Kabuto Yakushi fled back to the Hidden Sound base in a state of pathetic disarray. The invasion of Konoha had been a catastrophic failure. After swallowing several soldier pills to restore his chakra, he stood before Kimimaro.
The Kaguya survivor lay on a medical bed, his body bristling with tubes and life-support machinery.
"For the sake of Lord Orochimaru, I have no choice but to release your Cursed Mark, Kimimaro," Kabuto said tonelessly. "Without the mark's stabilizing power, your illness will likely claim you instantly. Do you have any last words?"
"Is the operation... a failure?" Kimimaro asked, his voice a rasping whisper.
Kabuto nodded. "A total defeat. Even Lord Orochimaru's original body failed to return."
Kimimaro's eyes burned with a dying, fanatical light. "My existence belongs to Lord Orochimaru. To die so that he may live again is my greatest honor. I am already a man with one foot in the grave. Release the seal, Kabuto. Let the Lord return."
Kabuto stepped forward, placing a prepared piece of Jugo's flesh on Kimimaro's neck. "If your body hadn't failed you, Kimimaro... if you had been there, perhaps we would have succeeded. But it's over now. Release!"
With a sharp command, a white snake burst from Kimimaro's neck. It unhinged its jaw, and a slime-covered Orochimaru crawled out.
Orochimaru stared at his trembling, gray hands. "What happened in the village? How could my original body fall to that... Raizen Uchiha?"
"It was like this..." Kabuto began to recount the terrifying display of power Raizen had shown.
Orochimaru hissed, the sound filled with venomous frustration. "It seems my 'dear teacher' and that Uchiha brat had more cards than I calculated. My hands... they are useless. I cannot weave a single sign."
"I cannot heal this, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto admitted.
"I know someone who can," Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. "Tsunade. The greatest medical ninja the world has ever known. We must find her."
He looked down at Kimimaro, who had finally breathed his last. "Kabuto... use Edo Tensei on this boy. That way, he can continue to serve us without the burden of pain."
The Return of the Prodigy
In Konoha, life was slowly returning to normal. Raizen spent his days fishing with his children and his nights "working" in the bedrooms of his wives to further the Uchiha restoration.
Meanwhile, Danzo Shimura had somehow struck a deal with the elders and was released from house arrest. Naruto Uzumaki had also left the village with Jiraiya to begin the search for Tsunade.
Shortly after their departure, two figures scaled the walls of Konoha.
"Itachi-san, this is your hometown? It looks quite prosperous," Biwa Jūzō remarked, looking down at the bustling streets.
(Note: In this timeline, Jūzō survived the encounter with the Fourth Mizukage, replacing Kisame as Itachi's partner.)
"Let's go," Itachi said tonelessly. "We've been traveling all morning. Let's eat before searching for the target."
On the main road, Might Guy and Asuma were walking together.
"Guy, I've noticed you've been looking... exceptionally spirited lately," Asuma noted. "And last night, you were a beast. No more 'early exits.' How did you do it?"
Guy gave a dazzling, toothy grin. "Want to know the secret?" He pulled out a small vial.
"This is from Raizen. One bottle, and you're a powerhouse for three days. It even cures long-term 'deficiency.'"
Asuma's eyes nearly popped out. "Really? Give me some! You jerk, how could you keep this from me after I paid for your drinks last night?"
Guy sheepishly handed over his last unopened bottle. "Here. If you want more, go to Raizen. It's only ten thousand Ryō a bottle."
"Deal! Let's go get some BBQ! My treat!" Asuma cheered.
They headed toward a BBQ parlor, only to find Kakashi standing outside, looking tense.
"Kakashi? What are you doing here?" Guy asked.
Kakashi gestured inside with his eyes. When Guy and Asuma looked, the booth was empty, but two cups of tea were still steaming.
"The tea is hot. They just left," Asuma noted.
"Who was it?"
"Two dangerous men," Kakashi said, his voice grim. "If I'm not mistaken... Itachi Uchiha and Biwa Jūzō. Two S-rank rogue ninjas."
The three Jōnin shared a nod and vanished in a blur of speed.
The Clash at the River
They caught up to the pair by the canal.
"Itachi Uchiha. What is your purpose in returning to the Leaf?" Kakashi stood in their path, lifting his headband to reveal his Sharingan.
"Kakashi... I'm impressed you tracked us so quickly," Itachi said calmly.
"Why are you here? Is it Sasuke?"
Itachi shook his head. "That 'failure' isn't worth a personal visit."
(In truth, Itachi was here to check on Naruto—the Jinchuriki—and to subtly remind the elders that he was still watching over Sasuke now that Hiruzen was dead.)
"Kakashi, Guy, Asuma... are you going to get in my way?" Itachi stepped forward.
"Don't look into his eyes!" Kakashi warned. "He's a master of visual genjutsu."
A battle erupted. Five minutes later, Kakashi lay collapsed on the ground, his mind shattered by Tsukuyomi. Asuma was trapped in a Water Prison by Jūzō. Only Might Guy, using his specialized "feet-watching" combat style and the Inner Gates, was holding his own against Itachi.
"I don't have time for this," Itachi noted the approaching Konoha reinforcements. He tossed several smoke bombs. "Jūzō, we're leaving!!"
By the time the smoke cleared, the Akatsuki duo was gone.
"Kakashi! Speak to me!" Guy cried out, breaking the Water Prison and rushing to his friend's side.
"Hospital... take me... to the hospital..." Kakashi wheezed. He had just endured three days of being stabbed in a mental hellscape. His spirit was on the verge of collapse.
The Cursed Luck
In a distant gambling town, a blonde woman with a ponytail was staring at a slot machine. Her eyelid wouldn't stop twitching.
"Tsunade-sama, what's wrong?" Shizune asked, holding her pet pig, Tonton.
"My eyelid keeps jumping. I have a bad feeling..."
Tsunade pulled the lever. Clang! Clang! Clang!Triple Sevens.
"Yay! Tsunade-sama, you finally won! We aren't going to be broke today!" Shizune cheered. Tonton squealed happily; he might actually get a full meal today.
Tsunade frowned and pulled the lever again. Triple Watermelons. She won again. Again. Triple Cucumbers. Again. Triple Bananas.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Shizune was dancing. "At this rate, we can pay back that massive debt we owe Raizen!"
Tsunade looked miserable. To her, winning meant something terrible was about to happen. Losing meant safety.
"I've won so many times... something huge is coming," Tsunade muttered. "But whatever. I owe a fortune in interest. Let's make as much as possible before the disaster hits!"
By the time the casino owner kicked her out for breaking the machine's bank, she had won two hundred million Ryō.
"Tsunade-sama, this is incredible! With this and our savings, we can pay him back!" Shizune cried.
Tsunade shook her head. "We've been on the run too long. With the interest he charges, this still isn't enough. But... if we add that..." she glanced at Shizune with a mysterious smile, "...it should be plenty."
"Add what?" Shizune asked, confused.
"Hehe... you'll find out later. Let's head back to the hotel. We're going to the Capital in a few days."
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