Naruto: Fire-Release system

Chapter 148: Preparations Before the Great War!

Why had the Sage of Six Paths allowed his sons to reincarnate for thousands of years? Was it really to maintain peace in the shinobi world, as he claimed?

If his intention was to preserve peace, then why did he let the reincarnations of his two sons continue their endless cycle of conflict?

Didn't he say that he was observing the shinobi world through chakra? How could he not know that peace had never truly existed in the shinobi world?

With the power of Asura's and Indra's reincarnations combined, wouldn't it be easy to unify the world and create an era of peace?

When one delves deeper into these questions, none of it makes sense.

This is why Uchiha Yi's perception of the Sage of Six Paths leaned more toward suspicion and conspiracy.

He believed the Sage had his own hidden agenda. Faced with such an enigmatic foe, Uchiha Yi always maintained vigilance. However, with the power he now possessed, he no longer needed to tread carefully as he once did.

---

Fire Country, New Konoha.

After spending some warm moments together as a family, Minato decided it was time to act. He would send Naruto to Mount Myoboku for safety, so he could focus on his mission to bait the Akatsuki.

"Kushina, I want you to go with Naruto to Mount Myoboku. Stay there for a while, and once we've resolved the issue here, I'll bring you both back."

Seeing Kushina's worried expression, Minato comforted her.

"Alright." Kushina nodded reluctantly. "But you need to be careful, Minato."

"Don't worry," Minato replied with a smile. "I'm already dead, remember? What could possibly happen to me now?"

Despite his attempt to lighten the mood, Minato's words carried a tinge of sadness.

Having made up his mind, Minato approached Jiraiya and requested his assistance. While the rift between them caused by Hiruzen Sarutobi still lingered, Jiraiya couldn't refuse his student's plea for help.

With Jiraiya's aid, Naruto and Kushina were soon transported to Mount Myoboku to wait out the impending storm.

Meanwhile, back in New Konoha, preparations for the plan to lure the Akatsuki began.

---

At the Five Kage Summit, Tsunade finally received an update from Konoha. Learning that Minato would be the bait instead of Naruto eased her mind.

The Five Kage Summit proceeded smoothly once this key issue was resolved. The rest of the discussions focused on logistics and strategy, which were easier to handle.

However, unbeknownst to the Five Kage, Black Zetsu had been monitoring their every move. What they believed to be secret plans were laid bare before the Akatsuki.

"Fools," Black Zetsu muttered.

The Five Kage's carefully laid plans would ultimately play right into the Akatsuki's hands.

---

In the Akatsuki base, Madara's successor, Uchiha Obito, smirked after receiving Black Zetsu's report.

"They think they can corner us with this plan?" Obito scoffed. "They've underestimated us."

The Akatsuki's preparations were nearly complete. The eight captured tailed beasts had already been sealed into the Gedo Statue. Only the Nine-Tails remained.

Once the Nine-Tails was sealed, Obito would awaken the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchuriki. At that point, no force in the shinobi world would be able to stand against him.

---

Meanwhile, the Five Great Nations mobilized their forces, gathering all available manpower for the upcoming battle.

The Akatsuki weren't idle either. After extracting the tailed beasts, Obito selected six of the strongest former Jinchuriki to create his Six Paths of Pain.

Black Zetsu also activated ten thousand White Zetsu, who had been lying dormant underground, ready to serve as a massive army for the Akatsuki.

With these preparations, the Akatsuki were confident in their ability to challenge the entire shinobi world.

---

The Five Nations' large-scale mobilization did not escape the notice of spies from smaller villages. Reports quickly made their way back, and panic spread among the smaller shinobi villages—especially those that had openly declared allegiance to the Akatsuki.

They feared retribution from the Five Great Nations, knowing they were no match for such power. Many of these smaller villages had joined the Akatsuki in name only, offering verbal support without true commitment.

As the realization of their vulnerability sank in, these smaller villages began scrambling for solutions.

However, the reality was that neither the Akatsuki nor the Five Great Nations cared much about these minor players. In a world where power dictated outcomes, small villages held little significance.

For example, a single Akatsuki member like Deidara could annihilate several small villages on his own.

Ultimately, the smaller villages' efforts to take sides were nothing more than a farcical display.

---

While the Akatsuki and the Five Great Nations prepared for their clash, a noticeable absence in the drama was the Rain Village, now a rising power under Uchiha Yi.

Neither the Akatsuki nor the Five Nations had extended invitations to the Rain Village.

This wasn't because the Rain Village was deemed unworthy, but because both sides viewed Uchiha Yi as an unpredictable wildcard.

For the Five Nations, involving the Rain Village would complicate matters. Sharing the spoils of victory—especially the tailed beasts—would only weaken their positions.

Meanwhile, Obito and the Akatsuki had their own reasons to avoid engaging with Uchiha Yi.

Obito knew that Uchiha Yi had killed Itachi, one of the Akatsuki's most powerful members. The act was clearly a personal vendetta, and Obito suspected he might be next on Yi's list.

Obito couldn't afford a conflict with Uchiha Yi while pursuing his goal of becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki.

For now, the Rain Village would remain on the sidelines of the brewing storm. But as both sides prepared for war, one thing was clear: the fate of the shinobi world hung in the balance.

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