Chapter 246: Thank You
There was no sound of drums, no calls to rally morale.
No armies yelling in sync, no fanfare of mobilization.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Like thousands of arrows slicing through forests, through valleys, cliffs, rivers, and roads...
Shadowy figures darted ahead—swift, precise, but in complete formation, their discipline intact under the direction of squad captains.
"The first medium- and long-range combat unit has arrived at the deployment site."
"The second medium-range combat unit has arrived at the deployment site."
"First Close Combat Team has reached the deployment location."
"Medical team is on standby—ready to provide emergency support."
"Armaments and rations delivered to designated zones…"
One report after another was transmitted clearly, seamlessly. Through the linking of perception techniques, a vast sensory communication network had taken shape—connecting every squad across land and sea.
These updates flowed directly into the minds of the Five Kage.
Before them, a map lit up with blinking lights, spreading out in a regular pattern. The battle deployment was unfolding exactly as they had planned.
"There were no traps or resistance. We reached the deployment zones in just half a day…"
Onoki's voice carried a note of unease.
Ever since the defection of the Daimyo of the Land of Water, Kirigakure had sent no ambush squads. The Shinobi Alliance, on the other hand, now encircled the Hidden Mist Village with shocking speed, securing every vantage point.
In warfare, gaining the upper hand—whether by strength or strategy—meant everything.
Just like past battles at Kikyo Mountain, Tenchi Bridge, and Kaminarimon, securing such strategic choke points allowed one to engage the enemy from a favorable position, minimizing losses.
This was often why wars in the shinobi world dragged on for so long.
Each strategic capture required time, resources, and manpower. The real battles were always fought over these key positions.
And yet—this time—there was no resistance.
No traps.
No delays.
The Allied Shinobi Forces had overtaken all vital terrain without opposition. It was almost… suspicious.
"Did they really give up resistance?"
Mei Terumi's brows furrowed.
"Don't the Akatsuki realize that by allowing this, they've practically put themselves in plain view? We can now monitor every inch of the Hidden Mist's surroundings without even entering the village."
With control of these key points, even households in the outer village could be monitored—right down to their daily meals—with the right perception techniques.
"Could their barrier techniques be that advanced?"
Rasa's tone hinted at skepticism.
Could Akatsuki really be so confident in their ability to block out all reconnaissance?
"According to both the Perception and Intelligence Divisions, we've secured control over the entire Hidden Mist Village—except the Mizukage's Office."
Darui shook his head slightly.
"Public sentiment is chaotic. Most civilians have already fled, especially those not under Akatsuki's control."
"Some ninja are trying to escape, but… after banishing their Mizukage, they fear we won't accept their surrender."
"Others... they're just watching. Waiting."
"Waiting?"
Jiraiya caught the word immediately.
The Mizukage's Office—possibly Akatsuki's new headquarters—was outside the current range of perception. But the passive stance of the local ninjas was unsettling.
"Yeah," Darui replied. "From what we've gathered, Akatsuki's planning to attack us soon. Possibly within the next few days."
"Shortly after we entered the Land of Water, Nagato—Akatsuki's leader—rallied the village. He publicly declared his goal: to collect all the Tailed Beasts and become the strongest force in the ninja world."
"He's recruiting. Promising strength. Promising to lead them to power."
There was no trace of sarcasm in Darui's voice—only solemnity.
Because every person present knew it was possible.
Akatsuki had the strength to back up those words.
In reality, they might already be the strongest military force in the ninja world.
With six Tailed Beasts in their hands, several Kage-level missing-nin under their banner, and armies of shinobi from Amegakure and Kirigakure…
No single village—none of the Five Great Nations—could match them alone.
Only the highest-ranking leaders knew the full truth.
The outside world? They still thought this would be a swift and easy war.
"Actually… what if we're looking at this the wrong way?"
Mifune, the general of the Iron Country, finally spoke—breaking the uneasy silence.
"If we assume Akatsuki is simply arrogant—overconfident—then their inaction makes sense."
"Their goal is the Tailed Beasts. And since we've always kept the Jinchūriki close, Akatsuki wants us to come to them."
"They're letting us get close... because they expect to win."
His tone sharpened.
"They believe they can end this fight in one move—corner the Jinchūriki and capture them without another chance for escape."
The Shinobi Alliance had been thinking from their own position of strength. But if they flipped that perspective…
If Akatsuki saw themselves as the stronger force—
Then letting their enemies set up around them wouldn't be a mistake.
It would be bait.
"But if they're really that powerful," Onoki frowned, "why did they hide for so long?"
"And if they can crush all five nations, why do they still need the Tailed Beasts?"
"Is their goal really just domination?"
No one answered.
But everyone felt the shift in atmosphere.
---
"Itachi, where are you going?"
Inside the Mizukage's Office Building, now entirely cleared out.
Once used for handling political affairs, hosting meetings, and receiving guests—every room had been stripped of its original purpose.
Now, it was Akatsuki territory.
Every member had their own quarters, each one made by merging two rooms into one.
"Bathroom," Itachi said coolly.
Without another word, he opened the door and walked out.
Behind him, Hoshigaki Kisame stared at the door that had just closed, but ultimately didn't get up to follow.
Click, click.
In the quiet corridor, the only sound was that of Uchiha Itachi's footsteps.
But he didn't believe he was alone in the corridor.
He moved slowly, his expression unchanged. Step by step, he headed toward the restroom. Nothing unusual happened, not even a shift in the air, until he reached the door.
"Will you still follow me once we get inside?"
Standing in front of the door, Itachi was silent for a long while before speaking.
In the empty, lifeless corridor, his voice echoed with unsettling weight. No one answered—but the sense of being watched had weakened slightly.
Only slightly.
After a moment of stillness, Itachi stopped trying to engage, pushed open the door, and walked into the bathroom.
"Oh... what a coincidence. You headed to the bathroom too?"
It was a public restroom, so it wasn't strange for someone else to be there.
Only…
Looking at the odd figure in front of him—a yin-yang composite of a man—Itachi spoke casually, "Even if you're acting, this is way too stiff."
There had been no one here before he entered.
Maybe this strange person had been the one secretly observing him earlier, though it was odd he'd managed to slip in before Itachi without making a sound.
That thought raised even more questions in Itachi's mind about Zetsu.
This man—or rather, this being—was the only member of Akatsuki Itachi had never been able to figure out.
All records prior to his entry into the organization were forged. His origins were completely obscured, as if he'd simply materialized in the shinobi world.
Maybe… someone like Blueno. From another world?
"Itachi's acting skills are pretty poor too," Zetsu muttered, leaning against the sink. "But is Konoha really that great? Worth throwing yourself into so recklessly? Dying for it?"
Itachi paused, then looked him in the eye. His Sharingan spun—three tomoe rapidly rotating, slowly merging into a single form.
"He's a ruthless man who doesn't speak much," Zetsu murmured, gazing back.
Suddenly, space twisted around him.
When awareness returned, Zetsu found himself in a blood-soaked world—Tsukuyomi's domain.
Strapped to a black cross, Zetsu didn't look nervous. Instead, he examined his surroundings curiously.
"So this is the time-space illusion of Tsukuyomi? After all these years, it's my first time seeing this kind of Uchiha illusion."
Zetsu's eyes returned to Itachi, his voice tinged with amusement. "So, what will you do next?"
Before the sentence finished, a pitch-black sword pierced through him.
The blade had appeared out of nowhere—pure black, its sharpness impossible to judge by sight. Yet it slid through his body effortlessly.
A scream tore from White Zetsu as the pain stabbed into his very soul.
Before he could voice the agony, a second blade plunged into him.
Whatever he was about to say became another agonized scream.
One after another, the black blades appeared, plunging into him relentlessly.
Itachi stood expressionless, unmoved by the shrieks of torment echoing through the crimson space.
His gaze wasn't on the white half of Zetsu.
It was fixed firmly on the black half.
Whoosh—
Another black blade tore through the air. This time, the target wasn't White Zetsu.
With decisive speed and deadly force, the blade drove straight toward Black Zetsu—without hesitation.
Boom—
In the next instant, Black Zetsu's eyes slowly opened. Cold. Calculating.
A torrent of spiritual energy erupted from his body, surging like a raging river and flooding the Tsukuyomi dimension.
Tears of blood streamed from Itachi's eyes.
Already weakened by repeated use of the Mangekyō Sharingan, his body gave in again to the toll of overuse.
A crushing fatigue settled over him, his legs buckling. He leaned against the wall, barely keeping upright.
"You control time, space, and perception," Black Zetsu said. "This is the strongest mental technique I've ever witnessed."
White Zetsu wilted like a dying plant, collapsing as the black half took full control.
"But unfortunately," Black Zetsu continued, "your eyes are still incomplete. Every use of these techniques brings irreversible damage."
His eyes narrowed coldly. "Years of overuse… your body's like a dying candle—flickering, almost out."
"Your mind and body can't sustain Tsukuyomi's true power anymore. Such a waste of an incredible ability."
"You seem to know a lot about the Uchiha," Itachi replied, his voice low and strained. Deep inside, he had already dismissed the theory that this being came from another world.
That Zetsu had exposed his undercover identity didn't surprise him.
There were at least three other members in Akatsuki who had their suspicions.
Everyone was just using each other. No loyalty, only leverage.
What truly concerned Itachi was Zetsu's origin.
"No need to test me," Black Zetsu said as he turned his back. Slowly, he peeled away from the white half, oozing like thick mud.
"There's still time before the final day I've been waiting for."
"You might've had a chance to witness it... but you chose to strike first and got caught in your own illusion."
"You probably don't have much time left."
Breaking an illusion wasn't without consequence. The stronger the genjutsu, the harsher the backlash when shattered.
And for Tsukuyomi… the cost was life force.
Itachi was already running on fumes—unless...
"Want me to fulfill your last wish?" Black Zetsu asked, turning back to face him. "I heard your little brother is also in the Shinobi Alliance this time."
He smiled.
"His talent's nothing like yours. Still stuck at three tomoe after all this time."
"He'll need a deeper emotional trigger to awaken the Mangekyō."
"You probably want to leave your eyes to him, right? Since you love him so much."
"Want me to help? Stir things up in this battle, give him that push?"
Black Zetsu leaned closer, studying Itachi's face. Waiting.
Would he show emotion? Regret? Anything?
"…Thank you very much."
Before Zetsu could analyze the tone, Itachi turned, pushed the door open, and walked out without another word.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on:
~ [email protected]/FanficLord03
~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the story in the rankings using your
[Power Stones]
~ https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9