The sun was beginning to set behind the dunes surrounding Sunagakure, painting the sky in a deep copper red.
In the residential streets, the daily hustle and bustle faded as oil lamps were lit one by one. However, over at Sasori's family compound, the atmosphere remained hushed.
Daigo walked at a leisurely pace along the outer hallway until he stopped in front of the main entrance. Raising his hand, he knocked on the door with three sharp, firm thuds.
Barely a few seconds later, the lock creaked and the door opened slowly.
Karinna appeared on the other side. Her face reflected days of accumulated exhaustion; deep dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her hair was messy, with several loose strands falling over her forehead. The sleeves of her robe were rolled up to her elbows, and light ink stains marked her hands—a clear sign that she had been working tirelessly on her sealing projects.
Karinna looked at Daigo and let out a long sigh, resting her shoulder against the doorframe.
"Do you have more work for me, Daigo?" Karinna asked in a distinctly tired tone, though without losing her composure.
Daigo observed her carefully, taking note of the evident fatigue in her posture and the lack of sleep on her face. A slight, understanding smile formed on the Kazekage's lips, and he shook his head gently.
"No, don't worry," Daigo answered calmly. "I'm not here to give you more tasks. I just came to see Sasori and my niece Karin to hand them something."
Karinna let out another sigh, this time of relief, and stepped aside to open the door completely.
"Come in before the cool air leaves the house," Karinna muttered as she turned around and walked down the inner hallway. "Sasori! Karin! Come down right now, Daigo is here!"
Karinna's call echoed through the halls. Almost instantly, two doors at the end of the corridor opened simultaneously.
Karin emerged from her private workshop, wiping her hands with a small towel, while Sasori crossed the threshold of his main laboratory with a slight frown, a precision tool still tucked into his waist sash.
Sasori walked toward the living room with firm steps. Seeing Daigo standing in the center of the room, he let out a resigned sigh.
"Is something wrong, Daigo? I'm in the middle of a delicate assembly," Sasori said in his usual cold, direct tone.
Daigo noticed the tension in his younger brother's shoulders—the result of spending hours locked away working on his puppets.
Without wasting time, Daigo closed the distance before Sasori could react. Extending his arm, he caught Sasori around the neck, locking his head under his arm, and used the knuckles of his free hand to give him a quick, playful nuggikrap right on his hair.
"Hey! Let go of me, Daigo! What the hell is wrong with you?" Sasori protested with irritation, trying to wriggle free from the grip while gritting his teeth.
Daigo let out a clean, hearty laugh, completely messing up his younger brother's hair before letting him go.
"You had that overly serious face you always wear, Sasori. If you keep that up in front of your daughter, that bitterness of yours is going to rub off on her," Daigo teased as he adjusted the sleeves of his Kage robes.
To the side of the room, Karinna and Karin couldn't help but crack a smile at the scene. It was an absolute truth in the village: Daigo was the only person in the entire shinobi world capable of breaking Sasori's cold facade and making him act like an annoyed child.
Sasori fixed his hair with annoyance, shooting a murderous glare at Daigo, though there was no real anger in his eyes—just his customary tolerance for his brother's antics.
"If you're done with your stupidity, speak," Sasori grumbled, crossing his arms.
Daigo wiped away his playful smile and walked toward one of the wooden armchairs in the living room. He sat down comfortably, reached inside his cloak, and pulled out the last scroll he had prepared for the preliminary participants. With a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed it to Karin.
The young red-haired girl reacted instantly, catching the scroll out of the air with agility. She looked at the red silk seal closing it and then raised her eyes toward her uncle.
"What is this, Uncle Daigo?" Karin asked with curiosity, adjusting her glasses.
"Inside is a detailed analysis of your current capabilities," Daigo explained in a serious yet affectionate tone. "I didn't just focus on your special tracking and healing abilities, but also on exercises to increase your combat creativity. If you're going to face Kimimaro in the first round of the final tournament, you'll need to think outside conventional boundaries."
Karin pressed the scroll against her chest. A genuine smile brightened her face as she took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Daigo's shoulders in a quick hug.
"Thank you so much, Uncle Daigo. I promise I'll study it tonight," Karin said with determination. "I'm going to my workshop to review the notes."
"Be careful, Karin," Daigo replied, giving her a gentle pat on the back.
The young girl turned around and ran up the hallway toward her room, leaving the three adults alone in the space.
As soon as Karin vanished from sight, the atmosphere in the room shifted drastically. Daigo's expression turned completely solemn, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Noticing the instant transformation on the Kazekage's face, both Sasori and Karinna stiffened into alert postures.
Karinna walked silently toward the small side table, poured three glasses of fresh water from a clay pitcher, and placed them on the table in front of Daigo before sitting beside Sasori.
"Alright, Daigo," Karinna spoke, breaking the silence. "What really brings you here? You know this house—you wouldn't have come in person just to deliver a scroll if there wasn't something bigger behind it."
Daigo let out a deep sigh, leaning back against his seat.
"Serious trouble is coming for the final phase of the exams," Daigo began in a low, measured voice. "And I'm going to need both of your help."
Sasori kept his eyes locked on his brother and gave a subtle nod.
"You didn't need to come and ask us like this," Sasori said firmly. "You know very well that you can count on us for whatever is necessary."
"I know," Daigo replied, looking directly into Sasori's and Karinna's eyes. "But even so, I felt the need to tell you face-to-face. What's coming won't be a minor conflict or a simple skirmish. If we don't take this with absolute seriousness and prepare for the worst-case scenario, it could mean the total destruction of Sunagakure."
Karinna folded her hands over her knees. Despite the clear fatigue on her face, her eyes reflected unshakeable resolve.
"This is what we've been preparing the village for all these years, Daigo," Karinna declared with a steady voice. "All the clans are organized, the perimeter defenses are active, and our shinobi are ready. Whatever happens, let it happen. Suna will stand tall. And if for some reason it falls... together we will raise it from the ashes once more."
Daigo nodded at Karinna's words. However, he turned his eyes toward Sasori, who had remained completely silent for the past few seconds.
"Do you have anything to add, Sasori?" Daigo asked.
Sasori shook his head slowly, while a faint corner of his mouth curved into a cold smirk.
"Only that it was about time action returned to the Elemental Nations," Sasori answered in a slow voice. "My material reserves are running low, and I need new bodies to create truly valuable puppets."
Daigo let out a short laugh, his face lighting up with a wild grin that displayed the fierce combatant side he rarely showed inside the Kage's office.
"Well... we finally agree on something," Daigo said, leaping to his feet in a single movement. "It's time we stir these old bones; we're getting old. When the attack starts, I want neither of you to hold anything back. Defend Suna to the very end."
"Count on it," Sasori replied.
Daigo crossed his fingers in a rapid seal. In a flash of mineral light and compressed air, his figure vanished completely from the house.
SHIN!
After the Kazekage's departure, the room fell silent. Karinna and Sasori looked at each other for a moment, sharing a mutual understanding without needing to utter a single word.
Both nodded simultaneously and stood up, walking toward their respective workshops. The night had just begun, and preparations for war could not wait.
Far, far away from the borders of Sunagakure, deep within the Land of Rivers, rose a mountain range perpetually cloaked in heavy moisture and mist.
Hidden at the base of a rocky ravine lay the entrance to a vast underground cavern, illuminated only by blue-fire torches mounted on the stone walls.
In the center of the cave, gathered around a large carved stone table, six figures stood assembled.
On one side of the chamber, three men stood in the shadows. All three wore long black cloaks adorned with stamped red clouds—the unmistakable symbol of the Akatsuki organization.
On the other side of the table, the delegation from Iwagakure observed with distrust. The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, floated a short distance off the ground with his arms crossed behind his back.
Behind him, standing guard constantly, were his son Kitsuchi and the commander of the Stone's ANBU forces.
Ōnoki's gaze swept over the three individuals across from him.
At the center of Akatsuki's formation stood Pain, the visible leader of the organization. His purple eyes, marked with the spiral pattern of the legendary Rinnegan, remained fixed on the Tsuchikage with an absolute coldness that commanded visceral respect.
To his left stood Orochimaru, also wearing the red-cloud cloak, a serpentine smile plastered on his pale face.
However, it was the figure positioned to Pain's right that completely captured Ōnoki's attention, causing the old Tsuchikage's eyes to narrow in surprise.
The man possessed a hardened face, weathered by the elements, and a complexion tanned by past battles. He wore long, silver-white hair tied up in a high, wild ponytail that fell down his back.
He wore the iconic black cloak of Akatsuki, but kept it partially open at the front, exposing the scabbard of his large katana, strapped tightly to his waist.
'So Akatsuki doesn't just recruit ordinary criminals... they have monsters of this caliber in their ranks,' Ōnoki thought to himself, feeling the heavy aura of chakra emanating from the swordsman. 'They are definitely dangerous... but they are the tool I need.'
The Tsuchikage let out a dry cough before directing his gaze toward the silver-haired man.
"Well, well..." Ōnoki began in his usual raspy voice. "I didn't expect to see an old rival like you serving in a mercenary organization, Banatel."
The man known as Banatel didn't even flinch. Keeping his right hand casually rested on the hilt of his katana, he answered in a deep, gravelly tone:
"Money is always needed to fund my affairs, old Ōnoki," Banatel replied coldly. "Though I must admit, having you this close tempts me to sever your head right here. Mifune isn't nearby to step in and save your neck this time."
Kitsuchi took a step forward upon hearing the threat, clenching his fists, but Ōnoki raised a hand to stop his son. The old leader of Iwagakure let out a dry laugh that echoed off the cave walls.
"Hahaha! You're still as arrogant as ever, Banatel," Ōnoki said, stopping his laughter to adopt a cold, calculating expression. "But I didn't come here today to settle old scores with you. There is a common enemy—someone far worse than any of us—and I know for a fact that his head will interest you much more than mine."
Pain took a step forward, allowing the torchlight to fully illuminate his featureless face.
"Get to the point, Tsuchikage," Pain's imposing voice ordered, echoing with a supernatural resonance through the cave. "Why have you requested this meeting with Akatsuki?"
Ōnoki descended a few inches in the air and rested his hands on the stone table.
"I have summoned you to hire the full services of Akatsuki," Ōnoki declared. "I want us to coordinate a massive attack against Sunagakure during the final phase of the Chūnin Exams, right after the last match of the tournament concludes."
Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes with genuine interest, while Kitsuchi silently observed his father's negotiations.
"Iwagakure will deploy its finest forces at the opportune moment," the Tsuchikage continued. "Additionally, we are conducting diplomatic efforts to pull Kumogakure into the equation, though I doubt that stubborn Raikage will move his troops without absolute guarantees. That is why I need Akatsuki."
"What would be our specific orders in that scenario?" Pain asked.
"Your primary objective will be to act as the vanguard strike force," Ōnoki explained. "You and your members must keep the 7 Espada of the sand and Suna's personal guard at bay. You cannot allow them to interfere while I personally take care of crushing Daigo."
At that moment, Orochimaru let out a hissing laugh that interrupted the explanation.
"Heh, heh, heh... You're mistaken on one detail, Tsuchikage," Orochimaru chimed in, taking a step forward as his pupils dilated with greed. "The one who is going to kill Daigo is me. I have unfinished business with him going back years."
Ōnoki looked at the Snake Sannin with clear disdain and let out a mocking snort.
"You?" the Tsuchikage sneered. "Please, Orochimaru. You already had your chance in the past and ran away with your tail between your legs. You aren't strong enough to face a Daigo who today is ten times more powerful than he was back then. He would destroy you in a matter of minutes."
Orochimaru's face darkened instantly. An intense bloodlust began to radiate from his body, and his hands moved into position to perform a jutsu, but before he could act, Pain raised his right hand slightly.
The mere gaze of the Rinnegan fixed on Orochimaru was enough to freeze the Sannin in place, forcing him to step back and swallow his frustration.
Pain turned his attention back to the Tsuchikage.
"We accept the contract, Tsuchikage," Pain announced in a calm, absolute voice. "Akatsuki will neutralize Sunagakure's elite forces and breach their primary defenses. However, our price will not be paid in gold alone."
Ōnoki narrowed his eyes. "What are you asking in return?"
"Following the fall of Sunagakure and Iwa's victory," Pain declared, "Akatsuki will take absolute possession of any Tailed Beasts located within Sand territory. That is our non-negotiable term."
Kitsuchi looked at his father with concern over the request to hand over the Bijū to a mercenary organization, but Ōnoki did not hesitate. The old Tsuchikage knew full well the risk Akatsuki posed, but his desire to crush Sunagakure and eliminate the threat Daigo represented to the military balance of the land outweighed any other tactical consideration.
"Agreed," Ōnoki accepted firmly, extending his hand over the table. "You have the Tailed Beasts. In exchange, I want Sunagakure wiped off the map."
"The deal is struck," Pain concluded.
In the gloom of the subterranean cavern, the shadows of war sealed the fate of the final phase of the Chūnin Exams. As the forces of Akatsuki and Iwagakure began to weave their bloody alliance, time marched relentlessly toward the great arena of Sunagakure.