Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 328

One's control over chakra, grasp of opportunities, and application of one's own power.

They all gained new, vague yet real understanding and improvement.

Although Madara showed no mercy, every attack, every defense, and even every movement he made was significant.

They were all like top-notch teaching demonstrations, forcibly imprinting higher-level combat thinking and skills into Naruto's instincts.

After resting for a few minutes and feeling a bit stronger, Naruto struggled to get up from the ground.

His body was still aching all over, but he gritted his teeth and limped toward home.

He desperately needed a hot shower to wash away his fatigue and dust, then devour five large bowls of Ichiraku Ramen before collapsing into bed.

Because he knew that when the sun rose tomorrow, he would inevitably face another round of merciless beatings.

But at this moment, he felt no fear, only a stronger determination and a sliver of... expectation.

On the other side, the Hokage's office.

The bright lights illuminated the office as if it were daytime, but could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere brought about by the mountains of documents.

Tsunade, somewhat annoyed, threw a lengthy document about the border patrol's supply request onto the table.

He rubbed his throbbing temples and took a sip of the tea that had long since gone cold.

Just then, the office door was pushed open, and Jiraiya strode in with his usual slightly frivolous smile.

"Jiraiya, what brings you here?"

Tsunade raised her eyelids slightly, her tone not particularly enthusiastic, but not much of a surprise either.

This guy rarely comes to the Hokage's office in such a formal manner unless there's a specific reason.

Jiraiya walked to the desk.

His smile faded slightly, and he became a little more serious: "Well, there is something I'd like to ask you for a mission."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "What kind of mission requires one of the 'Legendary Sannin' to personally come and apply to me?"

"Let me make this clear first, S-level classified mission scrolls are not under my direct jurisdiction. You'll have to go to the old man about that."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin, his expression becoming more serious: "Do you still remember Amegakure?"

"Ame Hidden Village?"

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the table: "It's that village where it rains all year round and is ruled by the 'demigod' Hanzo of the Salamander, isn't it?"

"What, do you have any relevant information?"

As the Hokage, she naturally had a thorough understanding of the basic situation of the surrounding major ninja villages.

Jiraiya nodded and said in a deep voice, "That's right."

"However, I recently received some unverified information from underground sources, suggesting that the actual leader of Amegakure may no longer be Hanzo."

"Oh?" Tsunade's interest was slightly piqued. "Although Hanzo is stubborn, his strength and methods are extraordinary. Who can replace him?"

Jiraiya's next words caused Tsunade to abruptly stop in her tracks.

"Information indicates that... Hanzo the Salamander may have died several years ago."

"Pfft—cough! Cough!"

Tsunade almost spat out the mouthful of herbal tea she had just drunk, and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

He coughed violently a few times, his face filled with disbelief: "Dead?! How could this be? Absolutely impossible!"

Once she caught her breath, her tone became resolute: "Although Amegakure has kept a low profile in recent years, it has always sent representatives to participate in the Chunin Exams."

"All foreign documents and intelligence indicate that their leader has always been Hanzo the Salamander!"

"If he had been dead for several years, how could Amegakure have kept quiet for so long? It would have been in internal strife or been annexed by the neighboring, covetous nations long ago!"

Jiraiya's expression remained serious: "I don't know the specifics either. My informants can't penetrate deep into the core of Amegakure to conduct investigations."

"The security level there is frighteningly high, and it seems to be shrouded in some strange barrier."

"However, the only intelligence point that has been cross-verified from multiple sources and is considered highly probable is—"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "The mysterious leader who is currently in control of Amegakure is very likely... to be the leader of the Akatsuki organization!"

"The Akatsuki?!"

Tsunade abruptly stood up, slamming her hands on the table, her face instantly turning incredibly grim: "Wait! You said you were applying for a mission, does that mean you want to..."

A terrifying thought formed in her mind.

She almost immediately and sternly refused, her tone filled with unwavering resolve: "Absolutely not! Infiltrate Amegakure to investigate the Akatsuki leader? Jiraiya, are you insane?!"

"You know better than I how dangerous those Akatsuki guys are! Every single one of them has Kage-level or even higher strength! Their leader is even more unfathomable! Going there would be suicide!"

Jiraiya seemed to have anticipated Tsunade's reaction. He looked at her calmly, but his eyes were unusually firm: "I know the danger, Tsunade."

"However, we currently know almost nothing about the Akatsuki organization or their leader."

"If they really take control of Amegakure, it means they will have the resources and manpower of a huge ninja village."

He emphasized, "We lack crucial intelligence, which could lead to us having to confront them head-on in the future."

"Konoha will be in a very passive and disadvantageous position, and the number of ninjas who will be sacrificed will be far more than just one or two."

"We must figure out their objectives, their strengths, and their weaknesses!"

Tsunade interrupted him impatiently: "But I can send someone else! There are experts in the Anbu who are good at infiltration and reconnaissance! You don't necessarily have to go yourself!"

"other people?"

Jiraiya shook his head, a bitter yet resolute smile on his face: "Who should we send? Those young people?"

"Naruto? Sasuke? They are indeed geniuses, the future of Konoha, but they are still too young, like tender new shoots in the process of growing."

"Are we really going to send them on a mission with such a high chance of survival?"

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls, seeing the future of Konoha: "It is precisely because of the danger that we old bones need to stand up even more."

"With our bodies, which may no longer be as agile, we will clear the thorns from their path and test the venomous snakes lurking in the shadows."

"Tsunade, have you forgotten that during the Third Shinobi World War, wasn't it the old man who protected us like this, taking on the most dangerous missions himself?"

Looking at Tsunade's still furrowed brows and the undisguised worry in her eyes.

Jiraiya suddenly put on his usual nonchalant smile again, trying to ease the tension in his usual way:

"Haha, don't make that face!"

"If you're really too worried, why don't we take another gamble?"

"I'm betting that after I go to Amegakure this time... I won't come back alive! How about it?"

He winked and said in a relaxed tone, as if he were talking about going somewhere to do research: "Anyway, your luck with gambling has always been ridiculously bad; you always lose!"

"You bet I won't come back, then I'm sure I'll escape unscathed and return safely! Haha!"

"You...you guy..."

Tsunade was both angry and anxious at his appearance, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

I really wanted to punch him and all those unlucky words and send him flying.

But seeing the unwavering determination deep in his eyes, she knew she couldn't stop him.

Jiraiya laughed heartily a few times, as if he had already won this absurd bet.

He said no more, waved his hand casually, and turned to walk out of the office.

"I'll find a way to send the intelligence back! I'm off!"

The door closed gently, leaving Tsunade alone in the office.

Staring blankly at the closed door, Jiraiya's seemingly lighthearted yet actually heavy joke still seemed to echo in my ears.

Outside the window, the lights of the trees in the woods lit up one by one, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the distant Land of Rain seemed to be shrouded in an even deeper and colder mist.

Tsunade slowly sat back down in her chair, and after a long while, let out a barely audible sigh.

"This... idiot..."

Chapter 350 New Members of the Akatsuki Organization

Rain, endless rain.

Cold raindrops pounded against the rusty metal pipes and the gray buildings, making a monotonous and oppressive pattering sound.

The entire Amegakure village was shrouded in a hazy gray veil.

There were quite a few pedestrians on the street, creating an atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the oppressive mood.

A figure wearing a dark travel cloak and with meticulously combed white hair was walking slowly down the muddy street.

He walked steadily, seemingly unaffected by the bad weather.

His sharp gaze, hidden beneath the hood, swept over the village, which was rumored to have changed hands.

His eyes held a mixture of assessment, curiosity, and a hint of barely perceptible ambition.

He was none other than Shennong, a wandering doctor and researcher of esoteric arts.

They hadn't gone far when a ninja, also dressed in the distinctive raincoat of Amegakure and wearing a headband, blocked their path.

The ninja's eyes were cold, carrying a scrutinizing quality.

"The messenger of the gods wants to see you."

The ninja's voice was somewhat muffled, yet carried an unquestionable tone of command: "Follow me to the central tower."

Shennong seemed unsurprised by this, and he bowed slightly.

He performed a simple bow, a kind and even somewhat humble smile spreading across his face: "Thank you for showing me the way."

He didn't ask any more questions and quietly followed behind the ninja.

The two walked silently through the complex and oppressive streets and pipes of Amegakure, one after the other.

The closer one gets to the center of the village, the more heavily guarded the area becomes, and the more intense and tense the atmosphere becomes.