311-315

Chapter 311: Jiraiya's Ominous Premonition

*Afternoon.*

In the peaceful and serene mountains near Konoha, a towering tree stood at the highest point.

The tree, meticulously camouflaged with paper, would be nearly impossible to notice without close inspection.

Nagato was hidden within this massive paper tree. Exhausted from using both Chou Shinra Tensei and Chibaku Tensei consecutively, as well as expending a vast amount of chakra during the battle against Konoha and the Nine-Tails, he was coughing violently.

"Cough... Cough..."  

The sound was labored and painful, accompanied by spit being forcefully expelled. Nagato was clearly at the limit of his strength.

"Nagato, are you alright?" Konan asked anxiously, standing beside him.

"I’m fine." Nagato’s gaze drifted into the distance. "It seems peace has arrived as expected."  

Just then, Naruto, having re-entered Sage Mode, tore through the paper disguise of the tree and stepped inside.

Following him were Jiraiya and Aizen, who stood outside the tree, observing through the gaps in the paper structure.

Even though they were watching closely, neither Nagato, Konan, nor Naruto could sense them, thanks to Aizen’s Kyouka Suigetsu technique.

"So it’s Nagato, huh? What happened to him?" Jiraiya muttered.

Nagato's emaciated frame, riddled with black chakra rods of varying lengths, leaned heavily on mechanical support for his lower body.

Seeing Nagato in such a state through the gaps in the tree, even Jiraiya couldn’t suppress a sharp intake of breath.

"What exactly did Nagato go through?"  

"You’ll find out soon enough," Aizen replied, folding his arms.

Inside, Naruto and Nagato began their debate—a battle of ideals.

The old toad from Mount Myoboku and Jiraiya had referred to this as the “Clash of the Prophecies,” a decisive moment between two children of destiny.

At its core, it was a discussion about whether humans could truly understand each other and whether genuine peace was achievable.

Unsurprisingly, Naruto, fresh from his mentorship under the Fourth Hokage, triumphed. Wielding the words of Jiraiya’s book, Tales of a Gutsy Ninja, Naruto’s Talk no Jutsu overwhelmed Nagato’s resolve.

"Rinne Rebirth Technique," Nagato said softly, forming seals with his hands.

"Nagato, you—" Konan’s face turned pale, beads of sweat forming on her delicate features.

"Enough, Konan," Nagato interrupted, his voice calm. "This is my decision."  

Konan looked devastated, her gaze shifting to Naruto. Internally, she wondered, Is this child truly worth such a sacrifice?  

Watching Nagato activate the Rinne Rebirth Technique, Aizen released the illusion of Kyouka Suigetsu.

Instantly, the enormous King of Hell statue rose from the center of Konoha.

Through the King of Hell’s eyes, Nagato saw the ruins of Konoha, still partially intact. A brief moment of surprise flickered across his face, followed by a faint smile. He continued to pour his life force into the technique.

The King of Hell opened its mouth, releasing countless green orbs of light that scattered across Konoha.

Nagato’s red hair, vibrant moments before, gradually turned white as his chakra was completely drained.

"What is this..." Both Jiraiya and Naruto exclaimed in shock, staring at Nagato’s now white hair.

"The Rinne Rebirth Technique," Aizen explained. "A forbidden jutsu of the Six Paths Sage. It allows the user to resurrect the dead at the cost of their own life. The more people being resurrected or the longer they’ve been dead, the greater the chakra expenditure. For those resurrected from Edo Tensei, the technique also dispels the reanimation."  

Carrying Jiraiya by the back of his collar, Aizen spread his wings of purple mist and descended into Konoha, landing atop a tall wall overlooking the village.

Below, the entire village was enveloped in a dense rain of green orbs. Those who watched closely would see the green lights seek out corpses and merge with them.

The moment the light entered a corpse, the body regained life.

"This... This is unbelievable. The forbidden technique of the Six Paths Sage..." Jiraiya was stunned. "But Nagato... what will happen to him?"  

"He’ll die," Aizen replied flatly. "As expected."  

Releasing the seal on Jiraiya’s chakra, Aizen added, "This is the last thing I’ll do for Konoha."  

"My chakra..." Jiraiya murmured, feeling it flow through him once more. He turned to Aizen, a mix of emotions clouding his face. "Is this really your way of making amends?"  

"It is," Aizen replied. "The next time we meet, we may be enemies. Aside from Tsunade and Chisaki, I’ll hold nothing back."  

"Why?!" Jiraiya shouted. "You saved Konoha today! You can use this to atone for your past—"  

Aizen cut him off, his wings unfurling. "You’re mistaken. I’ve never believed I was in the wrong. If I made any mistake, it was allowing Tsunade to return to Konoha as Hokage."  

Turning away, he said, "Enjoy your fleeting peace."  

With that, Aizen ascended into the sky, disappearing into the horizon.

Chapter 312: Naruto's Ambition

Nagato's death left Naruto feeling deeply downhearted.

Although Nagato had "killed" his mentor, in the moment he revived the Leaf Village shinobi, all of that was forgiven.

"Yes, this Deva Path Pain was made using Yahiko's body. He was someone very important to us," Konan nodded.

"So, this guy was Yahiko," Naruto murmured, finally understanding. Then he continued, "What do you plan to do next? I guess you're not going back to the Akatsuki, are you?"

"I’ll leave the Akatsuki. For me, Nagato, Yahiko, and Aizen meant everything. Since Nagato entrusted his and Yahiko's dreams to you, I will trust you too."

Konan reached out, and countless sheets of paper gathered into a bouquet, which she handed to Naruto. "Nagato and Yahiko's dreams are entrusted to you now. And also... Aizen."

Naruto was taken aback. "Big Brother Aizen?!"

Konan sighed. "I suppose you’ve realized by now that the area Nagato destroyed wasn’t the Leaf Village after all, haven’t you?"

"You’re saying... that was Big Brother Aizen?" Naruto's eyes lit up with surprise and joy.

Konan nodded. "This time, three members of the Akatsuki came to the Leaf Village: me, Nagato, and the last one—Aizen."

"To deceive Nagato’s Rinnegan, an illusion like that couldn’t even be done by the Uchiha’s Mangekyo Sharingan. Other than Aizen, I can't think of anyone else capable of such a feat."

"Perhaps it’s time for me to try a new life. I’ll persuade Aizen to leave the Akatsuki. His partner is completely loyal to him, so if he leaves, she will follow."

Konan's mind briefly envisioned the peaceful life of Mikoto and Izumi, raising children alongside Aizen. A faint blush and longing appeared on her delicate face.

Though she had envied that lifestyle before, she had always suppressed her feelings due to Nagato’s objections and their shared dreams with Yahiko.

Now, at last, she could let it all go.

"I’ll leave it to you then. I’ll carry Master Nagato and Yahiko's dreams in my heart," Naruto declared, placing a hand over his heart.

The shadows in his heart dispersed. At that moment, the world seemed infinitely brighter—his friends in the Leaf Village were alive again, he had grown stronger, and even Big Brother Aizen would return soon.

Now, there was only Sasuke left.

Konan gave a quiet nod, took the bodies of Nagato and Yahiko wrapped in paper, and headed toward Amegakure.

Naruto, in turn, made his way back to the Leaf Village.

Exhaustion swept over him as the adrenaline from his battle with Pain faded, and just as he was about to collapse, he fell into a familiar embrace.

"Pervy Sage..." Naruto opened his tired, blurry eyes, rubbing them hard in disbelief. His mentor—Jiraiya—was alive?

"You’ve done well, Naruto," Jiraiya said with a smile of pride.

"But you... weren’t you already...?" Naruto, now certain it was Jiraiya, began to cry tears of joy.

Could this also be due to Nagato’s technique? But hadn’t Pervy Sage’s body sunk to the ocean floor?

Could Big Brother Aizen have recovered it? That seemed the only explanation.

Wiping away his tears, Naruto suddenly burst into laughter.

"What’s so funny?" Jiraiya asked, looking flustered.

"Nothing." Naruto shook his head, tightly hugging Jiraiya’s shoulders and leaning on his back. "I’m just happy you’re alive."

Before long, they met up with Kakashi, who had also been revived.

"Even Kakashi-sensei is alive!" Naruto shouted from afar before rushing toward Kakashi, only to stumble and faint due to exhaustion.

Both Jiraiya and Kakashi used their teleportation techniques to catch him.

"He’s really pushing himself, huh?" Jiraiya remarked, shaking his head.

"But that’s exactly why the Leaf Village survived this crisis," Kakashi said as he carried Naruto on his back.

As they walked, the slug on Naruto’s body transmitted everything that had happened during his battle with Pain to the Leaf Village.

While heading back, Kakashi commented, "I still can’t believe it—seeing you alive, Jiraiya-sama. When I heard someone had spotted you, I thought it was a mistake."

"It wasn’t Nagato’s technique that revived me," Jiraiya said gravely, stopping in his tracks.

"But I fell into the depths of the ocean. Not even the Rinnegan could bring me back."

His expression turned solemn. "It was Aizen who revived me. And not just me—during the mission to recover the Kazekage, Aizen also played a role. Gaara’s resurrection wasn’t a coincidence."

"What’s going on?" Kakashi asked, his face serious.

Jiraiya replied, "It’s a long story. For now, all I can say is this: soon, the Leaf Village—and the entire ninja world—will face a threat far greater than Pain."

Meanwhile, outside the Leaf Village, Zetsu emerged from a massive pitcher plant, disbelief heavy in White Zetsu's voice.

"I can’t believe Pain was defeated. And Aizen? If he was there, how could the Nine-Tails accomplish this?"

"Probably like with the Eight-Tails—he must’ve just been watching. Then, when the Jinchuriki was captured, he left. There’s still residual Nine-Tails chakra in the air, so it seems the beast rampaged after its host was taken," Black Zetsu added, barely able to contain his frustration.

For nearly a thousand years, it had waited for this chance. Now, just when success seemed within reach, everything had unraveled.

First, the Eight-Tails escaped using a tentacle decoy. Then the Nine-Tails...

"What do we do now?" White Zetsu asked.

"Inform Tobi immediately," Black Zetsu ordered, suppressing its rage and merging back into the earth with the pitcher plant.

As for Aizen, it couldn’t grasp his motives.

Not far from the Leaf Village, Aizen listened to their conversation, a gleeful smile on his face.

Just then, Konan arrived, floating in with the bodies of Nagato and Yahiko wrapped in paper.

Aizen opened his arms, and she dashed into his embrace.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 313: Infinite Kotoamatsukami*

"Aizen, Nagato... he..." Konan threw herself into Aizen's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I know everything. Don’t worry; leave it to me," Aizen said, gently stroking Konan's back. With an arm around her waist, he turned toward the lifeless bodies of Yahiko and Nagato. Chakra threads subtly extended from his hand, winding around the corpses.

With the Flying Thunder God Technique, all three disappeared.

Konan felt a flash of light before her eyes and instinctively blinked. When she opened them again, they were back in Amegakure.

She gasped, "This is..."

"Flying Thunder God," Aizen explained. "An S-rank space-time ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage. I obtained it after 'persuading' Orochimaru to hand it over. Once I mastered it, I’ve been using it secretly to traverse the shinobi world. I used it to bring you back to Amegakure."

Patting her shoulder, Aizen moved to Nagato's body and performed a divine-level medical ninjutsu.

As hundreds of chakra points flowed into Nagato, Konan watched in shock as life gradually returned to his frail form, encased in the cocoon of her paper jutsu.

“Cough... Where am I? Why is everything so dark? Is this hell?” came Nagato’s weak voice from within the paper cocoon.

“Is it hell? Pinch your thigh, and you’ll find out,” Aizen quipped, halting his chakra output. He stepped away, leaving the rest unfinished, and went to pour himself a glass of water.

The room they were in used to belong to Pakura, but after Mikoto and Izumi took her in, Pakura moved out to dedicate her time to training Chihiro. As experienced as Pakura was from the Shinobi World War, her teaching abilities far surpassed Izumi’s, even though the latter possessed the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

“Nagato, you’re alive! You’re still with us!” Konan cried, tears streaming down her face. She waved her hand, dispelling the cocoon of paper and revealing Nagato's emaciated figure.

“Konan... What’s going on?” Nagato asked as Konan helped him sit up. His bewildered gaze fell on Aizen, who was calmly sipping tea. "Aizen... did you save me? Why?"

Nagato couldn’t fathom why he, a sinner who had killed his master, deserved to be saved. In his mind, he was no different from the detestable Uchiha Itachi, someone Aizen despised.

Aizen had no reason to save him—unless... Nagato’s eyes shifted to Konan, who was staring at Aizen with a flush on her cheeks. Noticing Nagato's gaze, Konan quickly looked away, her face turning crimson.

“I see…” Nagato lay back down, a faint smile of relief on his face. "Maybe that's not so bad after all."

“Exactly,” Aizen said, walking over with two cups of tea, which he handed to Konan and Nagato. "I already know what happened between you and Naruto. It’s time you learned the truth."

Aizen revealed everything: how Madara gave Nagato the Rinnegan, how Obito manipulated Akatsuki, how Madara manipulated Obito, and how Black Zetsu manipulated Madara. He even recounted his own encounters with Obito.

When Nagato and Konan learned that their fellow founding Akatsuki members were massacred by Obito during their mission to rescue Konan, they were consumed by fury.

But when they heard how Madara and Black Zetsu had used Obito, their anger turned to silence.

Though Black Zetsu was the puppet master, the true culprit was the twisted ninja system itself. This system had created the conditions for Madara, Obito, and even Nagato to be manipulated like pawns.

After a long silence, Nagato finally spoke, "Then tell me—what would you do in my place?"

Nagato knew the fate of the shinobi world no longer rested in his hands, nor in Naruto’s, Obito’s, or Madara’s. Certainly not in Black Zetsu’s.

Aizen could simply kill Obito and Black Zetsu, seize or destroy Nagato’s Rinnegan, and eliminate any chance of Madara or Kaguya’s resurrection.

“Obito wants to create a world where Rin exists. Madara seeks a world without war. Black Zetsu wants to revive his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki,” Aizen said, gazing out the window at the rain-soaked village. “What would you have me do?”

“Stop them,” Nagato said without hesitation.

Konan nodded firmly. "We have to stop them, Aizen. If we don’t, the ninja world is doomed."

“And after stopping them? Will this twisted ninja world suddenly heal itself?” Aizen asked, his tone heavy with sarcasm. He sighed. "Nagato, Konan, you know that’s impossible."

“Even if Naruto, the so-called ‘Child of Prophecy,’ inspires fleeting peace through mutual understanding, as long as this corrupt system endures, peace is a fragile illusion.”

“Human nature is the most unreliable thing of all.”

Nagato and Konan fell silent again, as Aizen continued, “That’s why I’ve chosen a different path.”

He turned sharply, revealing the four-pointed windmill pattern of his Mangekyo Sharingan.

“This…!” Nagato and Konan gasped in unison. How could Aizen have the Mangekyo Sharingan? Was he an Uchiha?

“This is the Mangekyo Sharingan,” Aizen began, weaving an elaborate lie. “Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyo possessed a unique ability to transfer bloodlines.”

"Before the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Fugaku entrusted me with this gift, along with the request to spare Itachi and protect Mikoto. I accepted, and in doing so, awakened my own Mangekyo Sharingan. Its ability is to seize bloodlines.”

"While I disdain using such stolen power, there was one exception: Uchiha Shisui. His Mangekyo possessed Kotoamatsukami, the strongest genjutsu, capable of rewriting someone's will without their knowledge.”

"If Obito and Madara dream of peace through Infinite Tsukuyomi, my plan is Infinite Kotoamatsukami. Using the Ten-Tails’ power, I’ll project my eyes onto the moon and forcibly rewrite the ninja world's broken system with the idea of ‘peace.’"

"That’s what true peace means.”

Inwardly, Aizen added: And I’ll tweak it however I see fit.  

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 314: Tsunade's Melancholy

Nagato agreed.

Yes.

After hearing Aizen's plan, Nagato finally agreed.

He handed over his Rinnegan. Under the effect of Aizen's senzu bean, he reverted to his normal self. Even the eyes he lost when Madara transplanted the Rinnegan regrew.

Even someone like Naruto, who had no concrete plan and only shouted slogans about "mutual understanding and achieving peace," managed to sway Nagato.

So it was no surprise that Aizen, the master manipulator with a concrete plan, was able to do so.

Nagato did have one condition, though: he insisted that Naruto's life be preserved.

And so, Pain ceased to exist. Nagato was reborn, and he continued managing the Hidden Rain alongside Konan.

That night, Aizen and Konan consummated their marriage.

---

Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf Village:

Reconstruction efforts were in full swing.

Inside the Hokage’s office, however, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Tsunade sat at her desk, her face heavy with worry. Shizune stood behind her, holding Tonton.

Before them were Jiraiya, Kakashi, Yamato, and several key figures of the Hidden Leaf, including Shikaku, Chōza, and Inoichi.

The large office was silent, as if enveloped in a suffocating stillness.

Moments earlier, Jiraiya had recounted everything he had witnessed about Aizen during his time with him. He also revealed the details surrounding Aizen and Itachi's defection.

Jiraiya was not like Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, or Homura.

He did not believe in concealing the truth or scheming from the shadows.

With the Hidden Leaf in a state of crisis, he could no longer concern himself with protecting the egos of the village elders.

Sharing information was the priority.

Otherwise, with the enemy already at their doorstep—no, to be precise, already inside the village—it would be too late.

Aizen was no ordinary individual. At just thirteen, he accomplished the shocking feat of eradicating the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Unlike Nagato, he wasn’t naïve.

Upon realizing that Pain’s invasion of the Hidden Leaf was entirely within Aizen’s plan, the group felt a mixture of relief and dread.

Relief that Aizen had helped the village this time, saving everyone.

Dread because of the immense power Aizen wielded.

Human beings naturally fear the unknown.

Reviving the dead without side effects, teleporting through space with the Flying Raijin, mastering Sage Arts surpassing those of Mount Myōboku, casting genjutsu undetectable by the Rinnegan, utilizing powerful elemental jutsus, barriers surpassing tailed beasts—this was the information the Hidden Leaf had on Aizen so far.

Each of these abilities was nearly insurmountable. Calling him immortal was no exaggeration.

Most troubling was that the Hidden Leaf knew next to nothing about the extent of Aizen’s abilities.

Compared to Pain, who had just invaded the village, Aizen was far more unpredictable.

His overwhelming strength reminded everyone of the Uchiha Madara who once fought the First Hokage.

The group fell into deep despair.

Finally, Jiraiya broke the silence.

“That’s the extent of what we know. Based on Naruto’s information, the masked man in Akatsuki, believed to be Uchiha Madara, was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails attack.”

“It seems Aizen’s claim of someone stronger than him in Akatsuki wasn’t referring to Pain but likely this masked man.”

“From what Aizen said, there’s also a possibility that the two have struck some kind of agreement.”

“They share the same extreme ideology: to destroy the ninja system and address the root of the problems in the shinobi world.”

Kakashi sighed. “That’s a troubling thought. Aizen grew up in the Hidden Leaf and knows everything about the village.”

“But we know so little about him. If he truly joins forces with Uchiha Madara, it’s unimaginable what might happen.”

Kakashi recalled his conversation with Aizen during the Chunin Exams and couldn’t help but feel a trace of resentment toward the Third Hokage.

This “strongest Hokage in history,” who caused the death of his father, had also created a formidable enemy in Aizen.

The others seemed to share Kakashi’s sentiments, closing their eyes and nodding in helpless agreement.

The meeting ended without any solutions.

---

After the others left, only Jiraiya, Shizune, and Tsunade remained in the office.

Shizune, holding Tonton, looked at Tsunade with concern. “Lady Tsunade...”

Aizen, once a whimsical figure with no clear allegiance, had always maintained a relatively friendly attitude toward the Hidden Leaf due to his ties to Tsunade and her daughter, Chika.

But this time, he hadn’t consulted Tsunade.

Even after the incident, he hadn’t reached out to her.

During Pain’s invasion, he had sealed Tsunade and Chika in a barrier, likely to prevent them from interfering.

If Tsunade sought him out now, he might very well neutralize her chakra and confine her until the war was over.

Tsunade slammed her hands on the desk and stood abruptly. “I’ll go find him myself!”

Jiraiya, arms crossed and leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, sighed. “I think you should hold off on being so impulsive.

“It’s clear that Aizen wouldn’t harm you or Chika.

“But none of us know what he’s planning. If you find him, there’s a chance he’ll detain you for your safety until everything blows over.”

Hearing this, Tsunade slumped back into her chair, her eyes blank.

---

Shizune was startled. “A war?”

“Yes, a war,” Jiraiya replied, gazing out the window.

After the chaos Pain had caused and the news of the Eight-Tails' capture, the Hidden Cloud was calling for a Five Kage Summit.

Jiraiya had a sense that a war encompassing the entire shinobi world was on the horizon.

---

In the Land of Iron, amid the mountainous graveyards:

Obito was training as part of his daily routine.

“The Nine-Tails capture failed, and Pain has defected. He used Rinne Tensei to resurrect everyone in the Hidden Leaf.”

From the ground, a large Venus flytrap emerged, and Black Zetsu reported the outcome of Pain’s invasion to Obito.

“Nagato, that fool.”

Stopping his training, Obito landed before Zetsu, donned his mask, grabbed his Akatsuki cloak, and swung it over his shoulders as he walked toward the exit.

“What about Aizen? With his strength, he could have captured the Nine-Tails even if Nagato failed.”

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 315: Obito's Plans*

Black Zetsu sighed lightly. "I don’t know. Aizen has always been elusive, appearing and disappearing without a trace. On top of that, his sensory and anti-detection abilities are exceptional. Even my Mayfly Technique can't escape his notice. While we can't sense him, he can always sense us."

"However, Pain's failure this time was largely due to the Nine-Tails going berserk."

"The Nine-Tails only goes on a rampage when faced with life-threatening danger or extreme anger."

"Maybe, just like with Sasuke last time, Aizen thought the Nine-Tails had been successfully captured by Pain and left the scene."

"Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that he was just watching the show all along."

"After all, that guy thrives on chaos. He once mentioned that if you failed, he’d kill you."

"In other words, don’t expect him to offer any direct help."

"And that’s not the worst of it. If the Rinnegan falls into Aizen’s hands, things will get very tricky."

"If we don’t offer something to tempt him, that guy won’t let us off easily. Orochimaru is a prime example—he’s been extorted by Aizen countless times, even after death."

Obito stopped in his tracks, clenching his fists tightly. “That bastard Aizen,” he cursed inwardly.

Black Zetsu continued, "So, what’s your next move, Tobi?"

"The betrayal of Nagato has cost the Akatsuki two members in one blow. It’s unlikely that woman will listen to you anymore, and the other woman only answers to Aizen. Among the remaining members, Kisame is the only one still of significant use."

Obito shook his head. "No, you’re overlooking someone."

Black Zetsu paused, and White Zetsu’s teasing voice chimed in. "Looks like you’ve forgotten about Sasuke, Black Zetsu."

"Shut up," Black Zetsu snapped, then turned back to Obito. "Tobi, the Rinnegan is critical. It’s the cornerstone of the plan and can’t be lost. Regardless of whether Aizen has it or not, we need to retrieve it immediately. Only the Rinnegan can control the Gedo Statue."

"No need to rush about the Rinnegan," Obito said after some thought. "For now, what’s the reaction from Kumo and Konoha about all this commotion with the Eight and Nine-Tails?"

White Zetsu chuckled. "Konoha is fine—they’re busy rebuilding the village. But Kumo... Raikage is furious after being humiliated by Aizen and losing his brother. He’s livid."

"Apparently, he’s preparing for a Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron. Invitations to Konoha, Suna, Kiri, and Iwa should be going out soon."

"The Five Kage Summit, huh?" Obito’s single Sharingan glinted with interest, and he suddenly burst into laughter.

"What’s so funny?" Black and White Zetsu were puzzled.

Obito shrugged. "Don’t you see? This is a perfect opportunity."

"So, what’s your plan?" Black Zetsu asked seriously.

"It’s a bit early, but it doesn’t matter. Using this Five Kage Summit, I’ll declare war on the Five Great Nations, forcing them to hand over the Eight and Nine-Tails," Obito said, his laughter fading into a deep tone.

Black Zetsu fell silent, recalling how he had recently led Kabuto, who was dabbling in Edo Tensei, to Madara’s resting place. He began to calculate his next steps.

"That’s a good idea, but what if they refuse?" Black Zetsu asked.

"Then we go to war." Obito spread his hands. "If you think about it, this hopeless and hateful world has been peaceful for too long since the Third Great Ninja War. It’s time for some chaos."

"But first, we need to find someone."

"Is it Sasuke?" White Zetsu asked curiously.

"Of course. Who better to cause havoc at the Five Kage Summit than him?" Obito nodded.

Black Zetsu inquired, "What about Aizen? Should we inform him? A scene like this would definitely interest him. Besides, the Akatsuki could use someone strong enough to intimidate the Five Kage to accompany you. After your last battle with that girl from Konoha, all your tactics and abilities have been exposed."

"Aizen’s apprentice, you mean?" Obito recalled his last fight with Aizen’s student, Chika. Every move he made had been completely predicted, as though she could read his mind. It was a level of precision even beyond his first encounter with Aizen before the Uchiha Massacre.

After a long silence, Obito finally spoke. "Let’s head to Amegakure first. Avoid that woman if she’s returned there. Until we confirm Aizen’s stance, we can’t act rashly."

"Understood," Black Zetsu nodded.

Obito activated Kamui, and Black Zetsu used the Mayfly Technique. Both vanished.

---

*Konoha*

In the Hokage’s office, Jiraiya handed Tsunade a sealed envelope. "Things are worse than we imagined. Take a look—this is from a Kumo envoy, meant for you."

Tsunade opened the letter and broke into a cold sweat. Along with an invitation for Konoha to attend the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, it detailed the capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

To save Raikage’s dignity, the letter omitted how Aizen easily defeated him and his guards, forcing him to kneel. Instead, it only stated that Aizen and Uchiha Sasuke had captured the Eight-Tails, Killer Bee.

"Tsunade-sama, what’s wrong?" Shizune asked, noticing her unease. She peeked at the letter and froze.

"What is Aizen-sama planning? He’s captured the Eight-Tails... and brought Sasuke into it?" Shizune murmured.

Tsunade stood abruptly. "Shizune, summon Chika and Kakashi. Have them meet me at the village gates in 30 minutes. We’re going to the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron."

"Understood," Shizune replied, bowing before hurrying out.

"Chika and Kakashi are among the best shinobi in the village, but... are you sure about this? Maybe I should go instead," Jiraiya suggested hesitantly.

Both knew the Five Kage Summit wouldn’t be simple. The Akatsuki would likely intervene. If Aizen had truly aligned with the masked man believed to be Madara, he would undoubtedly join the chaos—or, given his love for anarchy, cause his own.

At worst, Tsunade and Chika might be dragged away by Aizen himself.

---