I will use the ninja world to aid my cultivation of immortality.

This operation, while seemingly risky, is undeniably a clever one.

The combined attack of Nagato and Obito Uchiha left Minato Namikaze completely helpless, making it virtually impossible for him to force them back in a direct confrontation.

Another issue is the problems inherent in Iwagakure itself.

Iwagakure was originally considered one of the best among the five great ninja villages.

However, under the combined pressure from him and Kumogakure, Iwagakure was no longer what it used to be after suffering numerous heavy casualties.

Naraku was aware of this, and Minato Namikaze had obviously noticed it as well.

Therefore, Minato Namikaze successfully scared away Iwagakure with a large-scale offensive.

Of course, the situation in Konoha wasn't much better.

It's even worse than Iwagakure.

However, Iwagakure is not the only village currently fighting against Konoha.

The multi-front war has undoubtedly put immense pressure on Konoha, but it has also given Iwagakure more to consider.

If Iwagakure were to truly clash with Konoha, the other three parties would ultimately benefit.

Given Onoki's personality, he naturally wouldn't be such a good person.

"I wonder if Nagato and Obito will leave the Land of Fire. But whether they leave or not is irrelevant. The collapse of Konoha and the Land of Fire will ultimately happen on the battlefield." Naraku pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly and stopped thinking about it.

The days passed by.

While keeping track of external developments, Naraku did not neglect his own training.

For example, he has recently been studying formations.

Formation is also one of the hundred arts of cultivation, and like weapon crafting, it is one of the top ten mainstream skills among the hundred arts of cultivation.

"It's done!"

Inside the ninth floor of the Star Tower, when Naraku removed the True Fire Cauldron, an array plate roughly the size of a millstone immediately appeared.

With a burst of true energy, the array plate, inscribed with a complex formation, floated lightly to the floor.

Looking at the array plate in front of him, Naraku quickly stepped forward to examine it.

Among the various arts of cultivating immortality, many are interconnected.

For example, the array plate now is the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate] that Naraku created by combining weapon crafting techniques and array formations.

The words "Gathering Spirit" are enough to reveal the function of the "Gathering Spirit Array Plate".

Spiritual energy is one of the important foundations of cultivating immortality.

Given the scarce spiritual energy in the ninja world, how could Naraku not seek a breakthrough?

At the very beginning, he came up with the idea of ​​creating a true qi shadow clone.

Now, he has found a new breakthrough.

That is the Spirit Gathering Array.

The Spirit Gathering Array is definitely one of the most common arrays among all arrays.

However, this world is not a world of cultivation.

Given the resources of the ninja world, it would be extremely difficult to gather enough materials to set up a spirit-gathering array.

Naraku had only managed to gather all the materials after his rise to power in the Star Kingdom, and thus was able to craft the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate].

After checking and confirming that the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate] was normal, Naraku finally felt relieved and immediately began to try it out.

With his hands forming complex hand seals, Naraku channeled a stream of true energy into the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate] after a while.

hum! !

A faint glow emanated from the array, and the flow of true energy within it caused the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate] to vibrate slightly and unleash an astonishing suction force.

It absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Some of the absorbed spiritual energy was used to power the [Spirit Gathering Array], while the rest was released outwards, immediately causing the spiritual energy concentration on the ninth floor of the Star Tower to rise steadily, increasing by about 30% compared to the outside world.

"Success!"

When the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate] successfully activated and he sensed the increase in spiritual energy, Naraku exhaled a breath of turbid air and a smile appeared on his face.

Due to a lack of spirit stones, he had to modify the [Spirit Gathering Array Plate] to operate by absorbing some of the spiritual energy.

In this way, although the effect of gathering spirits will be weakened, at least it will not be a complete loss.

Just like the increased concentration of spiritual energy now.

A 30% increase in spiritual energy concentration may not seem like much, but given the resources of the ninja world, being able to increase spiritual energy by 30% is already extremely rare.

"Hopefully I can find enough materials to refine another one, which will speed up the cultivation of the spiritual medicine a lot." Feeling the increased concentration of spiritual energy, Naraku thought with relief and anticipation.

The increase in spiritual energy undoubtedly accelerated Naraku's subsequent cultivation speed considerably.

In the days that followed, he focused his main efforts on improving his cultivation level, hoping to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining as soon as possible.

After all, it was only after breaking through to the ninth level of Qi Refining that he truly gained the ability to explore the Foundation Establishment stage.

Days passed quietly.

While Naraku was diligently training, Nagato and Obito Uchiha returned to Amegakure with a large amount of looted wealth.

Although their cooperation with Onoki was primarily aimed at using Iwagakure to contain Konoha, they still chose to withdraw from the Land of Fire when they retreated from Iwagakure to prevent Onoki from exposing Amegakure's stronghold.

Of course, this was because the two had already looted enough valuables.

Even if a portion of these assets needs to be given to Iwagakure, the remaining assets are enough to support Amegakure's initial development.

Konoha naturally learned of Nagato and Obito's retreat immediately.

Intelligent people can naturally see through Minato Namikaze's strategy.

With Tsunade's encouragement, Minato Namikaze was able to turn the tide and gain even greater prestige.

Similarly, thanks to the prestige brought by Minato Namikaze, and Tsunade's successful stabilization of the war with Sunagakure, calls for the election of the next Hokage quickly arose within Konoha.

This voice naturally came from the higher-ups who support Tsunade.

And the reasons are quite valid.

Besides Danzo making many mistakes during the war, his age was also a factor.

It's like Hiruzen Sarutobi's abdication in the original storyline.

Besides the disadvantages in the war, it was also because Hiruzen Sarutobi was getting old.

Chapter 220 Where leaves dance, fire also burns eternally.

Where leaves dance in the air, the fire burns on, its light continuing to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout.

This statement represents the village's founding philosophy established by Hashirama Senju when Konoha was founded.

Although this idea is often deliberately distorted, it can still become politically correct when truly needed.

Like now.

The elderly Danzo was designated as a fluttering leaf, to burn into flames and illuminate Tsunade, the newly sprouting leaf.

"Lawless! These bastards are absolutely lawless!"

Inside the Hokage's office, Danzo furiously cleaned up his desk.

What nonsense about 'where leaves dance, fire also burns'? He's clearly just a newly sprouted leaf; why would he need to illuminate a village?

"Somebody come!"

With his chest heaving violently, Danzo angrily summoned a member of the Root organization.

"Go! Order the police department to immediately conduct a thorough investigation of the village. Arrest any traitors found discussing the election for the next Hokage!"

"Yes!"

The Root organization members who received the order quickly left.

After the police department was taken away from the Uchiha clan, it was not disbanded, but instead became the department most deeply controlled by Danzo.

Danzo, who had previously orchestrated the Hatake Sakumo incident, clearly understood the importance of public opinion.

Therefore, he certainly wouldn't tolerate any discussion about it in the village.

"Tsunade. Minato Namikaze"

After the Root members left, Danzo sat down.

Enraged, he began to think of a way to deal with the situation.

Finally, he realized that he had no way to deal with Tsunade for the time being, but as for Minato Namikaze...

Danzo thought of Kushina.

Thinking of how Minato Namikaze had tried so many times to visit and even rescue Kushina, Danzo quickly sneered.

It seems that this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has other uses besides being used as his strongest tool.

"What did you say?"