At a canyon on the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Waterfalls—
Half-submerged in the rocky ground, Zetsu spoke. "The technique has been undone."
On a massive boulder nearby, Obito was dragging an unconscious man by the arm.
Since he had already begun to move, he intended to seize the Jinchuriki that would be easiest to capture at the same time.
The Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, who was operating alone outside his village, and the Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki, whose Hidden Village had weak defenses—Sunagakure had originally been listed as a target as well.
Among the Five Great Nations, Sunagakure held the largest territory and the most expansive uninhabited zones. On top of that, with Sasori being a native, infiltrating Sunagakure would have been the least difficult.
If they hadn't confirmed beforehand that the Ichibi was no longer in Sunagakure and had gone to Konoha instead, Sunagakure would have remained one of the targets.
"No matter. As the defenders, all they can do is keep waiting while we steadily break through their protections."
Obito glanced at the Jinchuriki dangling from his grip. "Until they're absolutely certain they can't protect their tailed beasts, ninja villages with strong military power will never willingly hand over the weapons in their hands."
"The stronger the village, the truer this becomes."
"Everything you've done, Roshi…"
"In the end, it can't change the inherent cycle of this trash world."
"It's all in vain."
—
Takigakure, Temporary Command Post.
Over the past few days, Roshi had only been focused on three things.
Sending out messages to widely publicize what had happened in Takigakure.
Receiving messages to check whether any significant events had occurred elsewhere during this period.
Those first two tasks didn't take much of his time. The last was tracking down everyone who had been affected by the Spore Technique.
The results showed that only Team Asuma, Shibuki, and a few other relatively important individuals had been hit by it.
Once those matters were settled, it was time for him to return to Konoha. He had even acquired some White Zetsu as spoils of war; as one of the mature applications of Hashirama cells, these things were quite useful.
Who knew—maybe some new technology could be derived from them.
"Lord Roshi."
A gentle voice came from behind. At some point, Yakushi Kabuto had appeared in the doorway, holding a clipboard, his usual respectful smile on his face.
"The preliminary analysis of the White Zetsu samples is complete," he reported.
"For more detailed data, we'll need to return to the village laboratory and use large-scale equipment for a deeper analysis."
"Mhm." Roshi turned to face him. "I'll make the arrangements once we're back."
Kabuto nodded but remained where he was. He adjusted his glasses, a faint glint flickering behind the lenses.
"Also, about Shibuki… do you intend to personally persuade him to continue participating in the Joint Conference?"
"He will understand," Roshi replied. "Right now, Takigakure needs external recognition and support more than ever."
In the past, they had relied on natural barriers and the delicate balance between the great nations to ensure their survival. But now...
In the face of a threat like the Akatsuki, an organization that completely transcended the usual pattern of conflict between ninja villages, the old strategy of "surviving through war" was quickly becoming meaningless.
"Indeed," Kabuto agreed, then hesitated for a beat. "However, when it comes to matters involving Jinchuriki… even the youngest Kage-level leader will remain extremely cautious."
He looked up, his tone softening slightly. "If you were to approach him directly, your stance might come across as too overbearing. That could trigger needless defensiveness instead."
Roshi shot him a sidelong glance, remaining silent, clearly waiting for him to go on.
"So, please allow me to sound out Leader Shibuki first," Kabuto said, bowing slightly, his attitude deliberately humble. "If my negotiations fail to meet expectations, it still won't be too late for you to step in. That way, we'll at least preserve some room for follow-up mediation."
Roshi's gaze lingered on Kabuto's face for a moment. At last, he gave a single nod.
"Very well."
"I'll leave it to you."
—
Shibuki was, without a doubt, troubled.
He had originally planned to attend the conference. But with the Village in its current state, should he really still go? Konoha had invited the leaders of every ninja village—sending only a deputy or a Jonin would be far too disrespectful.
Konoha had not only arranged escort forces from the very beginning; they had even dispatched high-ranking officials to personally intervene in Takigakure's crisis. Based on that alone, it would be inappropriate for him not to attend.
However… as a leader who had performed so poorly in a crisis that he could only rely on outside help, was it really right to leave the Village—still unstable as it was—and travel all the way to distant Konoha?
"Sigh…"
Shibuki exhaled a long breath and buried his face in his hands.
"Shibuki-sama."
A soft knock and a gentle voice sounded at the same time outside his door.
Shibuki's head snapped up. He hurried to smooth his expression, then rose and went to open it.
When he slid the door aside, Kabuto was standing there.
"Kabuto-san, please come in." Shibuki stepped aside to let him enter.
"Pardon the intrusion." Kabuto walked in, his eyes briefly taking in the room's simple furnishings. "I've come to inform you of the withdrawal arrangements for the Konoha forces."
"Withdrawal?" Shibuki's heart clenched.
He had always known that Konoha's shinobi couldn't stay in Takigakure indefinitely, but actually hearing the word made unease surge up inside him.
The village's current defensive strength was far too weak. If the Akatsuki came back…
"Yes. Lord Roshi needs to return to Konoha to oversee preparations for the Joint Conference, and the other support personnel will also be pulled back in stages."
Shibuki wanted to ask if they could extend their stay—just a little longer—but the words stuck in his throat.
As the leader of Takigakure, he had already accepted too much help. He couldn't bring himself to overstep and ask for more.
"I... I understand," he said quietly. "All of Takigakure is immensely grateful for Konoha's assistance. Especially to Roshi-san. I really should go and thank him personally again..."
"Shibuki-sama," Kabuto gently cut in, "Lord Roshi is not someone who cares about empty formalities. Besides, these past few days he's exhausted himself screening for spores and analyzing the enemy's movements. He's resting right now."
He adjusted his glasses, the look behind the lenses calm and sincere. "You might as well save your thanks for a proper, formal expression after the Joint Conference."
"At that time, you'll also have more than enough opportunity to speak with Lord Roshi in depth."
He spoke as if Shibuki's attendance at the Joint Conference was already decided and beyond question.
Shibuki froze for a moment, but before he could respond, Kabuto went on.
"Regarding this conference, allow me to say a bit more."
"For Takigakure as it is now, making your voice heard and clearly showing your presence and stance at the conference is perhaps more important than it has ever been."
"On one hand, the Tournament System is about to be opened to villages outside the Five Great Ninja Villages."
"If Takigakure's shinobi can achieve outstanding results on the field, they will not only earn substantial prize money but also prove to the entire ninja world that even after suffering a heavy blow, Takigakure still possesses strength and resilience that cannot be underestimated."
"On the other hand," Kabuto's tone deepened slightly, "through this incident, the threat of Akatsuki has been laid bare before everyone."
"At the conference, Takigakure can use its own experience as a case study, allowing the other villages to more directly see the danger and despicable methods of this enemy."
"This will not only bring more sympathy and support but will also be a contribution to the ninja world's collective defense."
Shibuki listened in silence.
Kabuto's reasoning was clear and precise, every word striking home.
There was no meaning in drowning in the emotions of a victim. Turning this painful experience into a diplomatic initiative and seeking tangible benefits for the village—that was what a leader should do.
"Konoha places great importance on friendly relations with all ninja villages and is willing to devote effort to maintaining this peace," Kabuto added, watching Shibuki's expression closely.
"For friends who are willing to actively participate in the alliance and face threats together, Konoha will, of course, not be stingy with the necessary help and support."
Help and support... The words fell into Shibuki's gloomy heart like a faint ray of light.
"Of course," Kabuto's tone shifted ever so slightly. "Even for Konoha, resources are not limitless."
"Lord Roshi shoulders many responsibilities and cannot remain in any one place for too long. Timely rescues like this one will not always be possible."
Shibuki blurted out, "Takigakure would never dare to hope for something like that! Konoha's kindness is already something that I… that we can never repay."
"It's good that you see it that way." Kabuto nodded, then let out a quiet sigh. "You've witnessed the strength of Akatsuki with your own eyes. To stand against an enemy like that, you need power on the level of Lord Roshi."
His gaze settled calmly on Shibuki.
"Clutching a treasure desired by powerful evil, without the strength to protect it… that rarely brings safety. More often, it brings calamity."
"For Takigakure as it is today, is Fu truly a protective strength for the village… or is she a burden that invites disaster?"
Shibuki's pupils shrank.
"I'm not saying you need to decide anything right this moment." Kabuto's tone softened again. "But when your own strength isn't enough to guard what's precious to you, entrusting it to someone stronger for a time isn't weakness."
He lowered his voice.
"It's a kind of wisdom, for the sake of a longer future, and also for…"
"Being truly responsible to the people you want to protect—and to Fu herself."
Silence settled heavily over the room.
Shibuki stood motionless, thoughts colliding violently in his mind. Fear, resentment, shame, worry… in the end, all of it slowly ebbed away, leaving behind a sigh so soft it was almost lost in the air.
He lifted his head to look at Yakushi Kabuto, who had worn the same mild smile from beginning to end, and finally gave a slow nod.
"I… I understand."
"Thank you for your guidance, Kabuto-san."
Kabuto's smile deepened by a fraction.
"You're too polite. In that case, I'll have the detailed schedule for the Joint Conference sent over shortly."
He bowed slightly.
"I look forward to seeing you again in Konoha, Shibuki-sama."
—
Kakashi Hatake's dreary, paperwork-choked days finally saw a sliver of hope with Itachi's arrival.
Once he confirmed that the clan head's eldest son really was as efficient, meticulous, and uncomplaining as the rumors claimed, Kakashi immediately added a new desk to his office.
If even the current Hokage could work in shifts, then a workhorse in the Affairs Bureau like himself could certainly find someone to share the load.
"Kakashi-senpai, these are the documents that require your review today. I've already sorted them by urgency."
Itachi set a stack of folders neatly at the corner of Kakashi's desk.
"Just leave them there," the silver-haired jonin said mildly. "How are you adjusting to life in the Bureau compared to working in the ANBU?"
"It's not a problem," Itachi replied simply. "Thanks to your consideration, senpai, I didn't have many field missions even when I was in the Anbu."
"I mostly handled simple clerical work."
For example, screening and auditing Uchiha clan members who wanted to enter the Anbu.
Inwardly, Kakashi silently gave a thumbs-up to that guy who was probably still cleaning up the mess in the Land of Waterfalls.
Although he was still a bit resentful about how that guy had dumped his responsibilities, Kakashi had to admit the person he'd left behind was extremely useful.
So useful that Kakashi found himself seriously thinking about things that had always felt far off.
When the day came for him to put on the Hokage's hat, who should he find to share that burden?
Who could be for him what Roshi was to Lady Tsunade—someone completely trustworthy, able to shoulder heavy responsibilities, and even rotate in to take charge so they could support each other when needed?
It wasn't that Kakashi lacked people he trusted. He even had a lifelong best friend to whom he could entrust his life. But letting Might Guy into the Hokage's office… The image rose unbidden: Guy in his green jumpsuit, doing handstands beside a mountain of paperwork and shouting, "Youth means burning through today's administrative tasks! If I don't finish, I'll do five hundred laps around Konoha on my hands! " Kakashi could practically feel his sanity snapping long before peace in the ninja world was secured.
As for Itachi, his stance was obvious from how he'd handled the reforms of the Uchiha Police Force.
More importantly, he had Roshi's full trust.
In Konoha today, that was almost the same as having a universal pass.
Even so, the Uchiha surname—and the clan influence that came with it—was something that couldn't be completely ignored when considering sensitive roles like Hokage Assistant or rotational leadership.
"How is your younger brother Sasuke doing lately?" Kakashi asked suddenly. "He must be quite active at the Academy."
Itachi clearly hadn't expected the topic to shift to his brother. He paused, then answered, "Yes. He's doing well."
But with Konoha elites like Hyuga Neji and foreign prodigies like Gaara of the Sand and Deidara of the Stone all gathered in the Special Training Class, failure and setbacks were probably commonplace.
And Sasuke… hadn't once come to ask him for help, or even mentioned any of it.
As an Uchiha, Itachi understood that choice.
But as an older brother, he couldn't help the faint loneliness that rose up when he realized he was no longer someone Sasuke turned to for venting or support in difficult times.
"It sounds like he's facing a lot of problems. If he had a companion to go through it with at a time like this…"
His voice trailed off, and he gave a small shake of his head.
"Though I'm not really in a position to say that." Kakashi remembered very clearly what he himself had been like at that age.
Just then, a knock sounded at the office door.
The person who entered was Bi, the permanent representative of the Hidden Mist Village to the Joint Affairs Bureau.
He was said to be the confidant of Genji, the oldest elder of the Hidden Mist.
"Kakashi, excuse the intrusion," Bi said. "There is a matter that needs to be officially communicated to Konoha and the Bureau."
"Please, go ahead."
Kakashi straightened in his chair. Itachi silently moved to the side, posture attentive, ready to listen and take notes.
"Lady Terumī has decided to depart for the Hidden Mist Village tomorrow," Bi got straight to the point. "Her itinerary is set, and the escort detail has been arranged. According to protocol, I'm here to report this."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened for a moment. Leaving now… it was almost certainly because of the attack on Takigakure.
"I understand," the silver-haired jōnin paused in thought. "Bi, I understand Jōnin Mei Terumī's concerns, but could you ask her to delay her departure for two days?"
Bi frowned slightly. "Kakashi, what do you mean?"
"Although Akatsuki's main targets are the jinchūriki…" Kakashi began.
"In the current situation, key high-ranking figures from the hidden villages—especially those who know core secrets or are closely tied to the Tailed Beasts—could also become targets for the enemy, either as a breakthrough point or for intimidation."
"After all, they have techniques that even top sensory-ninjas can't detect. Until we can counter those methods, the best way to protect each village is to ensure the safety of shinobi who hold those core secrets."
He continued with a proposal. "The Konoha support team sent to Takigakure should be returning in the next few days. Could Jōnin Mei Terumī wait a day or two? At that time, the Bureau can coordinate an escort to see her back safely."
Bi thought it over, then nodded. "Since this concerns Lady Terumī's safety, your consideration is necessary. I'll relay this to her immediately and let her decide. I'll inform you as soon as I receive her answer."
"Thank you."
Bi left quickly. Silence settled over the office again, but the tension from their discussion still hung in the air.
Itachi stepped forward, voice low. "Kakashi-senpai, do you need me to prepare a coordination plan and a shortlist of possible escort personnel?"
"Yes. Prepare them, just in case," Kakashi replied. "Akatsuki's movements are faster and harder to predict than we expected. This will probably make the atmosphere at the upcoming joint meetings even more delicate…"
Before he could finish, a rapid, urgent knocking sounded at the door.
This time, it was Fūga who entered.
"Kakashi," he dispensed with any greeting. "We just received a message through the village's emergency channel—the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, Rōshi, has been confirmed missing."
"The Anbu assigned to guard him are also out of contact."
With that, the implication was obvious.
Fūga fixed his eyes on Kakashi. "Tsuchikage-sama is requesting an emergency meeting of the five Kage representatives and the top officials of the villages involved, regarding the continued attacks on jinchūriki and the overall security situation."
"As for the location… we hope it can be held in Konoha as soon as possible. We need an answer, Kakashi."
Kakashi drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Whatever small sense of relief Itachi's arrival had brought to the office vanished without a trace.
"I understand. This is a grave matter. I'll report it to Hokage-sama and Roshi immediately."
"As for your proposal for a meeting, Konoha accepts in principle. After an emergency consultation, we'll send your village an official reply with the exact time, location, and agenda as soon as possible."
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