"You Hidden Leaf shinobi dared to conceal such critical intelligence?!"
The Third Tsuchikage's roar shattered the oppressive silence in the temporary command post.
The Fourth Mizukage raised an eyebrow, questioning Tsunade and Jiraiya. "Can we still trust you?"
Tsunade immediately tried to explain.
Jiraiya stopped her, saying, "Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were indeed my disciples back in the Land of Rain. I understand your doubts, and that's exactly why the Hidden Leaf hesitated and chose to withhold this information."
"Hmph, that's a nice way to put it!" the Fourth Raikage snorted coldly. "The Akatsuki's leader is your disciple, and Uchiha Itachi, Hiruko, and those Mangekyo Uchihas labeled 'A,' 'B,' and 'D' are all from your Hidden Leaf. Half of the Akatsuki is tied to you—how do you explain that?"
The Fourth Mizukage's expression grew even darker.
The incident of the Third Mizukage being controlled by a mysterious Uchiha had always been a humiliating stain for the Hidden Mist, so the Fourth Mizukage had never fully trusted the Hidden Leaf.
This was also why he had sent Haku to the Hidden Leaf in the first place.
Facing this collective scrutiny, Tsunade could only grit her teeth and explain, "Let's not forget that the Uchiha clan was wiped out by Uchiha Itachi. Even if they still existed, it doesn't prove that our Hidden Leaf Uchihas are colluding with the Akatsuki's Uchihas!"
The Fourth Mizukage pressed, "Where's the proof?"
Tsunade snapped, "If our Hidden Leaf had so many Mangekyo Uchihas, would we have been so hard-pressed during the Third Shinobi World War?"
During the Third Shinobi World War, the Hidden Leaf had struggled to hold its ground. If not for the Fourth Hokage's meteoric rise, the war could very well have ended in their defeat.
Even as the victors, the Hidden Leaf suffered immense losses.
For this reason, the Third Hokage was forced to step down, passing the Hokage title to the Fourth, who had earned great renown in the war.
Tsunade's explanation, while met with some resentment, was begrudgingly accepted by the others.
The Third Tsuchikage said, "Your Hidden Leaf must show more sincerity. Otherwise, I seriously question whether this alliance has any reason to continue."
The Fourth Raikage added gruffly, "Exactly! The Akatsuki menace was created by your Hidden Leaf. You need to take more responsibility!"
The Fourth Kazekage nodded slightly in agreement.
The Fourth Mizukage expressed his stance with a skeptical glare.
This situation had already been anticipated by the Hidden Leaf's leadership.
The five great shinobi villages had always been rife with conflicts, having fought three shinobi world wars. This alliance was formed solely because of the Akatsuki's overwhelming threat, not because they had set aside their grudges. Any variable could easily fracture this fragile coalition.
Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in the other's eyes.
The current situation required the five great shinobi villages to work together. Despite the hardline stances of the four Kage, they were likely just seizing the opportunity to extract some benefits from the Hidden Leaf.
They could reason that the Hidden Leaf, as the foremost of the five villages, would not align with the Akatsuki, who sought to disrupt the current shinobi world order.
After a moment, Tsunade said, "The Hidden Leaf is willing to cover fifty percent of the allied shinobi forces' expenses! I only hope that baseless suspicions won't destroy the alliance we've worked so hard to build!"
The Third Tsuchikage added, "Besides bearing more of the military costs, your Hidden Leaf must share all intelligence on the Akatsuki. I mean all of it!"
Tsunade nodded. "Fine!"
Outside the Hidden Rain Village.
Ripples spread across the muddy ground, and then Zetsu emerged halfway from the earth, gazing toward the distant Hidden Rain Village.
White Zetsu said, "They really launched a surprise attack on the Hidden Rain Village!"
Black Zetsu replied, "A bit later than expected."
"It must be because this operation rattled them! Losing two tailed beasts at once—they couldn't sit still!" White Zetsu chuckled. "With the main forces of the five great shinobi villages drawn here, can we start the new operation?"
Black Zetsu smirked. "The new operation has already begun!"
In the Land of Water.
Sitting on a massive boulder, Hidan chewed on a blade of foxtail grass. "Hey, how long do we have to stay in this damn place?"
Kakuzu, flipping through his ledger, ignored him.
Hidan's complaints came every so often, and Kakuzu had long grown immune.
At that moment, a paper crane fluttered unsteadily toward Kakuzu, gently landing on his ledger.
Kakuzu unfolded the crane, and after seeing the coded message, his gaze sharpened. He said to Hidan, "Get up. It's time to move."
Hidan immediately leaped off the boulder, hoisting his Bloody March Scythe over his shoulder. "Finally, some action! So, what's our target?"
Kakuzu said calmly, "The Hidden Mist's Six-Tails Jinchuriki."
Hidan asked, "Where's that guy at?"
Kakuzu replied, "The Hidden Mist hid him on an unassuming island. If not for our organization's informant in the Hidden Mist, finding him would've been no easy task!"
"Heh, didn't expect we'd have people even in the Hidden Mist!" Hidan chuckled. "Let's take out the target quick and get outta this damp hellhole! It's so humid, I'm sticky all day!"
Kakuzu warned, "The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, isn't a pushover. And they might already know something about your abilities, so you'd better be careful—unless you want me to be looking for a new partner again!"
Outside the Hidden Waterfall Village.
Two figures clad in Akatsuki's red-cloud cloaks and wearing conical hats walked side by side. One of them carried a massive executioner's blade on their back.
Undoubtedly, these two heading toward the Hidden Waterfall Village were none other than Uchiha Itachi and Biwa Juzo, fresh off their successful capture of the Four-Tails Jinchuriki in the Land of Earth.
Juzo asked, "Once we capture the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki from the Hidden Waterfall, are we done with our quota?"
Itachi replied, "That depends on how smoothly the other teams' missions go."
Juzo laughed. "Either way, getting assigned the Four-Tails and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki—pretty easy targets. We got lucky!"
Itachi fell silent.
He knew the organization's arrangement might just be a precaution against him.
At that moment, Juzo spoke up. "We're here!"
Itachi looked up to see a massive waterfall ahead, with the Hidden Waterfall Village concealed behind it.