326-330

Chapter 326: Aizen Fujiwara Overwhelms Sasuke and Raikage

"Fujiwara Aizen!" Darui muttered under his breath as he helped lift Cee, whose body had gone limp after falling victim to Sasuke’s genjutsu.

Darui feared a repeat of the last encounter, where Aizen had attacked without warning.

"What?!"

The crowd of samurai were utterly stunned.

Was this the same Fujiwara Aizen? The man who had annihilated the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, slain the Fourth Kazekage, and played the upper echelons of Konoha—and Orochimaru—like pawns?

A warrior undefeated since his emergence, feared throughout the ninja world.

Aizen had emerged from the stairwell, bypassing four floors guarded by hundreds of samurai without anyone noticing.

How was this possible? How had he avoided detection?

Even the ninjas, including the Raikage, were unnerved—not by fear of death, but by the primal instincts awakened when faced with a superior force.

Yet, amidst the tension, some wore knowing smiles.

“Damn it… My resistance to Lightning Release is awful,” muttered Suigetsu, his body trembling. “But at least… I won’t have to die here with Sasuke.”

Seeing Aizen approach, Suigetsu forced a bitter smile. Another moment of delay, and his life would have been forfeit.

By this time, Sasuke’s clothes were stained with blood, his eyes and nose bleeding. Encased in the skeletal framework of the first stage of Susanoo, he stared coldly at Aizen with his Mangekyō Sharingan.

“Sasuke, you never learn, do you? Running off to challenge the Raikage in a battle of Lightning Release? Got wrecked, huh?”

Aizen met Sasuke’s gaze, his tone mocking.

He knew this Sasuke was at his darkest, bloodlusted and unable to distinguish friend from foe. And of course, Aizen’s past involvement with Orochimaru had only deepened Sasuke’s hatred.

"Hey, Cee, that Uchiha’s eyes just changed,” Darui observed in a hushed voice.

“That’s the Mangekyō Sharingan…” Cee swallowed hard.

“Dealing with just one Mangekyō user is bad enough. But now we’ve got him and that monster to handle. What are we supposed to do?” For the first time, Darui felt the urge to retreat.

“Maybe… this isn’t over yet,” Cee replied, shaking his head. He could sense the other Four Kage moving closer.

If they joined forces, surely not even Aizen could prevail.

And Sasuke—his hatred for Aizen was palpable.

Sure enough, Sasuke’s actions soon confirmed his thoughts.

The storm cleared, and the rain ceased. Fueled by his rage, Sasuke, encased in Susanoo, felt invincible.

Ignoring Aizen’s taunts, Sasuke’s left eye turned crimson, veins bulging, as blood tears dripped down his cheek. He locked his gaze on Aizen.

“Still haven’t learned your lesson, huh, Sasuke?” Aizen sidestepped casually. To the horror of everyone present, a black flame from Sasuke’s Amaterasu flew past his previous position, scorching a stone pillar.

What happened next left the crowd utterly speechless.

Aizen began walking toward Sasuke.

Again and again, Sasuke unleashed Amaterasu, but Aizen evaded every attack effortlessly, as if anticipating them before they were fired.

For a moment, even the onlookers believed they could dodge the flames—though none dared try, knowing Amaterasu was a death sentence upon contact.

“So this… is Fujiwara Aizen’s true strength?” Cee’s pupils trembled as he watched Aizen gracefully avoid Sasuke’s relentless assaults.

“Susanoo!”

“Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi!”

Desperate, Sasuke reinforced his Susanoo with a shield of black flames.

Aizen stopped a meter from the barrier. “Have you completely lost yourself in hatred?”

“Shut up! You, the Five Kage—everyone here—will die today!” Sasuke declared, his blood-red gaze sweeping the room before focusing on Aizen.

Susanoo swung its flaming blade at Aizen.

A flash of light.

No one saw how Aizen moved, but in an instant, the blade shattered into violet shards, scattering like ash.

“What…?” Sasuke’s voice quivered as he stared at his crumbling defense.

Aizen extended a hand, murmuring, “Armament Haki—Internal Destruction.”

No one could comprehend what happened next.

With a soft puff, the black flame shield dissolved, and Susanoo crumbled. Sasuke collapsed to his knees, coughing blood. Gripping his chest, he fell to the ground, gasping for air.

The entire crowd gasped.

Had the Uchiha prodigy—wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan—been defeated in an instant?

“Feeling more lucid now, Sasuke?” Aizen asked, looking down at him with a faint smile.

Before anyone could react, the Raikage attacked with a roar of fury.

But his fist was stopped mid-swing by Aizen’s zanpakutō.

“Charging at me so recklessly—do you have a death wish?”

“Raikage-sama! Don’t be impulsive! The other Four Kage are on their way!” Cee shouted desperately.

“Silence!” Raikage barked, his fist trembling as Aizen held it at bay.

A moment later, Raikage’s body surged with lightning, his chakra cloak reaching its peak.

The ground cracked beneath their feet as their auras clashed.

“You should’ve waited for backup,” Aizen remarked, unfazed.

Raikage stepped back cautiously, but Aizen was faster.

In the blink of an eye, Aizen was before him.

“When…?” Raikage’s face paled, cold sweat dripping from his brow as he stared at Aizen.

“Bakudō #90: Kurohitsugi!” Aizen whispered, forming a black cube that trapped Raikage within.

The battlefield fell silent as everyone stared at the ominous cube.

“What… kind of jutsu is this?”

Seizing the distraction, Suigetsu dragged Sasuke and Jūgo to safety.

“Aizen’s as terrifying as ever,” Suigetsu muttered. “Sasuke, don’t provoke him again. Next time, it’ll mean your death.”

Moments later, the black cube shattered, revealing Raikage’s battered body riddled with tiny wounds, blood spraying into the air.

“The Raikage… defeated in one blow?” whispered Kurotsuchi, hidden nearby, both horrified and awestruck.

She had expected a fierce battle between Sasuke and Raikage, only to witness both of them fall before Aizen without even putting up a fight.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 327: The Humble Cloud Village, A Reunion with Gaara*

"Lord Raikage!" C and Darui's expressions twisted with despair.

C wanted to rush forward to help but stumbled to the ground, paralyzed by a genjutsu before he could even take a step.

"Don't worry. I avoided the vital points. Raikage isn't dead. I'm just here on someone's request to intimidate the Five Great Nations and test the current Kage's strength. After all, the battles ahead will be like gods clashing."

Turning to look at the unconscious Raikage, Aizen thought to himself, "It seems I'm still far behind Aizen. The Black Coffin without incantation only managed a fraction of its true power."  

Darui helped C to his feet and stared at Aizen in the distance. "Stay calm, C. That Uchiha's genjutsu is still affecting you. Even Lord Raikage was defeated so easily. If you charge in recklessly, you'll die."

"As much as I hate it, for the safety of both you and Lord Raikage, we need to wait for reinforcements from the Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind Kage."

"Damn it!" C shoved Darui's hand away, dropped to his knees, and pounded the ground with his fist, his face full of frustration.

At that moment, Gaara and his siblings, the first to leave the meeting room, finally arrived.

"What happened here?" Kankuro glanced at the black flames still burning on the building, then at Sasuke, who could barely stand with Suigetsu's help. Finally, his gaze landed on the most striking sight of all:

Aizen in his black cloak adorned with red clouds, standing over Raikage.

"The Raikage was defeated? Was it that monster's doing?" Temari's voice trembled, recalling Granny Chiyo's warning to never engage Fujiwara Aizen and to run as far as possible if they ever crossed paths.

Kankuro, feeling the same unease, hesitated and said to Gaara, "Gaara, maybe we should—"

Gaara crossed his arms and stepped forward, ignoring Kankuro, making his stance clear. "Samurai, stand down. This is a battle between shinobi. There's no need for you to risk your lives."

"The samurai on the lower floors are still under a genjutsu. You'd better evacuate them quickly, or the fight may put them at risk."

"Thank you, Lord Kazekage." The samurai shot grateful looks at Gaara and rushed off to the lower levels.

"The boy filled with hatred has truly grown up. Not Gaara, but the Fifth Kazekage."  

Aizen grabbed the Raikage by the hair and turned to Gaara.

"You bastard! Let go of Lord Raikage!" C shouted, while Darui's face darkened ominously.

"Blondie, and you, edgy sideburns," Aizen sneered. "I already gave you a chance once. Normally, there wouldn’t be a second. But since there are so many familiar faces here today, I'll make an exception. Same deal as before: kneel. If you do, I'll spare the Raikage's life."

Aizen raised his right hand above his head, and the Raikage's body floated midair.

His words struck like a thunderclap, silencing the battlefield. Even the Cloud shinobi who hadn't yet fled stopped in their tracks and turned to watch.

They hadn't expected their leader and his guards to face Aizen once before—on their knees to save their lives. No wonder the Raikage despised Aizen so much.

C and Darui exchanged bitter glances. Although this would tarnish Cloud Village's reputation among the Five Nations, they couldn't prioritize that over Raikage's life.

With a heavy thud, the two knelt.

"Now that's more like it," Aizen said, tossing the Raikage back to them carelessly.

Darui gritted his teeth, suppressing his rage as he caught the Raikage and brought him to C. "C, hurry and heal him."

"I know!" C immediately activated his Healing Palm Technique.

Aizen's gaze turned to Gaara and his siblings. "Now it's your turn. Aside from sealing the One-Tail, this should be our second official meeting, right?"

Aizen's face wore a warm, disarming smile that, combined with his handsome features, could easily win people over.

But neither the shinobi nor the samurai present saw him as anything other than a threat.

"I suppose so," Gaara nodded, urging the remaining samurai to leave. "What are you all still standing here for? Get out of here now."

Once the samurai were gone, Gaara looked at Aizen's tall frame, memories of the Forest of Death flooding back. He recalled Naruto trying to persuade Aizen to return to the Leaf, his heart aching at the thought.

That gaze of his… it's as if he’s looking at everything from a completely different world. Has he really fallen this far?  

Out of respect for Naruto's friendship, Gaara tried to appeal to them both, hoping to bring Aizen and Sasuke back from the darkness.

"Fujiwara Aizen, I know a bit about your past. Orphaned as a child, yet you never blamed anyone. But then the Leaf Village’s schemes drove you to protect those you cherished, ultimately casting you into the shadows."

"Using vengeance as your purpose won’t solve anything. I know because I’ve been there. It’s not too late to stop. Don’t let hatred consume you. You won’t be able to come back from it."

"And that goes for you too, Sasuke."

Sasuke let out a cold laugh but said nothing.

Aizen, however, smiled with genuine amusement. "Naruto and you are close friends, aren't you? He saved you from your so-called darkness. And now, you want to save me for his sake. I get it."

"But are you sure you should be giving me advice? Those rumors about me killing your father, the Fourth Kazekage? They're not baseless."

He glanced at Kankuro. "When you scavenged Sasori’s puppets, you must’ve seen fragments of your father’s puppet, right? I’m the one who handed his corpse to Sasori."

"I’ll tell you the truth. Orochimaru planned to kill your father and impersonate him to infiltrate the Leaf during his Konoha Crush scheme. To keep me from interfering, he tried to bribe me with forbidden jutsu. I didn’t take them. I only asked for one thing: to let my comrade handle the Fourth Kazekage."

"My comrade, Pakura, had her reasons for wanting revenge on your father. She, too, was betrayed by her village’s higher-ups—just like me."

Aizen’s tone grew colder, his words laced with venomous truths

chapter end.

*Chapter 328: The Five Kage Assemble*

"Yes, that brat Rasa got turned into a pincushion by kunai and shuriken."

Upon hearing Aizen's words, everyone present envisioned the despairing scene of the Fourth Kazekage in his final moments.

Wounded, surrounded by a barrage of hundreds, even thousands, of kunai and shuriken, he had no way out—a predator toying with its prey. The despair must have been immeasurable.

"You bastard."

With a roar, Kankuro pulled out a scroll marked with the character "Four."

With a loud bang, smoke dispersed, revealing a puppet resembling Rasa.

The puppet spat streams of gold dust, which, under Kankuro's control, transformed into raindrop-sized projectiles that rained down on Aizen.

This was none other than the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's signature Magnet Release technique: Gold Dust Shower.

"So you scavenged the Fourth Kazekage's puppet after Sasori was done with it? You truly live up to your title as the shinobi world's biggest scavenger," Aizen said with a smirk, standing his ground without a hint of panic or movement.

Just as the gold dust approached, a sand wall suddenly rose in front of Aizen, blocking the attack.

Gaara had intervened.

"Gaara, you—" Kankuro looked at him in disbelief.

From the side, Temari frowned and said, "Kankuro, you're being too reckless. Have you forgotten what Granny Chiyo warned us about?"

"But he killed our father!"

Kankuro's face turned pale.

His fists clenched tightly, and cold sweat broke out in his palms.

That was close.

Reflecting on it, if not for Gaara intercepting his attack...

Considering their opponent's abilities, he might have met a swift end—or at best, suffered the same fate as the Raikage.

Kankuro wasn't confident his defenses could rival the Raikage's.

"Hatred solves nothing."

The sand dissipated, retreating into the gourd on Gaara's back.

Gaara stepped forward, attempting once more to pull Aizen back from the "darkness."

"Aizen, you still have a chance to turn back."

"Turn back?" Aizen chuckled at Gaara's naïveté but showed no anger. "Gaara, though your words are naïve, I do find your honesty refreshing—far more tolerable than the slyness of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, or Rasa."

"In that case, let me tell you a little secret about yourself."

"A secret?" Gaara froze.

"I'm a collector and developer of jutsu. That's the root of my strength. Your father, despite being a lackluster Fourth Kazekage, had a Magnet Release worth examining," Aizen said, crossing his arms as he nonchalantly stored his weapon.

"So, before he died, I interrogated him with genjutsu."

"From Rasa's mind, I saw his past—many dirty deeds I'd rather not detail. But let’s focus on you. Your late father ordered your uncle Yashamaru to assassinate you, claiming it was to test whether you could suppress your emotions and control Shukaku."

"He also made your uncle lie to you, saying he never loved you, that everything he did was for revenge on behalf of his sister—your mother. He even told you your mother hated you, all to sever your love and longing for her."

"That's... impossible." Gaara's eyes widened, his voice trembling as his breathing grew erratic.

His calm demeanor vanished, replaced by regret—and for a fleeting moment, anger. Anger toward Rasa.

Kankuro and Temari exchanged worried glances. They hadn't seen Gaara like this in years—not since before he became Kazekage.

"Ridiculous, isn't it? A man willing to risk his son's life to test his so-called value," Aizen sneered. "Such was your Fourth Kazekage. A man who couldn’t love his son—how could he ever love Sunagakure? He was just another rat in the gutter, no better than Hiruzen or Danzo."

Gaara lowered his head, his eyes shadowed as tears streamed down his face.

After a long pause, he suddenly laughed and asked, "So my uncle... and my mother loved me after all?"

"What a unique way to see things," Aizen chuckled. "Yes, that’s right. Not only that, but your so-called 'absolute defense' sand didn’t come from Shukaku—it came from the lingering will of your mother, who loved and protected her child."

"Your deranged father targeted you repeatedly, perhaps because he blamed you for Karura's death during childbirth."

"The coward blamed his wife's death on you."

"I see. Thank you for telling me this." Gaara wiped his tears, his resolve returning to his eyes.

"Now, it’s time to act." Aizen once again drew his blade. "We’ve stalled long enough. The genjutsu holding the samurai downstairs has mostly worn off, and everyone else has withdrawn."

"Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, Fifth Hokage Tsunade, Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, General Mifune of the Land of Iron... And your guards—you may as well all come out now."

"Oh, and the Raikage. He’s probably awake by now, though he might still be grounded. Leg-Kage, you’ve been watching for long enough. Show yourselves."

As his words echoed, over ten figures emerged from the shadows, splitting into four groups and surrounding Gaara and his siblings.

The smoke cleared, revealing five leaders: Mifune, Ōnoki, Gaara, Mei, and Tsunade, with twelve guards standing behind them.

Thanks to healing, the tough-skinned Raikage, supported by C, had also risen to his feet and joined Tsunade.

With the Five Kage assembled, Suigetsu, carrying an injured Sasuke and Jūgo, cowered behind Aizen, utterly terrified.

The floor beneath him was soaked as his liquefied form trembled.

"That’s the Five Kage... and the Iron General," he stammered.

"Even one Raikage was overwhelming. Can Aizen really handle all five? We’re doomed."

"It’s about time," Aizen said, his gaze sweeping over the group before finally resting on Chika, a playful smile on his lips. "Plenty of familiar faces here."

"I won’t bother mentioning Gaara’s siblings or the unlucky Cloud trio. But there’s Ōnoki’s granddaughter, Leg-Kage Kurotsuchi, Ice Release wielder Haku, Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, Kakashi Hatake, Fifth Hokage Tsunade, and my dear disciple, Chika."

"Seems like everyone’s here."

As his words sank in, those he called out reacted differently—Kurotsuchi and Mei with embarrassed anger, Haku and Tsunade with concern, Kakashi with solemnity.

As for Chika, her joy at finally seeing her father outweighed any tension.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 329: The Terrified Tsuchikage*

"Of course! Fujiwara Aizen, you and the Akatsuki have been hunting Jinchuriki and disrupting the peace of the ninja world. Today, the Five Kage are here to apprehend you. And don't think that Uchiha brat over there can escape either."

Ōnoki was the first to speak, arms crossed, his body floating in mid-air. He positioned himself alongside Tsunade, Mei Terumī, and the others, his old face full of arrogance.

"We samurai are also involved," added Mifune, stepping forward. "Fujiwara Aizen, I appreciate that you spared the samurai below, but the Uchiha Sasuke behind you has killed many of our people in the Land of Iron. He won't leave here unscathed."

The moment Mifune finished speaking, Suigetsu, who had been preparing to flee, quickened his steps.

With Aizen's attention elsewhere, if he didn’t make his escape now, when would he?

"Disrupt the peace of the ninja world?" Aizen ignored Suigetsu's movements and twirled his blade with finesse.

Once he was sure everyone’s eyes were fixed on his Zanpakutō, he silently chanted, “Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu.”  

Spreading his hands in mock innocence, he countered sarcastically, "Peace? Has the ninja world ever truly been peaceful?"

"The First Ninja War, the Second Ninja War, the Third Ninja War... Even without the Akatsuki, when has the ninja world ever known peace?"

"If you insist there’s been any semblance of peace, it’s only in neutral countries like the Land of Iron, which has decent strength and no ninja presence."

"The root of the issue lies in this twisted system."

"Ninjas don’t produce anything; they rely on completing missions to earn income and sustain their villages. But missions inherently mean turmoil. Without turmoil, who would waste money hiring ninjas? And from that, wars arise."

"Ōnoki, it’s no different than when Uchiha Madara once made you and the Second Tsuchikage kneel before Konoha."

Before Aizen could finish, Ōnoki, hit where it hurt most, clasped his hands together. A transparent cubic barrier expanded from between his palms, heading toward Aizen.

“Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!”

Aizen smirked and released his grip on the sword, his hand moving faster than Ōnoki’s.

To the astonishment of everyone present, a similar transparent cubic barrier formed.

However, while Ōnoki used both hands, Aizen used only one.

The two barriers collided, releasing blinding light and intense heat in a violent explosion. Out of concern for their "allies," both restrained the full power of their Dust Release.

Even so, everything between them was disintegrated at the atomic level.

The explosion tore a massive hole through the seven-story building from top to bottom.

Snow began to pour in, dropping the temperature and adding a chill to the scene.

“Th-That’s… Dust Release…”

Ōnoki was ultimately too old. Though Aizen’s Dust Release matched his in power, the explosion’s shockwave forced him back several meters. He only stabilized with Akatsuchi’s support.

Aizen chuckled. "Of course it's Dust Release. As you know, I’m a man obsessed with ninjutsu and the pursuit of power. Why wouldn’t I dabble in something as destructive as a Kekkei Tōta?"

“You bastard! How did you learn it?” Ōnoki's voice trembled.

He knew Aizen could effortlessly wield the five basic nature transformations and had perfected their nature and shape transformations.

Even if Aizen developed several Kekkei Genkai through combining two chakra natures, it wouldn’t surprise him.

But Dust Release was different.

It was a Kekkei Tōta, a level beyond Kekkei Genkai, formed by combining the wind, earth, and fire chakra natures. It was the pride of Iwagakure, a technique passed down orally among Tsuchikage successors. Outsiders could never learn it.

Could Aizen possess an ocular power even more terrifying than the Sharingan, capable of copying techniques with a mere glance?

If so, Ōnoki couldn’t help but break out in cold sweat as he looked at Aizen.

“That’s a long story,” Aizen teased. “But if you hand over your Super-Weighted Boulder and Weighted Boulder Techniques, maybe I’ll consider answering your question.”

“I’m quite intrigued by these earth-style jutsu that can alter an object’s weight.”

Before Ōnoki could reply, Kurotsuchi erupted in anger. Clenching her fists, she shouted, "You shameless bastard! Isn’t stealing Dust Release enough? Now you want Super-Weighted Boulder and Weighted Boulder too?!"

"Leg Kage… Oh no, I mean Kurotsuchi, you're being rude again," Aizen said, glaring at her.

“Don’t call me Leg Kage!”

“This is your last chance,” Aizen warned.

“What are you—” Meeting Aizen's gaze, Kurotsuchi faltered. Her voice softened, and she instinctively retreated behind Ōnoki like a frightened kitten.

This earned furrowed brows from Mei Terumī and Tsunade. Could something have happened between them?

"Alright, enough idle chatter. Let’s wrap this up. One Kage has been incapacitated, and the strongest fighter among you, the old man, has been scared stiff. All that’s left is a young Kazekage and two beauties. Honestly, I don’t feel like continuing. Even if I win, it wouldn’t be satisfying.”

Aizen conjured a stone chair from the ground with a hand seal, casually sat down, and propped his head on his hand.

“White Zetsu, you can drop your Spore Technique. Come on out and call for Tobi—or rather, our dear Madara-sama. Doesn’t he have something to say?”

Everyone froze at the mention of Madara.

“This is just precaution,” Aizen said nonchalantly. “Who could have guessed you'd be so strong? I already sent a clone to inform him.”

The White Zetsu by Aizen’s side emerged, revealing the earlier one was just a clone.

With Aizen present, it no longer worried about its own safety.

Except for Tsunade, Chiyo, Mei Terumī, and White Zetsu itself, everyone else was suddenly encased in swelling spores, covering their entire bodies.

“What is this?!” Kurotsuchi screamed first, while others struggled and used their abilities to break free and destroy the White Zetsu clones.

Meanwhile, in Naruto’s lodging…

Tobi, restrained by Yamato's Wood Release and surrounded by Teams 8 and Guy as well as Karin and Sakura, remained unfazed. He casually chatted with Naruto about the Sage of Six Paths, his two sons, and the Uchiha massacre.

When he brought up the Moon's Eye Plan, a White Zetsu clone appeared.

“Tobi—no, Madara-sama. It’s time.”

Tobi’s eyes stayed on Naruto. “What’s the situation there?”

“Sasuke failed. He foolishly challenged Aizen with his Stage Two Susano’o and was easily defeated, though Aizen spared him.”

“Aizen’s strength is greater than expected. He defeated the Raikage with a newly developed jutsu and even countered Dust Release by mastering it himself.”

“Now the Five Kage are too scared to make a move. Hahaha…”

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 330: Aizen vs. the Five Kage

"So, you've even mastered Dust Release?"

Obito's eyes flashed with surprise, though he quickly masked it with a sneer, taunting Naruto:

"Naruto, did you hear that? These are the two people you've been chasing after so desperately."

"One is a wanted criminal across all five nations, who disrupted the Five Kage Summit. The other outright killed the Raikage."

"You, inheriting the Will of Fire, remind me of the First Hokage. But Sasuke? Sasuke is destined for darkness. That means the two of you are bound to clash. No... more accurately, I will make sure you do."

"Shut up, Madara! Sasuke isn't your toy! And Aizen isn't your tool for revenge!" Naruto roared, creating a Rasengan and launching it at Obito.

Unfortunately, with Obito's intangibility, even though his secrets were exposed, Naruto couldn't land a hit. Instead, the Rasengan passed through Obito, leaving Naruto sprawled on the ground.

"No, Naruto, you're wrong about one thing," Obito said, shaking his head. "Sasuke may be my pawn, but Aizen? He's not my tool. Strictly speaking, we’re partners."

"Partners?" The Konoha group exchanged surprised looks.

"That's right, partners," Obito nodded slightly, his half-concealed face shadowed. Memories of his talks with Aizen and their first meeting with Pain surfaced in his mind.

"Aizen, like me, understood the true nature of the shinobi world long ago. As long as the ninja system exists, hatred will continue to spread."

"That’s why I’m implementing the Moon’s Eye Plan."

Yamato frowned and asked, "And what exactly is this Moon’s Eye Plan?"

Obito remained silent for a moment before responding, "That’s something for a grander stage. For now, farewell."

With those words, space twisted around Obito’s right eye, and his figure vanished. White Zetsu's clone also sank into the ground.

"Wait, you bastard!" Naruto shouted, trying to stop him.

But Obito ignored him, leaving Naruto kneeling on the ground in frustration, while the Konoha group looked on anxiously.

---

### Meanwhile, at the Five Kage Summit Building

The sudden news that the legendary Uchiha Madara was coming left the entire room silent.

A stern voice broke the stillness:

"Everyone, the ninja world stands at a critical juncture. I fought Uchiha Madara in my youth."

"Hokage, I leave Raikage's injuries in your hands. We must not let Fujiwara Aizen go. If Madara arrives and they join forces, we’re all doomed. Mizukage, Kazekage, I’m counting on you to stall him."

"Kurotsuchi, take the Hokage's daughter and that girl called Haku and find a safe place. This battle is not one for the young. The rest of you, come closer."

It was the Tsuchikage speaking.

Among the group, only he had firsthand experience fighting Uchiha Madara and understood the threat he posed.

The gravity of the situation dawned on everyone as they heard Madara’s name, and grudges were temporarily set aside.

With brief nods of acknowledgment, they moved to their positions. Only Kakashi, on the Konoha side, remained still, waiting for Tsunade's approval.

"Tsunade-sama, should we?" Kakashi hesitated, glancing at Aizen, who sat calmly on a stone chair, unbothered.

Tsunade frowned but said nothing. Standing beside her, Chihaya spoke up with a cryptic smile, "Mom, it’s fine. Let Kakashi go. Didn’t Aizen say he wanted to test the current strength of the ninja world? He won’t kill anyone."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Chihaya, then addressed Kakashi seriously, "Be careful. We’re not at the point of an all-out war with him yet."

"I understand," Kakashi replied and moved toward the Tsuchikage.

He didn’t need Tsunade's reminder; for Naruto's sake, he wouldn’t go all-out against Aizen. His goal was containment, not destruction.

But Kakashi knew, whether it was the first or the latter, even with the Five Kage present, defeating Aizen seemed almost impossible.

---

Back to the Five Kage

"Lady Hokage, we leave Raikage to you," Darui and Cee said respectfully, carrying the injured Raikage to Tsunade.

"Please, Hokage," the Raikage added, bowing his head for once. He knew that saving his brother was beyond the power of Kumogakure alone.

Tsunade sighed deeply, activating her Healing Palm Technique to treat the Raikage.

At the same time, the long-waiting Mizukage, Mei Terumi, launched the first attack against Aizen.

"Lava Release: Acid Monster Technique!"

Highly corrosive and sticky acid spewed from Mei's mouth, spreading like a tidal wave. It blocked out the sunlight, casting a massive shadow over the building and engulfing Aizen's position.

Mei had long wanted to capture Aizen, tie him up, and punish him thoroughly. This time, with the Five Kage united, she wouldn’t let the chance slip away.

Aizen, seated on his stone chair, rested his chin on his hand, one leg crossed over the other, showing no intention of dodging.

This startled White Zetsu, who immediately retreated underground.

"Did we get him?" Gaara asked, floating in mid-air on a sand platform.

"No, we didn’t," Mei replied, shaking her head.

She knew Aizen all too well—her attacks never worked on him. Besides, while she wanted revenge on the man who had once overpowered her, she didn’t intend to kill him. Her ultimate goal was to turn the tables someday.

As soon as Mei spoke, the pool of acid began to shift, slowly gathering into a humanoid form.

The acid dissipated, revealing Aizen, standing unharmed. "Using sneak attacks at your age? Look, you’ve ruined my Akatsuki cloak," he said, brushing at his robes.

"You bastard! Who are you calling old?" Mei’s face twitched, and veins bulged on her forehead. I’m still young, thank you very much! My appearance hasn’t changed in years!  

"I was talking about you," Aizen replied mockingly, forming a hand seal.

Gaara’s expression hardened. Knowing how dangerous Aizen was, he didn’t want to give him time to act. Sand tendrils shot from beneath Aizen, wrapping around his arms and body, encasing him in layer upon layer of sand.

But before Gaara could finish his move, there was a loud crack.

A massive tree branch burst from the ground, shattering the sand and growing rapidly.

Dozens, then hundreds, of thick branches erupted, overtaking the building in seconds.

From the outside, the Five Kage Summit building appeared as though it had been pierced and swallowed by a colossal forest, expanding rapidly and threatening to explode.

At the critical moment, Onoki clapped his hands together, using an enormous amount of chakra to unleash Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, reducing the tree-filled structure and much of the building to dust.

---

A massive building was reduced to just a single floor after a violent explosion.

"What was that?" Suigetsu, who had just escaped the building with Jūgo and Sasuke, turned around to look at the scene.

He froze in place, stunned.

The injured Jūgo and Sasuke, as well as the samurai who had evacuated earlier, were similarly wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

Moments ago, the building had been enveloped by massive, tree-trunk-thick branches before erupting in an explosive burst.

The largest structure in the Land of Iron was now obliterated, leaving even sensory ninja disoriented.

"Damn it, he’s even mastered Wood Style," Ōnoki cursed silently.

The site was in complete disarray.

Aside from Tsunade and her daughter, along with Haku, who had been covertly protected by Aizen's Wood Style, everyone else had been affected.

Mei Terumi fared slightly better, encased in Gaara's sand shield, leaving both of them relatively unscathed.

The rest weren’t so lucky. Those unable to react in time were blown away by the pressure waves from the Dust Release attack, ending up buried among rubble, branches, and tree stumps in a sorry state.

Ōnoki himself, drained from overusing chakra due to his age, collapsed onto a giant tree stump cleaved by Dust Release, gasping heavily for breath, sweat pouring down his face.

"Are you okay, old man?" Akatsuchi emerged from the wreckage and rushed to help him up.

Ōnoki's hair had come loose, revealing his bald head. His trademark red cloak was nowhere to be found, and his tattered green vest exposed numerous wounds, making him look as battered as he had during his fight against Madara in the original timeline.

"I’m fine," Ōnoki muttered as Akatsuchi helped him up. Fixing his gaze ahead, he gritted his teeth. "How is this young man so powerful?"

Not just Dust Release—he’s also mastered Wood Style. And that earlier technique that negated Mei’s Lava Release... Could he also possess Lava Release?

How can one person command so many advanced Kekkei Genkai? Ōnoki screamed internally.

A slow, clapping sound broke the silence.

Aizen emerged from the massive branches of a tree, looking down at the scene from above. "Impressive, Tsuchikage. You really aren’t rusty yet, managing to withstand my Birth of the World of Trees."

"But Dust Release isn’t exclusive to you. The next move... you won’t survive it."

Aizen brought his hands together, forming a transparent cubic barrier that encapsulated everyone except Tsunade, her daughter, and Haku.

Those just climbing out of the rubble, still dazed from the Dust Release’s aftermath, suddenly found themselves trapped in the massive transparent barrier. One by one, they turned to Ōnoki for answers.

The Raikage, who had just emerged from the debris after receiving minimal healing from Tsunade, voiced the question on everyone’s mind:

"Ōnoki, did you create this barrier to defend against Fujiwara Aizen’s attack?"

"How could I? I don’t have nearly enough chakra to construct a Dust Release barrier of this size." Ōnoki slumped to the ground, a bitter smile on his face.

He knew better than anyone what Dust Release could do. From the moment Aizen had them in his grasp, it was over.

A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. No one had anticipated dying at what was supposed to be the Five Kage Summit.

Especially Mei Terumi.

The once-spirited Mizukage, known for her fiery temper, now wore a trace of despair on her beautiful face.

So this is why he hadn’t come looking for me in over a year... Was everything he said back then just a lie?

As despair overwhelmed Mei, Aizen’s voice broke through the somber air.

"Finally quiet? See, wasn’t that easy? I already told you to wait for Uchiha Madara; he has something to say to you."

"But no—you just had to force my hand. How does it feel now, stuck in a hopeless situation?"

"Fine, I’ll give you a chance. I’m not the kind of man who kills women—especially beautiful ones."

Aizen’s mocking gaze landed on Mei. "You there, Mizukage. You can leave."

"Me?" Mei pointed at herself, incredulous. Her face flushed red, the color spreading to her neck as she stood there, unsure how to respond.

"Of course. Who else? Are there any other beauties in this barrier?" Aizen’s eyes roamed over her with blatant amusement.

Everyone in the barrier exchanged uneasy glances.

It was well-known that each member of the Akatsuki had their quirks: Deidara loved explosions, Kakuzu was obsessed with money, Sasori was enamored with puppets... and Fujiwara Aizen had a notorious weakness for beauty.

A lecher, through and through.

Could it be... something between him and the Mizukage?

As they sneaked glances at Mei, her blushing face made their suspicions grow.

But then Mei’s expression shifted. Was he complimenting me?

She quickly surveyed the barrier. Realizing only she and Kurotsuchi were female—and that Tsunade and the others had already been sent outside—her temper flared.

Good grief. So he made sure Tsunade and her daughter were safe... even Haku is out.

Her voice laced with sarcasm, she pointed at Aizen and retorted, "Sorry to disappoint, but as the Mizukage, I would never abandon my people or beg for mercy."

Kurotsuchi, equally irritated, stood beside Mei, shouting, "Neither would the Stone Village! We’re not cowards!"

The despair that had gripped her moments ago was now replaced by indignation.

Just as the two women prepared to face death head-on, Kakashi—hidden in the shadows with a clone—had seen enough.

He couldn’t find Tsunade or her daughter and couldn’t risk Aizen killing the Five Kage and the Land of Iron’s general.

Determined, he readied his Kamui to disrupt the Dust Release barrier.

Before he could act, Tsunade suddenly appeared from behind Aizen, delivering a crushing punch that sent him flying and shattered the barrier.

Cheers erupted from the trapped Kage, their guards, and the samurai.

"Lady Hokage!" they cried in unison, tears of relief in their eyes.

Even the Raikage, rarely one to show deference, joined in.

Only Mei seemed less enthusiastic. A faint jealousy clouded her expression.

Oh, come on. With his power, there’s no way he couldn’t dodge that. He’s just playing games.