of Cloud Village's ancestors reside. We will open the door inside, sit down, close our eyes, and focus our minds!"

"…"

Uzumaki Naruto slowly nodded and followed him in.

No matter what happens inside, Uzumaki Naruto would not be surprised anymore.

During this time, he had experienced the return of his rogue ninja companions, met his biological father, the Fourth Hokage Minato, accepted the guidance of his resurrected father on the nature transformation of the Rasengan, and learned Sage Mode from him. Just when he thought the future was bright, he saw his most respected brother become the most terrifying mastermind in the ninja world.

To be honest...

Luckily, Uzumaki Naruto had a strong mentality.

If his mentality were weaker, he might not have been able to accept reality.

At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared beside him using the Flying Thunder God technique, startling everyone present and making them instinctively become vigilant!

"It's me."

Uchiha Sasuke reached out his hand, stopping Killer Bee who was about to draw his sword, and said in a deep voice: "I am here to inform you that the ninja coalition has been defeated, and Kagura will likely arrive soon..."

"The coalition is defeated?"

Everyone present was shocked!

The ninja coalition had nearly a hundred thousand soldiers!

Even if there were a hundred thousand pigs, Akihara Kagura couldn't kill them all in three days!

"If I remember correctly..."

A drop of cold sweat appeared on Yamato's forehead as he spoke cautiously: "Today should be the day the ninja coalition gathers..."

They had just gathered...

And they had already been defeated!

"That's right."

Uchiha Sasuke nodded and explained in a deep voice: "The coalition commander Hanzo of the Salamander was Kagura's puppet. He used Hanzo to infiltrate the coalition's core, and with his own power, he defeated the hundred thousand-strong ninja coalition. Madara and I came specifically to protect you..."

"Big brother...what about them?"

Cold sweat also dripped down Killer Bee's face.

"You know…"

Uchiha Sasuke glanced at Killer Bee and said, "At least for now, no one is a match for Akihara Kagura. Even Madara doesn't consider himself Kagura's opponent..."

"And one more thing..."

A tall figure walked through the waterfall, stepping in slowly, his voice cold as he said, "If the ninja world reaches a critical point, I hope you two Jinchuriki can sacrifice yourselves so I can gain the power to defeat that person..."

"Madara!"

Yamato looked at the newcomer with a flash of surprise on his face.

"Madara!"

Uchiha Sasuke frowned and said coldly, "Wait... you mean... you want to take the Nine-Tails from Naruto?"

"No, of course not."

Uchiha Madara shook his head, a trace of contempt at the corner of his mouth. "I've already tested the power of the Nine-Tails; it's not enough to contend with that kid Akihara Kagura..."

"What I need is the Ten-Tails!"

"If the ninja world truly reaches its most dangerous point..."

Uchiha Madara looked at Uzumaki Naruto and Killer Bee, speaking in a deep voice, "It may really require you two to sacrifice yourselves. I will take the risk of becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Only the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki has any hope of defeating that kid..."

"Naruto will die..."

Uchiha Sasuke was about to refuse.

"Then he dies..."

Uchiha Madara raised an eyebrow and casually suggested, "You can preserve his body. With the Rinnegan, you can revive him after this war is over..."

"..."

Uchiha Sasuke felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint what exactly. With the Rinnegan, resurrection wasn't that difficult.

"No way!"

Killer Bee immediately wanted to object!

Because Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails within him were partners who lived and died together, he didn't want the Eight-Tails to be used as material for reviving the Ten-Tails!

"Your refusal is invalid..."

"Besides, you can't protect the Tailed Beasts within you..."

Uchiha Madara looked at the Eight-Tails and Killer Bee, tilting his head with interest. "If you value the Tailed Beast within you, after this war, I can separate the Tailed Beasts from the Ten-Tails just like the Sage of Six Paths did a thousand years ago..."

"..."

Killer Bee's brows were still furrowed.

However, the Eight-Tails inside him thought it wasn't necessarily a bad idea. Killer Bee wouldn't even have to die; it could leave behind a small amount of chakra within him to ensure he wouldn't die from the Tailed Beast's extraction.

On Turtle Island.

As the people inside the waterfall were discussing, Akihara Kagura had already arrived here, along with a group of unaware individuals.

A giant clay bird flew down first, dropping a string of bombs on Akihara Kagura's head, seemingly wanting to blow him up directly.

"This idiot..."

Sasori of the Red Sand looked at the clay bird and Deidara on top of it speechlessly. "Besides insulting him, what else can you do?"

"I don't believe I can't kill him!"

Deidara watched the clay bombs land beside Akihara Kagura, puffing his cheeks angrily. "I've hated him since I was nine! Art is an explosion, ha!"

The clay bombs on the ground exploded instantly!

However, after the explosion, Akihara Kagura still stood on the ground, even waving at them with interest, as if inviting them to come down.

"Ahhhh! This guy is still provoking me!"

Deidara controlled the clay bird to dive down, with a clay doll appearing in his hand, rushing down with a furious face, wanting to throw the clay doll on Akihara Kagura's head. "Let him taste my latest creation!"

"Lightning Release..."

Akihara Kagura raised his palm.

A dense mass of lightning suddenly struck Deidara and the clay giant bird. Deidara's clay bombs instantly became ineffective, and the clay doll immediately lost its explosive power. Both the clay giant bird and Deidara fell to the ground. As Deidara lay there, his face was covered with black scorch marks, and he coughed out a mouthful of black smoke.

This is Deidara's weakness...

Once he encounters a Lightning Release ninja, Deidara's explosions are restricted.

"This is the consequence of not training Dust Release properly."

These words from Akihara Kagura enraged Deidara.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Deidara, filled with fury, wanted to fight Akihara Kagura, his face contorted with rage. "Sasori was always your man. You bastard must have been secretly mocking me all along!"

This was what infuriated Deidara the most!

He had joined the Akatsuki organization to deal with Akihara Kagura, only to find that the organization was filled with Akihara Kagura's people. Even the disobedient leader of the Akatsuki had been ousted...

This...

Deidara was almost driven to madness!

Especially since his long-time teammate, Sasori, turned out to be Akihara Kagura's man. It meant that this person he wanted to take revenge on had always been under Akihara Kagura's watchful eye. Deidara felt utterly humiliated!

To regain his dignity...

He felt he had to perish together with Akihara Kagura!

Moreover...

Akihara Kagura didn't even realize this!

This bastard even had Sasori try to persuade him to join in the destruction of the ninja world. Didn't he understand that Deidara was out for revenge against him?

"Deidara!"

Sasori's voice stopped Deidara. He manipulated Deidara with chakra strings, forcing him to stay in place, and then looked down at Akihara Kagura: "You, how can you still be in the mood to tease Deidara at a time like this..."

"Tsk..."

Akihara Kagura looked at Deidara being controlled and shook his head with a chuckle: "Look how funny he is when he's angry..."

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Deidara was so furious he almost exploded!

Akihara Kagura raised his finger, and a shadow on the ground immobilized Deidara completely: "Alright, alright, let's leave you here to bask in the sun for a while. Sasori and I have other business to attend to first..."

"Aaaah..."

Deidara could only roar helplessly at the sky.

"Have you brought the people?"

Akihara Kagura asked, looking at the empty-handed Sasori.

"They are almost all here."

Sasori nodded and said, "If it weren't for Deidara refusing to come using your shadow ability and insisting on flying here with his clay bird, we wouldn't have been delayed for so long..."

As Sasori spoke, he raised his fingers and controlled the chakra strings to cut Deidara's clay bird into pieces!

A tall figure rolled to the ground.

It was Kisame Hoshigaki.

Kisame was not having a good time.

After the battle between the Uchiha brothers, Kisame wanted to return to the Akatsuki base, only to find it in ruins...

Fortunately.

There were still four members of the Akatsuki left.

Out of these four, three were Akihara Kagura's people. Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan all pounced on Kisame, capturing him alive. Kisame was the most suitable to become the Gakidō (Preta Path) puppet because he was skilled at absorbing chakra.

As for the remaining Ningendō (Human Path)...

Akihara Kagura had to make use of Mangetsu, whom he had previously collected. The Six Paths puppets would still be useful in this war, at least they could help block the high-ranking ninja coalition trying to land on Turtle Island.

"You..."

Kisame looked at the black rods piercing his body, revealing a mouthful of shark teeth: "You hid so many people within the Akatsuki..."

"Your information is outdated."

Akihara Kagura chuckled, patting Kisame's head and imprisoning his soul within his body: "Alright, let's test the Rinnegan's chakra absorption ability later. It should be more reliable than your Samehada..."

"…"

Samehada shivered in a corner.

Fortunately.

Samehada had a familiar face.

Mangetsu, long deceased, reached out and patted Samehada, calming it down.

Tendō (Deva Path) - Uchiha Shisui!

Ningendō (Human Path) - Mangetsu!

Chikushōdō (Animal Path) - Hanzō!

Gakidō (Preta Path) - Kisame Hoshigaki!

Shuradō (Asura Path) - Sasori!

Jigokudō (Naraka Path) - Hidan!

The appearance of the Six Paths puppets was a bit delayed.

The only ones who have truly been useful so far are Hanzo and Sasori of the Red Sand. Even Shisui of the Deva Path is merely a tool to control the Uchiha.

Moreover...

There are the reincarnated First Hokage, Hashirama, the Second Hokage, Tobirama, the Fourth Hokage, Minato, and another man who is about to be reincarnated!

This war is too intense, and it's almost impossible for any living person to participate. Karin and the Uchiha from the Root Division are not here, and even Deidara will be sent away soon to be with Kakuzu.

"Let me think... what else is missing."

Akihara Kagura raised his hand and released a White Zetsu, using it as a sacrifice to summon and revive a man: "You'll deal with Uchiha Sasuke... Edo Tensei!"

A man with crimson eyes was revived!

After being resurrected by Edo Tensei, the first thing Uchiha Itachi did was to look for Uchiha Sasuke's whereabouts beside Akihara Kagura. His gaze sharpened as he saw the first person.

"Shisui, why are you..."

Uchiha Itachi's mind went blank for a moment.

"Itachi..."

Uchiha Shisui also didn't expect to see Uchiha Itachi again. With a complex expression, he said, "Are you looking for Sasuke? I know everything about that night of the clan's annihilation. I asked Kagura to save some clan members..."

"I'm sorry..."

Uchiha Itachi lowered his head in pain.

"I know you're still hiding Shisui's Kotoamatsukami..."

Akihara Kagura ignored their conversation and said proactively, "Uchiha Itachi, do you remember the promise you made before you died?"

"Sasuke has now chosen Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito. Do you want to consider doing something to bring Sasuke to our side in the upcoming final battle..."

"Shisui..."

Akihara Kagura waved his hand and said, "Tell him everything about us, and see what he decides!"

"Will you tell your brother the truth, or will you keep everything hidden, overturn all the stories, and sacrifice yourself so that your brother can have a place in the new era of the ninja world..."

"Of course."

Akihara Kagura looked at Uchiha Itachi in front of him and continued with a slight smile: "You would certainly sacrifice your own reputation, wouldn't you?"

"..."

The reincarnated Uchiha Itachi fell silent immediately, his expression darkening as he nodded: "I understand. I will do as you say..."

"Don't worry."

Akihara Kagura chuckled, speaking with interest: "Just keep Sasuke occupied so he won't cause me any trouble. Besides, you want to see Sasuke's progress, don't you? He has already awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan..."

"..."

Uchiha Itachi slowly lowered his head.

Indeed, this was what Uchiha Itachi wanted to see.

"Alright..."

"Now, let all the actors get into position..."

Akihara Kagura extended his hand, forming the hand seals for the summoning technique, his eyes flashing slightly: "Let's prepare... prepare for our lead actor, Uchiha Madara, to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. Before that, let him use Obito to revive his other plans and then push him into desperation!"

"Let Madara know..."

"All plans are ineffective against me..."

"The only thing he can do is to become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki!"

~~~

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— Ending + Extra Chapters (Completed)

Read upto Chapter 348: End! + Extra Chapters of Sasuke's Rebirth where the world Akihara Kagura is not around. Thank you!