The news from Konoha brought only bitterness and disappointment. All hopes placed in Jiraiya had crumbled. The legendary Sannin hadn't even reached his goal, falling halfway.
What a crushing failure.
The Sunagakure squad, overconfident, set out to recruit Uchiha Yue, but ultimately never even saw his face. They vanished into the silent wasteland, deprived not only of chakra but of life itself. A tragedy made worse by its futility.
In fact, they had a chance. The genin left at the edge of the zone might have survived, but they overestimated their strength and fatally underestimated the treachery of this land. Their comrades were so close, almost within arm's reach.
Salvation seemed deceptively close, like the reflection of the moon in water or a flower in a looking glass—all they had to do was take a step, and reality would be within their grasp. They imagined they could rescue their comrades without the slightest risk to themselves.
Failing to understand the nature of the Dead Zone, they succumbed to temptation. Reason gave way to desperate hope, and they stepped toward their doom. They cannot be blamed: after so many sacrifices, the thought of salvation being just one step away would drive anyone mad. But ultimately, they paid for their arrogance with their own lives.
Uchiha Yue himself was unaware of his uninvited guests. He made no effort, plotted no schemes. He simply existed, and his domain judged those who dared to desecrate it.
Soon, scouts from other villages arrived at the edges of the Dead Zone. The Cloud and Rock shinobi acted more cautiously, but their logic was similar to that of the Sand. Discovering that the area was absorbing chakra, but not instantly, they decided to take a risk: go deeper, scout the situation, and retreat at the first sign of real danger.
They didn't find the bodies of their predecessors or even cross paths with one another—the territory, shrouded in an ominous aura, was too vast.
Once inside, the scouts quickly realized they had fallen into a treacherous trap. They still had chakra, but their physical strength was almost completely exhausted. What little remained was insufficient to return. In helpless despair, they fell to the ground, awaiting help. Their subordinates, seeing the distress of their commanders, rushed to their aid and perished one after another. However, unlike the Sand squad, the surviving shinobi of Cloud and Rock showed bitter wisdom: realizing the futility of their efforts, they retreated to report what had happened.
Soon, the villages of Hidden Cloud and Hidden Rock learned the horrifying details. The plan to recruit the invincible warrior had failed. It was impossible to even approach Uchiha Yue. Entering his domain would mean signing one's own death warrant.
The Sand Village, alarmed by the silence of its squad, sent reinforcements, but they failed to find even remains. Only reports from other villages shed light on the fate of the missing.
They were all dead.
"What a shame... But what else would one expect from a man capable of single-handedly crushing Konoha? They say his power rivals that of the God of Shinobi himself."
In Cloud Village, Ai, the Fourth Raikage, slammed his fist on the table in frustration. The plan had failed. This warrior, who single-handedly brought Konoha to its knees and nearly wiped it off the face of the earth, was the perfect ally. The last of the powerful clan destroyed by Konoha, he should have been consumed with hatred. Such a man would have been invaluable to Cloud.
Alas, the men he sent failed to even appear before Yue, vanishing without a trace in his lands.
"The legendary Mangekyō Sharingan... Such incredible power... If only I could master it..."
In Sand Village, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, raised his head, his gaze fixed on the Land of Fire. In his mind's eye, he saw a warrior soaring through the skies like a wrathful deity. Recruitment was merely a façade. Deep down, the Kazekage harbored a far more sinister plan. Trusting the Uchiha? Madness. They said most of their clan was not quite right in the head. How could they recruit a monster capable of single-handedly confronting an entire village?
His true goal was reconnaissance. If Yue were weakened after the battle, Rasa was prepared to gather all of Suna's forces, form a temporary alliance with Konoha, attack the renegade, kill him, and take his eyes. Then he would regain this divine power and restore his village to its former glory. The Daimyo would begin to respect him again, money would flow, new missions would appear... These thoughts brought a predatory grin to Rasa's face.
Alas, his dreams were shattered by harsh reality. His shinobi vanished into oblivion like stones thrown into a bottomless lake.
"Heh-heh, looks like Konoha's in deep trouble this time. Shimura Danzo... Ha-ha, that old hawk had to bring such punishment upon his own village! Funny, oh so funny!"
In the Iwa Village, old Ōnoki, looking towards Konoha, was openly amused. He'd taken note of the report about the impassable dead zone, but he was far more amused by the irony of fate. Konoha had given birth to its own executioner. Danzo had attacked a fellow villager and gotten what he deserved. It was retribution, pure and simple.
However, that didn't concern him. Konoha's problems were Konoha's problems.
He was a simple spectator, anticipating a grand spectacle. And...
— Hmm... Since Konoha has become so weakened, and old man Sarutobi is gone... then it's time for a change. Ha-ha-ha!
Onoki burst out laughing. The cunning and unscrupulous old man didn't feel a shred of sympathy. A plan was already forming in his head. He saw not a tragedy, but a window of opportunity. A weakened neighbor is always a gift from fate. It's time to redraw the map of the world.
And it's worth starting with the tasty morsel left over from Konoha.