XX-level Hokage

Some viewed everything with indifference, while others were quite interested.

"Santai, Yu Nu, what are you doing!" Konan, the angel of Amegakure, Akatsuki no Byakko, appeared and reprimanded them.

"The angel has arrived. Hokuto and Tama recently captured the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, but instead of bringing him back to the organization, they released him directly. You should know that the second phase of our organization is to capture Jinchuriki. With teammates like this, the plan will be very difficult to succeed," Hidan said with a laugh.

"Is this true? Big Dipper, Jade Maiden?" Xiao Nan asked the two of them.

"I have no obligation to answer," Sasori replied. Kakuzu remained silent.

At this moment, Pain appeared, his Rinnegan displaying immense pressure. Then, Pain's voice rang out: "Hokuto, Tathagata, what's going on?" With Pain's appearance, Kakuzu and Sasori finally became more serious.

"Cats have nine lives. We did capture Matatabi, but after we caught her, she bit off her tongue and committed suicide. Then, her body unleashed an extremely powerful force that neither of us could withstand, allowing her to escape quickly." Kakuzu said, presenting the reason that Mashiro had prepared beforehand.

The specific abilities of the tailed beasts are unknown to anyone except in actual battles, so they can be made up however they want.

Pain readily believed Kakuzu's words and coldly said, "Since it escaped from the hands of the two of you, then you shall capture the Two-Tails and bring it back."

"I have no objection," Kakuzu said. Sasori nodded in agreement.

Then Konan said, "The Akatsuki meeting begins."

Then Payne said, "Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, Akatsuki has raised enough funds. The first phase of the plan has been successfully completed, and the second phase has officially begun."

As you all already know, the second phase involves capturing the Tailed Beasts and using the combined power of the nine Tailed Beasts to awaken the Ten-Tails.

Pain was speaking at length, but no one was listening except for Konan. Itachi, a spy for Konoha, was currently pondering Sasuke's situation.

Zetsu was the architect of ninja history; Nagato's plans were like children playing house to him.

Deidara was preoccupied with how to defeat Itachi Uchiha through explosions; he cared nothing for Pain's plans. Hidan was a lunatic; he joined Akatsuki not for peace in the ninja world, but simply to find a better place to kill.

Sasori joined Akatsuki simply to more conveniently pursue the meaning of eternity and incidentally study Konan, a member of the Akatsuki organization. Now he knows that the meaning of eternity he seeks has been achieved in another world with the help of Uchiha Zero. As for the research, Uchiha Zero can provide him with more research samples.

Therefore, the reason he is still in the Akatsuki is because of the needs of the Uchiha Zero Plan, so he doesn't care about Pain's words at all.

Kakuzu joined Akatsuki for money and a place to stay, but in Akatsuki, money had to be obtained by hunting down rogue ninja. However, Mashiro could directly teach him how to invest, and the interest on money could be much greater than what could be gained by hunting down rogue ninja.

As for a place to stay, Uchiha Zero promised to clear his name and let him live in Konoha. In that dream, Uchiha Zero did indeed do so, and his life was very comfortable. Seeing is always better than receiving a check out of thin air. All the katana betrayed Akatsuki very decisively.

Kisame joined Akatsuki because of the pursuit by the Land of Water and his inability to find meaning in his existence. Pain and Madara's descriptions are very appealing, but not as appealing as what Zero Uchiha did. In that dream, with Zero Uchiha's help, Kisame successfully found meaning in his existence. Zero Uchiha even found him a job as a teacher in Konoha.

All of this filled Kisame with longing. He originally thought it was just a dream, but after receiving news from Sasori and Kakuzu that Uchiha Zero truly existed, Kisame realized that some things might not be a dream. That's why he was so excited when he accompanied Itachi to Konoha, the place where he would live in the future.

Amidst this superficial harmony and lack of genuine engagement, Pain finished his speech. "Then, starting with the One-Tailed Beast, the Azure Dragon and the Three Stars are yours to handle." The meeting then ended, and all members left one after another.

Kisame caught up with Sasori and Kakuzu and asked, "Is there anything I need to do for the plan?" "Just wait for his instructions," Kakuzu replied.

"Will the two of you stay in Konoha from now on?" Kisame continued to ask.

"I don't know, but that guy did promise me the position of director of the research institute," Scorpion said.

"I will stay in Konoha. My investments have flourished throughout the village, and I will enjoy my retirement there," Kakuzu said, a strange excitement creeping into his words as he spoke of his businesses.

"I'll be staying in Konoha as a teacher then, but I don't know anyone there. We can get together often then." Kisame smiled憨厚ly and extended his hand to the two of them.

Kakuzu left without saying a word.

"Boring." Sasori finished speaking and turned to leave, leaving Kisame bewildered in the wind.

Soon after, Mashiro in Konoha received news that Akatsuki's second phase had begun.

"They've started collecting the Tailed Beasts? Looks like I'll have to make a trip to the Land of Rain when I have some free time, because the eyes of Shisui I got from Danzo... can Kotoamatsukami be used again?"

"I'll have to make good use of this since I only got to use it once," Mashiro muttered to himself.

"What are you talking about?" asked Handhan, who was tidying up the table.

"It's nothing, just a small matter." Mashiro shifted her position and continued watching TV.

"Are you having some strange thoughts?" Tehan clutched his chest, blushing as he looked at Mashiro, seemingly remembering something. "Don't worry, I'll make you beg me to do things for you," Mashiro said with a smile, recalling the plan to capture the One-Tailed Beast.

"Only a fool would beg you." Shouhan ignored him and continued wiping the table. "Let's just wait and see." Zhenbai picked up the remote and changed the channel. A movie starring Feng Hua Xiaoxue was playing on TV.

"Wind, flowers, and light snow? Let's find some time to visit the Land of Snow." Mamoru recalled the night after he reclaimed the Land of Snow in his previous life.

Gin: Come here and give me a hug, bro!

Chapter 56: The Cat-Eared Maid's Hand

News of the attack on Sunagakure and the abduction of the Fifth Kazekage quickly reached Konoha. Upon hearing this news, Tehan had been kneeling on the ground for a long time.

Mashiro quietly ate her meal, glanced at Shouhan kneeling on the ground, and said, "I told you, you would come begging to me yourself." "You knew all along?" Shouhan said in a low voice.

She sacrificed herself to allow Gaara and Kankuro to leave Konoha. It can be said that she placed all her hopes on her two younger brothers. Now that Gaara has been captured and his fate is uncertain, her heart feels as cold and desperate as if she were drowning.

"Perhaps," Mashiro said, sipping her milk.

"Then why didn't you stop it beforehand? You could have done it." Shouhan grabbed Zhenbai's collar and said excitedly.

"Shouhan, you seem to remember how a maid should speak to her master." As Shouhan grabbed her collar, Zhenbai's eyes gradually darkened.

The servility she had developed over three years made her immediately fearful when faced with the oppressive presence of Mashiro. She released her grip on Mashiro's collar and knelt humbly on the ground in a dogeza (a traditional Japanese swearing posture).

"Master, please save Gaara."

Mashiro continued eating slowly and methodically, while Temari knelt silently beside him. After finishing her meal, Mashiro gently wiped her mouth and said, "Temari should know what to offer when making a request, right? I told you, you would ask me to do something excessive to you on your own initiative."

With a pale face, Shouhan got up and began to take off his clothes.

"Don't force me like I am, although I quite like to force people. Someone will send over some clothes later. You have this morning to think about what you should wear when I come back this afternoon." After saying that, Mashiro got up and left.

"Yes, Master." He knelt on the ground again, his voice hollow and respectful. Leaving the Hyuga residence, Mashiro vanished into the shadows and instantly arrived at the Hokage's office.

"Mashiro, you've come at the right time. You must have heard about the Fifth Kazekage being captured, right? The Sand Village has already sent a letter to Konoha requesting reinforcements," Tsunade said upon seeing Mashiro.

"Are you asking if I should send reinforcements to help the Sand Ninja rescue the Fifth Kazekage?" Mashiro asked, sitting down on the sofa.

“Yes, there is a great deal of disagreement among the higher-ups on this matter. Because of the increasingly close cooperation between Konoha and Sand Village in recent years, some higher-ups are willing to send reinforcements to help, while others are still resentful about the Sand Village’s attack on Konoha three years ago when it joined forces with the Sound Village,” Tsunade said with a sigh.

When the letter requesting help arrived, she sent people to inquire with all the senior officials. The results were completely polarized, and some people were ambiguous and didn't know what they were talking about.

"So, Tsunade, what are your plans?" Mashiro stood up, went behind the Hokage's desk, sat on Tsunade's lap, and asked.

"In my opinion, the relationship between the Sand Village and Konoha only gradually improved after the First Kazekage took office. In my opinion, we must provide assistance, but it's still difficult to decide on the personnel at the moment," Tsunade said, reaching out to hug Mashiro.

“I agree with you. We definitely need to send aid. As for the personnel, don’t worry too much. Someone will come looking for us.” Mashiro lowered her head slightly and rested it against Tsunade’s chest, speaking lazily.

"Tch, I thought you were going to go there yourself," Tsunade said, flicking Mashiro's head. "I'll go if there are a few more people, maybe I'll go myself," Mashiro said nonchalantly.

Just then, Shizune walked in. Seeing the two of them pressed together, she sighed helplessly and said, "Lady Tsunade, Mashiro, Naruto is here."

Mashiro got up from Tsunade and said, "I told you, someone would come looking for us." A moment later, Naruto pushed open the door and walked in, followed by a very helpless Kakashi.

"Grandma Tsunade, Mashiro is here too." Naruto waved to Mashiro. Mashiro smiled and responded.

Just like in Mashiro's previous life, Tsunade really likes Naruto, whose personality is similar to her younger brother.

“Grandma Tsunade, I want to go save Gaara,” Naruto said earnestly. “No,” Tsunade refused.

"Why?" Naruto immediately collapsed.

"If this organization is truly targeting Jinchūriki as the information suggests, then your going there would be tantamount to walking into a trap," Tsunade said seriously. "It's precisely because we are both Jinchūriki that I understand Gaara's feelings. Just as he once said, we are the same kind. I promised him I would succeed..."

"As his friend, if I don't rescue him now, I think he'll be very sad." Naruto clenched his fist and said seriously.

Looking at the hot-blooded idiot in front of her, Tsunade couldn't bring herself to refuse, so she changed the subject, saying, "No matter what, you'll definitely have to go alone."

"That won't work, even with Kakashi."

“I’m not the only one,” Naruto said.

Immediately afterwards, Shikamaru, Kiba, Neji, Lee, Tenten, Shino, Ino, Choji, and others also walked in from outside, and together they asked to join Naruto in rescuing Gaara.

This made Mashiro marvel once again at Naruto's powerful personal charisma, which was able to persuade Rock Lee, who was almost killed by Gaara, to join in rescuing Gaara.

Seeing the scene before her, even Tsunade couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"Lady Tsunade, please grant their request," Mashiro said with a smile.

After glancing at Mashiro, Tsunade finally said, "Alright, you guys go ahead. I'll send Guy over with Kakashi. Their safety is in your and Guy's hands." Kakashi sighed and reluctantly agreed.

After everyone left, Tsunade said, "You were so comfortable letting Ida go with you. What backup plan did you have?"

“I’ll have Sasuke take some Roots with him. You should also have Sakura and Karin go with them. It would be best if Shizune went too, to broaden her horizons and expand her experience,” Mashiro said with a smile.

"Hmm? Looking for someone?" Shizune, who had been idly standing to the side, suddenly heard her own name mentioned.

"Shizune, you should come along. Since someone is willing to let their cute little sister risk her life, it probably won't be too dangerous," Tsunade said. "Alright then," Shizune could only reluctantly agree.

In the afternoon, Mashiro returned to the Hyuga residence and went to her courtyard. Pushing open the door, she found Tehan already waiting for her.

"Welcome back, Master," Shouhan said obediently and respectfully.

Mashiro looked at Temari, who was currently wearing an extremely revealing maid outfit and cat ears.

Of all the sexy outfits that Mashiro sent over, this post-war maid outfit was the sexiest. To her surprise, Shouhan not only chose this outfit but also added cat ears from other sets. Combined with Shouhan's fluffy hair, the effect was doubled.

At this moment, Shouhan's hair was partially exposed, revealing almost everything, and the cat ears on her head added to her playfulness and allure.

Mashiro reached out her hand to Temari, and although she was smiling, Temari's body trembled slightly. The expected touch did not come; Mashiro's hand gently stroked Temari's hair.

"Don't be so scared. I originally wanted you to follow the rules, but now it seems that following the rules too much has made it less fun." Mashiro said, pulling Han up to the sofa. Mashiro said softly, "I've already discussed the matter of rescuing Gaara with the Hokage. The rescue team should set off tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this news, Shouhan's face showed disbelief.

Mashiro smiled and pulled Han into her arms, saying softly, "Do you think I only came back in the afternoon? Some people in the higher-ups disagreed with sending someone to rescue him."

It took me a long time to convince them.

Shouhan naturally knew that because of what had happened before, many people in Konoha would be unwilling to help the Sand Village, but she didn't expect that Mashiro would go to persuade them this morning.

"Then why did you say those things this morning?" Shouhan asked, puzzled.

"Because you've been a bit arrogant lately, I originally wanted to scare you a little, but I didn't expect even a little wildcat like you to be so easily frightened, ending up in this miserable state," Masashi said with a smile.

"You, you..." Shouhan's face turned a little red.

"As soon as the news of your brother's abduction reached us, I dispatched Root to rescue him. I also discussed the specifics of the rescue with the Hokage this morning. After three years together, don't you know me well?" Mashiro pinched Han's cheek and said with a smile.

You scoundrel, pervert, lecher. "Having freed herself from despair, Temari began her counterattack against Mashiro. In the three years they spent together, although Mashiro sometimes frightened him, he mostly indulged her."

Blocking the menacing hand, Mashiro pulled a bracelet from her pocket, the most eye-catching feature of which was a large cat's-eye stone.

"Because of Gaara's matter, you seem to have forgotten that today is your birthday. This cat's eye stone should be the largest in the entire Land of Fire. It matches your hair color and hand perfectly. Happy birthday." In the dazed light of Shouhan, Mashiro put the bracelet on Shouhan's hand.

“No one has ever celebrated my birthday,” Shouhan said hoarsely.

All the emotions from the past two days piled up, and with tears streaming down his face, Shouhan kissed Zhenbai's lips.