But the moment Danzo disappeared down the hallway towards Hokage tower, the space around where Danzo stood distorted. The air twisted like a ripple spreading across still water.
A figure slowly emerged from the distortion.
He appeared young, perhaps no older than fifteen. His body was clad in a black cloak, and his face was hidden behind a white spiral mask that converged toward a single eyehole shaped like a stretched shuriken.
The figure stood silently for a moment. Then another shape rose slowly from the ground behind him like something emerging from thick mud.
A black humanoid form.
Zetsu.
"It seems Kumo has lost an important piece," the black half of Zetsu said quietly. "How goes your search for the Raikage?"
Obito remained silent for several seconds. "I searched the Kumo mainland thoroughly and I could not find the Nine tails Jinchuriki as well," he said at last.
"I could not find him."
Zetsu tilted his head. "Interesting."
Obito's single visible eye hardened. "Then we will force him to appear."
"How?"
Obito's voice became colder. "It is time I take control of Kirigakure. It is a good thing I didn't start the Blood Mist era and most of their strength is preserved. They better serve their worth for letting them live."
Zetsu chuckled softly. "And?"
"We will use the Mist village to attack Kumo."
His voice carried no emotion. "If the Raikage is still alive, he will not ignore an attack on his territory. I will prove to that Old Man Madara that there is nothing to fear and he can peacefully die."
Zetsu grinned. "Provoking a war between village already weakened by the previous conflict and which is freshly entering into the war... interesting. Let's see how the other villages react."
Obito turned toward the darkness. "It will accelerate everything."
Then both figures vanished into the shadows.
—
Meanwhile, across the village inside the Nara compound, a very different kind of discussion was taking place.
Minato sat at a low wooden table opposite three of Konoha's most important clan leaders.
Shikaku Nara. Inoichi Yamanaka. Choza Akimichi.
The three men had originally gathered for a routine tri-clan strategic meeting when Minato suddenly appeared.
Now the atmosphere inside the room had become far more serious.
Minato finished explaining the situation. [The Hostage's name is Kaien Hotstushi. He is the grandson of the Third Raikage and the strategist behind Kumo's operations during the last war.]
The room fell silent.
All three men slowly turned their gaze toward Shikaku. As Konoha's official Jonin Commander and chief strategist, he was the one who usually spoke first during situations like this.
Shikaku leaned back slightly and stared at the ceiling.
Then he sighed. "What a drag…"
He scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "What you did today, Minato, was both a dumb move and a smart move."
Minato raised an eyebrow.
Shikaku explained calmly. "It's dumb because gathering every clan leader for a decision means the argument will take forever which will give Kumo time to retaliate."
Choza nodded in agreement. "Very true."
Shikaku continued. "But it's smart because if you hadn't informed the clans, Danzo would have made the decision alone and we don't know what he would do."
His expression darkened slightly. "For the past two years he has been quietly building support among the Jonin ranks."
"He has also been spending Konoha's budget in ways that are… questionable."
Inoichi folded his arms. "So involving the clans forces the decision into public discussion."
Shikaku nodded. "Exactly."
Then he glanced at Minato again. "By the way… where is the kid now?"
"He's with Lady Tsunade," Minato replied. "They're heading to the Hokage Tower. They may stop at other clan compounds on the way."
Shikaku rubbed his temples slowly. "Whatever happens, we need to extract every piece of information from that boy."
He spoke carefully. "And most importantly… we need to get Kushina-san back."
The room grew quiet again. Everyone understood how fragile Konoha's position had become. The war had drained their manpower. The Third Hokage was dead. And the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been captured.
Konoha was standing dangerously close to the edge of collapse.
Just then the sliding door opened.
A Root Ninja dressed as an Anbu stepped inside, escorted by a Nara clan member who had allowed him to enter.
The masked shinobi bowed slightly. "Greetings, Jonin Commander and Minato-san."
He turned toward Inoichi. "Hokage-sama has summoned Inoichi-sama."
Then four men shared the exact same thought. So Hokage Danzo already knows of the Hostage.
Shikaku stood up slowly. "Of course he does." He looked toward Inoichi. "Well… looks like our peaceful discussion is over."
Choza sighed heavily. "Troublesome."
Shikaku stretched slightly. "Let's go."
Then he glanced at Minato. "Things are about to get very complicated."
A/N: I am not writing any mist attack that is for future arcs. So, since there was no blood mist era because he wants to grind them against kumo. kimimaro, suigetsu, mangetsu, haku, zabuza, kisame are all in mist village.
Upto 20 Advance chapters available @ patreon.com/aizenDuchiha0