"Isamu… just how strong have you become to dare challenge multiple great villages? Where does your confidence even come from?" Ay muttered, staring at the spot where Isamu had vanished.
"Lord Raikage, that man is from Konohagakure. Are we really going to war with Konoha?" the Shadow Guard Squad leader asked as he approached.
"It's not a war with Konoha," Ay replied, shaking his head. "It's a war with the Uchiha."
"That guy… he's completely insane. I just don't know how strong he's become."
"Then what should we do next, Lord Raikage?" the guard asked.
"What else? We prepare for war. Underestimating him will only get us killed."
Ay paused, then added:
"I'll personally contact the other Kage. We'll hold a summit and deal with this together."
"Understood!" The Shadow Guard Squad immediately dispersed to carry out the order.
---
Ay stood before the ruined city wall, his gaze heavy.
"That level of destructive power… it's already at the Kage level."
"How did Isamu achieve this?"
---
Meanwhile—
At the border of the Land of Lightning, Isamu reappeared and released everyone.
"Zhan, how do you feel?" he asked.
"My body's healed… but I still feel exhausted," Zhan replied, rubbing his temples.
"Give me a break," Isamu scoffed. "You just wielded that kind of power, and all you feel is a little tired? Others would kill for that strength."
"You didn't even see the damage you caused. The Raikage actually held back quite a bit."
---
"Huh? Did we really destroy that much?" Zhan asked blankly.
"Heh. What do you think?" Isamu rolled his eyes.
"The city wall's gone. Half the residential area is destroyed."
"Luckily, I know Ay. We've crossed paths before. If this had happened in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi would've already tried to kill me."
---
"Man… this Chakra Cloak is incredible," Zhan said, grinning foolishly.
"But once we enter the second form, we lose awareness. It's a shame—I didn't even get to see the destruction myself."
"Idiot," Isamu muttered, clearly unimpressed.
---
Turning to the rest, Isamu continued:
"Next stop—the Kirigakure in the Land of Water."
"Any objections?"
"None, Lord Isamu!" Uchiha Feng stepped forward immediately, thumping his chest.
The others glanced at him with disdain—was that level of sucking up really necessary?
Still, they all echoed:
"No objections."
---
"Good."
Without another word, Isamu activated Kamui and pulled everyone into the dimension.
Before leaving, he glanced toward the distance—
At the hidden White Zetsu.
A faint sneer appeared on his face.
---
"...No way," White Zetsu muttered after emerging from a tree.
"He noticed me from that far away? Is his perception really that sharp?"
"Forget it—I need to report this to Lord Madara immediately."
---
"Lord Madara! Lord Madara!"
White Zetsu rushed in frantically.
"What's with the panic?" said Uchiha Madara calmly, sipping water. "The sky hasn't fallen. Speak properly."
"Lord Madara… Isamu used Tailed Beast power again."
"Pfft—what?!"
Madara spat out his drink.
"Tailed Beast power?! Where did he get that from?"
"…Wait. You said again?"
---
"Uh… he used it yesterday too. At the border of the Land of Fire," Zetsu said awkwardly. "Didn't I tell you?"
"WHEN did you tell me that?!" Madara roared, kicking over the stone table.
"Why would you hide something that important?! Explain everything—now!"
---
Zetsu hurriedly recounted everything in detail.
"…That's the full situation. If I didn't have so many clones, I wouldn't have been able to keep up with him."
"You didn't leave anything out this time?" Madara asked coldly.
"No! Absolutely not!"
---
Madara fell silent.
"Tailed Beast power… where could he have gotten it?"
"Did he extract it from the Nine-Tailed Fox in Konoha?"
"What about Uzumaki Mito? Any intel?"
Zetsu hesitated.
"…You know we can't get close to her."
"…Right," Madara muttered, rubbing his forehead. "I forgot she can sense you."
---
"Keep watching him," Madara ordered.
"Tailed Beasts are essential to my plan. I can't allow him to interfere."
"Have the clones monitor the other eight as well. We cannot let him get to them first."
"Understood."
---
"Mangekyō Sharingan… Wood Release… Sage Mode… and now Tailed Beast power…"
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"Isamu… you're walking the same path I once pursued."
"Is it coincidence… or do you already know everything?"
"Will you… become an obstacle to me?"
---
In the shadows—
Black Zetsu was shaken.
"What the hell is going on with this guy…?"
"Mangekyō… Sage Mode… Wood Release… and now Tailed Beast power?"
"At this rate… will he awaken the Rinnegan too?!"
---
"This is bad…"
"His trajectory is getting dangerously close to Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki…"
"If this continues… my plan could be ruined."
---
After a moment, Black Zetsu sneered.
"…And Madara isn't even as capable as his own son. Useless."
But soon, he sighed.
"With no combat power, I can't deal with Isamu myself…"
"I'll have to focus on controlling Madara."
"I just hope Isamu doesn't grow any stronger than this…"
---
Meanwhile—
Back in Konoha—
Inside their home, Tsunade was washing dishes when—
Crash!
A bowl slipped from her hand and shattered.
"…Hm?"
A faint unease crept over her.
"Why do I suddenly feel like something's wrong…?"
As she bent down, a wave of nausea hit her.
She rushed to the sink and vomited.
---
"…What's going on?"
"I feel uneasy… nauseous… and my chest feels tight…"
"Did I eat something bad… or is something about to happen?"
---
"…Is Isamu in trouble?"
"…Or is something wrong with Nawaki?"
She shook her head.
"No… that's impossible."
"Isamu is strong… and Nawaki has Orochimaru watching over him…"
"I must just be overthinking things…"
---
After washing her face, Tsunade forced herself to calm down and returned to clean up the broken pieces—
Unaware of the storm that was about to engulf the entire shinobi world.