346-350

Chapter 346: The Second Wife

*In the golden space...*

Naruto, who was trying to control the Nine-Tails' chakra, finally met his mother, Kushina Uzumaki.

“Have you guessed who I am?” Kushina asked with an expectant smile, gazing at her son.

Faced with Kushina's question, Naruto, in typical fashion, mistakenly thought she was the Nine-Tails itself, earning himself a solid whack from Kushina.

Mother and son finally reunited.

With Kushina’s help, Naruto successfully subdued the Nine-Tails.

At the same time, he learned the truth of what happened 16 years ago.

When Naruto heard the possibility that Kushina might still be alive, he asked excitedly, “So, Mom, does that mean you’re alive?”

Kushina hesitated and said uncertainly, “Maybe. I’m not entirely sure.”

“Based on what Minato and that young man discussed back then, it seems that young man used something called the Dragon Vein to travel through time to our era.”

“And apparently, you’ve also traveled to our time before and even met your father.”

Naruto scratched his head in confusion. “I did come across the Dragon Vein recently. There was indeed a seal left behind by Dad. But I don’t remember meeting him.”

“Your father likely ensured history wouldn’t be altered,” Kushina said thoughtfully. “But it seems he trusted that young man.”

“What specific features did he have?” Naruto asked eagerly, concerned about the possibility of his mother being alive.

“Black hair, white robes, a samurai sword with a green hilt,” Kushina replied, recalling something. “Oh, and he went there specifically to save his parents.”

“He said that some naive kid mistook him for his father, so he decided to rescue Minato and me as well. Unfortunately, Minato had already used the Reaper Death Seal by then and couldn’t be saved.”

She sighed, her face tinged with sadness. “Thinking about it now, that naive kid was probably you.”

Black hair? White robes? A green-hilted sword? Mistaking him for my dad?

Naruto suddenly remembered Aizen, the mysterious figure who appeared during his journey to the Ghost Lantern Castle to capture the six-tailed beast's remnants.

Does this mean the person who saved Mom back then was Big Brother Aizen?

The more Naruto thought about it, the more excited he became. Finally, unable to control his emotions, he shouted, “That was Big Brother Aizen!”

“It sounds like you two are very close,” Kushina said, covering her lips with her hand as she smiled with relief.

“Yeah!” Naruto nodded vigorously, sitting down with his hands supporting him from behind as he closed his eyes with a contented expression.

At that moment, life felt better than ever.

He had mastered the Nine-Tails. He’d learned that his mother had been saved.

And he still had family in this world.

Most importantly, Big Brother Aizen’s parents were saved too.

Kakashi-sensei had once said that Aizen’s defection and the Uchiha massacre were merely triggers. Losing his parents as a child was the real reason for his actions.

That was why Aizen had cooperated with the masked man, using a grand illusion to control everyone on the surface and create a utopia where his family wouldn’t be threatened.

Now that Big Brother Aizen’s parents were safe, maybe Naruto could bring him back to the village.

---

*Land of Wind, Old Roran Ruins...*

A flash of white light illuminated the area.

A winged, jet-black monster with a disproportionately small head appeared in the sky out of nowhere.

On the monster’s head stood a young man and woman.

The man was tall and slender, with black eyes and sharp brows. His elegant demeanor exuded intelligence. His long legs and white robes added a sense of simplicity and grace.

Though not unparalleled in appearance, his face was handsome and enduringly pleasant to look at. His sharp profile, if not set in an intense expression, radiated warmth and serenity.

The woman, with striking red hair, had delicate features. A gold ring on her left hand glinted in the sunlight, though her expression betrayed some irritation as the man’s arm wrapped around her waist.

They were none other than Aizen and Kushina, who had returned to the present timeline.

“We’re finally back,” Aizen said, crouching to pat the head of the black creature. “Didn’t expect it to drain the Dragon Vein’s energy this much. Who knows how long it’ll take to recover now.”

The creature hissed like a loyal hound greeting its master, albeit disgustingly.

“You’ve jumped through time so many times, no wonder,” Kushina muttered with disdain, glaring at him like he was some kind of pervert.

Indeed...

After Aizen had saved her, the two didn’t return to the present immediately.

Instead, they embarked on hundreds of time-traveling adventures—journeying as far back as Kaguya’s era and as recent as the Uchiha Massacre.

They jumped timelines seven or eight times just so Kushina could witness Naruto’s growth.

Through these experiences, Kushina discovered many truths about the ninja world: from the Six Paths Sage to Madara Uchiha, the First Hokage, and even the masked man’s identity.

When she learned that her husband’s death had been orchestrated by a clumsy and seemingly foolish disciple long presumed dead, her shock was immeasurable.

However, realizing the chain of manipulation—from the altered stone tablet to Black Zetsu exploiting Madara, who in turn used Obito—she eventually understood.

The ninja world was full of villains but also brimming with compassion. Once someone’s hardships were revealed, even a murderer might be forgiven.

But forgiving Obito didn’t mean Kushina could forgive Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Watching him, for his own selfish reasons, let her son suffer—even denying him basic sustenance—made her furious as a mother.

If not for preserving history and Hiruzen’s eventual death, she might have gone to confront him personally.

---

Of course, spending so much time together, some... things happened.

After the Fourth Great Ninja War, the world became less exciting.

Aizen desperately wanted to complete his mission and gain the ability to travel to other worlds.

Through his travels, he sought to perfect his abilities by learning from ninja arts and bloodlines across eras while relentlessly pursuing Kushina.

Over time, Kushina’s perception of Aizen shifted from “a good kid,” to “a good friend,” to “a good family member (Naruto’s godfather).”

Finally, a month ago, it shifted to, “a beast, a perverted fiend.”

One night, at a hot springs inn, there was only “one room, one bed.”

Kushina, not wanting “the poor kid” to freeze, agreed to share the bed.

One thing led to another...

Now, she was one month pregnant.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 347: Lady Kushina*

"Alright, Kushina, calm down. Don't get too worked up. You're not just a wife now; you're an expectant mother too," Aizen teased gently.

Aizen knew Kushina hadn’t fully accepted him yet, but he wasn’t in a rush.

Women, he thought. Once the child is born and there’s a bond, everything will naturally fall into place.

The best example? Tsunade.

As ferocious as she was before becoming a mother, she became just as docile after having a child—obedient and devoted to her husband.

A classic case of "tough on the outside, soft on the inside."

That was precisely why Aizen had spent a year courting her, carefully choosing a moment when fate would push things along.

"Who’s your 'wife' now? I bet you've used this trick to deceive plenty of other women," Kushina glared at him.

Truth be told, she didn’t actually dislike Aizen.

With his combination of strength, good looks, and charm, very few women wouldn’t be drawn to him.

Kushina wasn’t immune to his appeal.

But she already had a husband and a son. Despite being a widow now, her love for Minato remained strong.

Yet this scoundrel didn’t play by the rules.

He loved to exploit situations, and by now, it was too late to complain.

Naruto was about to have a younger sibling.

"Deceive? That’s unfair," Aizen grinned as he scooped her up in a bridal carry. "I’m giving the women devastated by the ninja world a loving home."

Kushina gasped and shrieked, "What are you doing?"

"Taking you home, of course. Oh, and introducing you to the sisters. By the way, one of them is an old friend of yours."

With those words, Aizen activated Flying Thunder God and vanished with Kushina and their baby, Little Black.

They reappeared in Amegakure.

When Lady Mikoto saw her long-lost best friend, her shock was beyond words.

Learning that Aizen had used the power of the Ryumyaku to save Kushina without altering history finally put her at ease.

She was genuinely happy that Kushina was alive, though she couldn’t help but feel a bit wistful.

Aizen’s fondness for women was beyond reform.

From Tsunade in her fifties to Hinata, who was five years younger than him, he left no one untouched.

Kushina was no exception.

Although she already knew that Aizen had secretly rescued Mikoto, learning that Mikoto had become Aizen’s woman early on—and even had a daughter with him, fulfilling Fugaku’s dying wish—left her with mixed feelings.

After all, she herself had been entrusted to Aizen by Minato.

The difference? Minato hadn’t anticipated this “betrayal,” whereas Fugaku had accepted it.

At noon, Kushina approached Aizen. "Aizen, I want to see Obito."

"And then?" Aizen’s expression remained calm.

"I want to tell him that everything is part of Black Zetsu's scheme, even Madara was being used," she said earnestly.

"And after that?"

"After?" Kushina was momentarily stunned, unsure of what to say.

Aizen smirked. "Let me guess, you think Obito will turn over a new leaf and live a righteous life?"

Before she could reply, he continued, "No, no. You're overthinking it. While Obito may not fully understand Black Zetsu's plot, he’s very much aware of being used."

"Then why does he still—?" Kushina frowned in confusion.

"Rather than being manipulated, it’s more accurate to say he willingly plays along. Infinite Tsukuyomi isn’t just Madara or Black Zetsu’s dream—it’s Obito’s as well. He wants to create a world where only Rin exists."

"Isn’t there any way to stop the war?" Kushina lowered her head, her voice full of sorrow.

"Of course there is. I could kill Obito and Black Zetsu right now, and the Fourth Great Ninja War would end."

Kushina’s eyes lit up, but Aizen wasn’t done.

"But then? Without a common enemy, the nations would go their separate ways, returning to the same cycle of arms races and disputes."

"Eventually leading to another war? Over and over again?"

Kushina fell into despair at Aizen’s stark explanation.

"Is war truly unavoidable?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Kushina’s homeland had been destroyed by war, orchestrated by the Five Great Nations, including Konoha.

She couldn’t bear to see others suffer as she had.

"Don’t overthink it," Aizen said, pulling her close as they sat on the couch. "This war, though tragic, isn’t as horrific as you imagine. When it’s over, things will improve."

"But Naruto..." Kushina's worry remained.

"You don’t need to fret over him. Anyone can die, but Naruto won’t. He’s the reincarnation of Asura, the son of the current Sage of Six Paths. That old man’s got his eye on him."

"Even so, I’d feel better seeing him," she said, her expression soft and pleading.

Aizen paused, taken aback by her sudden vulnerability.

"Fine, but there’s a condition." He leaned in and whispered in her ear.

Kushina’s face turned crimson from her neck to her forehead.

"But... isn't there another way?" she stammered.

"Sure," Aizen smirked and whispered again.

After hearing the alternative, Kushina was mortified and enraged.

In the end, her desire to see her son led her to reluctantly accept Aizen’s first proposal. She lowered her head in silent resignation.

As for the second option?

Forget it. It was even worse.

---

Outside Turtle Island, a massive air cannon resembling a tiger materialized, unleashing shockwaves that rocked the colossal island for miles around.

A figure clad in white with flowing hair stood amid the chaos, their long bangs swaying in the wind.

"Is that... Daytime Tiger?"

Aizen arrived just in time to witness the spectacle.

"Looks like Kisame’s been defeated," he mused. "A ninja who relies on chakra absorption, betrayed by his own sword Samehada, and up against pure taijutsu—what a miserable fate for Akatsuki’s hardest worker."

Footsteps approached rapidly from the opposite direction.

"Don’t let that Akatsuki member escape! If the intel leaks, the consequences will be dire!"

Aizen turned to see familiar faces: Aoba Yamashiro, Naruto, Yamato, Killer Bee, and a random Cloud ninja he didn’t recognize, all closing in.

"Someone’s ahead!"

The group stopped about thirty meters away, their eyes locked on Aizen.

(To be continued...)

*Chapter 348: Naruto Acknowledges His Father*

The sensory ninja standing beside Killer Bee noticed something unusual and alerted the group, "This person seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Up until now, I haven’t been able to sense his chakra."

Because of Aizen's change in clothing and hairstyle, Aoba Yamashiro didn’t immediately recognize him. He looked at the vaguely familiar white-clad figure ahead, stepped forward, and demanded sternly, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

"Long time no see, Aoba Yamashiro-senpai, Yamato-senpai, Naruto, Eight-Tails Killer Bee, and... Cloud Village's extras."

Aizen turned around, smiling as he addressed the five.

"You’re..." Aoba Yamashiro and Yamato's pupils shrank sharply. They immediately positioned themselves protectively in front of Naruto.

Yamato activated his Wood Style to bind Aizen.

Aoba brandished a kunai, assuming a defensive posture, and warned loudly, "Everyone, be on guard! This person is Fujiwara Aizen of the Akatsuki!"

"It’s him..." Killer Bee remembered the last time they met during the Battle of the Thunder Gorge, when Aizen had spared him.

At the same time, as he helped Naruto control the Nine-Tails' power, he learned about Aizen through Naruto’s inner world.

The Cloud Village’s extra ninja, on the other hand, broke into a cold sweat. This man is Fujiwara Aizen? The one who easily defeated Lord Raikage, Darui, and Cee—the one recognized by the Five Great Nations as a criminal as dangerous as Madara Uchiha.

Can someone like this truly be defeated by us?  

Meanwhile, Naruto was lost in the memories of his mother, Kushina Uzumaki.

Even the Nine-Tails, which had just been drained of its chakra, reflected, So it’s him... This world truly is full of surprises. Who would’ve thought that the kid who once treated Naruto to ramen would grow this powerful?

Just as someone was about to speak, a loud and robust voice suddenly boomed, "Take this! Dynamic Leaf Steel Hurricane!"

Might Guy, enveloped in blue steam, flung the defeated Kisame to the ground. Kisame lay there, looking despondently at Aizen. Is that really Mr. Aizen? he wondered.

Meanwhile, Might Guy, with blue chakra surging around his feet, launched a ferocious spinning kick toward Aizen’s back at an incredible speed.

Aizen smiled faintly and didn’t move to stop him. As Guy approached, a white, translucent energy shield appeared out of thin air, expanding outward.

The Wood Style binding shattered, and Guy let out a loud "Ahhh!" as he was flung back, tumbling over ten meters away.

Before he hit the ground, Aizen's voice rang out clearly, "Bakudō #61: Six Rod Light Prison!"

Six beams of light appeared, immobilizing Might Guy in midair.

To prevent Guy from opening the Eighth Gate, Aizen extended a finger and pointed behind him, "Hadō #4: Byakurai!"

A beam of white lightning shot out, striking Might Guy. He screamed in pain as his lower torso was pierced, his body instantly paralyzed.

"Guy!" Aoba Yamashiro, Yamato, and the Cloud Village ninja exclaimed in shock. They lunged at Aizen but met the same fate as Guy, immobilized midair by the Six Rod Light Prison.

Cloud Village’s ninja fell into despair. To think Fujiwara Aizen could be this strong... He shouted urgently, "Bee! Get Naruto out of here—go find Lord Raikage!"

But neither Killer Bee nor Naruto moved. They didn’t even prepare to fight. Instead, they quietly watched Aizen.

"Finally, we can have a proper talk," Aizen said as he walked over to Kisame, storing him in his system inventory. He then turned to leave Turtle Island.

Naruto exchanged glances with Killer Bee. The latter gave him a thumbs-up before following Aizen.

"Wait! Bee! Naruto acting rashly is one thing, but how could you let him follow Aizen? That guy’s target is the Tailed Beasts!" Aoba Yamashiro shouted in frustration.

Killer Bee drew his blade and gave Aoba a rare serious glare, uncharacteristically refraining from rapping. "Stop making a fuss. How do you know that guy’s here to capture us? With his strength... Besides, you should trust your comrade—Naruto."

As he spoke, Killer Bee infused his blade with lightning chakra, performing a Super Vibrating Lightning Style Blade technique, and slashed at the light prison holding the Cloud ninja.

Clang!

The blade broke and spun through the air before embedding itself in the ground.

Even the broken blade crackled with residual electricity.

Killer Bee glanced at the broken blade, muttering, "It doesn’t seem to absorb chakra... But what kind of technique is this? Even the Super Vibrating Lightning Style Blade can’t cut through it..."

Once Aizen was out of sight, he used the Flying Thunder God technique to return to the Hidden Rain Village, bringing Kushina Uzumaki with him.

By now, Kushina was pregnant with his child.

Excluding his forced defection from the Hidden Leaf, Aizen couldn’t bear to leave his wife and child confined in such a dreary place.

When Naruto and Kushina met, the two couldn’t hold back their tears. Mother and son embraced, pouring out their feelings.

Through Kushina, Naruto learned that she had been secretly watching over him all these years.

However, when Kushina attempted to reveal the full truth to Naruto, Aizen stopped her. "Kushina, some things are better left unsaid."

"But..." Kushina hesitated, torn between her eldest son and the father of her unborn child.

She couldn’t bear the thought of them meeting on the battlefield.

Aizen didn’t give her a chance to refuse. He gently placed an arm around her shoulders, holding her hand as he smiled at Naruto. "Naruto, as your mother just said, even though it’s been less than half a month since we last met..."

"I’ve actually spent over a year exploring the ninja world’s space-time with her."

"Your father, the Fourth Hokage, sacrificed himself and entrusted your mother to me. Kushina and I, alone together for so long... It was only natural that things happened."

Naruto froze. Things happened?  

Realization struck, and his eyes lit up with joy. "Wait, you and my mom—"

"Yes," Aizen interrupted with a smile. "Kushina and I are together now, and she’s carrying my child. You’re going to be a big brother."

Naruto’s face lit up with surprise and excitement. Unlike someone like Sasuke, who might have attacked Aizen for such news, Naruto’s reaction was pure delight.

"Ha-ha-ha!" Naruto burst into laughter, wiping away tears of joy. He laughed and cried simultaneously, overwhelmed with happiness.

For the first time, he wasn’t alone.

Not only was his mother alive, but he was also about to become a big brother. And the Aizen he had long admired seemed to have finally figured things out.

Kushina, worried Naruto might be upset with her, hesitated. "Naruto, I..."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 349: Before the Battle*

"Nothing’s wrong, Mom. I’m just really happy."

Naruto wiped a tear away.

His slightly reddened blue eyes earnestly turned to Aizen, the man he regarded as a father. Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Naruto asked, "So, should I keep calling you Big Brother Aizen, or… Dad?"

He finished with a hopeful expression.

Aizen was the first person to truly accept him and bring warmth to his heart. If it were possible, Naruto wanted Aizen to be like Iruka in the original story—someone who could be a father to him.

Cough. Aizen’s face turned red as he cleared his throat. Putting on a serious expression, he replied, "For now, just call me what you’ve been calling me."

Aizen had wanted Sasuke to call him "Dad" as a joke because he knew Sasuke would never agree. But having someone who wasn’t his biological child suddenly call him "Dad" felt... strange.

"Oh, I see…" Naruto’s eyes briefly showed disappointment. But then Aizen added, "Oh, by the way, there’s something else I can tell you."

"What is it?"

"Actually, you and Sasuke are brothers."

"Brothers?"

"Yeah, brothers. Half-brothers, actually." Aizen’s expression turned unusually serious.

Ignoring Kushina’s disapproving glare, Aizen said with a smirk, "Back when the Uchiha clan was wiped out, not only did I save Izumi, but I also managed to save Sasuke’s mother—your mom’s best friend, Mikoto."

“She also had a daughter with me. She’s seven now.”

Naruto was stunned at first, but his surprise quickly turned to excitement. With his simple thought process, he immediately felt this could help him bring Sasuke back.

Grinning, Naruto asked, "So, next time, I should be able to bring Sasuke back, right? But Big Brother Aizen, does that mean you’ll quit Akatsuki?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the room fell silent. Kushina’s expression turned worried as she looked at Naruto, hesitating to speak. "Naruto, actually your Uncle Aizen, he—"

"That’s enough, Kushina. Let’s not talk about that," Aizen interrupted.

Turning back to Naruto, he said, "Naruto, my ideals won’t change. The ninja system is the cancer of this world, and I will absolutely destroy it."

Naruto’s heart sank, his face filled with sorrow. This was the result he least wanted to face.

But Aizen’s next words filled him with hope again. "However, for Kushina’s sake, I’ll give you a chance."

"Before your war with Madara ends, I won’t interfere. I’ll just watch. If you win this war, I’ll leave Akatsuki. If not, I’ll deal with this centuries-long chaos my own way."

Hearing this, a warmth spread through Kushina’s heart.

Of course, if she knew that Aizen had promised the same to Tsunade before, she might not have been so touched—because Aizen had no intention of helping Obito in the first place.

To Aizen, neither Obito nor Madara Uchiha were more than pawns in his game.

---

The battle over, Might Guy, Yamato, Aoba, and the Cloud ninja lay collapsed on the ground.

"Guy!" Yamato rushed over to check on him, tears almost spilling out. While his injuries weren’t life-threatening…

Good grief!

Aizen had really gone for Guy’s kidneys! Didn’t he know how fragile Guy was down there?!

As the technique dispersed, it seemed Naruto’s side had wrapped things up. Killer Bee casually helped his Cloud teammate up but kept his eyes fixed in the direction Naruto had gone.

As a Jinchuriki himself, Bee had a heightened sense of chakra. Though he couldn’t hear Naruto and Aizen’s conversation, he could sense Naruto’s chakra—and another, similar one that vanished suddenly.

Moments later, Naruto returned.

"Naruto! Are you okay? Fujimoto Aizen didn’t hurt you, did he?"

Yamato and Aoba rushed to greet him immediately, while Might Guy, now weak as a kitten, was left twitching on the ground.

"Don’t worry. Big Brother Aizen wouldn’t hurt me." Naruto’s face beamed with relief and excitement as he approached Bee.

The two bumped fists in the unique Jinchuriki way, exchanging thoughts.

Upon learning that Aizen had become like a father to Naruto and wouldn’t interfere in their war with the masked man, Killer Bee gave Naruto a thumbs-up, rapping, "Good job, Naruto! Yeah!"

Inside Bee’s mind, the Eight-Tails muttered, its voice audible only to Naruto and Bee. "Looks like you all got lucky this time, Bee, Naruto."

"Of course!" Naruto replied with a big grin.

Yamato, clueless about what had happened, was now doubly stressed watching Naruto and Bee’s lively exchange. "You two! Quit messing around! Can you be serious for once?!"

Naruto’s smile faded slightly as he gazed into the distance, beyond Turtle Island. "A lot of things have changed. But everything’s moving in a good direction now."

Thank you, Mom. And thank you, Big Brother Aizen, Naruto thought gratefully.

---

Meanwhile, Yamato sighed, now exasperated. Turning to Might Guy, he asked, "By the way, Guy, you still have the intel scroll you retrieved, right?"

"Here it is," Might Guy weakly pulled the scroll from his ninja pouch before passing out again.

Aoba picked up the scroll with a worried expression. "We got the scroll back, but the fact that Kisame was rescued renders it meaningless."

"Relax," Bee said while rapping, "Aizen ain’t giving the shark guy to the masked man, oh yeah."

"Bee’s right," Naruto added, laughing and even mimicking Bee’s rapping style.

Yamato, Aoba, and the Cloud ninja all broke into a sweat, black lines forming on their faces.

Aoba, desperate to escape the absurdity of the moment, changed the subject. "Anyway, how about we check the scroll to see what’s written inside?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, curiosity written on their faces as Aoba opened the scroll.

Just like in the original, they fell into Kisame’s Water Prison Jutsu trap. The intel was leaked in the end.

---

*Cloud Village.*

Allied Headquarters.

Raikage’s Office Building.

The Five Kage—representing Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, and Lightning—were gathered together, joined by Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron.

The six of them sat around a circular table in the conference room.

At this moment, the Allied Headquarters had already received news of the intelligence leak regarding Turtle Island.

“I never expected this to happen at such a critical moment, for the intel to be compromised, and for us to run into that troublesome guy, Fujiwara Aizen. Truly, these are turbulent times,” said Onoki, the Tsuchikage, his expression grim.

“Well, it’s a small blessing in disguise,” said Gaara, resting his chin on his hands. “With Fujiwara Aizen out of the picture, the Allied Shinobi Forces’ chances of success have gone up by at least thirty percent.”

“You’re still too young, Kazekage,” Onoki replied, his mind recalling Aizen’s image. His tone grew heavy. “While I do admire the camaraderie you young folks share, that young man is far from being as simple as you think. There’s no way he can be persuaded with just a few words or someone else’s influence.”

“In him, I see the shadow of a young Uchiha Madara.”

“He won’t stop so easily. Don’t forget his exact words: ‘I’ll stop only if we defeat the man in the mask.’”

“In other words, if the Allied Shinobi Forces fail, there’s no telling what kind of extreme measures he might take.”

“And one more thing.” Onoki’s gaze swept across the room. “Can any of you guarantee that he’s truly been convinced by Naruto, had a change of heart, and isn’t just waiting for the Allied Forces and the Akatsuki to wear each other down so he can reap the rewards?”

The room fell silent.

Gaara broke the tension, speaking solemnly. “But we don’t have a choice, do we?”

“You’re right. Facing either Madara or Fujiwara Aizen alone is better than confronting both at once,” Onoki sighed. “In the worst-case scenario, Madara and Aizen aren’t as aligned as we fear.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Tsunade’s sharp gaze shifted to Onoki. “Turtle Island has been exposed. Even if Aizen doesn’t act, Madara—having received the intel—will.”

She didn’t try to excuse Aizen, as he truly did have the same intentions Onoki described.

If the Allied Forces won, that was one thing.

But if they didn’t—or if the battle dragged on—Aizen might very well take action.

“I’ll go myself,” Onoki said, rising with a determined expression.

Amegakure.

After ensuring Kushina’s safety, Aizen arrived at the base shared by Sasori and Kakuzu, where he released Kisame.

“So, it looks like this is the last remaining combatant of the Akatsuki, besides you and Tobi,” Kakuzu said, glancing at Kisame’s weakened state. His tone carried a hint of nostalgia. “There was a time when the Akatsuki was so feared in the ninja world, its power unmatched. And now… look at us.”

“Not quite. Deidara is still out there somewhere, training to overcome his weaknesses,” Aizen replied, making no effort to heal Kisame with chakra. Instead, he handed him a senzu bean.

Kisame stirred, slowly waking up to the sight of Aizen, Sasori, Kakuzu, and a snoring Hidan-turned-pig lying behind Kakuzu.

“Am I… dead?” Kisame murmured.

“You’re awake. The surgery was a success—congratulations, you’re a girl now,” Aizen teased.

“So, I’m alive. As sharp as ever with the jokes, I see, Mr. Aizen,” Kisame said with a faint smile as he sat up. His gaze moved to Sasori, Kakuzu, and the pig version of Hidan. “Kakuzu, I didn’t think I’d see you again. Looks like you were saved by Mr. Aizen, just like me.”

“Yeah,” Kakuzu nodded.

Sasori, ever stoic, replied, “I am a puppet body. My appearance doesn’t change.”

“I see. And who’s that pig over there?” Kisame asked, though he already recognized Hidan and couldn’t resist the jab.

This provoked Hidan, who woke with a vein popping in his forehead. He lunged at Kisame, only to be easily dodged. Hidan crashed headfirst into a wall, leaving him dazed and seeing stars.

“Enough, Kisame. Don’t bully Hidan—he’s already suffered enough,” Aizen said. “The war is about to begin. What’s your next move?”

“I’ve delivered the intel and done what needed to be done. Now I just want to see the world Madara spoke of,” Kisame said with a bitter smile. “But it looks like that’s not going to happen.”

“You seem to have a plan of your own, Mr. Aizen. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to save members of the Akatsuki who should’ve been dead.”

“And what about Itachi? Is he part of this?” Kisame asked, glancing around but seeing no sign of his former partner.

“No. He would never betray the Leaf, and you know that,” Aizen replied. “For now, get some rest. When the time comes, I’ll let you know.”

“Can you tell me your plan?” Kisame’s expression grew serious.

At this, even Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan looked over with interest.

Aizen smiled faintly. “For now, the most important thing is to wait and see.”

Graveyard of Mountains.

As in the original timeline, Kabuto abducted Yamato from Turtle Island after Kisame delivered the intel. This time, however, since Deidara wasn’t dead, Kabuto brought along the Second Tsuchikage, who also had flight capabilities.

“You got the wrong prize. I wanted the Nine-Tails,” Obito said, his tone cold as he looked at Yamato, who was restrained by Orochimaru’s snakes.

Obito had donned a dark blue robe, carried a fan emblazoned with the Uchiha crest, and wore a white mask adorned with the Rinnegan’s tomoe. His left eye held the Rinnegan, and his right bore the Sharingan. He exuded an overwhelming sense of menace.

With the Rinnegan, he felt invincible—like Sasuke on a clear, sunny day.

“Patience. He’s the Nine-Tails’ caretaker. With him, we can extract more intel. Plus, he’s a clone of the First Hokage. Using him, we can greatly enhance Zetsu,” Kabuto explained, though he couldn’t help but be shocked by what he’d learned from Yamato: Aizen had already been to Turtle Island and had even conveyed his intent not to interfere in the war between the Allied Forces and the masked man.

Was he planning to take advantage of the situation?

“Fine. My left eye is itching for battle,” Obito said sinisterly.

“Of course. By the way, any news of Aizen? He’s a powerful asset for this war,” Kabuto asked cautiously.

Probably planning to reap the rewards, Obito thought, echoing Kabuto’s suspicion.

Hah. You underestimate me.

Once I become the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki, neither you nor Madara will be my match.

With that thought, Obito turned away from Kabuto and Zetsu. “Who knows? That guy always does things his own way. Despite countless chances to capture the Eight and Nine-Tails, he kept missing.”

“But it doesn’t matter. His participation would be welcome, but even without him, we have enough power. Besides, his actions at the Five Kage Summit alone are enough to distract a large portion of the Allied Forces.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 350: Craving More*

"Mark X represents the enemy’s base. It’s called the Graveyard of the Mountains. According to reconnaissance from our infiltrator teams, the enemy has a force of approximately 100,000."

At the Allied Shinobi Forces Headquarters in the Hidden Cloud Village, Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron, pointed to a map spread across the conference table as he summarized the intelligence report.

The Five Kage each began issuing commands to their respective forces.

“Considering how a large force like this will move, only a small number might take the sea route. But the real threat is being surrounded. In the end, it all comes down to who strikes first,” said the recently returned Tsuchikage in a low, firm tone.

“Victory will be ours—without a doubt,” declared the Raikage confidently.

“Exactly,” agreed the Kazekage, Gaara, nodding in affirmation.

The Hokage, Tsunade, exchanged a glance with the Mizukage. Both women noticed the same trace of concern in each other’s eyes.

If it were just Uchiha Madara, they wouldn’t be this worried. Even knowing they might face defeat, they’d fight with everything they had to protect their villages, without fear of death.

But with the addition of Aizen...

As the two women mulled over their thoughts, Gaara took out a forehead protector inscribed with the kanji for "shinobi" and showed it to Onoki.

“Tsuchikage, while you were away, we managed to complete this.”

“Oh? Is it ready already?” Onoki’s face lit up with surprise and delight as he looked at the protector and chuckled softly. “So this is the Allied Shinobi Forces’ forehead protector. It looks quite impressive.”

“This was my design,” said Mifune with a smile as he stood up. “The once-divided shinobi factions are now united under one banner, represented by this symbol for ‘shinobi.’”

“Not only that, but the samurai will also be working together with the shinobi,” he added.

“This historic moment has finally arrived.”

“It certainly has.”

The Five Kage stood and stepped outside together, gazing toward the horizon.

The war was about to begin.

The Hokage and Raikage would oversee operations from the headquarters.

The Kazekage, Gaara, was appointed as the supreme commander of the Allied Forces, leading the main army into battle against Akatsuki.

The Tsuchikage would work covertly to monitor and counter both the Second Tsuchikage and Aizen, both users of the deadly Dust Release. Without Onoki’s support, the Allied Forces would be helpless against their combined might.

As for the Mizukage, she was tasked with protecting the feudal lords, preventing Akatsuki from using them as leverage.

---

*The Graveyard of the Mountains*

Inside a vast cavern...

“The time has come,” said Kabuto as he exchanged glances with Tobi.

Clapping his hands together, Kabuto intoned, “Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei!”

Hundreds of coffins emerged from the ground, their lids sliding open to reveal countless cracked and worn corpses.

“First, the former Akatsuki member—Uchiha Itachi.”

“Next, the previous Jinchuriki: Three-Tails’ Yagura, Four-Tails’ Roshi, Five-Tails’ Han, Six-Tails’ Utakata, and Eight-Tails’ Blue B.”

“Then, the former Kage: the Second Tsuchikage, Second Mizukage, and Third Raikage.”

“From Iwagakure, Explosion Corps’ Gari. Hanzo of the Salamander. Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan.”

“From Konoha: Dan and Hyuga Hizashi.”

“From Kumogakure: the infamous Gold and Silver Brothers, Kinkaku and Ginkaku.”

“And many other notable figures. Alongside them, we have Yamato, infused with Hashirama’s cells, and the 100,000 White Zetsu enhanced by ninja from past generations.”

“What a spectacle,” Kabuto remarked, his golden, slit-like eyes glinting ominously behind his glasses as he explained their forces to Tobi.

“It’s still fewer than I expected,” Tobi muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses with a sly smile. “True. Edo Tensei requires remnants of the deceased’s body. Locating corpses isn’t exactly easy. For instance, the bodies of the Uchiha clan members who perished during the massacre, including Uchiha Shisui, were never found. It seems they’ve been disposed of by Konoha or someone else.”

Tobi’s face darkened as Kabuto’s words silenced his doubts while simultaneously irritating him.

“Don’t push your luck,” Tobi said coldly.

Kabuto smirked sinisterly but refrained from arguing. “No matter. These pieces are enough for now. After all, I still have an ace up my sleeve.”

The “ace,” of course, referred to Uchiha Madara.

“Let’s move out,” Tobi ordered.

“Zetsu,” he called.

A figure emerged from the ground.

“White Zetsu, remain here to monitor Sasuke. Black Zetsu, proceed as planned to capture the feudal lords of the Five Great Nations. We’ll make the Allied Forces hesitant to act.”

With his orders issued, Tobi turned and strode out of the cave, Kabuto following with a malicious grin.

---

*Allied Forces Headquarters*

On the eve of battle, the headquarters was bustling with activity.

That evening, after a long day of meetings, Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, returned to her quarters in the Hidden Cloud Village.

As she stepped into the entryway, she noticed a pair of unfamiliar men’s boots by the door. Startled, she relaxed when she caught the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting from the living room.

A fleeting trace of joy crossed her face.

Taking a deep breath, she removed her custom-made high-heeled ninja boots and entered the house.

“When did you arrive?” Mei asked as she seated herself at the dining table and sampled a bite of food.

“Not long ago,” replied Aizen, emerging from the kitchen in an apron, a dish in hand. He placed it on the table and served Mei a bowl of rice.

“It’s been a while since we’ve done this,” Aizen remarked.

“It has,” Mei admitted, taking a large bite of rice. “Ever since Akatsuki began capturing the tailed beasts, you haven’t visited me.”

Her expression shifted as she put down her chopsticks.

“What’s wrong? Why’d you stop eating?” Aizen asked, his confidence in his cooking evident.

Mei stood abruptly. “Dinner can wait. What are you really here for?”

“I thought you’d greet me with another attack like last time,” Aizen teased with a grin. “Followed by me subduing you and…”

Mei blushed, her thoughts briefly drifting to their past encounters before snapping back to the present.

“Answer me,” she demanded.

Aizen chuckled, placing food on her plate with a husband-like demeanor. “I’m here to see you, of course. The enemies you’ll face in this war are extraordinary. I need to leave something with you—just in case—to save you when it matters most.”

“But if I do, you’ll have to sit this war out.”

End of Chapter