At the earliest, the war would end a few months before the year's close, or perhaps at the beginning of the following year.
That realization made Aoki exhale a long, steady breath. Something heavy and invisible seemed to hang in the air, an omen that history itself was shifting. Aoki could feel, with unnerving clarity, that he now stood at a crossroads where every choice he made might shake the very path of destiny.
Aside from that news, Aoki's ears had recently caught whispers of a dangerous figure. Kakuzu.
Yes, the one destined to become part of the infamous Akatsuki duo of the "undying corpses," a name already whispered like a dark legend in the underworld. Until now, Aoki had never been able to track Kakuzu—whether because Kakuzu deliberately restrained himself from exposure, or simply because he was far too cunning in hiding his traces. But now, the situation had shifted.
Kakuzu had begun to reveal himself, leaving faint trails through a series of bloody hunts. He had started targeting ninja with the highest bounties on their heads, spreading terror among those who knew all too well the nightmarish power he wielded.
Another report reached Aoki's ears, one no less shocking. A certain puppeteer whose name was beginning to echo across battlefields.
Of course, Aoki didn't need to guess for long. Sasori. The man once known as a prodigious shinobi of Sunagakure, who had now betrayed his own village. Sasori had chosen to walk a path soaked in blood, hatred, and twisted ambition, shaping himself into a heartless shadow.
Fragments of Sasori's reputation as a master puppeteer spun through Aoki's mind, reminding him that this man was no mere traitor. He was someone who had willingly exchanged his humanity for strength. More than that—the most disturbing truth Aoki knew—Sasori had succeeded in turning the Third Kazekage into a human puppet.
From the fragments of information Aoki had gathered, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage suddenly fit together with horrifying clarity—it was undeniable proof of how far Sasori had drowned himself in forbidden arts.
That meant the leadership of Sunagakure had now fallen to Rasa, who would come to be known as the Fourth Kazekage. The shadow of tragedy and destruction Sasori left behind was unmistakable, as if the shinobi world itself had been painted in shades of blood red and the cold steel of puppets.
With all this information, Aoki found his mind spinning with possibilities. Countless paths stretched out before him.
First, Aoki could try to track down—and, if he were being honest with himself, kidnap—some of Akatsuki's future members, to then "bring them in" and persuade them to join his group instead. A reckless idea, one that tugged the corner of Aoki's lips into a sly, crooked smile.
Yet, on the other hand, he doubted whether such a move was wise. A lingering fear gnawed at him: the butterfly effect, how even the smallest of changes might unravel the entire future.
But then again, hadn't Aoki already altered so much?
Hadn't the steps he had taken thus far already shaken the course of history?
If that was the case, what harm was there in pushing a little further?
Aoki's thoughts drifted toward certain figures—Deidara, with his artistic explosions; Kisame Hoshigaki, with his raw, brutal might; and Itachi Uchiha, shrouded in mystery and torn by inner conflict.
Just the thought of having such individuals by his side made Aoki unconsciously let a faint smile curve across his lips.
It was not a smile born of simple joy, but a mixture of amusement, anticipation, and caution.
The corner of his mouth lifted slowly before Aoki shook his head, as though mocking himself for indulging in such wild thoughts.
In the end, Aoki chose to steady himself. He knew when to restrain his ambition, when to focus on what was tangible before his eyes.
For now, Aoki decided to pay closer attention to the battlefield—to read the movements of armies, to interpret the flow of war, and to gather every shred of intelligence that could tip the scales in his favor.
________________________
[Note: 635+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Pa*treon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]