**Amegakure, Seventh Floor of the Tower, Inside a Room.**

Naruto stood before the mirror, examining himself in the Akatsuki cloak, and chuckled, "I never thought I'd wear this one day."

"Yosh!"

With a snap of his fist against his palm, he turned, his cloak billowing, and strode out of the room.

In the corridor, Konan leaned against the window, her orange eyes bright as she watched Naruto approach. "This cloak suits you well."

Naruto waved his hand dismissively, smiling lightly, "No need to tease me..."

"Here, take this."

Konan opened her palm, revealing a ring.

Naruto took the ring, still warm from Konan's hand. In the center, against a pale blue background, was engraved the character 'Zero.'

"Zero," he murmured, his gaze sharpening.

Konan spoke seriously, "Akatsuki members operate in pairs. Each official member has a codename. Pain's former codename was 'Zero,' symbolizing 'nothingness.' I hope you can inherit this codename..."

As she spoke, Konan turned her hand, revealing a ring with white characters on a white background on her right middle finger.

"By the way, my codename is 'White,' symbolizing the White Tiger."

"I understand."

Naruto nodded, solemnly placing the ring on his left thumb.

Seeing this, Konan's lips curved into a faint smile.

"And this..." She reached to her waist, pulling out a bulging pouch. "These are soldier pills. The ones you had were getting damp."

Naruto scratched his head, "Ah, when I went to meet Kisame, I was lurking underground for a long time."

Konan said, "Throw those away. They're bad for your health."

Naruto took the soldier pills, saying earnestly, "Thank you, Sister Konan."

Konan replied, "We're comrades. No need to be formal."

A few minutes later, the two walked out of the tower together. Orochimaru and Kisame were already waiting in the rain.

Naruto, ever cautious, said, "Our presence in Amegakure might not go unnoticed. To be safe..."

He formed a hand seal.

*Poof!*

A shadow clone appeared.

"My shadow clone will stay behind to guard the place. If anything happens, I can use the Flying Thunder God to return immediately."

The journey from Amegakure to Kumogakure was thousands of miles, passing through the Land of Grass, the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Iron, the Land of Sound, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of the Moon, before reaching the Land of Lightning where Kumogakure is located!

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Even for a high-level ninja, it would take ten days to half a month.

But Naruto could use the Flying Thunder God to reach the pre-marked Land of Iron, cutting the journey significantly. He could even leave Flying Thunder God marks along the way to travel back and forth between Amegakure.

Such was the power of space-time ninjutsu.

"The place where the Raikage fought Kisame was at the southern border of the Land of Waves. The Raikage would have to travel from south to north, crossing the vast Land of Waves. Additionally, the Land of Waves has many waterways, which would increase chakra consumption, necessitating rest along the way. This way, we might reach Kumogakure before the Raikage returns..."

Naruto slowly donned his mask, his aura changing instantly!

Konan placed her hand on Naruto's back, and Naruto placed his hands on Orochimaru and Kisame's shoulders.

"Let's go..."

Before leaving, Orochimaru looked at the open space outside the tower, "When we return, I should start preparing the laboratory..."

---

**In the snowy mountains behind the Land of Iron.**

"Ugh...!!" Two patrolling samurai fell with a scream.

*Clang!*

Suigetsu Hozuki planted his Executioner's Blade in the ground, grinning with his sharp teeth, "I left one alive for you. Now's your chance..."

Jugo, in his child form, coldly approached the samurai who was still alive.

The samurai gritted his teeth, "You... you're ninjas!"

"Blame that blond ninja... for turning me into this...!"

Jugo straddled the samurai's back, covering his mouth and nose, activating the Cursed Seal.

"Mmm...!"

The samurai's body quickly withered, leaving only an empty suit of armor.

Absorbing all the samurai's life force, Jugo returned to his adult form.

Suigetsu laughed, "That was thrilling. If we get caught, we'll be thrown into a death cell~!"

*Whoosh!* The Cursed Seal slowly receded, and Jugo said darkly, "Let's get back to Sasuke. I feel my killing intent rising again..."

After the confrontation between the Five Kage and Naruto, these two had sneaked away, not immediately leaving the Land of Iron but disguising themselves as samurai, waiting for an opportunity.

"Hey, Jugo, Suigetsu, we meet again so soon..." Just as they turned, a playful voice suddenly sounded behind them.

*Swish!*

They turned sharply, on guard.

Naruto had appeared there, with Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame behind him!

Suigetsu was shocked, "There was a dead end behind us. How did he appear!"

Jugo said gravely, "He has the ability to jump through space! But why now, of all times!"

Indeed, fate had a way of being ironic!

"..." Naruto glanced at the samurai's corpse and the withered armor, then looked away.

That monster who could pin Sasuke to the ground was best avoided. Wait! That cloak, and Kisame-senpai! Has he joined Akatsuki too!

Suigetsu quickly thought, "We're on the same side! Don't attack!"

Naruto said playfully, "Aren't you from Taka?"

Suigetsu replied, "Taka and Akatsuki are allies..."

Naruto smiled faintly, "Unfortunately, we're not Akatsuki..."

Jugo asked, "Do you have a purpose in seeking us out?"

Naruto said, "Just passing by. But since we're here, it must be fate. Join us, or..."

The aura he exuded made Suigetsu's hair stand on end!

"..." Jugo's gaze was heavy. He didn't want to betray Sasuke.

Suigetsu kept signaling with his eyes: Hey, survival first!

Naruto said quietly, "Jugo, finding Sasuke will take effort. You don't want the Cursed Seal to go out of control and harm innocent people and animals, right? Until you see Sasuke, I might be able to be your restraint!"

As he spoke, Naruto slowly removed his mask, revealing his left eye with the three-tomoe Sharingan!

"Sharingan..." Jugo's eyes widened, "Alright, I don't know your purpose, but I'll stay with you for now. But I won't betray Sasuke!"

Naruto pointed to the mess on the ground, "As you wish. But in exchange for covering up your actions, 'Akatsuki' needs your help in this mission!"

Jugo pondered, "Deal..."

"Phew." Suigetsu sighed in relief and joined Jugo behind Naruto.

Orochimaru said playfully, "Suigetsu, my cute subordinate, we were at odds before, and now we're working together..."

Suigetsu rubbed his hands flatteringly, "Yes, I always felt Orochimaru-sama was my destined master!"

Naruto put his mask back on, "Let's continue to Kumogakure!"

Infiltrate, search, find the scroll recording the secret of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and take it!

Overall difficulty rating: Super S-Class.

After this tense encounter, Naruto's group of six set off from the Land of Iron towards Kumogakure!