On the border coast of the Land of Rivers.
Zetsu emerged from the ground after receiving information from a White Zetsu clone and reported:
"Konoha has dispatched more than four elite squads to pursue Danzō. Even Jiraiya and Uchiha Shisui are among them."
He paused before adding, "The Akatsuki have also sent several jōnin-level squads to intercept him... but so far, Orochimaru's whereabouts remain unknown."
Uchiha Madara nodded thoughtfully. "So Orochimaru doesn't plan to intervene directly. He's leaving this matter to Konoha..."
But a frown crept onto his face. "Then what is he up to?"
The assault on Amegakure, the kidnapping of Konan—after causing such upheaval, Orochimaru wouldn't sit idle. Madara suspected there was a plan beneath the surface, and Danzō's situation was the perfect testbed.
As a former village elder and the one who once controlled Root, Danzō's defection was no minor event. Given Orochimaru's history with him, there was a chance he might use this moment to kill Danzō—or worse, use him as bait to lure them out.
"Obito is about 40 miles from Danzō's last known location," Zetsu said. "If he detects any trace of Orochimaru, he'll withdraw immediately. If Orochimaru's confirmed absent, I'll attempt to extract Danzō."
Madara gave a dismissive wave. "Tell Obito to be cautious. Danzō's survival isn't essential. But… this is a good opportunity to begin the next phase."
Rather than heading back to Kirigakure through the Fire Country, Madara had instead traveled south to the River Country—strategically nestled between the Lands of Fire and Wind. Danzō, on the other hand, had fled toward the Land of Hot Water to the northeast—exactly the opposite direction.
"Lord Madara," said Hiruko, approaching the shore with a grimace mask in hand, "everything is ready."
While others had stirred chaos in Amegakure, Hiruko had been busy. With White Zetsu's help, he had found the ruins of the Uzumaki clan and recovered the key to breaking the Reaper Death Seal—the mask of the Shinigami.
"Please begin the ritual."
Madara nodded. He took the mask, placed it over his face, and began forming a series of complex hand seals.
A sudden gust swept across the coast, and a cold presence fell upon the land.
Madara's body trembled violently. Pain surged from deep within his soul. Ghostly blue flames flickered around him, and a towering phantom appeared: red-skinned, horned, with a dagger clamped between its teeth.
"That's the Shinigami?" Hiruko whispered, eyes narrowing at the sight.
Though the specter had no body, its spiritual pressure was overwhelming.
What sort of world does this creature inhabit?
"Lord Madara, are you alright?" Hiruko asked.
Madara slowly stood. Even with his past possession of the Rinnegan and his vastly reinforced spirit, the strain was immense. His earlier idea to overpower the Shinigami using Rinnegan power now seemed foolish.
Its spirit is stronger than mine, Madara thought. This needs to end quickly.
With calm precision, he had the Shinigami remove the dagger from its mouth and plunge it into its own stomach—then slash across.
Slice—
At the exact moment, a deep, ghastly wound tore across Madara's body. Even with the regenerative capabilities of the spore cells within him, the injury couldn't heal instantly.
Floating out from the stomach wound of the death god was a chakra mass.
"There it is," Hiruko said. "The Fourth Hokage's half of the Nine-Tails."
Without delay, he pulled out a mass of cultivated flesh from a scroll, summoned a White Zetsu, and began forming hand seals.
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
The sacrificed Zetsu let out a mournful cry as talisman paper and soil enveloped him, transforming into a human form.
The transformation completed with the appearance of the Fourth Hokage's robes. Hiruko sneered at the familiar outfit, then turned to Madara. "It's your turn."
Madara removed the mask, and the deathly aura faded. The beach grew warm again under sunlight—but his wound still bled.
Not that it mattered.
He stepped up to the dazed, reanimated Fourth Hokage and pressed a hand to his abdomen.
Black seals spiraled outward, dissolving into a red chakra cloak.
"Heh... acting like a loyal pet even now?" Madara sneered. "Come out already!"
With a flash of crimson, he looked inside the Hokage's body and locked eyes with the sleeping beast.
"You... you're Uchiha Madara?!" the Nine-Tails half roared, stunned. "You're supposed to be dead!"
It had been sealed away for years. But even before then, it had heard—back when Kushina was its host—that Madara had died during the last attack on Konoha.
Madara didn't reply. Instead, his Sharingan surged—and in an instant, he dominated the fox's will.
A scarlet, lifeless Nine-Tails avatar formed around the Fourth's reanimated body. Its eyes were vacant. It didn't resist. It couldn't.
"Hiruko," Madara called.
The scientist approached, pulling a long-necked containment vessel from his scroll.
A furious wind rose as sealing formulas appeared across the Nine-Tails' body. The chakra was forcibly drawn into the bottle.
Hiruko sealed it shut and sighed in relief as the orange-red container pulsed with power.
"This chakra will guarantee the success of our next operation," he said, eyes gleaming.
"Fool," Madara snapped. "The Nine-Tails' chakra is violent by nature. You have no idea if it's even usable yet."
"If I still had the Rinnegan, this wouldn't be a problem… but now, it must be handled carefully."
"I understand," Hiruko said, sobering. "What about Danzō now?"
"Leave him," Madara said coldly. "Have Obito and the others return. I'll need guards when I'm reborn."
Hiruko smirked. "Then why not squeeze a bit more use out of him? With a few White Zetsu, we could keep Konoha distracted longer."
Madara nodded. "Fine."
Swoosh—
In a gust of wind, both men vanished.
The reanimated Fourth collapsed, talismans and dirt peeling away, crumbling beside the dead body of White Zetsu.
---
Konoha Village — Ninja Academy
During a sparring match, Naruto suddenly froze mid-movement—and took a full-force kick from Sasuke.
Thud!
He crashed into a tree, dazed—but not in pain. He looked confused.
"You idiot!" Sasuke yelled. "We're sparring—take it seriously!"
Though clearly annoyed, Sasuke extended a hand to help him up.
"Sorry…" Naruto muttered, scratching his head. "Something felt weird with my body. I'll win next time."
"What weirdness? And don't brag—you can't beat me."
"I've gotta go," Naruto said, turning to leave. "Tell Iruka-sensei for me."
"Hey, wait!" Sasuke stopped him. "Seal of reconciliation."
Naruto paused, performed the traditional post-battle sign, then dashed off.
"What's with him… acting all mysterious?" Sasuke muttered.
Around the corner, Naruto whispered, "Yamato-san? You there?"
Thunk!
Yamato appeared and promptly knocked him on the head.
"I've told you not to call me 'san' like I'm old!"
"But you are older…" Naruto grumbled, rubbing his head. "Anyway, Kurama—the fox inside me—he said something."
Yamato's expression darkened. "What did he say?"
"He said... another Kurama, another Nine-Tails, is back in the world."
"What?!"
Yamato, a member of Orochimaru's inner circle and guardian of Naruto, immediately understood the implications. Gripping Naruto's shoulders, he said:
"We're going to the Hokage—now."
Whoosh!
They vanished.
---
Hokage Office
After listening carefully, the Third Hokage sat in silence for a long moment.
"This matter is critical," he finally said. "Naruto—you must tell no one. Understood?"
Naruto nodded.
"You may go. Yamato, stay with me."
As Naruto was escorted out, Hiruzen added, "Yamato… inform Orochimaru. You have ways to reach him."
"Yes, sir."
---
Elsewhere—A Remote Hill
Orochimaru sat cross-legged, deep in meditation, when a viper slithered toward him. It spat out a scroll and vanished.
"Hmm? Who's sending messages now?" the Lamp God murmured, controlling Orochimaru's body. He opened the scroll.
"The Nine-Tails… from the Fourth's seal? So the Reaper Death Seal has been broken. Madara and his pawns, I presume."
He chuckled. "With this, they now possess eight of the tailed beasts, aside from the Four-Tails in Ryūchi Cave."
But something didn't sit right.
Why do it now? With no Rinnegan, they can't revive the Ten-Tails… so what are they planning?
Meanwhile, Orochimaru stirred.
His eyes opened, golden and sharp. He looked at the scroll in his lap, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"Interesting," he whispered.
He agreed with the Lamp God—Madara was clearly plotting something. But Orochimaru had already made his move and was now one step ahead.
The Lamp God grinned. "You look pleased. Did the space teleportation technique work?"
"I've only scratched the surface," Orochimaru admitted. "But that's not what excites me."
Dark mist swirled around him. "This is."
_____________________
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