Konoha Village.
In a place hidden from the public eye—
There was an underground base.
The base was quiet.
Not calm.
Just silent.
Dim light spread across the walls.
The air smelled heavy—
filled with chemicals.
Inside—
Danzo Shimura stood in front of a row of chambers.
His eyes moved slowly.
Inside those chambers—
were human bodies.
Suspended in liquid.
Some were shinobi.
Their headbands—
their scars—
made it clear enough.
They were from different villages.
Unknown.
Unclaimed.
No one knew who they were.
Or if anyone was even looking for them.
Others—
were just ordinary bandits.
Taken.
Kidnapped.
Left here—
to whatever fate awaited them.
None of them spoke.
Most of them couldn't.
From their faces—
It was clear.
They had already given up.
The will to live—
was gone.
And that silence—
made the place feel even darker.
At some distance—
Orochimaru stood beside a restrained man on a bench.
The man struggled.
Terror filled his eyes.
He cried—
begged—
tried to speak.
"L-let… me… g-go… ple… please…"
His breathing was uneven.
He couldn't even form a proper sentence.
Orochimaru didn't look at his face.
He didn't care about the crying.
Or his begging.
His eyes were only on the man's body.
As if that was the only thing that mattered.
As if the man in front of him was already—
not human.
He picked up a syringe.
And without hesitation—
pushed it into the man's arm.
The man froze.
His heart began to race.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
His body shook.
A burning sensation spread inside him.
Not outside—
inside.
Every part of his body felt like it was on fire.
"W-what… is this—"
His voice broke as he looked at Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru said nothing.
He just watched.
The man's skin began to change.
It didn't melt.
It twisted.
From the inside.
Then—
something started growing out of him.
Thin branches—
from his fingers.
Slowly—
They grew thicker.
His arms stretched unnaturally.
His chest expanded—
Then—
split.
Wood burst out from inside his body.
His body was turning into wood.
"AHHHHH—!"
The man screamed.
With everything he had left.
The sound echoed through the base.
"HELP—! PLEASE—!"
"It… h-hurts… it hurts—!"
His eyes moved—
and stopped.
On Danzo Shimura.
"P-please… help me…"
Tears filled his eyes.
Danzo just looked at him.
And smirked.
"Hmph."
The man kept screaming.
But no one came.
No one answered.
Then—
after a few moments—
It stopped.
His body froze.
From head to toe.
What remained—
was no longer human.
Just a twisted mass of branches—
with traces of a human form.
Silence returned to the base.
Orochimaru looked at the result.
For a few seconds.
Then turned slightly toward Danzo.
"One more failure."
His voice was calm.
As if this was expected.
No regret.
No interest.
Nothing.
Danzo Shimura didn't respond immediately.
Then—
His foot struck the table beside him.
Bang.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
"When will it be successful?"
His voice was low at first.
But the anger was there.
"How much time do you need?"
"You asked for the First Hokage's cells—"
"I gave them to you."
"And for half a year…"
"…you've done nothing but failed experiments again and again."
Danzo looked at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru didn't answer immediately.
He walked toward the failed body.
His fingers touched one of the wooden branches.
He observed it.
Carefully.
Then—
He spoke.
"You are rushing something that cannot be rushed."
He glanced at Danzo.
"This is not an ordinary experiment."
A small pause.
"These are cells of Hashirama Senju."
The room felt heavier.
"Was his Wood Style that easy to copy?"
"Do you think no one has tried this before?"
There was a hint of contempt in his voice.
He looked at the materials around him.
"And with such outdated experimental material…"
"…do you really expect results?"
His gaze returned to Danzo.
"Without proper funding… without proper resources…"
"…a breakthrough becomes much harder."
He let the branch fall from his hand.
"And these cells—"
"They carry too much vitality."
"Only his body could truly handle them."
"These bodies do not accept them easily."
"Most reject them instantly."
"Like this."
He gestured toward the corpse.
"Some survive for a while."
"Then collapse."
He glanced at Danzo's grim face.
"And very few…"
A slight pause.
"…have even a chance to adapt."
"But so far—"
"No success."
Danzo's gaze hardened.
"That is not enough."
"We don't need attempts."
"We need results."
A pause.
"As for funds…"
"I will arrange it."
Orochimaru's lips curved slightly.
A faint smile appeared.
"Results will come."
"But not from these random bodies."
He looked at the rows of captives.
"These are only tests."
"Disposable."
"They are not even jonin."
Danzo remained silent.
Then—
"What do you need?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A suitable vessel."
"Strong enough to endure it."
"Stable enough to control it."
A pause.
"Only then…"
"…will the power of Hashirama truly take root?"
Silence filled the chamber.
Danzo looked at the failed body.
Then at the others.
His eyes grew colder.
Danzo looked around the base.
At first—
He had been satisfied.
Finding the Second Hokage's hidden base…
Even some of his experimental materials were still here.
And the records—
about the First Hokage's Wood Style.
It had felt like everything was finally within reach.
Orochimaru had been the same.
When he saw the notes—
His interest had grown immediately.
For a moment—
Things had seemed simple.
With Orochimaru's help—
Danzo believed it wouldn't take long.
That is his goal—
of obtaining the First Hokage's power—
would soon be complete.
But—
That had not happened.
Not even once.
Day after day—
only failures.
No results.
And now—
Even the resources were running low.
The cost of this experiment…
was no longer small.
And yet—
There was still nothing to show for it.
Danzo looked at Orochimaru.
Then—
He spoke.
"Don't worry."
"You will become the Fourth Hokage."
"And after that…"
"…we won't have to worry about funds anymore."
Orochimaru didn't respond immediately.
For a moment—
He just looked at Danzo.
There was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
How is he this confident…?
Orochimaru thought to himself.
Then he spoke.
"It won't be easy."
"There is still that young commander."
"He has strong support for the Hokage position."
His voice remained flat.
Danzo heard him.
Then—
He smirked.
"Support?"
A small pause.
"Even if people want him to become Hokage…"
"…it won't be that simple."
His eyes grew colder.
"There are many ways…"
"…to decide who rises."
Silence settled between them.
Orochimaru watched him.
Carefully.
Danzo's confidence—
was not empty.
It carried intent.
And something else.
Something hidden.
Far from Konoha—
Near the Mist border—
The air felt different.
No darkness.
But no peace either.
The tension remained.
Inside the camp—
Silence had settled again.
Not the same silence as before.
This one—
felt heavier.
Fugaku Uchiha stood alone for a moment.
Toyoma's words—
still echoed in his mind.
"You should have fought the village… instead of your own people."
His expression remained calm.
But his thoughts—
did not.
He had gone over it.
Again.
And again.
The anger had passed.
Only clarity remained.
Then—
He turned.
Uzuku stood nearby.
Watching.
Waiting.
Fugaku spoke.
"I'm returning to Konoha."
A brief pause.
"There are things that need my attention."
No hesitation.
No explanation at first.
Uzuku didn't interrupt.
He already understood—
This wasn't a sudden decision.
Fugaku continued.
"The situation here is stable."
"The Mist is not showing signs of any major movement."
"So I won't take many with me."
"Three… or four at most."
His voice remained steady.
"That system—"
"The security fee."
"I will look into it myself."
A brief pause.
His eyes shifted—
toward Toyoma.
"And the trade routes through Fire Capital merchants."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"It's increasing the cost of supplies."
"And changing how the village sees us."
Silence.
"For the Uchiha's image…"
"I will handle it personally."
Another pause.
"And I will speak with the Grand Elder."
"And the other elders."
Uzuku glanced at Toyoma.
There was a hint of concern in his eyes.
But—
Toyoma didn't react.
Not even slightly.
Uzuku nodded.
He didn't argue.
There was nothing to argue.
Fugaku looked at him directly.
"Until I return—"
"You will take command here."
The words were simple.
But heavy.
Uzuku didn't react immediately.
Then—
He nodded.
"I understand."
"Nothing will happen while I'm here."
"Don't worry."
Fugaku shifted his gaze.
Toward Shisui Uchiha.
"Shisui."
A slight pause.
His eyes briefly moved—
toward Toyoma.
"You will act as vice commander."
Silence.
Shisui didn't speak.
But he understood.
This wasn't just a position.
It was a responsibility.
And trust.
Fugaku did not mention Toyoma.
But the meaning—
was clear.
He did not trust him.
Not anymore.
The air grew still.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
Fugaku turned away.
His decision was made.
And this time—
He would not hesitate.
After Fugaku Uchiha left—
A quiet sigh was heard.
Uzuku turned.
His eyes fell on the younger shinobi still standing there.
Watching.
Waiting.
His expression hardened.
"What are you all standing here for?"
His voice rose.
"Go do your jobs."
"Are you all this free?"
The Uchiha teens flinched.
Then quickly dispersed.
One by one—
They left.
Shisui Uchiha glanced at Toyoma for a moment.
Then—
He let out a small sigh.
"I need to understand my position first…"
He muttered quietly—
and walked away.
Uzuku stepped closer to Toyoma and Suki.
Suki spoke first.
"Toyoma… if Patriarch Fugaku stops the security fee…"
"Won't that be bad for us?"
Toyoma looked at her.
Then gave a small laugh.
"You think the elders will allow that?"
His tone was calm.
"The elders… and the Grand Elder…"
"They're more united now than before."
"Making any decision won't be easy for the Clan Head."
"Don't worry about it."
Uzuku listened.
Then nodded slightly.
"Yes… That's true."
A pause.
"But still…"
"I feel Fugaku will do something."
He sighed.
His tone carried a hint of concern.
"On one hand… I feel bad for him."
"On the other…"
"It might be better if he just stays quiet."
Uzuku shook his head slightly.
"What a pain…"
Toyoma looked at him—
but said nothing.
Suki smiled lightly.
"Still… It's good, Uncle Uzuku."
"You'll be commander for some time."
Uzuku smiled faintly.
He patted her head.
"Well… It's a laid-back job."
"The Mist isn't in a position to do anything big."
Silence followed.
And far away—
beyond their sight—
The Mist had already made a move.
Something big.
Something that would change the course of the war.
The escalation—
had already begun.
Far from the camp—
Deeper into the forest near the Mist border—
The air was thick.
Not with silence.
But with something unstable.
A clash had already begun.
Steel.
Blood.
And movement.
Kakashi Hatake stood in the middle of it.
Breathing hard.
Surrounded.
Mist shinobi closed in.
And behind him—
Rin Nohara.
Wounded.
Shaking.
Her eyes—
were not afraid.
They were resolved.
"Ka…kashi…"
Her voice was weak.
But steady.
"Don't let them… use me…"
Kakashi froze.
For a moment—
Everything slowed.
"I…"
His grip tightened.
"I won't let that happen."
The Mist shinobi rushed forward.
Kakashi moved.
Lightning gathered in his hand.
Chidori.
The sound pierced the battlefield.
Rin looked at him.
One last time.
Then—
She stepped forward.
Straight into him.
The world stopped.
The sound—
cut.
Silence.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
The lightning—
had already pierced through.
Through Rin.
"…why…"
His voice broke.
Rin didn't answer.
She smiled.
Faint.
Relieved.
Then—
Her body went still.
The Chidori faded.
And Kakashi stood there—
Frozen.
Holding her.
Far away—
hidden in the shadows—
Obito Uchiha arrived.
Just in time—
to see everything.
His body stopped.
His eyes—
locked.
Rin.
On Kakashi's arm.
Blood.
Still dripping.
"No…"
A whisper.
Then—
louder.
"NO—"
Something inside him—
broke.
The world around him—
lost color.
Sound—
faded.
Only one image remained.
Rin.
Falling.
Dead.
Kakashi—
standing there.
Holding her.
His Sharingan spun.
Faster.
Faster—
Then—
It changed.
Mangekyō.
At the same moment—
Kakashi's eye—
also shifted.
Neither of them realised.
The connection—
had awakened.
Obito stepped forward.
Slowly.
The Mist shinobi turned.
They didn't understand.
They didn't see death coming.
Obito didn't speak.
He didn't hesitate.
And then—
He moved.
Fast.
Unnatural.
A blur.
One—
fell.
Then another.
Then more.
Blood scattered.
Bodies dropped.
No technique.
No mercy.
Only rage.
Only destruction.
The ground turned red.
The screams didn't last long.
Obito walked through them—
Like they were nothing.
Like they didn't exist.
His eyes—
empty.
Cold.
Kakashi didn't see him.
He didn't look up.
He couldn't.
He was still holding Rin.
"…Rin…"
His voice trembled.
He lifted her—
slowly.
Carefully.
Then turned—
And walked away.
Not knowing.
Not seeing.
Not understanding.
That someone else—
had witnessed everything.
Obito stood there.
Surrounded by corpses.
Blood dripping from his hands.
His breathing—
uneven.
His eyes—
burning.
"This world…"
A pause.
His voice—
low.
Broken.
"I will burn this world."
Silence followed.
And nothing—
would ever be the same again.