It was hard for the people of Kumogakure to accept that even the mighty Fourth Raikage could be ambushed and killed.
Of course, everyone dies someday. But this death came out of nowhere—like lightning from a clear sky, leaving no chance to react.
After all, the Raikage's strength had long been carved into their hearts.
But today, a figure whose power nearly became faith itself had still died like this. It felt like their entire world had collapsed at once.
Looking at that strong body lying lifeless on the bird's back—once so imposing but now reduced to something ordinary, something pale—they stood frozen, unable to speak for a long while.
"Please don't misunderstand. This old man encountered the Raikage fighting against Akatsuki members along the way, but by the time I arrived, it was already too late... My apologies."
Onoki spoke calmly, ignoring the hostile glances coming from the surrounding Kumo Ninja.
As he finished speaking, the hostility in their eyes slowly began to fade.
Still, the complex emotions flickering across their faces refused to disappear completely.
Unconcerned, Onoki fell silent and turned his gaze toward the Kumo Ninja who had spoken earlier, waiting patiently for a response.
With something like this happening, naturally someone with enough authority needed to step forward.
Clearly, none of them held enough rank. Judging from their appearances, they were all relatively low-level. So they would need to report upward and summon higher-ups to handle things properly.
"Please wait just a moment, Honored Tsuchikage," said the Lead Enemy while bowing slightly, hands clasped respectfully before him—though his eyes never left the lifeless Raikage's form.
As a high-ranking jonin loyal to Kumo without question, seeing his current Raikage lying there drained of vitality made maintaining calm extremely difficult.
Yet among those present, his position ranked highest. That lingering sense of responsibility helped restore his ability to think logically in relatively short order.
So while sending messages to his superiors, he also ordered his men to lock down the scene.
Clearly, this incident shouldn't spread further than necessary—at least not until officials arrived. The fewer people knew, the less likely panic would spread and leave the village exposed.
Nodding slightly, Onoki crossed both arms and remained standing silently, his white beard swaying gently in the wind.
Even Deidara—who normally talked loudly and constantly—had quieted down, observing the Kumo Ninja carefully with searching eyes.
He noticed how each one possessed powerful muscles and dark skin, exuding fierce, intimidating auras typical of Kumo Ninja historically opposed to Iwagakure.
Judging solely from individual combat effectiveness, these shinobi definitely surpassed ordinary ninja from other Hidden Villages he'd seen previously.
The messenger ninja hadn't been gone very long when figures appeared in the distance—an approaching group led by Mabui, her hair streaked with white.
Arcs of electricity crackled around them as they shot past the outer perimeter and landed in the clearing moments later.
"Where is the Raikage?!"
Mabui's voice trembled. The report was so incredible it rattled her mind, making it hard to stay composed.
The moment she arrived, she let out a shout, hoping that doing so would help her regain her composure.
But when her eyes fell on the two corpses next to Onoki, the fragile composure she had worked so hard to maintain crumbled completely.
At first, she couldn't bring herself to believe what she'd just heard—but the moment she saw it with her own eyes, everything inside her broke down.
Under the gaze of many ninja, Mabui's face suddenly turned pale. Her body swayed, and her legs gave way as she began to collapse toward the ground.
"Mabui…"
Samui quickly stepped in, catching her friend before she could fall and gently asking what was wrong.
What Mabui had seen, she had also witnessed. Though it was hard to accept, as a ninja, mental resilience was the first requirement. Even if a mountain were to collapse in front of them, they should remain calm. And so, at this moment, she and the other ninja behind her appeared far calmer than Mabui, even though many of them had gone pale and stared wide-eyed at the unthinkable sight.
"This… isn't real, right? Samui, Raikage-sama was so strong—there shouldn't be any ninja in the entire Shinobi World who could possibly kill him."
Mabui gripped Samui's arm, her mind in chaos. As the Raikage's secretary, her entire world had revolved around him. But now…
The so-called "strongest" Raikage had fallen just like that—unimaginable, like a dream.
In fact, even in a nightmare, you wouldn't dare picture the Raikage falling in battle.
Samui's expression was complicated. She too revered the village's strongest ninja, the Raikage. Yet her strict ninja training told her one thing: no matter how unbearable it felt, the truth lay right before them.
Their Raikage had truly died in battle.
"Mabui…"
Samui didn't know how to comfort her friend, but shot her a meaningful look, silently reminding her that ninja from other villages were watching. This wasn't the time to give in to grief.
Mabui lived up to her reputation as someone who had long served by the Raikage's side—her emotional recovery was swift. After taking several minutes to steady herself, she slowly straightened up and turned her gaze toward the short figure standing beside the Raikage.
She knew this figure all too well—it was the Tsuchikage, frequently mentioned in intelligence reports, and one of the previous Raikage's most wanted targets.
"You must be Lord Tsuchikage. Hello, I'm Mabui, the Raikage's secretary, and temporarily the acting leader of our village."
Forcing a small smile, she briefly introduced herself to Onoki.
"I am indeed the Tsuchikage. My visit to Kumo was somewhat of a coincidence, but regarding the Raikage's fate… I offer my sincerest condolences."
Onoki looked at the composed Mabui, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
The Raikage was the backbone of Kumo. With such a pillar gone, he had initially assumed these Kumo ninja would fall into despair and confusion.
Yet now, he saw that everyone remained calm.
This brought Onoki some relief. After all, for this newly formed alliance, if Kumo were to fall into chaos now, it would send shockwaves throughout the entire Shinobi World.
"Would you mind recounting the events again? Since it is of such great importance."
"That's fine."
Onoki understood the Kumo ninja's mood at this moment, so even though he was addressed in an impolite tone, he didn't react angrily as he normally might. Instead, he remained patient.
Furthermore, the death of Raikage only solidified his determination to form an alliance.
This was also why he was willing to enter Kumogakure's territory directly alongside Deidara.
Crossing his arms, Onoki slightly lifted his feet from the ground and began recounting everything he had witnessed. Meanwhile, Mabui's expression grew increasingly grim as she listened.
"Thank you very much, Tsuchikage-sama. Please leave the following matters to us!"
After listening to Tsuchikage's report, Mabui looked exhausted and bowed respectfully toward Onoki again.
She didn't doubt the truthfulness of what was said—at least not at such a critical moment, when even Iwagakure would hesitate to resort to deception. They would also dispatch scouts to verify the details firsthand.
Compared to Raikage, Mabui had a clearer understanding of Akatsuki's level of danger.
An organization collecting tailed beasts—its ambition loomed as clearly and ominously as the full moon in the night sky.
Faced with such a formidable enemy, no one wanted to waste time fighting amongst themselves, and Onoki was certainly not that kind of person.
After exchanging a few more words, Onoki politely declined their offer to stay and rest, departing with Deidara.
As for what came next, it was entirely Kumogakure's own affair.
He had already expressed all the goodwill he could. Furthermore, as a representative of Iwagakure, despite now having formed an alliance, both sides would set aside past grievances without becoming overly close.
Therefore, he revealed everything he knew—including the exact location of the incident and the identities of the combatants involved.
Then everything would soon be verified.
Let's just hope whatever happened this time wouldn't affect the subsequent alliance among the Five Great Villages.
After all, Kumogakure was notoriously impulsive—if these people rushed headlong into seeking revenge against Akatsuki over Raikage's death, it wouldn't bode well for the entire Shinobi World.
Even a single Hidden Village alone would find it difficult to shake Akatsuki, and Amegakure Village was inherently suited for defense.
Besides, he needed to return to his village as soon as possible to prepare for the alliance discussions.
"Samui, send someone immediately to notify Dodai, gather all the Jonin within the village to the meeting room—we need to discuss our current situation. Also, contact Kishi who remains in the Land of Iron—we need intelligence from his side."
Looking toward the horizon where Tsuchikage was disappearing into the distance, Mabui said to her companion.
"I understand."
Samui nodded and left. Although Dodai had only just left the village recently and was on an important mission,
clearly, the village now desperately needed someone as influential as him to restore order and provide leadership.
At this point, it was becoming increasingly difficult for Mabui to manage the entire situation on her own—she wasn't the most powerful figure, and being a woman made it harder to assert authority in a male-dominated environment.
Previously, none of this mattered when Raikage was still alive, but now circumstances had changed.
"Where are the members from the Medical Division and Intelligence Division? Summon them immediately to check on Raikage's and Darui's conditions."
Mabui continued issuing orders to the nearby ninja while also confirming that the perimeter had been secured, effectively stabilizing the situation temporarily.
The Raikage's death was not yet suitable for public announcement. Keeping this information classified was more advantageous than risky.
Having regained her composure from her earlier unease, Mabui clearly understood what needed to be done at this critical moment and swiftly issued further instructions.
She had summoned members of the Medical Division to verify whether the Raikage's injuries matched Onoki's previous description, while the Intelligence Division was present to determine if either man had undergone mental probing that might have led to intelligence leaks.
One being the current Raikage, and the other his personal guard, both possessed access to top-secret information. If such intelligence were leaked, it could lead to uncontrollable consequences.
This was precisely why the corpses of high-ranking shinobi were so valuable.
Looking up at the sky, Mabui saw thick clouds piling overhead.
A storm is brewing!
Another period of chaos begins.
...
Time flew by, and half a month had already passed since the last Five Kage Summit.
In this short span of time, several earth-shattering news items spread across the land.
First, the Five Great Villages reached an agreement, forming the Shinobi Alliance to jointly oppose Akatsuki—the organization gathering Tailed Beasts across the Shinobi World.
Second, Kumogakure's Eight-Tails had fallen into Akatsuki's hands, and the Fourth Raikage was ambushed and killed on his return journey by Akatsuki members.
Third, Konoha was invaded by Akatsuki. Though they managed to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the entire village was flattened, with ninety percent destroyed—it was a catastrophe unlike anything in the village's history.
These news items sent shockwaves through the world, leaving countless ninja stunned and disoriented.
However, some villages reacted rather quickly—submitting formal applications to join the alliance almost immediately upon receiving the news.
Joining the alliance formed by the Five Great Villages had become an inevitable trend. Many smaller villages found themselves powerless to determine their own destinies and had no choice but to follow the mainstream tide.
Tensions simmered beneath the surface throughout the Shinobi World.
According to prior agreements, the Raikage was supposed to serve as the supreme commander of the alliance.
But due to unforeseen circumstances, the position was unanimously offered to Minato Namikaze.
The first summit had only established the necessity of the alliance without finalizing specific matters.
Thus, a second round of discussions became essential.
However, due to the ongoing turmoil in both Konoha and Kumogakure, progress inevitably stalled. Yet everyone understood that once these two villages recovered, the world would undergo massive transformation.
Meanwhile, Akatsuki—the group at the heart of all these disturbances—vanished completely during this time.
Inside Akatsuki Tower in Amegakure, Nagato and others spent thirteen full days sealing the Eight-Tails into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Hidan's 'death' and the Eight-Tails' unusually strong power both contributed to the delay in completing the Sealing Technique.
[Sealing complete!]
Standing at the Thumb Position, Nagato swept his gaze over the others. His face was pale, yet behind the exhaustion gleamed unmistakable excitement.
This was also the first time he had appeared in person before Kakuzu and Sasori.
Pain had suffered significant damage during the operations in Konoha. To avoid interfering with the sealing of the Tailed Beasts and to demonstrate trust in his allies, he directly participated in this sealing operation using his true body.
When he stood before them, neither showed any surprise, as various deductions had already led them to believe Pain wasn't the true 'Leader.'
So when Nagato appeared, they were already mentally prepared.
"This matter is now finally concluded. Now we only have one last target remaining!"
Saitama stretched his arms casually, his tone calm but his eyes extremely sharp, shining with a glowing intensity in the dim darkness.
"The outside world must've exploded by now; this incident definitely caused quite a stir."
Sasori's gaze shifted between Nagato and Saitama for a few moments, showing a trace of complexity in his expression.
"The Ninja Alliance has now been formed, and what comes next will be our greatest challenge yet. Zetsu's mission right now is very heavy—we need more support in intelligence so that we can monitor the enemy's movements."
"As for everyone else, don't leave the village for now. A great battle is coming soon, and every single fighter is indispensable."
Nagato's voice sounded somewhat dry—this was related to how rarely he spoke—but his tone was full of confidence, showing no fear despite facing opposition from nearly the entire ninja world.
"I understand. I'll handle all intelligence matters regarding the Allied Ninja Forces completely. I've already begun preparations for this a long time ago."
White Zetsu grinned, looking quite relaxed. His clones had already infiltrated all major ninja villages.
Gathering intel? That was his thing. As long as there was no need for direct combat, he wouldn't find it at all troubling.
"As for Amegakure, I've already made the necessary arrangements. They will fully support us as well. Right now, Kumogakure can deploy about three thousand ninja for this battle."
Konan softly stated. In recent years, Amegakure had indeed accumulated much power through quiet preparation, though compared to the Five Great Villages, they still held no advantage whatsoever.
These three thousand ninja might well represent Amegakure's total strength—it was practically staking the entire nation's future on this.
In that past conflict, Amegakure had joined the Ninja Alliance simply because both Nagato and Konan had died, cutting off Amegakure's ties with Akatsuki.
But now, these connections remained intact, so there was no possibility of betrayal.
"You're not seriously thinking that just Amegakure and us alone can directly confront the entire ninja world?"
Kakuzu's eyes kept flashing green light as words emerged from beneath his mask.
He wasn't making fun of them—he was just stating the facts.
And that was exactly the key issue here.
The enemy consisted of nearly all other hidden villages besides Amegakure, while they only had Amegakure and these six core members present.
"Our initial objective isn't to engage them in direct confrontation," Zetsu answered calmly. "I must collect all information regarding the Nine-Tails. Before the large-scale war begins, we must swiftly take control of the Nine-Tails. And once all tailed beasts fall into our hands, even in the later stages of the war, there won't be any unforeseen complications."
Nagato gazed at the eight open eyes of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, feeling the surging power within it, and spoke briefly.
At his words, everyone fell silent.
"So it still comes down to the Nine-Tails. But this time, capturing the Nine-Tails won't be as simple as before. Last time, we were up against Konoha alone. This time, it's the entire Shinobi World. They definitely won't want the Nine-Tails falling into our hands."
Sasori's gaze rested on Killer B's body lying on the ground below. He felt no concern about what was coming next—or rather, he had long since lost much of his emotions.
The only thing keeping him going was the search for 'amusement,' and standing against the so-called justice of the entire Shinobi World alongside Akatsuki was currently his source of amusement.
"I still have several contingency plans in place. How things will turn out when we face the Allied Ninja Forces remains to be seen."
Saitama focused his gaze on Nagato.
"Orochimaru?"
Nagato asked.
"Yes. I've worked closely with him before, so during the upcoming great battle, he will offer me significant assistance. As for the price, he'll look for it himself on the battlefield."
"If that's the case, our chances of victory have significantly increased."
Nagato didn't mind Saitama's connection with Orochimaru. He had been aware of their link for quite some time.
In fact, back when Orochimaru defected from Konoha, he had even asked Saitama to deliver an invitation for Orochimaru to join them—though in the end, it was bluntly rejected.
If Orochimaru was willing to assist during the great battle, that would be even better. It would at least provide some insurance for their seemingly weaker position, giving Kumogakure shinobi a bit more confidence, although they wouldn't go so far as to think that Orochimaru alone could guarantee ultimate victory.
Still, Nagato wasn't overly concerned even without Orochimaru's help.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, containing eight Tailed Beasts, was no easy target. It was time the world finally saw the meaning of true domination.
"Then let's call it a day here. Everyone has worked hard these days, and the situation will at least remain calm for the next few days. So you can all go back to rest assuredly while preparing actively for war."
"I hope each one of you here can accompany me until the very end, no matter what the final circumstances may be."
Finally, a fierce light blazed in Nagato's eyes, and a fervent, almost holy smile spread across his face.
"Then I'll get back to work first."
White Zetsu hopped down from the finger and instantly vanished into the earth.
Others might need rest, but his abnormal physiology kept him energetic enough.
Moreover, his mission was critical. A large part of whether their final operation would succeed depended on his intelligence. So regardless of who it was for, he couldn't afford to let up in the slightest.
With White Zetsu's departure, Kakuzu and Sasori soon vanished too, with Sasori carrying Killer B's corpse over his shoulder as he left.
Thus, only three figures remained on the fingers of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
"Konan, you go ahead first. I'll handle things here."
Looking at Konan who hadn't left yet, Nagato signaled.
He noticed that Saitama seemed to have something to say to him, and for certain considerations, he directly dismissed Konan, who always got along poorly with Saitama.
Konan didn't speak. First, she cast a scrutinizing gaze toward Saitama, then transformed into countless white paper scraps, vanishing from this underground chamber.
"Now it's just you and me."
After Konan left, the space remained silent for quite some time, with only faint light seeping in through a narrow opening above.
This sunlight shone upon the hands of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, illuminating the person standing on its fingers.
Light shines brightest only when contrasted by darkness.
Only ever-deepening darkness can make light appear so beautiful.
This is also why the world always contains such pitch-black shadows.
At this moment, both individuals present were contradictions composed of both darkness and light.
They used darker means to prove to the world that their vision was the only true light worth following.
"When I return next, I'll need your help."
"No problem. If you aren't confident, I will intervene. And doing this serves my own interests—after all, we are collaborators."
"You're okay physically, right? Things won't be that straightforward."
"Don't worry. The item you gave me last time has already taken effect, and I won't fall easily before achieving our ultimate goal."
Light and shadow flickered between them as the two stared into each other's eyes, both seeing determination reflected there.
"In that case, great!"
Saitama showed a smile, then vanished from there, leaving Nagato alone, gazing at the empty space.
Saitama had never, throughout all this, considered Nagato an enemy.
Unlike Black Zetsu—who could never be fully trusted and always lurked in the shadows, waiting to betray—Nagato seemed far more reliable. He was a true collaborator.
Their ultimate goals were similar—both wanted to eliminate large-scale conflicts to achieve complete peace.
Of course, darkness exists in any society.
But as long as an unbreakable and absolute order existed, darkness would remain buried beneath, unable to rise.
That's why Saitama, seeing the bigger picture, sought out Nagato to start their alliance.
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