For Hiruzen, what Konoha needed now was stability, not more volatility.
Unfortunately, Root's existence was necessary, and Hiruzen lacked the resolve to erase it completely.
Soon, in answer to Kirigakure's accusations, Konoha pushed back: they denied killing Kinoshita Jiro and, in turn, demanded to know why Mist shinobi had attacked Leaf shinobi.
Homura and Koharu were practiced hands at this sort of thing; in a blink, they flipped the narrative and blunted what hurt them most.
But for whatever reason, the Mist came out unusually hard this time, and before long the two great villages were trading barbs in public.
Any move by one of the Five Great Villages drew the whole shinobi world's eyes. The sparring between Kiri and Konoha naturally drew most powers' attention.
Though few knew details, the bounty the Mist had posted weeks earlier—and their current hard line—suggested something: Konoha had gained from Kinoshita Jiro. What exactly had Konoha gotten out of him? That was what every village wanted to know.
Konoha couldn't refute their speculation; admitting or denying helped nothing. All they could do was swallow it.
At the same time, ANBU began probing every village except the Mist for signs of activity—who had dared to play Konoha?
Of course, if your starting direction is wrong, no amount of digging will find anything that matters.
—
An endless desert. Sand lashed the air. Compared to Konoha's fertile fields, this was downright harsh.
Hidden on the lee of a dune—
A torrent of glittering gold sand heaved down from the sky.
Blood spattered everywhere, turning the ground a garish red.
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, lowered his eyes to the Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Kusanagi Sword) jutting through his back. Disbelief and unwillingness flashed there—then he toppled.
"Kh—"
Orochimaru coughed; blood poured from his mouth, freckling his pallid robe with blossoms of red.
He licked the blood away with a crimson tongue, yanked the Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Kusanagi Sword) free from Rasa's corpse, and didn't spare the body a glance.
The dead don't need attention.
"This vessel's almost at its limit again."
He murmured it, ignoring his wounds.
He plucked the Kazekage's hat from Rasa's head and set it on his own, then turned to leave.
"The Mist really moves fast. As expected of old-era shinobi—they haven't shown a single seam."
His voice was barely there, swallowed by the sandstorm.
—
A dim cavern.
A colossal humanoid statue squatted there, still—and yet several dozen meters tall even seated.
Nine eyes crowned its head, all shut tight.
A fan of broken-looking steles jutted from its back.
Its body was like dead wood, and yet anyone could feel the life knotted inside it.
"So far, the plan proceeds smoothly. Phase one is complete."
"Phase two can begin."
The flat, emotionless voice filled the chamber.
Pain stood atop the Gedo Mazō (Demonic Statue of the Outer Path), expression blank, looking down at the Akatsuki arrayed upon the statue's outstretched fingers.
Aside from Zetsu and Konan standing near Pain himself, the others appeared only as projected phantoms—some special hijutsu (secret technique).
"This boring life is finally ending. The Lord Jashin is itching for sacrifices!"
"Oi, Kakuzu—you're itching too, right?"
A gray-haired man with pale blue pupils crowed with excitement.
"Shut up," Kakuzu said without lifting his head.
The rest, ghosted into the cave, wore the same indifferent faces—only Hidan was keyed up.
When no one but Kakuzu reacted, Hidan pulled a sour face.
"Itachi, Kisame—keep eyes on the Mist and the Leaf. If needed, intervene," Pain said, gaze sliding to them.
Anything that weakened the Five was of interest to him.
Itachi nodded once, cool as ever.
Kisame's projection lifted a hand—his real body was clearly hefting Samehada.
—
On an island some ways from the Mist—
Yuto strolled along like he was out for air, taking in the scenery.
This lay within the Land of Water, so it fell under Kiri's jurisdiction.
Before long, he reached the island's heart: a vast lake, its water clear enough that fish flickered visible beneath the surface.
A perfect holiday spot—if he'd come to holiday.
"Found you at last."
He smiled faintly at the placid water.
He extended his palm toward the lake. The chakra of the Six-Tails surged through him, gathering at his hand.
A red-violet sphere bulged into being at his palm's center; in a breath, a football-sized Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Bomb) was complete.
He flicked it. The sphere streaked crimson into the lake.
Boom!
The blast shook the lake, hurling waves tens of meters high. For a moment, it was like rain was falling across half the island.
In the depths—
A massive turtle covered in spikes, trailing three great tails, snapped its eyes open.
Saiken?
Sensing the Six-Tails' chakra, Isobu's gaze flashed with a hint of confusion—mostly anger. Anyone woken from sleep would be furious.
ROAR!
Isobu thundered, heaving its bulk. A wall of water rose, and the Three-Tails burst from the lake.
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