I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Namikaze Minato's Guess

After reporting the intelligence, Shisui's face darkened with concern.

Unlike the previous clash with Orochimaru and Sasori in Uzushio Village, this time, the village was fully exposed to the world. Concealment was no longer an option.

Orochimaru and Sasori were formidable, but they were rogue ninjas with limited influence. The Great Ninja Villages, however, were a different threat. Beyond their Kage-level warriors, they commanded thousands of elite shinobi. Sheer numbers alone could overrun Uzushio, not to mention economic blockades.

Yet, Naruto remained unfazed. He viewed Iwagakure and Kumogakure as manageable threats.

As long as he demonstrated sufficient power, the villages would adjust their stance accordingly. Besides, the interests of the daimyo and the shinobi villages were rarely aligned.

Right now, his focus was elsewhere—on Nagato, the leader of Akatsuki, who had arrived in the Land of Waves.

Unlike other spies lurking in Nami no Kuni, Nagato didn't bother suppressing his immense chakra. The moment he stepped foot in the nation, Naruto's sensory abilities detected his overwhelming presence.

However, Nagato hadn't confronted him directly. Instead, he moved through the Land of Waves at a steady pace, as if deliberately waiting.

Naruto's expression turned serious as he instructed Shisui, "We have a guest. I'll handle it. Keep an eye on the other rats—don't let them cause trouble. I'll return shortly."

"A guest?"

Shisui's eyes narrowed. Naruto never used that term lightly.

Sensing Naruto's uncharacteristic seriousness, Shisui asked, "Menma-sama, did the Five Kage appear in the Land of Waves?"

Naruto smirked. "Better than the Five Kage. I'm meeting the leader of Akatsuki—the strongest shinobi in the world right now."

The room fell into tense silence. Shisui, Zabuza, and Haku exchanged uneasy glances.

Stronger than the Five Kage? That level of power was beyond their comprehension.

After a brief hesitation, they spoke in unison, "Do you need our help, Lord Menma? We might be able to assist."

Naruto shook his head. "No. If a fight breaks out, focus on retreating."

With that, he vanished from the building, appearing on the streets in an instant.

Shisui, Zabuza, and the others sighed. Naruto was right. They were no match for such a high-stakes battle. Their best option was survival.

Zabuza turned to Shisui. "Who do you think will win? Lord Menma or Akatsuki's leader?"

Shisui's expression remained uncertain. He shook his head. "I don't know. I hope Lord Menma wins, but Nagato isn't weak. We won't know the outcome until it happens."

"…That's basically saying nothing." Zabuza sighed.

After a pause, Shisui added, "Maybe there won't even be a battle. We don't have direct conflicts with Akatsuki's interests. There's no need for a life-or-death struggle."

"That's true." Even Zabuza, a battle-hardened warrior, found himself anticipating the confrontation.

The only high-level battle he had witnessed was Naruto effortlessly suppressing the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. That fight had been utterly one-sided. A true clash between equals would be something else entirely.

—

Walking through the streets of Nami no Kuni, Naruto attempted to pinpoint Nagato's real body.

As a reincarnator, he knew that the Deva Path was merely one of Pain's Six Paths. Nagato himself was the true puppet master, and his real body couldn't be too far—perhaps within a dozen kilometers.

Yet, even with his heightened perception, Naruto couldn't locate him.

Furthermore, Konan was undoubtedly nearby. With her Paper Release abilities, she was a Kage-level shinobi in her own right and a formidable opponent.

Naruto frowned. "Kurama, can you sense Pain's real body? If we can't locate him, this will be troublesome."

Kurama huffed. "I sensed him, but there's no malice. Maybe he isn't here for the Jinchūriki. Perhaps he came because of your position as Uzushio's leader."

"…That makes sense."

Naruto paused. That was a reasonable conclusion.

But why would Nagato come to the Land of Waves? There were no Tailed Beasts here. Was he sightseeing? Or was he manipulated by Obito into targeting Naruto?

Meanwhile, Minato, watching through Naruto's subconscious, frowned. "Isn't Akatsuki's leader the masked man? Are there others?"

"Akatsuki's public leader is someone else—a ninja named Pain, wielding the Rinnegan."

"The Rinnegan?" Minato's expression darkened as he recalled a distant memory. "Jiraiya-sensei once took in three Amegakure orphans… One of them had the Rinnegan."

"But they died years ago. Could Akatsuki's leader have stolen their Rinnegan?"

Naruto glanced at Minato and sighed. "The Rinnegan belongs to the Sage of Six Paths. Its true wielder wouldn't die so easily. Ask Kurama if you don't believe me."

Kurama scoffed, flicking his tails. "Naruto is right. Someone with the Rinnegan wouldn't just die. Maybe he changed his face and identity, like Naruto did. But he's still the same kid from back then."

Minato fell silent, contemplating Kurama's words. Then, a troubling thought surfaced.

If a supposedly dead person could return, what about Obito?

Minato shook his head at first. How could Obito be the masked man? He had been a mere Chūnin. There was no way he could have reached such power in a year. And he had no reason to attack Konoha.

But… the masked man had been controlling events from the shadows for years.

If Obito had truly died that day, then none of this made sense.

Yet, if he had survived…

Minato's expression darkened as realization struck. If Obito had transformed into the masked man after Rin's death, then his actions made a twisted kind of sense.

The destruction of Kirigakure's stability—was it revenge for what happened to Rin?

The attack on Konoha—was it retribution for Minato failing to save her?

Minato clenched his fists. Had he failed not just his student, but the entire village?

If Obito was responsible for the Nine-Tails attack…

Then he wasn't just a tragic victim.

He was Konoha's greatest betrayer.

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