Chapter 112: Old Friends Arriving in Konoha
Hattori Hirakawa.
A diligent and conscientious tool person.
Ever since Hanzō of the Salamander was killed, Hattori Hirakawa, due to being the earliest to surrender, gradually began to be entrusted with important tasks by Konan and Uehara Naraka.
Today, he received another special mission: to act as a team-leading Jonin, leading Uehara Naraka, Kaguya Kimimaro, and Haku to participate in the Chunin Exams.
This mission almost made Hattori Hirakawa unable to figure it out.
Amegakure's (Village Hidden in the Rain) future leader still needed to participate in the Chunin Exams?
However, Hattori Hirakawa was just a tool person; he could only be responsible for executing missions.
Apart from Uehara Naraka's team, Amegakure had no other ninjas participating in the Chunin Exams, because Uehara Naraka knew these Chunin Exams wouldn't be peaceful.
Even though the Fourth Kazekage was killed by him, the Konoha Crush Plan was very likely to proceed as scheduled. After all, Uehara himself was also a mastermind pushing the Konoha Crush Plan!
Back then, when Uehara Naraka used Shimura Danzō's name to trade with Ebizō, he specifically reminded Ebizō that the Konoha Crush Plan was an operation to push Danzō into becoming Hokage.
Adding Elder Chiyo's hatred for Konoha (Village Hidden in the Leaves)...
No matter who wanted to make Konoha collapse, the current Elder Chiyo would definitely lead Suna ninjas to lend a hand; this was a debt left by Kakashi's father.
"This is your Genin registration certificate."
Konan handed Uehara Naraka a registration certificate and helped him adjust his Ame headband, "How did you convince Nagato to agree to you participating in the Chunin Exams?"
"Uh."
Uehara Naraka patted his forehead and explained softly, "Lord Nagato told me he would have the Six Paths of Pain on standby at all times. If I encounter any danger that cannot be resolved, I can directly summon the Six Paths of Pain."
This was also related to Nagato's body gradually recovering.
The Six Paths of Pain required Nagato to provide chakra. However, the current Nagato, under Uehara Naraka's treatment, could already fully support the Six Paths of Pain's prolonged actions, no longer needing to place the Six Paths of Pain in a secret room to reduce chakra consumption.
Hearing Uehara's words, Konan nodded, feeling slightly more at ease.
However, she still said somewhat discontentedly, "Recently, Nagato has become increasingly indulgent with you. If this continues, it will spoil you. Tsunade, one of Konoha's Sannin, only developed bad habits because she was doted on by elders as a child..."
"Teacher, I've grown up."
Uehara Naraka looked somewhat speechlessly at Konan.
Because during these four years, as Uehara Naraka gradually grew up, his relationship with Nagato became better and better. Generally, if anything came up, he would go directly to Nagato. If he wanted to sneak out to play for a while, he also needed Nagato to provide cover.
This matter, how should Uehara explain it to Konan?
Generally, younger boys are curious about females and prefer to play with girls; as boys get older, they realize they prefer to play with other boys.
Nagato rarely disturbed Uehara Naraka. Only when encountering happy things worth sharing would he call Uehara Naraka to find him.
For example, modifying the Asura Path's weapons. Every time Nagato succeeded in a modification, he liked to pull Uehara along to test its combat effectiveness. Guns and cannons were, after all, a man's romance.
So every time Uehara saw Nagato, he was quite happy.
Unfortunately, these couldn't be shared with Konan.
Konan was a woman; she liked to fold different paper flowers and place them in Uehara Naraka's room as decorations. But Uehara Naraka couldn't even understand the flower language of each bouquet.
Compared to those beautiful paper flowers, Uehara actually preferred Konan using exploding tags to make him a simple hand grenade to play with.
If that didn't work, an explosive pack would also be fine.
This kind of wish, of course, couldn't be realized.
Uehara Naraka sighed, glanced at his ninja registration certificate. The photo inside was of him smiling with narrowed eyes, looking extremely affable, truly a good person.
Career Advancement Quest: Become an official Genin (1/1). Mission Complete. Reward: 100 Life Energy, 100 Chakra.
"..."
Uehara Naraka felt entirely unwell. He was already sixteen this year; how could there still be an advancement quest? Hadn't he lost out badly these past few years?
"Alright, the weather is turning cooler soon. Be careful at night..."
Konan fussed over Uehara Naraka with reminders. After walking with him to the assembly point, the gentle look on the woman's face instantly vanished.
Konan scanned Kaguya Kimimaro, Haku, and team leader Jonin Hattori Hirakawa at the assembly point, and said coldly, "In these Chunin Exams, protect Naraka well, understand?"
"Yes, Lady Angel!"
"..."
Uehara Naraka couldn't help patting his forehead. If something really happened during the Chunin Exams, he'd be the one protecting these guys!
The high tower in Amegakure.
Deva Path Pain pushed Nagato's wheelchair to appear by the window, looking down at the departing figures of Uehara Naraka's group leaving Amegakure, his gaze holding some heavy expectation, "Little fellow, shouldering the future of Amegakure and Akatsuki, go fly!"
Deva Path Pain stood behind Nagato, calmly began forming hand seals, and released the Magic Lantern Body Technique, summoning two Akatsuki members active near the Land of Fire.
Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi.
When these two received Pain's summons, they were still somewhat puzzled. Deva Path Pain directly and clearly explained their next mission.
"Uehara has gone to the Chunin Exams to gather intelligence."
The Deva Path Pain's gaze slowly rested on Uchiha Itachi, saying softly, "Your mission is to lie low in the Land of Fire. If any unforeseen event occurs during the Chunin Exams, immediately assist Uehara in escaping the dangerous situation."
If Uehara encountered danger, Pain couldn't very well expose himself before Konoha right now.
Then he could only dispatch one team of members.
Kisame Hoshigaki was somewhat speechless.
If Uehara Naraka encountered danger, what use would he and Uchiha Itachi be going over?
Were they going to feed kills!
Kisame's teeth felt a bit sour. His boss was too good at lying low, wasn't he? Four years had passed, how could Pain still think that intern in the organization was so frail?
"Understood."
Uchiha Itachi nodded indifferently. Anyway, he also wanted to use the opportunity to return to Konoha and secretly see Sasuke, who had already become a ninja.
Some time ago, Zabuza Momochi was injured by Kakashi Hatake. That guy claimed that the next time he encountered Kakashi Hatake and Team 7, he would kill them all.
Uchiha Itachi was somewhat worried about his younger brother.
Kisame Hoshigaki nodded, his gaze shifted slightly, resting on Uchiha Itachi. Clearly, he knew Uchiha Itachi's thoughts in his heart.
Kisame Hoshigaki wouldn't expose Uchiha Itachi either.
Amegakure was in the light, the Akatsuki organization in the dark.
Uehara Naraka, under both overt and covert protection, crossed the border of the Land of Fire and arrived at Konoha Village, where the Chunin Exams were being held.
This was also his first time coming to Konoha Village.
Whether environment or scenery, Konohagakure, located in the most prosperous region of the ninja world, was clearly much better than Sunagakure, Amegakure, and Kirigakure.
"The air isn't bad."
Uehara Naraka flew and landed on a tall building's boiler. The entire scenery of Konoha was unobstructed before him. Beneath the Hokage Monument was a red Hokage Building.
Side Quest: Arrive in Konoha (1/1). Mission Complete. Reward: 100 Gold Coins.
Side Quest: Find Konoha's Best Viewing Spot from Shippuden (1/1). Mission Complete. Reward: 500 Gold Coins.
"This kind of quest is too lovable!"
Uehara Naraka couldn't help clenching his fingers. Worthy of being the most popular place in Naruto! Just how many more treasures were waiting here for him to excavate!
Just as Uehara was in a pleasant mood, Haku suddenly followed Uehara's tracks and jumped up, saying in a low voice, "Uehara, the Sunagakure ninjas have also arrived!"
"I know."
Uehara Naraka looked down at the numerous Sunagakure ninjas.
The leading Jonin was still Baki. It seemed after Elder Chiyo took over governance, Baki's status hadn't declined too much.
Following behind Baki were still the three little ones: Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō. The rest were some insignificant people.
Uehara Naraka rubbed his chin, a light smile on his lips, "Tsk, looks like I need to greet my old friends, lest he says the wrong thing here and spoils my enjoyment of this tranquil trip!"
(End of Chapter)
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