Peace lasted for a long time.
Until four years later—Konoha Year 47.
For four full years, Yako had searched for Nagato and the others… yet they had vanished without a trace.
Was his pressure really that overwhelming?
He pondered it.
He was too visible. With his reputation—half Senju Hashirama—no one would dare confront him directly.
Maybe…
It was time to form an organization. Operate in the shadows. Hunt them properly.
—
At the end of summer, shocking news spread across the shinobi world:
The Third Kazekage had disappeared.
Sunagakure was suddenly exposed—its weakness laid bare.
The Land of Wind became a piece of meat without a guard dog.
Spies flooded in.
Iwagakure sent forces across the Yoshigane Mountains.
Kirigakure infiltrated through Sabaku Port.
And yet—
Konoha remained calm.
Neither the Third Hokage nor Tsunade showed any intention of war.
As for the ANBU…
Their movements were invisible to outsiders.
—
Autumn, Konoha Year 47.
Yako and Kyoi brought their son, Yoru, to the Ninja Academy.
Kyoi had been with him every day since his birth.
The thought of being apart—even for a day—made her uneasy.
But she hid it.
Was it she who couldn't let go… or the child?
Yako, meanwhile, had a different concern.
Their son carried Uchiha blood.
If he awakened the Sharingan too early at school…
That would be a problem.
Yako had already crafted a cover story—his mother was from the Senju clan.
But if anything happened, he would say that his father was an Uchiha…
He watched his son run into the academy, rubbing his temples.
Not yet.
That problem was still years away.
—
As they turned to leave, they passed the Yamanaka sisters escorting a small girl.
A delicate blonde child.
Yamanaka Sayaka.
His daughter.
And yet—
Yamanaka Ruri didn't even realize the man who had just passed her…
Was Fox.
Her child's father.
—
Among the new students, many future elites stood out:
Yūgao Uzuki.
Izumo Kamizuki.
Kotetsu Hagane.
Hayate Gekkō.
Iwashi Tatami.
Iruka.
And—
A lone Uchiha child.
Shisui Uchiha.
After Uchiha Suigiku's death, Shisui had become an orphan.
"Kyoi, head home. I'll check the Hokage Tower—see if there's any easy missions nearby."
Kyoi frowned.
"I heard about the Kazekage. Don't go anywhere near the Land of Wind or the Land of Rivers—it's too dangerous!"
Yako smiled lightly.
"I'm just a chunin. I know my limits."
The moment she left—
Yako vanished into the treetops.
Reappearing moments later on the academy rooftop, dressed in his ANBU cloak and fox mask.
A small masked figure stood nearby, watching the children below.
"Ka… do you want to attend the academy?"
After Danzo's death, Root had only one survivor left.
Tenzo—later known as Yamato.
Possessing Wood Release, he had been assigned under Yako.
Tenzo turned quickly.
"I'm sorry, sir. As ANBU, I shouldn't think about such things."
Yako shrugged.
"What's the problem? You're still a kid.
If you want, go study at the academy. After five years, come back to ANBU."
Tenzo lowered his head.
So… even after all his effort, he was still useless in Fox's eyes?
His Wood Release…
Was nothing compared to Fox's.
"From now on," Yako said, "your name is Yamato."
"Remove the mask. Come with me."
Yamato obeyed.
Yako placed a hand on his head.
There shouldn't be only one Wood Release user in Konoha.
Letting Yamato grow naturally…
Was better than forcing him.
—
Inside the academy office—
The principal, a Sarutobi jōnin, stood immediately upon seeing Fox.
Yako gestured to Yamato.
"Enroll him."
No explanation needed.
The principal nodded quickly.
"Understood, Fox-sama. How should we treat him?"
"Like any ordinary orphan."
He then took the graduation roster.
As he read—
He noted:
Minato had become Kakashi's jōnin instructor.
The legacy of Hatake Sakumo continued.
Minato's team included:
Kakashi.
Rin.
And an Uchiha—Uchiha Yetao.
Uchiha Mikoto had helped arrange that.
Her circle—herself, Uchiha Fugaku, Kushina, and Minato—remained close.
She had even given birth recently.
Her son—
Uchiha Itachi.
Yako lingered on the name Uchiha Yetao.
Without Madara's influence…
Perhaps this one wouldn't fall into darkness.
Kakashi, too, was progressing faster than before.
Without needing a borrowed Sharingan, his foundation was stronger.
If he mastered Sakumo's lightning chakra refinement…
He could still reach Kage level.
Another name stood out:
Orochimaru.
Now acting as a jōnin instructor.
His team included:
Asuma.
Kurenai.
Anko.
After finishing, Yako disappeared.
Behind him, Yamato was taken to his new class.
—
Far away—in the Land of Hot Water—
A muscular figure stepped out of a hot spring.
Hidan.
After training the Eight Gates, he walked toward a temple.
Inside—
Three towering statues stood:
The Wrathful King.
The Shinigami.
The Evil God.
A temple he had built with his own hands.
For four years, he had trained and prayed.
Now—
His eyes shifted.
The leader was calling.
—
Using a blood-shadow technique, his consciousness entered a divine space.
A temple of endless gray mist and a boundless sea of blood.
At its center—
Three gods.
And beneath them—
A blood silhouette.
The leader.
Codename:
Thunder.
The organization—
Calamity.
Three Greater Calamities: Thunder, Wind, Fire.
Three Lesser Calamities: Blade, Plague, Famine.
Currently—
Only two members existed:
Thunder.
And Plague—Hidan.
—
"Plague," the leader spoke.
"The disappearance of the Third Kazekage has turned the Land of Wind into chaos.
It will soon become hell.
It is time to spread the faith of the Three Gods.
Go.
Spread belief through suffering.
Offer sacrifices."
Hidan's eyes burned.
"Finally… action!"
"Those who sin must repent!
Cleanse with pain!
Please the gods with blood!"
"I'm going to the Land of Wind!"
—
The blood silhouette faded.
—
Back in reality—
Yako opened his eyes in the ANBU office.
"Fox-sama, the Hokage requests your presence."
Yako stretched.
"Probably about the Kazekage."
He smiled faintly.
"A Kage has disappeared…"
"War isn't far off now."