"Hanzo-sama. According to our scouts, Akatsuki has left the Land of Iron and is heading for the Land of Rain."
Outside a heavily guarded chamber, a Rain shinobi reported respectfully. Inside the screen, silence lingered—then Hanzo's dark voice finally sounded.
"Hmph. I thought they might make the neutral Land of Iron their base."
A pause.
"So they've returned."
"Hanzo-sama, what should we do? Follow the plan we discussed with that Root operative?"
"Idiot."
Hanzo's voice snapped like steel.
"That plan was for an Akatsuki of a dozen. How could it apply to an Akatsuki inflated to over a hundred?"
"F-forgive me, Hanzo-sama!"
The jonin bowed immediately, but Hanzo didn't punish him further. Instead, his voice sank colder.
"Then what of the information the Root operative provided—that Akatsuki is colluding with Kirigakure's leadership?"
"Yes. The scouts confirmed it."
The report came fast.
"Akatsuki's original members all know that before the Konoha–Kiri ceasefire, the man who later became Fourth Mizukage—Kaguya Ren—visited the three leaders alone."
"And at the summit, our scout overheard that Akatsuki had received payment from Ren."
Crack.
Wood snapped from inside the screen, followed by Hanzo's heavy, chilling breath.
"That damned Fourth Mizukage…"
Hanzo's rage simmered.
"Barely enthroned, and he's already reaching into the Rain—into territory Kiri's traditional forces can't touch."
His voice thickened with menace.
"Have I grown so quiet these years that even a brat dares step on my head?"
Hanzo's tone turned murderous.
"Then I'll cut off the hand he stretches into the Rain and remind him why I am called the Demigod."
After venting, Hanzo reined himself in and spoke hoarsely:
"Contact that Root operative. Gather every Root shinobi who wants revenge for Danzo. We strike with Rain."
His order was absolute.
"Before Akatsuki truly grasps its expanded power—erase its core from our land."
"Yes, Hanzo-sama!"
—
In a hidden outpost within the Land of Rain, Obito listened to White Zetsu's information, eyes narrowing.
"Rinnegan… and Akatsuki."
He exhaled slowly.
"So that's why Madara's ocular power felt weak—so unlike him."
Obito's tone remained flat.
"I thought it was simply age and failing organs. I didn't expect the eyes in his sockets weren't even his."
"It can't be helped," White Zetsu chirped, defending Madara with odd cheer.
"Before meeting you, Madara-sama was already at the point where only the Demonic Statue could prolong his life. If he hadn't planted backups, a single accident could have erased the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Obito shrugged.
"I don't care. An old warlord like him was never going to bet on only me."
He looked out the window at masked shinobi moving like machines through the base.
"But I'm curious how you thought to pretend to be Root remnants and cooperate with Hanzo… and how you gathered real Root members."
"Because that identity is incredibly useful," another White Zetsu said, rising from the earth.
Half its face shifted into a Root shinobi's likeness, and its voice turned sly.
"Danzo died while leading Root elites to assassinate Kaguya Ren. That means his death was unexpected for everyone—including Root agents embedded across nations and Root shinobi out on missions."
It continued smoothly.
"Thanks to the Third Hokage's incompetence, Root was basically Danzo's private army."
"So a Root shinobi hearing Danzo died at Ren's hands and deciding to take revenge is a story no one can refute."
White Zetsu's smile was cruel.
"And Ren is strong—strong enough to kill even Kage-class fighters."
"So the next best revenge is to strike the organization Ren cultivated."
Its eyes gleamed.
"I used the Root-remnant identity to contact Hanzo, and I used the same identity to draw in the truly loyal Root shinobi."
"In doing so, Root's participation becomes undeniable—unerasable."
White Zetsu's voice dropped.
"And for Nagato—who lost his parents to Konoha ninja—this is the perfect catalyst for hatred."
Obito fell silent, then spoke quietly:
"So that's why Madara sent me here—to deepen the impression that Konoha took part in destroying Akatsuki."
"Your Kamui is our final insurance if something goes wrong," White Zetsu admitted, "but yes—there's that angle too."
It handed Obito an orange mask patterned like tiger fur, along with a black cloak that concealed all body information.
"If something goes wrong, wear this. Pretend you're a secret Root asset. If necessary, use Wood Release—or let Nagato see a Sharingan."
White Zetsu's voice turned eager.
"With Kamui, you'll know when to move."
"…Probably," Obito said dully, taking the disguise.
Just then, a Root shinobi's cold voice sounded from outside:
"Ku. Rain has contacted us. They agree to cooperate in the assassination of Akatsuki's leaders. Hanzo himself may deploy."
Obito's body spiraled—vanishing instantly from the room.
The White Zetsu rising from the ground quickly adopted the posture of someone awakening from meditation, refining its transformation as it spoke:
"Hmph. Hanzo is old. No longer the demigod who dared ignite a Great Ninja War with a small nation."
"But it's not too late."
Its tone sharpened.
"Coordinate the time and place. Gather all Root agents in the Rain."
"This time, we wipe out Akatsuki's core."
"And cut off the hand Kaguya Ren has stretched from the Land of Water."
"Understood."
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