Chapter 258: A Grand Gamble
Countless golden rays of light manifested outside Naruto's body.
Pure Tailed Beast transformation wasted too much Chakra.
To achieve precise control, one naturally needed Kurama Mode.
But the ominous aura that had spread for thousands of miles earlier had already exposed Naruto's identity.
The members of the Tianming Organization had known for a long time, so they weren't surprised.
Only the Akatsuki Organization felt like they were going to go mad at this moment.
"He is Uzumaki Naruto?"
Tobi turned around and said blankly, "Which senior can tell me, am I under a Genjutsu?"
Damn it!
Since The Fool is Uzumaki Naruto, the wheel of destiny must be Uchiha Sasuke.
I'm so stupid, really.
He had been tricked so miserably.
"Come, I'll help you."
Uzumaki Menma patted his shoulder.
Tobi immediately felt half of his body go numb.
"Senior, are you for real?"
He asked in a very exaggerated tone.
But in his heart, he was somewhat afraid.
If Uzumaki Menma had just struck harder, he might have had to call it 'Game Over GG'.
"This is just to let you know you're not dreaming,"
Uzumaki Menma said with a smile, "Besides, you have the Mangekyo Sharingan, how could you be caught in a Genjutsu?"
"Oh, right."
Tobi woke up as if from a dream.
"Is now the time to talk about this?"
Kisame Hoshigaki complained, "Our grand Akatsuki Organization actually let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki sneak into our ranks. Don't you feel ashamed?"
"Anything is possible,"
Uzumaki Menma shrugged and said, "Didn't a certain explosion boy vow that no more spies would infiltrate Akatsuki?"
Deidara's face flushed red, and he raised his voice, "It's not that we're incompetent, it's that the enemy is too cunning! Who could have imagined the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would be running around everywhere?"
In the perception of everyone in the Ninja World, Jinchuriki were the strategic weapons of Ninjavillages, the kind who were protected and could only be shut-ins.
But the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki completely failed to play by the rules.
"Why are you shouting so loud?"
Uzumaki Menma glared at him.
"Are you looking for death?!"
Deidara was so angry he wanted to blow something up.
"Oh, you two seniors, please don't fight. Shouldn't we go support the leader?"
Tobi stood between the two of them and asked hurriedly.
If Nagato died, it would seriously affect his and Uchiha Madara's plans.
"Sister Nan has already rushed over. With the leader's Rinnegan, there shouldn't be a problem,"
Uzumaki Menma analyzed, "Provided that Uzumaki Naruto doesn't discover the location of the leader's true body."
He knew his original body wouldn't kill Nagato.
After all, achievements were more important.
Meanwhile, in the narrow space inside the cactus.
Nagato stood blankly in place.
To be honest, he had speculated about The Fool's identity.
But Uzumaki Naruto was the first answer he had ruled out.
Because no matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible.
The Akatsuki Organization's goal was to capture Jinchuriki.
And Uzumaki Naruto actually dared to walk right into the trap.
It was truly outrageous.
Thinking of this, he felt regret again.
If he hadn't sent Uchiha Itachi when The Fooldefected, but had gone to hunt him down himself.
Perhaps he would have seen through his identity long ago.
Nagato knew the Jinchuriki's combat patterns very well.
In a life-or-death crisis, they would inevitably undergo Tailed Beast transformation.
But he had allowed Uchiha Itachi, a guy who was almost obviously a Konoha spy, to take charge.
At this moment, he suddenly felt doubt about whether he truly held the status of the child of prophecy.
Because of the Rinnegan, Nagato had always believed he was the successor to the Six Paths Sage, a Ninja destined to bring change to the Ninja World.
And before meeting Uzumaki Naruto, everything had indeed gone smoothly.
Even though Yahiko died, he had gained unimaginable power.
But now?
Uzumaki Naruto was right before his eyes.
Seven tails blotted out the sun.
Looking up, Naruto was condensing power sufficient to destroy everything.
Sage Art: Tailed Beast Ball!
Nagato could no longer block it.
His Planetary Devastation had reached its limit.
If it continued, he would surely meet his death.
Unless he summoned the Gedo Statue again.
But could a husk that hadn't absorbed a single Tailed Beast withstand the Nine-Tails?
Seven tails had already caught him off guard.
What if two more were added?
"Poof!"
Nagato suddenly spat out a mouthful of essence blood, his face turning gray and defeated.
"Nagato?!"
Konan shouted hurriedly.
She had already prepared herself after learning Uzumaki Naruto's identity.
It's over, it's all over!
This attack was destined to end in failure.
"We must leave quickly!"
Konan subconsciously looked out through the gap, only to see a pillar of Chakra light spanning heaven and earth, sweeping through everything and completely destroying the Planetary Devastation.
Even the dullest perception could detect the dense, inescapable aura of danger all around.
This was more powerful than any Tailed Beast Ballshe had ever seen.
Was it because Sage Art was added?
Nagato looked at her, his face bloodless.
He didn't want to flee in such a pathetic manner.
After Yahiko's death, he had made up his mind that he would never be held hostage again and would defeat everyone.
"No, it's not time to admit defeat yet!"
Nagato gritted his teeth and said.
He raised his hands, preparing to summon the Gedo Statue.
"Enough! Nagato!"
Konan pressed his hands down, her eyes filled with pleading, "It's still not too late to leave. Even if we win if we continue, the price will be too high."
Nagato was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head firmly.
If he lost, he would be unworthy of being a god.
The other members of the Akatsuki Organizationwould also have second thoughts.
Especially that guy called Uchiha Madara.
"I think you should listen to Senior Sister's suggestion, Senior Brother."
The voice came from far to near.
Naruto instantly appeared in front of them.
The expressions of the two changed.
Konan reacted extremely quickly, raising her hands.
The cactus they were in completely turned into slips of paper, swarming forward, wanting to submerge Naruto.
"Senior Sister is being a bit too hasty."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, smelling a dense scent of gunpowder.
It was exploding tags.
He estimated there were several thousand.
His body vanished.
"It's Space-Time Ninjutsu, no, it should be called the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Nagato's Rinnegan pupils constricted as he said in a low voice, "Konan, your Ninjutsu is useless against him. You are familiar with the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique."
Konan remained silent.
A rare trace of apprehension appeared in her heart.
It didn't matter if she died here, but Nagatocouldn't die.
The desert kicked up countless waves of dust under the continuous explosions of the exploding tags.
Deva Path Pain descended from the sky to block for Nagato and Konan, pushing out with both hands.
Nothing could get close.
Except for Uzumaki Naruto.
"Senior Brother, you can rest assured, I won't kill you."
"Why?"
Nagato wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and asked, "Do you actually agree with Akatsuki's ideology? No, if you really did, you wouldn't have defected."
"Strictly speaking, I don't know if your approach is correct or not, but I have my own ideas."
Uzumaki Naruto smiled slightly, "How about we fellow disciples make a bet?"
"What bet?"
Nagato was momentarily stunned and couldn't help but ask.
Because Planetary Devastation had been broken, he now viewed Naruto as an equal opponent.
He could actually listen to his words.
"As I said, you have your way, and I have my ideas."
Uzumaki Naruto repeated his previous words. Under Nagato's puzzled gaze, he continued, "Practice brings true knowledge. How about we each give it a try?"
"Give it a try?"
Nagato still didn't quite understand and asked, "How do we try?"
"You want world peace, and so do I. But peace requires a method, and your method is to create war to make people feel pain."
Uzumaki Naruto paused and said, "My method is more complex, but it's already being implemented in the Land of Fire. You should know that the White Lotus Sect is my Tianming Organization."
Nagato pondered for a few seconds and roughly understood his cheap junior brother's meaning.
Two methods would be implemented in the Ninja World simultaneously to see whose method was more effective in the end.
"After today, you can send someone to the Land of Fire to investigate personally."
Uzumaki Naruto continued, "After investigating, you'll know how our Tianming Organization's method works."
"I will."
Nagato said without hesitation.
He firmly believed his method was the most correct.
Today's failure would not affect his ideology.
And it wasn't a total failure.
He hadn't fully revealed his trump cards.
"Very good."
Uzumaki Naruto smiled happily, "Of the Five Great Nations, I will only touch the Land of Fire. The rest are all yours for the Akatsuki Organization."
Nagato's body shook.
The words were light, but the confidence within them was truly heart-trembling.
It was as if when he called himself a god, he viewed the world's heroes as nothing.
"Are you that confident? No matter how strong the Land of Fire is, how can it stop the other four great nations?"
"I just don't want to take advantage of you. If you want war, I'll give you war, but I'm going to make you lose and be thoroughly convinced!"
Uzumaki Naruto spread his hands and said.
His arrogant posture made one afraid to look directly at him.
Nagato was first stunned, then felt he had been offended.
He asked coldly: "Are you looking down on me?"
"If I looked down on you, I wouldn't bet with you."
Naruto shook his head and said, "Giving the four great nations to you is not just a matter of words. You should understand that with Akatsuki's strength, taking them down will be far more difficult than you imagine."
Nagato was silent.
The Five Great Nations and Five Great Villageshad stood for many years.
Even without the Land of Fire and Konoha Village, the rest were not easy targets.
But he still had confidence.
Because according to the plan, Akatsuki would have been enemies with all Five Great Nations and Five Great Villages, triggering a Great Ninja War.
Now with Uzumaki Naruto's intervention, they actually had less pressure.
The only trouble was that the Gedo Statue couldn't be restored.
But if they took down the four great villages and absorbed the Ichibi through the Eight-Tails, it could be restored to seventy or eighty percent.
"I accept your bet."
Nagato looked up and said.
"Since it's a bet, there must be stakes."
Naruto rolled his eyes and said, "If you lose, you join the Tianming Organization. If I lose, I'll give the Nine-Tails to you, how about it?"
While Nagato was surprised by this stake, Kuramawas not happy; he was very angry.
"Hey, what do you mean? This old man is not some object for you to give away."
"It's just to trick him."
"Really? Are you sure you're tricking him and not tricking this old man?"
Kurama had spent a long time with Naruto and had become smarter, knowing this kid's character.
He had to think about everything Naruto said to see if it was true.
"Why would I lie to you? If I give you away, won't I lose my life?"
"True."
Kurama couldn't help but nod at this thought, but then realized something was wrong and said angrily, "Then what you promised before about letting this old man out was fake?!"
"Of course not."
Naruto said seriously, "I just haven't thought of a way yet. Don't worry, you'll definitely get out."
Kurama was suspicious.
But he didn't feel any malice from him.
There was a high probability he wasn't lying.
"Are you really that confident?"
Outside, Nagato couldn't help but ask the same question again.
A Jinchuriki would surely die if their Tailed Beastwas extracted.
This was common knowledge in the Ninja World.
In other words, for this bet, what Nagato had to pay was his freedom, but what Naruto was paying was his life.
Besides, joining the Tianming Organization might be quite free.
He wouldn't have any losses.
"Because I am destiny."
Uzumaki Naruto smiled faintly and said softly.
Even with Nagato's disposition, he was momentarily dazed at this moment.
Destiny?
He had previously thought the meaning of Tianming (Destiny) was that they were the executors acting on behalf of heaven.
But now it seemed that wasn't the case.
Uzumaki Naruto's meaning was that he was himself, and he was heaven.
He suddenly thought of his teacher, Jiraiya.
"So you are the child of prophecy?"
"I don't believe in that stuff."
Naruto knew he was misunderstood and said, "If it really worked, you would also fit the child of prophecy, Senior Brother."
Nagato was slightly stunned.
He didn't believe it either.
And he noticed that his junior brother's style of doing things was extremely similar to his.
He called himself a god, while Naruto chose to be heaven.
In a sense, it was the same.
Nagato's Rinnegan flashed and he said: "In that case, I look forward to my junior brother's methods."
Once the title of 'junior brother' came out, it meant he completely regarded Uzumaki Naruto as an equal enemy.
"Then I shall take my leave first."
Uzumaki Naruto didn't stay at all and disappeared directly.
Konan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The pressure Naruto gave her earlier was truly too great.
She was afraid Uzumaki Naruto would suddenly flare up and kill Nagato.
After all, given the state of the two of them, such a thing was highly likely to happen.
But the subsequent bet left her unable to comment.
Such a grand gamble, looking across the entire Ninja World, no one would dare to propose it.
Perhaps they wouldn't even have the thought.
Even Nagato had never thought of it.
Uzumaki Naruto.
It had to be said, he left an extremely deep impression on Konan.
Even if he failed, it would be enough for her to remember for a lifetime.
"Let's go."
Nagato withdrew his gaze.
His body was in terrible shape now.
It was already pathetic, and after this battle, it became even more miserable.
It simply didn't feel like his own body.
All his cells were issuing painful protests.
If it were someone with a weak will, they might have ended their life long ago.
Only Nagato persevered.
Because he had things he had to do.
Naruto returned to the others.
"Where's Nagato?"
Jiraiya couldn't help but ask as soon as he saw him, "Did you kill him?"
"He escaped. The Rinnegan is truly worthy of being the Six Paths Sage's eyes; it's much more powerful than the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Naruto explained casually.
The others didn't react much, but Sasuke gave a soft snort.
"Oh, isn't this Kisame Hoshigaki?"
Naruto noticed the extra member on the ground.
"During the gap when you were fighting Nagato, the Akatsuki members wanted to retreat. Kisame Hoshigaki stayed behind to cover them and was caught by us."
Jiraiya said.
Naruto was thoughtful.
According to Kisame Hoshigaki's character, he would indeed do such a thing as covering a retreat.
He was a true Ninja.
In the original work, he chose to commit suicide to protect Akatsuki's secrets.
[Congratulations to the host for achieving the world achievement 'Who Bets Their Life on Tomorrow', obtaining relevant special rewards.]
[Drawing rewards, obtained one Character Card.]
Naruto waited for the achievement he wanted and couldn't help but smile.
If such a bet wasn't a special achievement, he would have suspected the system was targeting him.