Meanwhile the other side…
Kakashi returned to Konoha with silent lightning at his back.
The space rippled quietly behind the Hokage monument as he appeared from his Flying Thunder God technique, followed by Tobirama, Itachi, Sasuke, the Orochimaru clone, and the three Madara clones—UM01, UM02, and UM03.
The sky was overcast. A subtle wind swept through the village, but beneath the surface, the world was preparing for war.
"I'll help the clone finish analyzing the Zetsu samples and refine the Madara puppets," Tobirama said as he glanced at Kakashi.
"Make sure they're stable under long-term chakra strain." Kakashi gave him a brief nod.
"Naturally. We're already compiling battlefield adjustment data." The Orochimaru clone grinned with practiced calm.
Tobirama and the clone vanished beneath the estate into the lab, taking the Madara units along. Sasuke gave Kakashi a nod before heading home with Itachi.
"I'll prepare," Sasuke said. "If this 'masked man' appears, I want to see him burn."
Kakashi watched them go before heading upstairs.
He opened the sliding door into the wide living room of the newly renovated mansion. The space was warm with light and laughter, but a faint tension simmered beneath it.
Mei sat by the open windows, sipping tea, her face unusually tight. Kurenai paced slowly across the polished floor, fingers tapping against her hip. Tsunade stood near the fireplace, arms crossed, still in full Hokage robes.
Anko was sprawled across the couch, legs dangling over the armrest, absentmindedly spinning a kunai with her fingers. Konan, sitting beside the others, twirled a delicate origami rose in her hand, her gaze far away.
As soon as Kakashi stepped in, Anko's eyes lit up.
"Kakashi!" she squealed, flying across the room and leaping into his arms like a koala. "You better not have come back injured again, you walking danger magnet!"
"Only a few scratches." He chuckled, catching her easily.
Tsunade stepped forward.
"What happened?" Mei, Kurenai, and Konan gathered close, faces serious now.
Kakashi set Anko down gently. "We found their main underground nest. One hundred thousand White Zetsu. All meant for the war."
Gasps followed.
"They could transform into any shinobi whose chakra they had absorbed. And they can absorb chakra on contact. Not to mention… Mayfly."
He glanced at Konan, who met his eyes, understanding immediately.
"They were too dangerous. We destroyed them all. Sasuke, Itachi, Tobirama, the clone, and the Madara puppets were with me."
"So they really were that many… good thing you moved fast." Tsunade exhaled sharply, her body relaxing.
Kurenai frowned. "If even one had escaped unnoticed…"
"They didn't," Kakashi reassured her. "We made sure of it."
Konan raised her eyes. "You also have that ability named Mayfly?" She knew about this as Black Zetsu had told them.
Kakashi gave a nod. "I had devoured one of the White Zetsu before. Their ability was too useful to ignore."
"Then it's good I have news of my own." Tsunade stepped forward again, reaching into her cloak.
She held out a scroll. "The Fire Daimyō approved the emergency funds. Takejiro submitted the necessary recommendations and reforms. The transfer's already begun."
Kakashi took the scroll and opened it, scanning the contents.
"Good," he said. "I sent word through a spore clone to Takejiro. The funds will be funneled through civilian projects and resource management networks. That way, we don't touch the village treasury or Shinrin Elixir profits."
"You're really planning ahead." Tsunade grinned.
"I have to." Kakashi folded the scroll and tucked it into his robe. "The masked man may still try to extract the Nine-Tails another way. He's desperate. And more dangerous now than ever."
"What about the rest of the country?" Mei finally spoke up.
Kakashi looked out the window.
"With Takejiro acting as the hidden power behind the Daimyō's position, and your subordinates in key places," he said to Tsunade, "we control the Fire Country's central military and funding. No more red tape. No more begging nobles."
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Tsunade smirked.
"Very." Kakashi gave a smile.
…
POV Shift: Orochimaru
In a cold, dimly lit laboratory deep beneath the swamps of Kusagakure, Orochimaru worked in silence.
Test tubes hissed. Preservation tanks pulsed with chakra. His hands moved over a dissected sample of tailed beast tissue, his tongue flicking out every so often in gleeful focus.
He was isolating something precious. Something forbidden. Something worth dying for.
A sudden shift in the air twisted the space behind him.
Orochimaru immediately dropped his scalpel and vanished in a blur, reappearing on the other side of the lab, his snake-like eyes narrowing.
From the warped space, a figure emerged.
Obito Uchiha. Cloaked in black, his orange mask gone. Replaced by a white one with blue stripes. His Rinnegan burned like a furnace of rage.
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. "Madara…" he whispered mockingly.
Obito didn't respond to the mockery. He simply stepped forward and threw two old, cracked scrolls onto the lab table.
"Silver and gold," he said curtly. "The brothers. Ginkaku and Kinkaku."
Orochimaru's eyes glinted. "Ah… the ones who devoured Nine-Tails flesh and survived. Fascinating." He licked his lips. "What is it you want?"
"Edo Tensei," Obito replied. "Summon them."
"You don't ask nicely, do you?" Orochimaru raised a brow, a smirk forming.
A flare of murderous chakra radiated from Obito.
Orochimaru winced slightly but didn't back down. His own killing intent flared in reply. "You can try to kill me," he hissed, "but I'll simply vanish again. I always do."
Obito's gaze remained locked. The moment dragged in silence.
"What do you want?" Then he asked coldly,
"Uchiha Sasuke." Orochimaru smiled wider, his tone silky.
Obito's expression didn't change, but his chakra flared again, this time with something darker. Frustration. Caution.
He knew Sasuke wasn't just a boy anymore. He was an Eternal Mangekyō level. And with Kakashi nearby? A reckless move would only mean death.
He considered saying no. Then reconsidered.
"…Fine," Obito said. "You'll get him after the ritual."
Orochimaru reached forward, grabbing the scrolls. "I'll need quality sacrifices. Weak shinobi won't do justice to their power."
Obito frowned. "I would have given you Zetsu… but I don't have enough left."
"So I heard."Orochimaru grinned, eyes twinkling.
Although he didn't know what happened to the zetsu but by looking at Madara's expression it was not good, so he mocked him once again.
Obito narrowed his eyes, sensing the insult.
"I'll make arrangements myself," Orochimaru said, waving a pale hand.
Obito didn't respond. His Kamui activated, spiraling him away.
Gone.
Orochimaru stared at the empty air where he'd stood.
He chuckled to himself.
"Oh… what a fragile mask you wear."
He walked over to a tank and gently placed the scrolls on a clean table.
"You tremble at Kakashi's name," he murmured. "You fear what he's become."
He stroked the edge of the scroll. "And you should."
His chuckle grew louder. "You still pretend to be Madara… but even I saw the truth in your hesitation."
"You're a fake."He closed his eyes and whispered.
Then he turned, his lab coat swaying behind him like a serpent's tail.
"So predictable. So desperate. I'll play along, little imposter."