Three days pass in the blink of an eye.
This day, the sky is clear and the air is crisp, with not a cloud in sight—a rare and fine day.
The spring sunlight is warm and gentle, and even at noon, when the sun climbs high in the sky, it doesn't feel scorching.
However, Guy inexplicably feels a sense of dread, as if something bad is about to happen.
"Today, why does the village feel a bit strange?"
Standing on the village street, Guy scratches his head with some frustration and looks at the white-haired youth beside him who is applying medicine.
"Kakashi, what do you think?"
"You're the one who feels strange," Kakashi points to the wound on his face and retorts, "It was just practice, you went too hard this time."
Despite saying this, Kakashi is very surprised by Guy's recent growth. Having undergone the same physical enhancement surgery, Guy is clearly more suited for it and has benefited greatly.
It hasn't been long since he opened the Fifth Gate, and it looks like he's about to reach the next stage.
"Hahaha, you're going to fuss over such a small matter? At most, I'll treat you to ramen as a return gift."
Hearing Kakashi mention this, Guy's brief mood immediately vanishes. He holds up one finger, revealing a row of shining white teeth, his expression honest yet smug, "It's thirty-six to thirty-five now, I've won one more match than you."
"Next time, I'll catch up to this record."
Kakashi replies, his expression hesitating slightly before he says slowly,
"We'll talk about winning and losing later. Some things might happen recently, so don't train too hard and maintain your physical condition."
Being in Anbu, even if he doesn't actively seek out information, some things will reveal themselves. The village, from top to bottom, emanates a sense of vigilance and unease, which Kakashi feels more deeply than Guy.
This time, using their spar as an excuse, he also wanted to remind Guy.
After Guy's physical enhancement surgery, he's become a bit too diligent. While his desire to master his body as quickly as possible as a taijutsu ninja is understandable, he's clearly not in a state to handle sudden danger.
"Is something really going to happen?" Guy's thick eyebrows furrow into an inverted V as he looks at Kakashi.
Kakashi shakes his head, "Don't look at me like that, it's just a guess."
He truly doesn't know what exactly is going to happen, but as a ninja, his intuition has sensed the atmosphere.
"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore. I'll listen to you."
Guy pats Kakashi's shoulder, "Thinking too much won't help. Let's go eat ramen together."
"You're treating this time."
Kakashi swats Guy's hand away and strides towards Ichiraku Ramen.
...
Meanwhile, in the woods west of Konoha village, a sound of rushing wind suddenly rings out.
Over a dozen figures appear in a clearing in the woods. The ninja leading them is wearing Anbu attire; it is Uchiha Shisui, currently the strongest Uchiha. Beside him is Hyuga Hizashi, the leader of the Hyuga Branch family.
"Orochimaru-sama, Kazekage-sama, please come into the village with me."
Shisui bows forward, "A house capable of masking senses has been prepared."
The Kazekage nods slightly, with a hint of melancholy, "I didn't expect to come to Konoha again, and in this capacity."
The last time he was this close to Konoha was during the Battle of Kikyo Mountain, when Konoha village's forces were depleted, and the battlefield was pushed to Konoha's doorstep.
The change in identity and stance, from enemy to ally, is so complete; truly, the world is unpredictable.
"There's no need for such sentiment. In the future, the connection between Konoha and Sunagakure will only grow stronger."
Orochimaru's clone pulls at the corner of his mouth, "Let's get into the safe zone quickly. White Zetsu clones could turn their attention this way at any moment."
"I understand," Kazekage Rasa nods slightly, and the group heads towards the center of the village, with Hyuga Hizashi leading the way.
To be honest, it is the first time since the Warring States period that a village leader has had to travel to another ninja village with only a dozen or so subordinates guarding him.
While the third Tsuchikage, Onoki, had visited Konoha for meetings, he was just a youth then, and Konoha, as the host, hadn't bothered to target him. This is completely different from today's situation.
However, Rasa isn't worried that this is walking into a trap. The generosity Orochimaru has shown him these past few days is enough to earn his trust.
What worries the Kazekage now is something else: how powerful is the Akatsuki organization to make Orochimaru pay such a price?
After all, although Orochimaru indeed has some restraint over his magnet release, the aura he displayed that night was substantial.
"Tsk, the benefits Orochimaru provides are not easy to get,"
Rasa glances at the dozen or so Jonin who accompanied him to Konoha, "I wonder how many will be left this time."
After all, they have all undergone that physical enhancement surgery.
...
In the Hokage's office, the Captain of the Hokage Guard bows respectfully, "Hokage-sama, Kazekage-sama has been settled."
"Please apologize on my behalf later. I don't have time to see him now."
Sarutobi Hiruzen grips his pipe, not looking up, his blue eyes old yet focused, his gaze never leaving the documents on his desk.
"Also, have the sealing team keep a close eye on the barrier. If the Akatsuki organization invades Konoha, they will be the first line of warning..."
Before he finishes speaking, sharp buzzing sounds rise one after another, instantly spreading across the sky above Konoha.
The Hokage Guard Captain's face changes drastically. This is the highest-level alarm. Besides the Hokage, only the aforementioned sealing team ninjas have the authority to use it.
The Third Hokage's expression darkens, and he turns his gaze to the crystal ball on the corner of his desk, which is his medium for the "Clairvoyance Jutsu."
However, before he could activate it to see where the enemy was coming from, the crystal ball, as if acted upon by an invisible force, instantly developed countless fine cracks.
Crack! Crack! ...
A crisp sound comes from inside the room and also from outside the Hokage office.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, makes a decisive move, breaks through the window, leaps out, and in an instant, arrives on the rooftop of the Hokage building, looking up.
He sees that above Konoha village, an invisible barrier is shattering.
This is the barrier array established by the Uzumaki clan when the village was founded. Without it, Konoha would be like a chick without its shell, unable to detect the entire village and react to enemies in a targeted manner at any time.
"The Akatsuki organization is here so fast."
The Third Hokage's face sinks, and he commands the Hokage Guard beside him, "Proceed according to the original plan. The reconnaissance team must find the enemy's trace as soon as possible."
"Yes!"
The Hokage Guard Captain doesn't dare to hesitate and disappears from his spot.
...
Boom, boom, boom... One barrier node after another is blown up by timed explosives. Before long, the sealing array painstakingly set up by the Uzumaki clan is in disarray.
Even the strongest defenses are not designed for internal threats, because generally, if an enemy can enter the barrier, the game is over.
But some people are unusual, and they can freely intrude without breaking through the barrier's defenses.
Obito lets the aftershocks of the explosion pass through him and says slowly, "After several encounters, Konoha must have some information on me. To make no defenses at all, is it negligence or foolishness?"
"You can't say that."
Zetsu emerges from underground after the strong wind currents have largely subsided and laughs, "This barrier was erected by the Uzumaki clan, and the Whirlpool Village has been destroyed for a long time. Even if they wanted to change it, they probably wouldn't know how."
"Let's stop the idle talk," Obito glances at Zetsu, "There are still a few more places to destroy."
"Actually, once this place is destroyed, the barrier above will be paralyzed," Zetsu describes what he saw, "but if you want to completely destroy the barrier array, you'll need to go to more than a dozen other places."
Obito ponders for a moment and smiles, "It's just a bit more effort, so let's go."
Anyway, he's not the main focus today. There's no danger in continuing.
The air twists into an Uzumaki, and Obito is engulfed in it, disappearing instantly. Zetsu also sinks into the ground, and the space returns to silence, leaving behind only the wreckage.
...
In the forest in the northeast of Konoha village.
Mu'u, the lord of Hozuki Castle and now the leader of Kusagakure Ninja, stands in a clearing in the woods. In front of him, several ninjas are unloading a large square box from a cart. Its four sides are carved with distorted demonic faces: it is the Box of Bliss.
Currently, only the Kusagakure Ninja lineage can control the Box of Bliss. Besides Mu'u, only his son Muku can.
At normal times, Muku would naturally be the one to control it. However, this time, deeply entering the Land of Fire to control Satori to attack Konoha is simply too dangerous.
This is not only because of Konoha's ninjas, but also because the Akatsuki organization will not protect Muku's life at all costs.
As for himself, to be frank, Mu'u has some confidence in his own value.
Currently, he is the one supporting Kusagakure Ninja and the traitors from Kirigakure Ninja. If he were gone, the Akatsuki organization, if not weakened significantly, would not be so obedient.
Therefore, to ensure his safety, the Akatsuki organization has made significant efforts. Besides the ninjas responsible for transporting the Box of Bliss, there are also Sasori and Kakuzu as escorts of great importance.
"Hmph, I thought I could personally participate in something like destroying Konoha, but instead, I have to protect this guy."
Sasori's tone is as usual, but his words reveal his displeasure.
"Why get so angry about something like this?" Kakuzu's expression doesn't change, "Konoha is the most powerful ninja village. Even if that leader attacks, he might not be able to get away with it easily."
Kakuzu likes bounties, but after experiencing the harshness of life, he clearly understands who he can provoke and who he cannot.
"You're not exactly someone who enjoys killing, so why are you so interested in attacking Konoha?"
Kakuzu finds Sasori's attitude strange. This person has no other interests besides puppet jutsu.
"The quality of Konoha ninja corpses is rare." Sasori glances at Kakuzu, "I'm very interested in ninjas modified by Orochimaru, whether they are those samurai or others who have undergone modifications."
The Akatsuki organization's secret research is naturally hidden from neither of them. Sasori knows very well that the organization is gradually moving towards modifications.
However, those people are ultimately labeled as companions. Unless they die legitimately, it's not easy to use their bodies. But Konoha ninjas are much simpler.
"This is quite simple," Kakuzu glances at the Kusagakure Ninja leader in front of the Box of Bliss, "Lord Mu'u is here. Later, when that monster attacks Konoha, I'll have it capture one or two for you."
Before Sasori can reply, Mu'u refuses, "I apologize to your excellency, but my control over Satori is not that refined."
It's like raising a fierce dog; you can only command it to bite people, and after it tastes blood, there's even a risk of it turning on you, let alone asking it to hold a meat bun without eating it.
"That's a shame," Kakuzu glances at the Box of Bliss, then looks away. Sasori remains silent, as if the conversation never happened.
Mu'u doesn't care about their probing and slowly walks to the Box of Bliss that has been set up. He shouts, "Come out, Satori!"
Instantly, purple-black vortexes appear around the Box of Bliss, and amidst a mournful wail like ghosts crying, the monstrous face facing Mu'u slowly peels off, revealing a deep and dark Uzumaki within.
The next moment, a headless, black-winged monster leaps out, its sharp claws rushing towards the unsuspecting Mu'u with a whistling wind.
The change happens in an instant, even Sasori and Kakuzu don't have time to react, and Mu'u looks as if he's frozen in shock, standing still in place.
The air explodes, and the claws stop firmly in front of Mu'u.
Seeing Mu'u, who looks unconcerned and unchanged, Satori lets out a roar that is almost like a lament,
"Little Mu'u, don't get cocky. It won't be long before you can't control me anymore."
"At that time, I will definitely make you taste the pain of sinking into this hell."
The ferocity and malice contained in this roar violently impact everyone's minds. The ninjas present change color, and even Sasori and Kakuzu feel a great sense of caution.
Mu'u, however, takes a deep breath and says slowly, "If that moment comes, I'll trouble all the elders. But before that, please obey my command and clear the enemies for the *** Ninja."
"Up ahead is Konoha village, the greatest enemy of the *** Ninja's rise."
"Konoha..."
Wu has no eyes, only four vacant holes on the large mouth on its chest, but everyone present clearly feels the gaze filled with hatred.
The ground trembles, and strong winds surge. The black-winged monster flaps its wings and soars into the sky towards Konoha.
The so-called revival of Kusagakure Ninja has long been forgotten. The elders of the former Kusagakure Ninja are now mixed among the many consciousnesses within the Box of Bliss, and they now only want to vent the suffering they endured.
After Wu disappears from sight, Mu'u finally breathes a sigh of relief and slumps down, his back covered in cold sweat.
"Lord Mu'u, what's wrong?" Kakuzu isn't surprised by the Jonin's demeanor.
The pressure from Wu doesn't only come from its size but more so from the mental stress it exerts on the mind. Moreover, Mu'u, as the opener of the Box of Bliss, undoubtedly receives greater pressure.
"It's nothing. I knew the consequences of making a deal with a demon a long time ago."
Mu'u says meaningfully, his gaze fixed in the direction of Konoha,
"But no matter what, this time Konoha won't easily suppress it."
---
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