Inside one of the Akatsuki's hidden tree-hollow bases, bodies lay scattered across the ground.
Nagato and Konan stood before them in silence, grief weighing heavily on their shoulders.
Yahiko had taken his own life for Konan… and the rest of their comrades had been slaughtered.
In the blink of an eye, the once-vibrant Akatsuki had been reduced to just the two of them.
Fear and confusion filled their hearts.
Why… why had it come to this? What had they done wrong?
They had simply taken missions in the Land of Rain, never committing evil acts—many of their jobs had even been free, acts of goodwill.
Yahiko often helped with missing person notices, reuniting families.
They were orphans themselves. They didn't want others to suffer the same fate.
And yet, they had been targeted by Amegakure… and by Konoha.
The first generation of Akatsuki members was gone.
What Nagato and Konan didn't know… was that it had been Uchiha Obito—standing quietly at the back—who had personally killed them, disguising himself as a Rain ninja.
With Yahiko dead, Nagato could now devote himself entirely to Madara's will.
Once all nine Tailed Beasts were gathered, Nagato's mission would be complete. Using the secret art of the Rinnegan, he would revive Madara.
Black Zetsu spoke from the side.
"Originally, Madara-sama had no intention of revealing himself. He planned to remain in the shadows, making his final arrangements.
But during the Second Shinobi War, Konoha somehow found him, exposing his existence to the world.
Even in that first exposure, Konoha's Fox was involved. Now it seems… that wasn't a coincidence.
Madara-sama entrusted everything to us before his death. His life had already reached its end.
What we didn't expect… was that Konoha's Fox could actually kill a dying Madara.
Madara-sama ordered us to collect the Tailed Beasts, but Fox killed the Two-Tails. It will take years for it to revive.
Until then, we can do nothing."
Black Zetsu's eyes shifted subtly, studying each of their reactions.
He had waited over a thousand years.
Would these people truly be able to seal all nine Tailed Beasts into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?
He was growing impatient.
Nagato and Konan remained immersed in grief.
Losing Yahiko… losing their companions… had left a permanent void in their hearts.
Behind Nagato, black receivers pierced into his back, connecting him to the Demonic Statue.
Nearby, Spiral Zetsu stared curiously at the Deva Path—Yahiko's corpse.
Nagato had turned Yahiko's body into one of the Six Paths.
"Nagato… does your corpse puppet need to eat? Or… you know… use the bathroom?"
Nagato and Konan both turned at once.
Seeing the terrifying look in Nagato's eyes, Spiral Zetsu hurriedly waved his hands.
"Sorry, sorry! I was just curious! No disrespect intended!"
Black Zetsu withdrew his gaze from Spiral Zetsu.
This one was a complete idiot.
He turned instead to Obito.
Back in Konoha, Uchiha Obito had been warm-hearted to a fault—the kind of person who would forcibly help an old lady cross the street.
Now… he was utterly cold.
If not for his young age and limited strength, he would have already returned to Konoha for revenge.
Only after revenge would he think about creating a world without hatred—a world where his grandmother could live in peace.
Black Zetsu thought to himself—each of them held a fragment of the Eye of the Moon Plan.
But how much of it would they actually carry out?
At that moment, everyone turned toward the entrance of the hollow.
A figure appeared in an instant.
A streak of lightning split the night sky, illuminating a dark fox mask.
"So… you're all here."
Yako's gaze swept across the hollow.
A gathering of villains. Quite the lineup.
Nagato's Rinnegan… now that was something worth having.
'Makes me want to die a little… what should I do…'
His eyes finally settled on Uchiha Obito.
He had just cut down an eighty-year-old man… and now he was about to beat up an eight-year-old child.
Why did he feel like the villain here?
"It's Fox!" Spiral Zetsu shouted. "Obito!"
Obito's eyes instantly shifted into the Mangekyō.
A spatial vortex spiraled open before his right eye.
It moved with terrifying speed—in an instant, everything inside the hollow was swallowed and transferred away.
Yako had expected a fight with so many enemies present and didn't react in time.
By the time he lunged forward, he grabbed nothing but air.
The hollow was completely empty.
They escaped.
'No chance to beat up an eight-year-old… what a pity.'
At the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Bears, space twisted in a spiral.
Once everyone was released, Obito collapsed unconscious.
Spiral Zetsu rushed over, shaking him.
"Obito! Wake up! Without you, how are we supposed to escape Fox's pursuit?! That's Fox we're talking about!"
Seeing that Obito wouldn't wake anytime soon, Nagato spoke calmly.
"Obito is too young. Using the Mangekyō even once has drained him.
The major villages are stronger than we anticipated. Taking the Nine-Tails from Fox will be a major challenge.
For the next few years, we lie low and build our strength.
When Obito grows stronger… when I rebuild the Akatsuki… when the Two-Tails revives…
Then we will move to seal all nine Tailed Beasts.
Besides, the major villages like Iwagakure and Kumogakure won't sit idly by while Konoha produces someone like Fox.
Fox is not Senju Hashirama. He won't negotiate with the other villages.
We can rally the four great villages to form a Shinobi Alliance… and strike Konoha together.
In the Third Shinobi War… we will achieve all our goals."
Tobi and Black-White Zetsu both looked at him.
Nagato had grown.
He was finally living up to Madara's expectations.
—
Yako led the ANBU through the Land of Rain for over half a month, finding nothing.
"Where did all the villains go…"
With no leads, he had no choice but to return to Konoha.
At the village gates, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood alone, watching the distant figure of Fox approach.
He looked… utterly alone.
News of Danzo's apparent death by Reverse Four Symbols Seal had already reached Konoha via messenger hawk.
Hiruzen stared at Fox, a trace of hope—of pleading—hidden in his voice.
"Fox… Danzo is fine, right? You found him, didn't you?"
He still clung to a faint hope—that the report was wrong.
Of the Second Hokage's six guards, Uchiha Kagami had died long ago.
Mitokado Homura had been killed.
Utatane Koharu and Akimichi Torifu had also fallen.
And now… even Danzo?
Even the man who feared death so deeply… who always sent subordinates ahead to test danger…
Had he really died too?
Of the six… only he remained.
Of the first class of the Ninja Academy—the students Tobirama had placed his hopes in—so few were left.
A bone-deep loneliness washed over Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Yako shook his head.
"Hokage-sama, I searched the Land of Rain for over half a month.
I believe Advisor Danzo did indeed use the Reaper Death Seal, perishing together with his enemy.
As for who that enemy was… further investigation is required."
He didn't mention that Danzo had died alongside Uchiha Madara's scythe.
Hiruzen wouldn't be able to take it.
Hearing this, Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes, his head lowering slightly.
In the distance, Nara Shikakaku watched the Third Hokage's desolate figure, filled with emotion.
In recent years, Hiruzen had been most wary of Danzo. Among all the advisors, Danzo had been the most ambitious, wielding immense influence in the shadows.
Shikakaku turned his gaze toward Fox.
Konoha's past… was gone.
Its future… lay in Fox's hands.
Though he remained hidden within the ANBU, he was Konoha's uncrowned shadow (kage).
Now, the village's true leadership consisted of four—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, Nara Shikakaku… and Fox.
The news that Fox had killed Uchiha Madara plunged the great villages into an eerie silence.
Only Ōnoki had spoken openly in an Iwagakure council meeting—claiming Fox had merely killed a dying old man, and there was no need to fear him.
Rumors spread that Iwagakure and Kumogakure had begun frequent exchanges, envoys traveling constantly between them.
Shikakaku thought to himself—fortunately, the Yamanaka clan had Purple Cat within the ANBU.
They still had a bridge to communicate with Fox.
After a long silence, Hiruzen spoke.
"Tomorrow… we'll hold Danzo's funeral."
—
The next day, Yako wore a black robe as he led all of the ANBU to attend.
Danzo had once been the head of the ANBU—his absence would have been inappropriate.
Yako glanced around.
Tsunade was nowhere to be seen.
Not just her—the entire Senju clan was absent.
After the funeral ended and the crowd dispersed, Tsunade, dressed in black, approached the Memorial Stone.
She cast a look of disdain and disgust at Danzo's name…
Then walked past it, toward the graves behind.
Standing before Nawaki's grave, she gently placed a white chrysanthemum.