XX-level Hokage

"You did very well, Nagato." Mashiro looked at Nagato and praised him sincerely.

Despite Mashiro's slight assistance, Nagato's ability to successfully capture the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki while in this physical condition was largely due to his own strong willpower.

"What should we do next?" Xiao Nan asked.

“Next, Nagato will use the Samsara Rebirth Technique to revive the civilians who died in this attack,” Mashiro said.

“That’s impossible. Given Nagato’s current physical condition, if he used the Samsara Rebirth Technique, he would definitely die immediately,” Konan said, shaking her head. “Don’t worry, I won’t let Nagato die. I promised you, didn’t I?” Mashiro walked up to Konan and gently hugged her.

Feeling the familiar scent and warmth emanating from Mashiro, Konan felt inexplicably at ease and said, "As long as Nagato agrees, I have no objection."

Mashiro looked at Nagato, who said, "I will use the Samsara Rebirth Technique; killing these civilians is not my intention." Seeing this, Konan could only sigh slightly. It was always like this; whether it was Yahiko, Nagato, or Mashiro, she could never persuade them otherwise.

"Then in two hours, while the ninjas of Kumogakure are preparing, Nagato, you can also take a break," Mashiro said softly. Then she pulled Konan to sit on a rock.

"What? Are you still a little worried?" Mashiro asked softly, looking at Konan.

Xiao Nan shook her head and said, "No, I just suddenly felt a bit weary. Just now in the Cloud Village, listening to those screams, shouts, and cries, I felt like I was back in my childhood, back in that era of war. For a moment, I couldn't tell whether I was stopping the war or creating it."

Seeing Xiao Nan's expression, Mashiro's face calmed down. He stroked her hair and said seriously, "Xiao Nan, because you are ultimately different from us, these things shouldn't be done by you."

Konan looked at Mashiro, seemingly pondering the meaning behind Mashiro's words.

"After this incident, come with me to Konoha." Mashiro said softly, resting her head on Konan's lap. Hearing Mashiro's words, Konan hesitated.

Knowing what Konan was worried about, Mashiro smiled gently and said, "I will bring Nagato with me then. I will find Nagato a suitable job. You will stay by my side. I will bring peace to the world and fulfill Yahiko's wish."

A moment later, Xiao Nan also laughed. "Mm."

While Mashiro was chatting on her lap, the Cloud Ninja were frantically digging out the civilians who had been trapped.

After learning about this from Darui, Ai suppressed her grief and devoted herself to the project of exhuming the body.

Informing them of the situation under the mudslide, A activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, plowing up all the boulders like a bull, while a dozen ninjas carried out bodies and a few surviving civilians.

Time ticked by. Two hours later, the time was up.

Mashiro gently opened her eyes, got up from Konan, and said to Nagato, "Nagato, let's begin." Nagato also opened his eyes, looked at Mashiro, and nodded gently.

A burst of white light appeared, and the pure white black hair turned silver-white, then quickly grew longer, reaching straight to the calves, emitting specks of silver light.

Then a long, silvery-white ribbon wrapped around Mashiro's body, and Mashiro's hands also emitted a dazzling silvery-white light. Mashiro gently opened her eyes, and her pale blue Rinnegan appeared.

At this moment, Mashiro was breathtakingly beautiful, exuding a unique air of nobility and carrying a heavy aura of power. "Is this a celestial being?" Konan gazed at Mashiro in a daze and murmured to herself.

Mashiro gently beckoned to Killer Bee on the ground, and the Eight-Tails' chakra instantly surged out and landed in Mashiro's hand. Then, Mashiro placed the chakra on Nagato's body.

"Nagato, let's begin," Mashiro said softly.

Nagato nodded, then clasped his hands together and said, "The Samsara Rebirth Technique!"

Instantly, specks of green starlight surged from Nagato's body and showered upon Kumogakure.

In the Hidden Cloud Village, as the appointed time arrived, A stopped what he was doing, looked around at the densely packed bodies, and began to pray for Miao Fan's hope to appear.

Just then, green starlight shone down, and the corpses on the ground began to revive one after another. Seeing this, Ai was overjoyed and hurriedly shouted, "Keep digging! Don't stop! Keep going!"

Then the action began immediately.

Inside the cave, Nagato, who had just used the Samsara Rebirth Technique, did not die, but became even thinner, almost nothing but skin and bones.

This was exactly what Mashiro had anticipated. The Rinne Rebirth technique doesn't kill the caster instantly; it only consumes a large amount of chakra and life force. Because reviving ninjas requires even more chakra and life force, Mashiro had saved all the Cloud Ninjas beforehand, which meant Nagato only...

It requires consuming the chakra and life force of reviving civilians.

Then Mashiro used the Divine Blessing to connect the Eight-Tails' chakra with Nagato's. This meant that Nagato only needed to expend his life force. Since the Uzumaki clan has always had strong life force, Nagato would not die immediately, but would only become weaker.

Chapter 140: Little Shiro

Even so, Nagato would die soon after; his body was too weak.

"Next..." Shinji said, releasing the divine power, and then reached out to take out Nagato's Rinnegan. Nagato was too weak to react.

"What's this?" Konan stared in shock at Mashiro's sudden action, utterly bewildered.

She didn't think Mashiro wanted Nagato's Rinnegan, since as a sage, Mashiro already had one herself.

Mashiro slowly summoned a scroll, then conjured a transparent jar filled with liquid. She placed the Rinnegan inside and tossed it to Konan, saying, "These eyes weren't something Nagato was born with. They're constantly draining Nagato's chakra and life force. To completely heal Nagato, these eyes must be removed."

As she spoke, Mashiro took out another scroll and summoned a transparent jar containing a pair of Byakugan eyes.

Mashiro took out the Byakugan and placed it into Nagato's eye socket. Immediately afterward, green light entered through Mashiro's hand, and with the application of medical ninjutsu, the Byakugan became Nagato's new eye.

Seeing this, Xiao Nan was relieved.

"How are you feeling? Can you see?" Mashiro asked softly.

Nagato nodded, saying weakly, "I feel so relieved. I haven't felt this way in a long time." Having gotten rid of the Gedo Mazo and the Rinnegan, Nagato hadn't felt this relaxed in many years.

Shinji nodded, then tapped Nagato's head with his finger, and a massive amount of Yang-attribute chakra surged into Nagato's body. In a moment, Nagato's body went from being emaciated to full and plump.

Yang-attribute chakra, also known as life force, was something Nagato lacked most.

Soon, Nagato's body returned to normal. Mashiro stretched out her hand and looked at Konan, saying, "Nagato's body is basically fine now. Without the burden of the Rinnegan and the Outer Path, these Byakugan will not have any effect on his Uzumaki body. With proper rest for a while, Nagato will be back to normal."

Konan nodded, glanced at Nagato, then looked at Mashiro and asked, "Will this have any negative effects on you?"

"Impact? There is some, you'd like to see?" Mashiro said softly. Konan nodded.

Then Mashiro's body instantly shrank, turning into a little loli.

"What...what is this?!" Konan stared in utter shock at the scene. Nagato, standing nearby, also gasped in surprise.

Mashiro said in a childlike voice, "Nagato needed too much Yang-attribute chakra, which caused a backlash against me. It will be fine after a while. For now, I can only use ninjutsu to maintain the previous state."

Then Mashiro turned back into Mashiro.

The excessive output of life force overburdened Shiro's body, causing her to age prematurely due to the influence of the Otsutsuki bloodline.

However, Mashiro can use the bloodline of the Otsutsuki to convert other chakra attributes into Yang attribute, thus restoring himself to his original state. However, Mashiro's current chakra level is not high enough, so before Kushina's affection level reaches 50, Mashiro's body can only be in the form of a 12-year-old.

"It's good that you're alright." Konan nodded and said, in her opinion that this situation was not a big problem. "Then what should we do with these eyes?" Konan asked, looking at the transparent jar containing the Rinnegan in her hand.

“You will take him back to the Land of Rain. That masked man will definitely try to take him away. Let him take him. I will be watching from the shadows. If he tries to kill you, I will show myself and save you,” Mashiro said softly.

Xiao Nan nodded first, then asked with some doubt, "Why go through all this trouble to return the Rinnegan to him?"

"Because we need to ensure his plan can proceed, whether it's collecting the Tailed Beasts, reclaiming the Rinnegan, or even the later Fourth Shinobi World War. The masked man is just a pawn of Madara Uchiha, and Madara Uchiha is just a pawn of my brother. Since they're all manipulating things, we'll join the game and treat them all as pawns," Mashiro said with a light laugh.

Xiao Nan nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Mashiro continued, "Next, I will divide the Eight-Tails into two parts. You will take half of the Eight-Tails back with you. As for Nagato, I will leave him in Konoha."

Wait here for me a moment.

After Mashiro finished speaking, she sank into the shadows along with Nagato and Killer Bee on the ground, into Konoha.

Mashiro first appeared in the Hyuga clan.

"Sousuke, this is a member of our Hyuga clan who has been living away from home. He is very weak. Please arrange for a few people to take care of him," Mashiro said to Hyuga Sousuke.

“Yes, Master.” Hyuga Sousuke nodded in response. Then Mashiro once again sank into the shadows.

In the underground headquarters of "Root", in Tono Hosuke's laboratory.

Mashiro appeared out of nowhere, carrying the unconscious Killer Bee. Tono and the other researchers hurriedly bowed.

"Assistant Fang, bring those two storage devices over," Mashiro said softly.

"Yes, Lord Mashiro," Tono Fusuke said respectfully, then hurriedly had the researcher push the two perfect storage devices over.

Looking at the two jet-black cubes, Mashiro nodded in satisfaction. She then unsealed the Eight-Tails from Killer Bee's body.

Then three special "root" members emerged from the shadows.

"The door ghosts are completely sealed."

Two members of the "Root" faction simultaneously unleashed the Toki Sealing Technique, and two Shinigami appeared, one of whom split the Eight-Tails in two.

Another one will split the eight tails in half, injecting one half into two storage devices and the other half into the remaining "root" body.

After it was completed, the bodies of the two Root members who had used "Dead Demon Seal" turned to dust. Mashiro, along with the remaining Root member and Killer Bee, sank into the shadows.

Tono Kazusuke was left standing there, bewildered. The Dark Guard's prison.

Mashiro suddenly appeared, handed Killer Bee over to the prison guards, and told them to imprison him using a sealing technique, before disappearing again.

In a cave in Kumogakure, Mashiro appeared with the "Root" member and then killed him with a single strike. Konan looked at Mashiro in confusion.

About half an hour passed between Masami's departure and return. When she left, she took Nagato and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki with her. When she returned, she brought a person wearing an animal mask, and then suddenly captured and killed this person wearing the animal mask.

No wonder Xiao Nan looked puzzled.

The mask was removed, revealing the face of a middle-aged man.

Mashiro turned to look at Konan and said, "These are prisoners captured by Konoha Root. Their memories were erased through some special means, and then they were hypnotized, making them perfect test subjects."

Now, half of the Eight-Tails' chakra remains within him; he is the new Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

After hearing Mashiro's explanation, Konan nodded. Often, all she could do was nod in front of Mashiro.

"I've already made arrangements for Nagato. I have another use for the previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. You just need to take this Eight-Tails Jinchuriki with you to complete the task. Remember, be careful. I'll be watching you from the shadows." Mashiro walked up to Konan and said softly.

Then he hugged Xiao Nan and leaned his whole body against her.

Using the Shadow Ninja for such long and frequent teleportation was taking a toll on even Mashiro's powerful mental strength, causing her to feel dizzy.

Noticing Mashiro's exhaustion, Konan gently stroked Mashiro's hair, then sat down on the floor and let Mashiro sleep on her lap.

Ten minutes later, Mashiro opened her eyes and said, "You should go." Then she got up from Konan.

Xiao Nan nodded, got up from the ground, wrapped the man on the ground with white paper, and then flew into the air, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Chapter 141: Industry

After Konan left, she glanced at the cave and then disappeared into the shadows. Soon after, the cave collapsed, burying all traces. In a makeshift mud house in the Cloud Village, Ai was counting the dead.

Despite the combined efforts of all the Cloud Village ninja, a small number of civilians remained trapped beneath the mud, ultimately facing their second death. "Akatsuki! The Cloud Village will never forgive you!" Looking at the list in his hand, A suddenly burst into tears, slamming his fist on the stone table and shouting.

This attack not only took his beloved brother's life but also destroyed his cherished hometown, resulting in the deaths of dozens of innocent people. He will never let this go.

"It seems I've come at the wrong time, Raikage-sama," Mashiro said softly as she entered Ai's temporary office.

"No, please come in." Upon seeing Mashiro, Ai quickly suppressed her struggling expression, calmly saying, "How many people ultimately sacrificed their lives?" Mashiro asked in a somewhat heavy tone.

“Fifty-four people, most of whom are elderly,” Ai said sadly. “Death is inevitable,” Mashiro could only say at this moment.

Ai stood up and walked to Mashiro, then knelt down with a thud, saying with immense gratitude, "On behalf of the entire Hidden Cloud Village, I offer you my sincerest thanks."