Inside Kumogakure's temporary encampment.
What had once been an organized extraction force was now a scene of total defeat.
Tōdai and the remaining dozen or so Cloud shinobi were bound tightly, chakra sealed, forced to kneel in the dirt with their heads lowered in humiliation.
Around them stood hundreds of Uchiha.
Proud.
Unrestrained.
Several still had their scarlet Sharingan activated, glowing eerily in the darkness like predatory eyes.
A body hit the ground with a dull thud.
"This one is Kumogakure's Two-Tails jinchūriki," Uchiha Jin said calmly as he tossed the corpse forward. "There should be valuable intelligence in her head. Seal it and bring it back."
"Yes, sir."
An Uchiha stepped forward immediately, unfurling a storage scroll and sealing Yugito Nii's body away.
Tōdai's jaw tightened.
The other Cloud shinobi glared with murderous hatred.
But none of them spoke.
Because this was standard practice in the shinobi world.
They had done the same.
Everyone did.
After a long silence, Tōdai finally lifted his head.
"You must be the current Uchiha clan head… Uchiha Jin."
Jin nodded.
"And you are Elder Tōdai. What is it?"
Tōdai's gaze flicked briefly toward the scroll containing Yugito's corpse.
"Kumogakure and Konohagakure signed a ceasefire agreement. Yes, we struck first this time. But your retaliation was excessive."
"You slaughtered over a hundred of our elite shinobi. You killed our Two-Tails jinchūriki."
"That is blood debt. Irreversible."
He paused deliberately.
"I've heard the Uchiha's position within Konoha is… delicate."
"If war reignites because of your actions, how will your clan stand within your own village?"
It was subtle.
Measured.
A calculated attempt to drive a wedge.
Jin chuckled softly.
"You attack us first and now complain that we hit too hard?"
"Is that how Cloud shinobi think?"
Tōdai shook his head calmly.
"We acted with restraint. Our objective was to retrieve the Eight-Tails. We did not indiscriminately destroy Konoha."
"But your actions escalate this into something far greater."
"And from what I observed last night… Konoha's upper leadership did not exactly rush to defend the village."
He let that linger.
Jin smiled faintly.
"You're referring to Shimura Danzō."
Tōdai blinked.
Jin continued casually.
"I understand Konoha's leadership far better than you."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mito Homura are conservatives. Comfortable. Risk-averse."
"But Danzō?"
"He thrives on chaos."
Jin's lips curved.
"In Konoha, we have a saying."
"If something goes wrong and you don't know who did it—blame Danzō."
Tōdai fell silent.
Jin's tone sharpened slightly.
"And here's what you've failed to consider."
"Danzō has always opposed ceasefires. He opposed ending the war with Iwagakure. He pushed to escalate conflict even after agreements were signed."
"And you think he cooperated with you… to maintain peace?"
A chill ran through Tōdai's spine.
Jin's voice lowered.
"What if he never intended cooperation?"
"What if provoking war was his objective all along?"
The words struck like lightning.
Tōdai's pupils contracted violently.
He replayed everything in his mind—
The negotiations.
The "leaked" defense routes.
The strangely smooth entry into Fire Country.
The lack of resistance at key checkpoints.
And now—
Two thousand Cloud shinobi had crossed into enemy territory.
If this was a trap—
If Danzō had wanted escalation—
Then Kumogakure had just walked willingly into a battlefield.
And Danzō?
He had lost nothing.
Jin watched the realization dawn across Tōdai's face.
He almost felt bored.
Stirring discord wasn't difficult.
Especially when your opponent had already stepped into quicksand.
Footsteps approached.
A cloaked figure stepped beside Jin.
Tobi spoke quietly.
"There's movement."
Jin glanced at Tōdai, who was straining to listen.
"Speak."
Tobi didn't bother lowering his voice.
"Just now, the Fourth Raikage entered Fire Country with two thousand shinobi."
"Strange thing is—Konoha's border forces allowed them in… then immediately contracted the perimeter and cut off their retreat."
"At the same time, a second Konoha reinforcement force has been deployed. They're converging here."
He tilted his head.
"Looks like Konoha intends to close the gate and beat the dog."
Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.
So something had shifted within Konoha's political board.
Interesting.
Before he could respond—
Tōdai suddenly surged to his feet despite his restraints.
His composure shattered completely.
"Damn you—Shimura Danzō!!"
The shout tore from his throat raw and furious.
For the first time since his capture—
The seasoned Cloud strategist had lost control.
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