Only one person in the entire shinobi world could restore an arm to perfection—and that person was Tsunade.
As Orochimaru sat before the dim light of his laboratory, a fleeting memory crossed the golden darkness of his eyes. Even after all these years, Tsunade's face still surfaced in his mind like a ghost that refused to fade.
Ten years… Has it really been that long since I last saw her?
His fingers drummed lightly against the desk, the hint of an unspoken emotion flickering somewhere beneath his calm façade.
A voice broke the silence.
"Lord Orochimaru."
Guren stepped in, bowing respectfully. "Hinata has been tended to."
Orochimaru let out a soft, awkward chuckle. "So… what do you think of the girl's talent?"
Guren shook her head. "Average. Nothing remarkable."
After a brief pause, she added, "Or perhaps I'm simply not sharp enough to see it."
Orochimaru murmured thoughtfully, "The heir of the Hyuga Main Family possesses a Byakugan of exceptionally high purity. The true potential of the Byakugan can only be unlocked when one steps toward the Tenseigan… something far beyond anyone's imagination."
His voice trailed off, the lab falling once more into silence.
---
Sunagakure Army – The Command Tent
Inside the largest tent of the Sand Village forces, tension rippled like a storm caught between canvas walls. The jonin stood clustered together, faces dark with anger and frustration.
"This is outrageous!"
"They take us for fools—do they think nothing of Sunagakure?!"
Voices rose, overlapping, arguing fiercely. The atmosphere thickened until even the air felt heated.
Chiyo, who had been silent until now, suddenly opened her cloudy yet sharp eyes. Her presence alone seemed to press down on the room like a desert storm.
"If you don't quiet down," she snapped, "I'll turn every one of you into puppets so I can finally get some peace."
Had anyone else uttered those words, the Sunagakure officials would have exploded in fury.
But this was Chiyo. The legendary puppet master.
No one dared to challenge her.
Chiyo's gaze swept over them coldly.
"Our Hidden Sand Village is the only village that rejected the First Hokage's benevolence and instead captured a tailed beast by our own strength."
Her voice carried bitterness.
"And now… both Kazekage are gone. Our shame has reached its peak."
Silence fell like a stone.
"Instead of bickering like children," she continued, "you should be discussing how to restore Sunagakure's dignity."
The jonin lowered their heads—some out of guilt, some out of fear. Even Yura, Sasori's subordinate, flushed with embarrassment.
Ebizo finally spoke. "Sister… you mustn't talk too much. The priority now is to choose the Sixth Kazekage and open peace negotiations with the Hidden Cloud Village."
Chiyo nodded once. "I already have a candidate."
Ebizo's eyes narrowed. "Gaara?"
"Yes," Chiyo replied firmly. "He's our only choice."
Turning away, she added, "Brother, lead the army back to the village immediately. I will handle the negotiations with the Cloud."
---
Land of Lightning – Western Army Base
Inside Fourth Raikage Ay's command tent, three researchers were busy installing complex communication equipment. Sparks flickered, tools clattered, and wires snaked across the floor. They seemed almost cheerful in their work.
Meanwhile, Ay and Tsuchida sat nearby with nothing to do, while Mabui remained dutifully at the Raikage's side, recording documents with elegant efficiency.
At last, the researchers stepped back.
Two screens lit up, and a large power cell hummed on the ground.
Ay folded his arms.
"Time for the video call. Connect me with Ōnoki and Chiyo."
Kumogakure's technological advancement had long surpassed the other great villages.
Electricity, communication devices, long-distance transmissions—they had pioneered them all.
In the future, they would even create cannons powerful enough to shatter meteors.
The battery box creaked as the device powered up.
"Signal connected," one researcher announced.
After several flickers, two images stabilized on the screens: Ōnoki with his white beard and perpetually squinting eyes, and Chiyo with her gray hair tied neatly behind her.
"Hello, hello—can you hear me, boy?" Ōnoki shouted.
"Raikage-sama," Chiyo greeted calmly. "It is an honor."
A faint buzzing echoed from the speakers.
Ay pressed a hand to his forehead. "Tsuchikage, half your body is already in the grave—must you still act like an old fool?"
Ōnoki chuckled. "Youngsters these days have no manners. Hey, boy, you're a Kage—set a good example."
Chiyo simply watched them bicker without saying a word.
Ay snorted.
He remembered clearly how, during the Third Great War, Ōnoki had led tens of thousands of Iwagakure shinobi against the Third Raikage.
Their enmity ran deep.
The fact that Ay was willing to negotiate today spoke volumes about his discipline and his desire for a proper resolution.
Ay lifted a dumbbell with one hand while speaking, his expression cold.
"Every second of this communication costs tens of thousands of ryō. If you keep rambling, I'll send my army to negotiate in person."
Ōnoki flinched. "Alright, alright—Raikage-sama, Iwagakure is prepared to seek peace to end this war."
Ay set the weight down. "Before that… tell me something, Ōnoki. This war wasn't orchestrated by you, was it?"
Ōnoki waved dismissively. "Raikage, please. Everyone knows Iwagakure values peace the most."
His face didn't redden, his heartbeat didn't waver. Even Chiyo twitched at the blatant lie.
Ay leaned forward.
"No more word games. If you want peace, show sincerity worthy of Kumogakure."
The pressure in his voice crackled through the screen.
Even from afar, Ōnoki and Chiyo felt the Raikage's presence like a thundercloud forming overhead.
"If the Raikage is dissatisfied," Ōnoki asked quietly, "does that mean you intend to wipe out our two villages?"
Ay rotated his shoulder calmly. "If necessary, yes."
Chiyo swallowed hard.
Even if Kumogakure couldn't annihilate Iwagakure completely, Sunagakure would not survive such a conflict. Not in their current state.
Ōnoki tried to muster some bravado. "Ay… you've grown arrogant."
"And you've grown old," Ay responded bluntly. "Your strength is outdated."
Before more sparks could fly, Chiyo stepped in.
"Raikage-sama," she said, "Sunagakure is willing to pay two hundred million ryō as war reparations."
Even saying the number made her heart bleed.
The Fourth Kazekage's accumulated wealth would vanish overnight.
But she knew how the Cloud operated.
Kumogakure respected only strength—whether physical or monetary.
Appeasement was the only way to ensure survival.
Ay glanced at Tsuchida, who whispered something into his ear.
Ay's eyes gleamed.
"Two hundred million isn't enough."
Chiyo froze.
She had expected greed—but not this kind.
Kumogakure had not even invaded Lightning Country. Their losses were minimal.
Meanwhile, Sunagakure had lost two Kazekage.
"What else do you want?" Chiyo asked through clenched teeth.
Ay smiled faintly. "I hear the Fourth Kazekage's two children recently graduated from the Ninja Academy. To deepen the friendship between our villages… they will live in the Hidden Cloud Village for the next three years."
"What—?!"
Temari and Kankurō?
Hostages?
But Chiyo quickly reassessed.
Even as hostages, the two children were not weighty enough to threaten Sunagakure should another war erupt.
Moreover, Sunagakure was in no condition to defy anyone.
After several long breaths, she bowed her head.
"Very well, Raikage-sama. Temari and Kankurō will be entrusted to you. Please treat them fairly."
Ay nodded. "I personally guarantee their safety."
Then he turned to Ōnoki.
"Tsuchikage. What about you?"
Ōnoki clenched his teeth. "Two hundred—no, three hundred million ryō. Paid upfront."
"And," Ay added calmly, "for the next three years, Kumogakure will take thirty percent of Iwagakure's mission quota. Furthermore, Kurotsuchi will also stay in the Hidden Cloud Village for the same duration."
Ōnoki's heart dropped.
Thirty percent of their mission quota?!
In the Land of Earth, missions were scarce.
The Daimyō already spent enormous sums compensating nobles just to keep missions flowing.
Handing over nearly one-third…
It was a direct blow to Iwagakure's economy.
"A snake trying to swallow an elephant is bound to choke," Ōnoki growled.
"Let me worry about choking," Ay replied. "Your job is to agree."
Ōnoki's fists trembled.
"Kumogakure is pushing too far. The hardliners in my village will revolt if I agree!"
Ay laughed. "If you could win on the battlefield, you wouldn't need to beg at the table. Choose: war or peace."
The silence dragged on…
until Ōnoki finally exhaled and lowered his head.
"…I agree."
The screens abruptly turned black.
Ōnoki slumped into his chair, eyes closed.
Behind him, Akatsuchi and Kitsuchi stood rigid with anger.
Kitsuchi growled first. "Those barbaric Cloud shinobi—how dare they?!"
Ōnoki didn't open his eyes. "Victory belongs to the strong. If we had won, Sunagakure and Kumogakure would already be divided among us."
He sighed.
"Kumogakure defeated four villages in a row. This is their era. Ours… may never come again."
Akatsuchi frowned deeply. "Old man… if the Cloud continues to rise, Iwagakure will eventually fall. How do we stop them?"
Ōnoki remained silent for a time.
At last, he whispered:
"Akatsuchi… go to the Rain Country. Contact the Akatsuki."
---
Land of Rain – Hidden Mist Base
Far away, in a dim underground laboratory, Hiruko stood before an operating table.
Screams shook the room as the test subject writhed, tumors twisting across his skin.
Moments later, the grotesque lumps sank into his body again, leaving his skin smooth as if the abnormalities had never existed.
Hiruko smiled.
A slow, cold, ecstatic smile.
"Incredible… absolutely incredible. How were these White Zetsu creatures created? They can fuse with my body perfectly."
Ever since returning from the Land of Wind, he had begun refining the Chimera Technique.
His new plan was simple—yet mad.
Use White Zetsu as the foundation to absorb shinobi from all five bloodlines.
White Zetsu were once ancient humans, transformed after being ensnared in the God Tree and subjected to the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Whether they were still human was anyone's guess.
Their combat strength was mediocre, but their compatibility with the human body…
Madara and Obito had used White Zetsu limbs without any rejection.
If Hiruko could gain that ability…
the flaws of the Chimera Technique would vanish entirely.
His grin widened.
"My evolution… has only just begun."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)