XX-level Hokage

“I can give you the power of the Uchiha clan, whether it’s the Sharingan or Sasuke Uchiha’s body. I can give it to you once the plan succeeds,” Obito said.

“Then perhaps I really can be of help,” Orochimaru said with a sinister smile.

The two then discussed the specific details, and then Obito disappeared from the spot, as he had to hurry back to see Sasuke.

"How interesting. The Ninja World War... we'll see each other soon, Hyuga Mashiro." Orochimaru muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with fervor. Back to the present.

"With Zetsu's help, I've almost finished preparing everything needed for the Reincarnation. As for the White Zetsu army, we still need a crucial host," Orochimaru said.

"The mother body?" Obito didn't understand what Orochimaru meant.

"There's someone in Konoha who can use Wood Release. He's currently in Kumogakure, and we need him to serve as raw material for the White Zetsu army," Orochimaru continued. "I understand." Obito nodded slightly and disappeared from the spot.

Orochimaru stared blankly in the direction Obito had left. Meanwhile, in the Anbu dungeon of Konoha...

Mashiro enters a special cell.

The prison cell was currently occupied by an unconscious "prisoner," who had become somewhat emaciated due to the prolonged coma.

A hand was placed on the "prisoner's" forehead, and a green light flashed. After a moment, the prisoner slowly opened his eyes.

"Are you alright, Killer Bee?" Mashiro withdrew her hand and asked softly.

What's wrong with me?! My body feels so strange. Killer Bee stared at the dimly lit ceiling, feeling a foggy, hazy feeling in his head.

Hearing a familiar yet unfamiliar voice, Killer Bee turned his head. "Who are you? The one from Konoha?" Killer Bee said weakly.

"By the way, how is the Hidden Cloud Village?! How is my older brother?!" Recalling the memories before and after the Akatsuki attack, Killer Bee instantly jumped out of bed.

He opened his mouth and asked.

The leader of Akatsuki destroyed the Hidden Cloud Village and captured you after your battle with the Raikage. Fortunately, because I used a forbidden technique, there were not many casualties among the villagers and ninjas of the Hidden Cloud Village.

Because of this incident, the Raikage convened a meeting of the Five Kage, and I, as the newly appointed Hokage, also went to participate. Together, we discussed how to deal with the Akatsuki organization.

However, during the meeting, a member of the Akatsuki organization attacked.

Yesterday, I worked with the member who was sent to infiltrate the Akatsuki organization and managed to rescue you without any major incidents. You should have sensed it too, right? The Eight-Tails is no longer inside you. Mashiro briefly recounted the recent events to Killer Bee.

Of course, some "minor" modifications were made to the content.

Chapter 168: Cultivation

After a long silence, Killer Bee said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Thank you."

He could clearly feel that the Eight-Tails had disappeared from his body.

Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails have been together for decades. In a way, the Eight-Tails is like another family member to Killer Bee. It understands Killer Bee's heart, tolerates Killer Bee's willfulness, and is Killer Bee's last trump card.

Now, due to his own actions, the Hidden Cloud Village has been destroyed, and the Eight-Tails has been captured by the Akatsuki.

A wave of intense self-reproach washed over him, a feeling he had never experienced before. "There's something I want to ask you," Mashiro said softly.

“I have lost the Eight-Tails now, and my strength has decreased significantly. If there is anything I can do to help you, I will do my best,” Killer Bee said earnestly.

In this situation, even if he were to break free from his inhibitions, he could no longer act as freely as before.

"I want you to train the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and help him control the Nine-Tails. The Fourth Shinobi World War is about to break out. The enemy not only has the powerful Akatsuki organization led by Madara Uchiha, but also possesses eight tailed beasts. If the Allied Forces can obtain a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, their chances of victory will greatly increase." Mashiro said softly.

“Okay, I understand. I can prepare once I recover. I will take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki with me for training.” Killer Bee hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

He shouldn't have accepted the task of teaching other Jinchuriki how to control Tailed Beasts, but circumstances forced him to agree, and he had to succeed.

"Thank you very much. I'll go inform the Raikage first, and someone will bring you food in a little while." After saying that, Mashiro pushed open the door and left.

The villa, Kushina's room. Mashiro gently pushed open the door and went inside. Kushina was folding clothes.

Seeing Mashiro walk in, she hurriedly put her clothes away in a fluster.

"I made these clothes for Naruto myself, and they're not very well made," Kushina said with a smile, stroking her hair.

"Everyone's like this when they first start learning. Once you get more skilled, you'll be able to make them look better," Mashiro said softly, sitting on the bed.

“I made you a scarf. Although winter is over, you should still be able to use it.” Kushina hesitated for a moment, then took out a white scarf from behind her back and said with her head down.

Upon hearing this, Mashiro took the scarf, unfolded it, and gently stroked it, saying softly, "It's very well made, very soft. Ma, what's this blue flower?"

“It’s a fountain, though my embroidery doesn’t quite look like one,” Kushina said, her face slightly flushed. “A fountain?” Mashiro asked, stroking the embroidered pattern with some confusion.

"Have you forgotten? The name you told me before, Hyuga Izumi," Kushina said in a very soft voice.

Hearing Kushina's explanation, Mashiro's eyes softened even more. She put the scarf around her neck, wrapped it securely, and asked softly, "How is it? Does it look good?"

Kushina looked at Mashiro, especially at her gentle eyes and soft smile, and her cheeks inexplicably flushed. She whispered, "She looks beautiful."

"Have you heard about the impending Fourth Shinobi World War?" Mashiro asked softly, stroking her scarf. "Konan told me about it not long ago," Kushina replied, a hint of worry in her eyes.

“Tomorrow I will have Naruto go with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki to learn how to control the Nine-Tails. You will go with him too. If nothing unexpected happens, when Naruto controls the Nine-Tails, a part of your soul hidden in Naruto’s body will appear, and Naruto will then discover that you are his mother,” Mashiro said softly.

Upon hearing this, Kushina felt inexplicably nervous. She was terrified and unsure how to face Naruto after he learned about their relationship. She was also worried because Naruto wanted to control the Nine-Tails, and as a former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, she knew how terrifying the Nine-Tails was.

"Don't worry, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is a perfect Jinchuriki. He has a very complete method for controlling the Tailed Beast's chakra. Naruto is also a very hardworking kid. He never gives up easily. With the help of your blood in her body, she will not fail."

"And, Kushina, don't think too much. You are first and foremost Uzumaki Kushina, and only then Naruto's mother. Your life trajectory has already been changed because of me. You didn't marry Minato, nor did you die because of the Nine-Tails. You are you. Just live according to your own wishes." Mashiro hugged Kushina's body and said softly.

As Mashiro spoke gently, Kushina's body began to shrink, and her love for Minato began to fade, transforming into another figure.

"Mashiro, why are you so good to me?" Kushina couldn't help but ask this question.

"Maybe it's because you're beautiful and smart, or because of how we've spent time together, or maybe because I have a little bit of love for you in my heart, who knows?" Mashiro said with a light laugh.

As Mashiro pulled closer, Kushina realized something was wrong and tried to struggle, but found her body seemed to be beyond her control. In the end, Kushina softened in Mashiro's embrace.

Mashiro's hand began to move over Kushina's... their lips touched.

Kushina's defenses were completely broken down. The next day, in the Hokage's office.

"Are we almost there? The training ground?" Mashiro asked softly. "Naruto and the others?" Samui said.

Mashiro nodded slightly and said, "After talking with the Raikage, he and Killer Bee both said it was a very secluded place, but I don't know exactly where it is."

"They should be here by now. Now it depends on whether Naruto will stay put and learn from Killer Bee. If he finds out about the war, knowing his personality, he'll immediately rush to the battlefield," Konan said with a hint of helplessness.

Because of Jiraiya, she gradually became acquainted with Nagato and Naruto. Naruto's personality was almost exactly the same as Yahiko's, so Konan took good care of Naruto.

“I told Naruto that I was going to attend the Jinchuriki Exchange Conference, and I gave him an S-rank mission. He can only come back when he has control of the Nine-Tails’ chakra,” Mashiro said softly.

“Naruto probably won’t be able to come back before the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Tailed beasts are not so easy to control, especially the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of the nine tailed beasts,” Samui said softly.

As a ninja from Kumogakure (the Hidden Cloud Village), Samui was close friends with Yugito Nii, the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, and Killer Bee, the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. Therefore, Samui was well aware of the difficulty of controlling tailed beasts.

On another note, after Samui learned that Mashiro had rescued Killer Bee, he specially rewarded Mashiro, showing her what it meant to be cold as ice yet passionate as fire.

On the other side, on a specially designed cruise ship.

Naruto, looking excitedly ahead, said, "I heard we're going to a paradise for animals and plants. It's going to be really fun, don't you think? Like the Octopus Uncle?" "A paradise, hmm...maybe," Killer Bee replied.

"Naruto, don't get too cocky. Don't forget, you're here to train," Kushina said with a smile. "I know, Izumi-nee, I'll definitely train hard," Naruto replied with a smile.

After spending these days together, Naruto had completely come to regard Kushina as family. Soon, the cruise ship arrived in front of an island.

The island was littered with the corpses of birds and beasts, as well as reptiles.

Naruto was instantly shocked and exclaimed in disbelief, "Rakuten?! Paradise?!"

At that moment, the cruise ship's captain walked over and said with a smile, "This place is a bit like Konoha's Forest of Death, but it's more exciting." "A resort, a paradise for flora and fauna," Naruto muttered to himself, still reading what Mashiro had told him.

"It's alright, it's very safe. As long as we don't do anything reckless, those strange creatures on the island are quite well-behaved, except for one thing, though?" The captain kept everyone in suspense.

"Is there something wrong?" Kushina asked hurriedly.

She was terrified of these kinds of reptiles and wanted to eliminate them as soon as she saw them.

"It's nothing. There's a giant squid in these waters that attacks approaching cruise ships," the captain said with a laugh.

Just then, a giant tentacle attacked. Then, a giant squid appeared out of thin air.

"They're here! I was just warning them to be careful of these guys, and here they are before I could even find them!" the captain exclaimed in surprise, lying prone on the deck.

Chapter 169: Inside the Hall

"1, 2, 3..." Naruto held up his hand, counting the tentacles of the giant squid. "You don't need to count every single leg, do you?" Asuma said with a laugh.

“But we still need to confirm, squid have ten legs, and octopuses have eight, don’t you think, Uncle Octopus?” Naruto counted on his fingers and then looked at Killer Bee.

"Haha, that's right, that's one of the most significant differences between squid and octopus," Killer Bee said with a laugh.

Then he pulled out seven knives from his body and jumped up quickly. "Wild Green Heron Slaying Knife"

In an instant, the giant squid's tentacles that had reached into the cruise ship were all sliced ​​into squid rings.

The giant squid, in pain, quickly fled the area where the cruise ship was located. "So cool!!"

Naruto's eyes lit up as he watched the swords flying around Killer Bee.

"Looks like we can have squid tentacles tonight," Asuma said with a smile, relieved. After sailing for a while, the cruise ship arrived in front of Turtle Island.

"You've all worked hard. I've been waiting for you. I'm one of the people in charge of this operation. Motoi, I'll take you to the camp. Follow me." A ninja from the Cloud Village appeared and said to the people on the cruise ship.

"Have we finally arrived?" At this moment, Yamashiro Aoba helped Kai out of the cabin. Kai looked extremely listless, and drool was dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"We're about to land on the island, cheer up, Kai," Yamashiro Aoba encouraged.

"Brother Thick Eyebrows, are you alright?" Naruto asked with concern as he watched Guy emerge from the cabin.

“His seasickness still hasn’t been cured. Well, that makes sense, given how long this voyage was,” Asma said with a smile. “It was long, and very painful,” Kai said despairingly.

"I didn't expect Guy to get seasick. I remember Guy used to run around all sorts of terrains with Kakashi and even sailed a wooden boat together. He shouldn't have gotten seasick at all," Kushina said with a smile.

“That’s all in the past. I’ve been on land for too long, I… ugh…” Kai said, gagging again. “Did you know Kai before, Izumi-san?” Yamashiro Aoba asked curiously.

"I heard it from Mashiro-sama," Kushina said with an awkward smile.

"Lord Hokage." Yamashiro Aoba didn't suspect anything. Soon, the group arrived on the island.

"Is this the island?" Naruto asked, looking around with some doubt. "It feels a bit eerie," Kushina said softly.

"I'm still dizzy," Kai said weakly, supported by Aoba Yamashiro. Just then, a giant gorilla charged over, startling the group.

"Little King Kong, don't be nervous, they're not bad people." Killer Bee walked to the front of the group, reached out to stop the gorilla's movements, and said softly. The gorilla seemed to understand Killer Bee's words, lowered its head, and looked at Naruto and the others curiously.

Naruto was incredibly surprised. Pointing to the giant gorilla not far in front of him, he turned to Kushina and said, "Gorilla, it's a gorilla!" "Is it really a gorilla?" Kushina asked curiously, as it was also the first time she had ever seen a gorilla.

“Killer Bee is the king of beasts on this island. He has tamed all the wild beasts, so as long as Killer Bee is here, there is no danger. Moreover, the excellent ninjas of the Cloud Ninja have set up a barrier around this island. If any unknown object approaches, it will be detected immediately. So you can train here with peace of mind,” Motoi said.

"Is that why this place was chosen as a protected site?" Asuma thought to himself after hearing Motoi's words. "Uncle Octopus is really amazing," Naruto couldn't help but exclaim.

"He's a great hero of Kumogakure." Motoi looked at Killer Bee, his voice filled with excitement and pride. "A hero?" Naruto asked, somewhat curiously.