Eastern border of the Land of Fire.
Within the encampment of the Konoha ninja army.
In a command tent, the dim, flickering light of a lantern cast dancing shadows. Tatsuya sat alone and quietly in the main seat of authority.
Swoosh~
The sound of air being cut echoed, and a slender figure appeared within the tent. Seeing this familiar figure suddenly materialize, Tatsuya spoke indifferently, "Lord Orochimaru, the ninja armies of Konoha and Iwagakure are practically at your doorstep. How do you still have the leisure to come here?"
The figure who had suddenly appeared in Tatsuya's tent was none other than Orochimaru.
Hearing Tatsuya's words, Orochimaru chuckled softly. "That old geezer Onoki has always been cautious. As long as you and Iwagakure don't actually start fighting here, he won't make the first move. Besides, the battlefield is still some distance from the Land of Grass. Neither of the two great hidden villages will turn their attention to a small, insignificant place like Kusagakure."
Tatsuya pursed his lips. "That's not necessarily true. Lord Orochimaru, many people have taken notice of Kusagakure's development in recent years."
Orochimaru's eyes glinted slightly, but he didn't continue to argue the point. Instead, he looked directly at Tatsuya and asked, his voice serious, "What exactly are you planning?"
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Orochimaru stared at Tatsuya, his gaze intense, and said, each word deliberate, "Tatsuya-kun, I want to know your true intentions. Perhaps… I can also play a part in them."
Tatsuya's expression also became serious. The two of them stared at each other silently for a long moment.
After a while, Tatsuya finally spoke slowly, "Perhaps it is time for the chaotic state of the ninja world to finally come to an end."
Hearing these words, Orochimaru's golden, reptilian pupils constricted sharply. For a long time, Orochimaru had believed he understood Tatsuya quite well. But today, that conviction had completely and utterly collapsed. Orochimaru had never, ever expected such words to come from Tatsuya's mouth. A man who had always seemed completely indifferent to power and authority actually harbored secret ambitions to unify the entire ninja world.
After a brief moment of profound shock, Orochimaru's brow gradually furrowed. "Human desires can never be eliminated. Permanent peace is fundamentally non-existent. Since war will inevitably come sooner or later, what meaning is there in a temporary, forced unification?"
Tatsuya replied gravely, "Indeed. Human desires cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be suppressed. As long as an invincible power hangs high above everyone's heads, then large-scale warfare can be thoroughly eradicated."
Orochimaru's voice was raspy. "Lord First Hokage once achieved something similar. But what happened after his death? Without eternal life, everything is ultimately illusory!"
A mysterious smile appeared on Tatsuya's face. "Eternal life? It's coming soon."
Hearing this, Orochimaru's expression changed. He stared intently at Tatsuya. Eternal life! This had been the goal he had pursued relentlessly for his entire existence. Listening to Tatsuya's words, it seemed he already had a way to achieve it! If anyone else had uttered such a claim, the ever-arrogant Orochimaru would certainly not have believed them. But if the person saying this was Tatsuya… Orochimaru found himself somewhat inclined to believe. Because he had personally witnessed this man continuously create one miracle after another.
"I will have the forces of Kusagakure cooperate with your actions at any time," Orochimaru said after a moment of thought, then his body dissolved into a burst of flames and vanished from the tent.
After Orochimaru left, Tatsuya remained seated quietly in the main seat, a mixture of excitement and apprehension flickering in his eyes. This path… it had completely deviated from his originally intended course. However, it also seemed to be a shortcut.
Land of Hot Water.
Encampment of the Kumogakure ninja army.
In the main command tent, the Fourth Raikage, A, his face etched with a grave expression, reclined his massive form in the seat of authority. Below, his secretary Mabui, and his personal guards C, Darui, and Samui, were arrayed on either side.
"BOSS, Konoha's army has already established a fortified position on the border. It looks like they are preparing for a long-term standoff with us," C reported respectfully to the Fourth Raikage.
The Fourth Raikage's voice boomed, "Are you certain Tatsuya Akimichi is among their forces?"
C nodded. "Yes, BOSS."
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage's brow furrowed tightly. After a moment, he asked again, "What is the situation with Iwagakure over in the Land of Waterfalls?"
C shook his head. "They haven't made any moves for the time being."
The Fourth Raikage grumbled, "It looks like that old geezer Onoki wants us to clash head-on with Konoha first!"
Beside him, Darui spoke up, "BOSS, Konoha Village's strength is considerable. A direct confrontation with them will not benefit us."
The Fourth Raikage shot Darui a sharp glance. "I know that! But Konoha Village is rising too quickly. If we don't suppress them now, we might be left far behind!"
Darui frowned upon hearing this but said nothing further. This problem was indeed the greatest challenge currently facing both Kumogakure and Iwagakure. As time went on, more and more information about Konoha Village's true strength was being exposed to the other major hidden villages. In just a few short years, Konoha's power had undergone a heaven-and-earth-shattering transformation. This terrifying rate of improvement made everyone uneasy.
Just as the atmosphere in the tent grew somewhat stagnant, a flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the tent flap. Soon, the flap was thrown open, and a Kumogakure ninja rushed in. After entering, he bowed to the Fourth Raikage and said, "Lord Raikage, news just arrived from the village. Lady Yugito… was captured by two Akatsuki members at her secluded training ground!"
BANG!
"What?!" The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist heavily onto the desk before him, his voice exploding like thunder. Immediately after, the Fourth Raikage demanded, "What about Bee?"
The reporting Kumogakure ninja quickly replied, "Lord Killer Bee has not been attacked for the time being."
As his words fell, a heavy silence descended upon the tent. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the Fourth Raikage.
After a brief silence, C was the first to speak. "BOSS, according to previous intelligence received by the village, Kirigakure's Three-Tails was also captured by Akatsuki. They are definitely targeting the Tailed Beasts. We must protect Lord Killer Bee's safety!"
"Darui, Samui, the army here is left to you. I'm returning to the village at once!" Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage threw out this command and then strode purposefully out of the tent.
Behind him, C hurried to follow, asking as he went, "BOSS, what about Iwagakure? How should we reply to them?"
The Fourth Raikage didn't even turn his head. "Reply truthfully! Tell them Akatsuki has attacked our village, and we are temporarily unable to launch an offensive. If they want to fight, let that old geezer Onoki make the first move!"
In the command tent, Darui and Samui, who had been left behind, stood rooted to the spot, stunned.
Time moved to July. The tense situation in the ninja world, which had seemed on the brink of war, suddenly eased. On both the western border in the Land of Waterfalls and the eastern border in the Land of Hot Water, Iwagakure and Kumogakure, as if by unspoken agreement, both halted their aggressive posturing. The armies of the three great hidden villages remained in a standoff at their respective borders.
Gradually, a shocking piece of news began to spread throughout the ninja world. Kirigakure's Three-Tails and Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Kumogakure's Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and Iwagakure's Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki had all, one after another, been captured by Akatsuki!
Akatsuki's swift and decisive actions immediately sent shockwaves throughout the entire ninja world. People finally understood the reason why Iwagakure and Kumogakure had simultaneously ceased their aggressive movements.