Simultaneously, the same tragedy was unfolding across Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.
This time, however, the devastation was not Deidara's handiwork. Although he had crafted giant clay birds for Kanon's four shadow clones, Deidara himself had chosen to head for Kumogakure. The other villages were instead engulfed by the Rasengan Fire Dance, suffering catastrophic casualties. The explosive power of the Rasengan Fire Dance far exceeded that of the C3, leading to a series of earth-shattering detonations that reduced parts of the three villages to war-torn ruins.
Amidst the Daimyō meetings being held in these three villages, Kanon's shadow clones struck. Right before the eyes of the respective Kage, they decapitated the Daimyō of the three nations and absorbed their heads into the Flower Realm space.
Kanon's sudden assault on the Five Great Hidden Villages caught everyone completely off guard. Under the lightning strike of the Akatsuki's Kanon Uchiha, only the Daimyō of the Land of Fire remained among the rulers of the Five Great Nations.
The Daimyō summit had not even officially commenced before it was discovered that four of the sovereigns were already dead. This immediately thrust the Five Great Nations into a state of Level 1 high alert. Kanon's methods were flagrantly provocative. She had assassinated the heads of state in broad daylight, right in the presence of the Kage.
…
Konoha.
Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji stood near a construction site, discussing the news regarding the Uchiha siblings' latest actions.
"How could this happen?"
"What?! Kanon and Sasuke actually attacked the Five Kage Summit!"
"And Kanon managed to critically wound the Raikage!"
Ino spoke with a look of pure disbelief. She didn't doubt Kanon had the audacity to do it; rather, she was shocked that Kanon possessed the strength to overpower the Raikage and inflict such heavy injuries in front of the other Kage.
"They say the official announcement is coming soon. The high-ranking officials are in a total frenzy," Shikamaru said, his voice laced with resignation.
"Kanon is a member of the Akatsuki, the ones who destroyed Konoha. She's one of the primary culprits behind everything," Choji muttered, gritting his teeth. "I can't forgive her."
"Word is Kanon also took out Danzo right before he was supposed to take office..." Shikamaru dropped this bombshell, causing Ino and Choji's expressions to shift violently.
"Things are getting complicated..."
"Yeah, the situation is truly beyond belief..." Shino approached from the distance as the rest of the Konoha cohorts gathered.
Naruto stood in the center, looking at everyone.
"Listen, I'll be the one to handle Sasuke and Kanon!" Naruto declared to the group.
Thud!
Tenten slammed her fist against a wooden beam, shouting at Naruto. "Are you planning on taking on those two siblings by yourself?!"
"There's no way we can just sit back and accept that!"
Shino nodded, looking toward Naruto. "Tenten is right, Naruto. We can't just let you act on your own whims."
Naruto shook his head, his tone firm. "I'm not acting on a whim."
Kiba also pounded the wood, shouting in frustration. "We've already made our resolve to kill Sasuke! As for Kanon, she's a true enemy, no one is going to forgive her."
Shikamaru seemed to sense something. He fixed his gaze on Naruto. "Hey, Naruto... you say you'll handle it alone, but are you actually trying to shield Sasuke and Kanon?"
Naruto shook his head. "No, I have no intention of shielding them."
"If she caused that much chaos at the summit and fought the Raikage, Kanon must be weakened. Why didn't you finish her off then?" Neji questioned sharply.
Sakura felt a surge of irritation at Neji's interrogation and stepped in to explain on Naruto's behalf: "It wasn't like that. Kanon nearly killed me and Kakashi-sensei by herself. If Naruto hadn't been there, we wouldn't have made it back!"
"Plus, Madara was there. It's not something that can be settled easily."
"But we can't just watch them walk away!" Kiba muttered. "Naruto, you're strong. You're the hero who defeated Pain!"
"Hero...?" Naruto murmured.
"When you face Kanon and Sasuke, you should do what you did back then!" Kiba reminded him.
Naruto shook his head slightly. "It's not like that. With the way things are now, it's impossible to beat the current Kanon."
"Regardless, everyone, none of you can engage Kanon or Sasuke right now."
"What do you mean?" Neji asked, confused.
"I can't say for sure if it's just Sasuke, but the moment you confront Kanon, she won't hesitate to kill you! I'm the only one who can face them."
"That's what I mean."
As soon as Naruto finished, the others erupted in dissatisfaction.
"We don't get it at all!" Tenten cried out.
"Explain it clearly! What exactly happened?"
"I'll tell you when the time is right," Naruto said flatly.
"Are you trying to brush us off again? You brat!"
…
In another part of Konoha, Tsunade had finally awakened. As the Fifth Hokage, she was currently in the Hokage's office, frantically devouring food. Numerous empty pots and bowls already littered the area around her.
"Please, eat slowly..." Shizune looked on, utterly stunned.
"It's not nearly enough!" Tsunade barked. "My chakra hasn't returned to normal yet! Bring more food!"
"If I relax for a second, I'll turn back into an old hag!"
As she spoke, her stomach growled loudly. "Dammit! Move, move, move!" Tsunade resumed her eating frenzy.
"We've run out of food in the office. I'll go buy more right away. Maybe you should rest for a moment?" Shizune suggested helplessly.
While Shizune held Tonton back, insisting the pig couldn't be eaten, Kakashi pushed the door open and entered.
"Ka... Kakashi?" Shizune stammered.
Kakashi watched Tsunade gorge herself and let out a light chuckle. "It's good to see you're so energetic."
"I'm far from it! I feel like I haven't even had breakfast yet," Tsunade replied softly.
"I'm relieved. I almost ended up becoming the Hokage myself."
"Well, I'm not really cut out for the job anyway. Given the current situation, only the highly respected Tsunade-sama can serve as Hokage."
As she ate, Tsunade turned to Kakashi. "But this Shinobi Allied Forces business is quite a surprise. I can't believe the Tsuchikage and Raikage actually agreed to cooperate."
"It's just that the Uchiha siblings have become much more troublesome. Especially Kanon Uchiha, she announced the Fourth Shinobi World War alongside Madara."
Kakashi lowered his head, his voice heavy with self-reproach. "I bear a great deal of responsibility for Kanon turning out this way."
"The situation is dire and urgent." Tsunade's expression turned solemn. "Kanon Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, huh? Is that guy really still alive?"
Kakashi shook his head. "While there's no conclusive evidence, based on his actions, it seems likely."
"Tch, war is breaking out again? I never thought the Uchiha clan's grudge would drag in the entire shinobi world. That Kanon kid is only fifteen, isn't she? A year younger than Naruto..."
"Immediately after I finish eating, invite the Daimyō and convene a meeting!"
"Prepare for war!!" Tsunade declared.
…
Outside the village, a small figure wearing a straw hat and a black cloak appeared. Her body dissolved into a swirl of roses and vanished, reappearing inside the village.
Looking at the Konoha that was still under reconstruction and the massive destruction caused by her Complete Body Susanoo, Kanon's heart remained tranquil.
Suddenly, two figures dashed past her. Naruto and Konohamaru. Konohamaru was currently using his Harem Jutsu to "interview" the hero of the village, Naruto. As they passed Kanon, Naruto suddenly froze. He seemed to sense something and whipped his head around, but Kanon had already vanished.
"Strange. I felt something familiar just now," Naruto muttered, puzzled.
Kanon, with her head lowered and her hat casting a shadow, entered a temporary stall selling tri-color dango. After she finished eating and stepped out, she looked toward the largest wooden building currently in the village. Tsunade and the others appeared to be inside, preparing for a meeting.
Kanon looked up and let out a cold sneer. Her slender, delicate hand tilted her straw hat, the tinkling of wind chimes accompanying the white veil as it brushed past her eyes.
On her exquisite face, her crimson Sharingan shimmered with a mysterious glow. Coupled with her look of anticipation, it heralded an impending catastrophe.
As Kanon advanced with slow, deliberate steps, her purpose for coming to Konoha was clear: besides the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, her targets included the high-ranking elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
Had the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still been among the living, he would have been her target as well. But alas, he was already dead.