The stone beneath the Raikage's feet cracked as he stood, muscles bulging with restrained fury. His thick arms crossed as his eyes remained fixed on the shattered table. Darui, composed as ever, awaited the inevitable command.
"Darui," A said sharply.
"Yes, Lord Raikage?"
"Gather the army. Mobilize immediately. We march to the Mountain Graveyard."
"You intend to strike now?" Darui blinked.
A's voice was like thunder. "Two of our Jinchūriki were taken. One of them, my brother. We don't wait. We take them back. If Kakashi and Konoha won't help us, we'll make our own fate."
"As you command." Darui hesitated, then gave a respectful bow.
As Darui left the chamber, Raikage's heavy footsteps echoed in the silence. He turned toward Onoki, who stood with a thoughtful frown. The old Tsuchikage was leaning on his cane, eyes narrowed in concentration.
"Well?" A asked. "Will you move, or will I march alone?"
Onoki grunted. "You're reckless. You want to march headlong into a trap."
"I don't have the luxury of caution."
"Two of my Jinchūriki were also captured. Their Biju are weapons of deterrence. Without them, I lose leverage. If I do nothing, I send a message of weakness. We march." Silence stretched before Onoki finally sighed and straightened.
"Then we do this together." A nodded.
The two Kage turned from the ruined summit chamber, each retreating to gather their forces. War was coming, and they knew it.
….
POV Obito – Hidden Mountain Graveyard
The cavern was dark, lit only by the pale blue glow of the Gedo Mazo. Its monstrous body lay curled around the chamber like a sleeping demon. Obito stood before it, his single Rinnegan gleaming with power, arms folded as his long cloak rippled in the cold, stale wind.
Black Zetsu emerged from a pillar of stone behind him, slinking forward like a shadow with shape.
"They've taken the bait," Black Zetsu said in a low voice. "Raikage and Onoki are both mobilizing. Their armies will be at the Mountain Graveyard in two days."
Obito chuckled, the sound dark and humorless.
"Kakashi…" he murmured. "You're so cunning. You wanted them to bleed first. Let them suffer, and then you sweep in to play hero. Hmph… I didn't understand why Rin loved you. Now I see it."
Black Zetsu, standing beside him, blinked slowly. You're still talking about Rin?
"Let them come," Obito said, his voice carrying through the cavern. "I'll crush them beneath Gedo Mazo. I'll shatter their will, and as they lie broken, Kakashi will come."
He turned to face the statue, lifting his hand. "Then, in front of his eyes, I'll have Gedo Mazo devour Ginkaku and Kinkaku's chakra… and return the Ten Tails."
"Speaking of which… Orochimaru completed the Edo Tensei." Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
"He did?" Obito turned sharply.
Black Zetsu nodded.
"He used the corpses I gave him. Ginkaku and Kinkaku are now walking again. Both with Nine-Tails chakra still within."
"Perfect. With them… the revival of the Ten-Tails will be complete." A cruel smile spread across Obito's face.
He laughed. Not a cackle of triumph, but something unhinged. Almost silly.
"Haha… Kakashi… what will you do then? When I put this world to sleep and can you no longer play protector of your precious village?"
His voice echoed in the cavern like a madman's lullaby.
Black Zetsu winced. 'This child is becoming more stupid by the day.'
He didn't speak aloud. He simply stared at Obito with an exasperated expression only visible in his narrow golden eye.
'I warned him to eliminate Kakashi and get his eye back years ago. He ignored me. He gave Nagato too much freedom. He failed to retrieve both Rinnegan. And now…'
Black Zetsu glanced at the Gedo Mazo. 'If this plan fails, I'll have to start all over again. At least Mother still slumbers. But this idiot may wake her up wrong.'
Obito turned to him, eyes gleaming.
"Zetsu. I will bring Orochimaru here when the time comes. I want him to see what true power looks like."
Black Zetsu barely held back a sigh. "As you wish."
POV Shift: Orochimaru – Country of Grass, Hidden Laboratory
The underground lab reeked of reagents and embalming salts. Rows of glowing tanks lined the walls, each holding monstrous things in various states of completion.
Orochimaru stood before one of his desks, hands moving swiftly as he scribbled formulas across a scroll. His long tongue flicked the corner of his mouth, and his golden eyes narrowed in thought.
The space behind him twisted.
Orochimaru moved instantly, vanishing from his spot and reappearing on a rafter above. He stared down, hand already ready to summon a snake.
"Madara," he said calmly.
Obito stepped from the distortion, cloaked in swirling Kamui chakra, his Rinnegan gleaming.
"You've been watching me again," Orochimaru said lazily.
"They're ready," Obito said. "The brothers, Ginkaku and Kinkaku. Show them to me."
Orochimaru dropped from the rafter, landing silently behind him. The dark, damp cavern echoed slightly as he moved forward, his white robes swaying.
"Very well," he hissed, dragging a scroll from his sleeve. "But don't expect them to be pleasant company."
With a flick of his wrist, Orochimaru unfurled the scroll and slammed his palm onto the ground. Black seals spread across the stone floor like veins. Smoke burst up with a loud shh-BOOM, and two coffins erupted from the earth.
Coffin One creaked open. Then Coffin Two.
There stood Ginkaku and Kinkaku, legendary brothers who once devoured the Nine-Tails' chakra from within. Their bodies were strong, muscular, and armored in their old battle gear. But their eyes were blank. No movement. No awareness. Like puppets without strings.
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"They're unresponsive," he said flatly.
"They can be responsive when I want to," Orochimaru replied, stepping beside him.
Obito stared at the two husks and nodded.
"Put them away," Obito said after observing them for some time.
With another flick of his fingers, Orochimaru made a seal. The coffins groaned shut and sank into the earth.
Obito stood still for a long moment. Then he spoke again. "Come with me."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's voice slithered with amusement. "And why would I do that?"
"I'll give you Uchiha Sasuke," Obito replied.
"You don't have him." The smile that spread across Orochimaru's lips was slow and cold.
Obito didn't deny it.
"You bluff, hoping I'll bite." Orochimaru's eyes glittered.
"And you are," Obito said.
"Of course," Orochimaru purred. "Because whether you have him or not, I want to see where this path leads."
Obito turned without a word, his cloak sweeping behind him as he walked deeper into the tunnel.
Orochimaru followed, silent and smiling.
POV Kakashi – Konoha
Back at his mansion, Kakashi sat quietly by the open window, watching clouds drift over the rebuilt village. The laughter of Naruto and Nawaki rang out in the courtyard. Tsunade and Mei were in the garden, speaking quietly with Kurenai. Konan sat silently beneath a tree, folding another intricate origami crane.
Kakashi's fingers moved slowly over a new seal formula in his notebook.
He could feel that Obito would move soon.
The war was coming.
And this time, Kakashi wasn't just a piece on the board.
He was the player.