Onoki flew towards the village, his face was twisted in a grimace of pure rage, veins bulging at his temples, and an aura of malice radiated from his tiny frame as he went toward his office. The Shinobi and civilians of Iwagakure scrammed out of his path, quivering in fear. Nobody dared to make eye contact, let alone make a sound, lest they become the outlet for the Tsuchikage's fury.
Onoki, the Fence-Sitter, a man notorious for waiting for the perfect opportunity to ensure maximum gain for minimum effort, was done calculating.
"How dare that arrogant brute of a Raikage return me Roshi's corpse..." Onoki snarled, as he slammed his fist onto his desk as he hovered inside his office. "Muchi! Draft an emergency alliance proposal to Konoha and Kirigakure. Immediately!"
Muchi nodded, stepping forward with a scroll and brush, though he couldn't hide his concern.
"Where is Han?" Onoki demanded, his voice in anger. "Bring him to me right now!"
An ANBU guard flickered away without a sound. Minutes later, the door swung open as Han entered. The colossal man was the sole survivor of a devastating encounter with the Raikage and Killer Bee in the last war. Having narrowly faked his death, Han had managed to observe Kumo's use of the legendary Sage of the Six Paths' treasured tools before making a desperate escape back to Iwa with the information.
"Lord Tsuchikage," Han bowed his head slightly. "You summoned me?"
"Han, iterate every single detail you gathered regarding those Treasures of the Six Paths," Onoki commanded.
Han hesitated. "With respect, Lord Tsuchikage... that intelligence cost us the lives of many Iwa shinobi. Giving it away to Konoha and Kiri for no cost... is that wise?"
"I don't care about the cost anymore!" Onoki roared, bloodshot eyes bulging as saliva sprayed from his mouth. "Kumogakure has crossed every line! They killed Roshi, reanimated his corpse, and had the audacity to offer us a mock peace treaty! They plundered billions of ryo, stole hidden bloodline techniques in the name of peace treaty, and were likely using Roshi's body as a puppet to spy on us till now!"
Han remained calm. "Calm down, Lord Onoki. Decisions made in anger will come and get back at us. What if Konoha refuses to join the fray? Their forces were gutted after Kumo's attack on their homeland according to our spies."
Onoki closed his eyes, taking several deep breaths. Slowly, the veins on his forehead receded. The rage didn't fade... but he was able think with reason.
"How is Fuu's training progressing?" Onoki asked.
"Extremely well," Han replied. "Her pure innocent demeanor is breaking down barriers with the Seven-Tails surprisingly fast."
"Good. And what of Deidara and Muu?"
"Those two true prodigies. Muu has successfully integrated multiple hearts using the Earth Grudge Fear technique. As for Deidara, he's been training rigorously under Kitsuchi-san and has already mastered the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai."
Onoki reached into his desk, pulled out a scroll, and tossed it toward Han. "Give this to Deidara. It's the forbidden technique: Living Mouth Sculpting. It will complement his artistic explosive style perfectly. Furthermore, order Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi to begin training directly under Kitsuchi."
He turned back to the messenger, who was still writing the alliance scroll. "Muchi... add a clause to the letter. Mention that we hold full intelligence on the Kumo's Sage tools, but if Konoha and Kiri want access to it, they'll have to pay with hidden techniques or money."
~~
A few days later, within Kumogakure.
A chunin burst through the Raikage's office, dropping to one knee, breathing heavily. "Raikage-sama! Urgent report! An estimated fifty to sixty enemy warships have anchored off our eastern coast! Kirigakure's Jinchuuriki is unleashing massive biju bombs onto the Land of Lightning! Civilian casualties have already surpassed a thousand!"
The Raikage's eyes flashed. "How many troops have landed?"
"We... we can't get a count, sir," the chunin stammered, looking down in shame. "The entire coastline is blanketed in a mist so thick our scouts can't penetrate it. Everyone who did were killed and their bodies were not found."
"Looks like this is going to be a quick war," the Raikage growled. He turned to his assistant. "Renga, gear up and prepare to deploy me to the East Coast!"
Before Renga could answer, another chunin landed. "Lord Raikage! Multiple SOS signals are flooding in from our units near the Land of Rice Fields!"
The Raikage narrowed his eyes. "So the old fence-sitter has finally leaped off his wall? What about Konoha?"
"The Iwa forces are pushing up through the south, from the Fire Country territory," the chunin reported. "And our scouts confirmed Konoha shinobi were fighting alongside them."
Renga's face paled. "All three major villages... they're coordinating an attack?" As this was their first being attacked by everyone major village.
Just then, Kaien stepped into the office supported by his mother. Bandages were wrapped tightly around his upper face, concealing his new eyes: the Kamui Sharingan and the Byakugan gouged out from Hiashi Hyuga... which was gifted to the Raikage by the Uchiha.
Closely behind them was Killer Bee, swaying his shoulders to an unheard beat.
"Hey yo, why the heavy gloom and fear? The Eight-Tails is here, so clear the rear!" Bee rapped, striking a pose beside the Kaien. "Three villages, four villages, don't mean a thing... Kumo's gonna make 'em feel the sting!"
The Raikage looked at his grandson, his heavy brow furrowed with concern. "How are your eyes?"
Kaien gave a smile. "They're fine. Though I have to appreciate the irony... first I lose my voice, and now my sight goes. Regardless, what's the situation?"
As Aya, Killer Bee, and Kaien got caught up to the briefing. For the first time, they were facing a total coalition. Every rival village was moving against them at once.
"We need every scrap of leverage we can get," Kaien said, pulling a heavy scroll from his leg pocket and handing it over. "Uncle Bee, this scroll holds the body of Kakashi, one of Konoha's strongest. Reanimate him and we will use him against the coalition."
Before Bee could respond, a pale translucent form glided effortlessly through the stone wall... Dan Katō's spectral soul, hovered over them.
"So that's the grand strategy?" Dan mused, his voice echoing to the now bewildered Kumo's elite.
In the blink of an eye, the Raikage's Black Lightning cloak came to life, crackling furiously as he lunged forward to deliver a single finger strike. But his fist surged straight through the ghostly apparition, disintegrating the wall behind.
Bee unrolled a scroll and unsealed the treasures of the Sage of Six Paths. "And these match the details Iwa gave us," Dan Kato muttered, inspecting the tools and maintaining a safe distance.
Dan's spirit floated back at least a kilometer, watching the preparations. "No need to waste your energy," he shouted. "I couldn't harm you even if I tried, nor do I have the strength to possess anyone. Carry on with your things I will be on my way."
~~
A/N: Few things to clarify, Han faked his death back in Arc 1 [Chapter 40-41] and observed Killer Bee's using Sage tools in great detail.
Kaien successfully replaced his eyes with Kamui sharingan and Byakugan [Fugaku, Mikoto and Might Duy gouged out from Hiashi @Chapter 177]
Reanimated Dan Kato is extremely dangerous not because he is powerful but he can travel anywhere in the world to spy and get back the information, though he can be sealed but he is very careful.
Dan Kato knowing about the sage tools depicts that Konoha and Iwa are in on the game.
Dan is my finally nail on coffin against Kumo, who will act like a torchbearer coordinating all konoha, Iwa and kiri
Upto 20 Advance chapters available @ patreon.com/aizenDuchiha0