Kirigakure – Mizukage's Office
The Mizukage studied the latest intelligence from the Land of Bears and smiled faintly.
"So the little brat is making his move… Things are about to get interesting."
Ao frowned. "Mizukage-sama, do you really think Hoshigakure can stand against Sunagakure—or even Iwagakure? Even if that 'Peacock King' is strong, one man can't stop two Great Villages."
The Mizukage shook her head.
"Whether they can hold or not, chaos among the great nations is good for Kirigakure. The more unstable the world becomes, the more room we have to maneuver. Besides… perhaps that boy will surprise us."
---
While the major villages observed the situation from afar, most believed Hoshigakure was far too small to survive a major conflict.
Two days passed, and Chen Xing's succession ceremony finally began.
Wearing the ceremonial robes of the Fourth Star Shadow—robes patterned after the Hokage's traditional haori—Chen Xing looked less than enthusiastic as he held the ornate Star Shadow headpiece.
Xia Xing approached with nine-year-old Somei at her side.
"Chen Xing, why the long face? This is your ceremony," she asked.
Chen Xing lifted the headpiece helplessly.
"Xia Xing-sister… doesn't this look like a farmer's hat someone painted over?"
Before he could complain further, Somei snatched it and put it on his own head.
"If you don't want it, Chen Xing-brother, I'll take it! I'll be the Fifth Star Shadow!"
Xia Xing flicked Somei on the forehead.
"Behave. Give it back. This is the village's symbol."
Chen Xing chuckled and crouched to Somei's height.
"If you want this hat someday, get stronger. I'll be waiting for you to surpass me."
Somei nodded seriously.
Soon, the ceremony began. Chen Xing stepped onto the platform overlooking the entire village. Cheers filled the plaza.
After the Third Star Shadow formally passed the mantle to him, Chen Xing raised his voice:
"I, Chen Xing, hereby become the Fourth Star Shadow of Hoshigakure. From this day forward, I will guide our village toward a brighter future."
---
The Next Day
The moment the ceremony ended, Chen Xing tossed the headpiece onto his desk and left the office entirely, returning to the hidden valley deep within the Bear Country's forests.
A masked ANBU appeared at the barrier outside his cabin.
Chen Xing sensed the chakra disturbance instantly and vanished from inside the house, reappearing in front of the masked operative in a purple blur.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Star Shadow-sama," the ANBU said respectfully, "Konoha's informant sent word. The person you requested… has been located."
"Finally."
With a single step, Chen Xing's body dissolved into violet light and shot into the sky.
---
Land of Fire – Remote Mountain Region
Chen Xing appeared atop a tall branch, wind swirling around him.
"This is the place."
Dropping to the forest floor, he closed his eyes, extending his mental perception like a finely woven chakra net.
At the base of a rocky cliff, two men in black cloaks patterned with red clouds sat beside a small wind chime set on a boulder—Akatsuki scouts.
One was Hoshigaki Kisame, shark-like grin and massive Samehada resting at his side.
The other was Uchiha Itachi, calm and unreadable.
Kisame stretched.
"Zero's message said to meet him once we reach the Fire Country border. How long before we—"
Itachi's eyes narrowed.
"Unnecessary."
Kisame paused.
"Right, right… we're supposed to pick up that missing-nin from Iwagakure. Third Tsuchikage's student, wasn't he?"
He remembered the moment years ago when he first joined Itachi's team—how Itachi's illusions had neutralized him effortlessly. The Uchiha's power was terrifying even then.
He was about to say more when Itachi suddenly flicked a handful of kunai toward a massive boulder.
The kunai curved mid-air—evidence of perfect throwing technique—and struck behind the rock.
BOOM!
Explosive tags detonated, shattering stone and filling the clearing with smoke.
From within the settling dust, slow clapping echoed.
Kisame's grip tightened on Samehada.
Walking out of the haze was a young man in violet, eyes sharp.
"Peacock King…?" Kisame muttered, surprised.
No expression showed on Chen Xing's face. His gaze rested briefly on Itachi.
"Impressive. To detect my approach and strike at the only blind angle with a single volley… As expected of a Uchiha prodigy."
Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan slowly spun to life.
"You came for me?" he asked calmly.
Chen Xing nodded. "Yes."
Kisame scoffed.
"You've got guts, kid. We usually hunt missing-nin—you're the first who's walked up to us on your own. What do you want, a bounty on your own head?"
Chen Xing shook his head.
"Judging by the cloaks, you're part of an organization. I have no interest in provoking one unless necessary."
Both Akatsuki members showed no surprise—they expected as much from anyone familiar with their uniforms.