The coordinated assault by the Akatsuki organization had achieved devastating success in a timeframe that defied every strategic assumption held by the major hidden villages. Within the span of a single day, four of the nine tailed beasts had been captured through simultaneous operations that demonstrated planning and execution capabilities far beyond what any intelligence service had previously estimated.
The Two-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Eight-Tails—creatures whose power had shaped the balance of international relations for generations—had been removed from the global equation with surgical precision. The implications would resonate throughout the ninja world for years to come, fundamentally altering the strategic calculations that governed relationships between the great powers.
The first reports began filtering back to the affected villages that very evening, carried by survivors whose accounts seemed almost too incredible to believe. The descriptions of overwhelming force, impossible abilities, and battles that had reshaped entire landscapes read more like mythology than tactical intelligence.
The Cloud ninja who had been protected by Killer Bee's final sacrifice were the first to reach their village with news of the disaster that had befallen Cloud Thunder Gorge. Their arrival at Kumogakure's gates created an immediate sensation, as the strategic implications of what they reported sent shockwaves through every level of the village's military and political hierarchy.
Fourth Raikage A's reaction upon hearing that his village's most treasured location had been attacked was immediate and explosive. The man whose legendary temper was matched only by his devastating physical capabilities flew into a rage that made the building foundations tremble with the force of his chakra.
The Eight-Tails represented far more than simply another strategic asset to Kumogakure's military planning. The beast was the cornerstone of their defensive doctrine, the ultimate deterrent that had prevented other villages from contemplating direct aggression against the Land of Lightning for decades.
But beyond the strategic considerations lay something even more personal and painful. Killer Bee wasn't just another jinchūriki to be protected and deployed as circumstances demanded—he was a brother in every sense that mattered. The two had grown up together, fought countless battles side by side, and shared a bond that transcended mere military cooperation.
"Mabui!" A's voice boomed through the Raikage's office with enough force to rattle the windows. "Use the Heavenly Transfer Technique immediately! Send me to Cloud Thunder Gorge!"
His secretary, a composed woman whose efficiency had made her invaluable to the village's administrative operations, immediately began the complex preparations required for the technique. The Heavenly Transfer was not a jutsu to be employed lightly—the strain it placed on both user and target was enormous, and the chakra requirements were sufficient to exhaust most ninja completely.
But in this situation, conventional transportation would take far too long. Every minute that passed without definitive information about Killer Bee's fate was torture for someone whose emotional investment in the outcome went far beyond professional responsibility.
Within minutes, the intricate sealing arrays required for the technique were complete. The room filled with blinding light as space itself was temporarily folded to transport the Raikage across hundreds of miles in an instant.
When the light faded and A's vision cleared, he found himself standing in what had once been one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the Land of Lightning. The towering stone formations that had given Cloud Thunder Gorge its name were gone, replaced by rubble and debris that told the story of forces beyond normal comprehension.
The devastation was total and systematic. Where ancient rocks had stood for millennia, only craters and scattered fragments remained. The lakes that had reflected the sky between the stone pillars had been drained or transformed into muddy pools that bore no resemblance to their former pristine beauty.
Most horrifying of all was the complete absence of any signs of life. No bodies, no evidence of struggle, no indication of what had become of the people who had been present when the attack occurred. It was as if an entire section of reality had been erased and replaced with something that resembled the aftermath of a natural disaster on an impossible scale.
A's powerful fists clenched until his knuckles showed white beneath the skin. The evidence before him painted a picture that he was still struggling to accept. Whatever force had done this operated on a level that made conventional military response seem almost laughably inadequate.
While A surveyed the ruins of Cloud Thunder Gorge, additional reports were reaching Kumogakure that painted an even grimmer picture of the day's events. The Two-Tails jinchūriki, Yugito Nii, had also been captured during a separate operation that had left another small town in ruins.
The high-ranking Cloud ninja who remained in the village were struggling to maintain order and coherent response planning in the absence of their leader. The loss of both jinchūriki in a single day represented a strategic catastrophe that called into question Kumogakure's ability to defend itself against future attacks.
It was in this moment of crisis that Yeyue Ay's father emerged from the retirement that had kept him away from active village leadership for years. The former Third Raikage's presence provided a stabilizing influence that prevented panic from spreading throughout the village's administrative and military structures.
His decades of experience in managing crises allowed him to impose the kind of systematic response that the situation demanded. Emergency protocols were activated, intelligence networks were mobilized, and defensive measures were implemented to prevent additional attacks while search and rescue operations were organized.
The Hidden Stone Village's response to the crisis was hampered by the geographic dispersion of their jinchūriki and the irregular communication schedules that characterized their operational patterns. Unlike Kumogakure, where both tailed beast hosts had been operating in known locations with established support networks, Iwagakure's jinchūriki were scattered across the Land of Earth in ways that made immediate verification of their status impossible.
Han had been leading a routine patrol mission in the remote regions where the Land of Earth bordered other territories. Such operations typically lasted for days or weeks without regular check-ins, making his disappearance initially unremarkable to the village's communication centers.
Rōshi's situation was even more problematic from an intelligence perspective. The Four-Tails jinchūriki had chosen a life of semi-exile that kept him constantly moving through the wilderness areas of the Land of Earth. His whereabouts at any given time were unknown even to Iwagakure's leadership, making it impossible to determine whether he was missing or simply following his usual pattern of avoiding populated areas.
The first indication that something was wrong came from civilian reports of unusual disturbances in the rocky wastelands where few people normally ventured. Residents of distant towns reported seeing strange lights and feeling tremors that suggested combat on an unprecedented scale.
Investigation teams dispatched to these locations discovered evidence of battles that had fundamentally altered the landscape. The rocky clearing where Han had made his final stand showed signs of having been subjected to extreme temperatures and corrosive substances that had melted stone and metal into twisted, unrecognizable shapes.
When the investigating ninja recognized the identity of the dead Iwagakure team member found among the destruction, the scope of the crisis began to become clear. This wasn't simply a matter of communication failures or delayed reports—it was evidence of systematic attacks that had successfully targeted both of their jinchūriki.
The forest where Kisame had confronted Rōshi told an equally grim story. What had once been a thriving woodland ecosystem had been reduced to a muddy wasteland marked by carbonized stumps and pools of water that defied every principle of local hydrology.
The level of destruction suggested combat between forces that operated far beyond the scale of conventional ninja techniques. The environmental damage alone would take decades to recover from, while the strategic implications of losing both tailed beasts would reshape Iwagakure's international position for generations.
As reports of the coordinated Akatsuki assault reached Konohagakure through multiple intelligence channels, Fourth Hokage Minato found himself facing the moment he had been preparing for since taking office. The careful political maneuvering and strategic positioning that had characterized his leadership were about to be tested in ways that would determine not just his village's future, but the fate of the entire ninja world.
The time had come to implement the final phase of a plan that had been years in development—a strategy so sensitive and potentially explosive that only a handful of people were aware of its full scope and implications.
…
Within the distinctive architecture of the Uchiha clan compound, where traditional design elements reflected centuries of accumulated pride and insularity, another crisis was unfolding that would prove equally significant to the future of Konohagakure.
Sasuke had just returned from an intensive training session in the forest that served as the clan's private practice area. His body showed the evidence of hours spent pushing his techniques to their limits—dirt-stained clothing, minor scrapes from close encounters with training targets, and the satisfied exhaustion that came from productive effort.
As he approached his family's residence, however, his contentment was immediately shattered by sounds that struck fear into his heart. Raised voices carried from within the house, their tone and intensity suggesting conflict that went far beyond normal family disagreements.
Moving with the stealth that had been drilled into him since childhood, Sasuke positioned himself near the main hall where the voices seemed to be originating. The conversation that reached his ears would change everything he thought he understood about his family and his place within it.
"Itachi, you must understand that even though I lead this clan, I cannot simply ignore the concerns and aspirations of our people," Fugaku's voice carried the heavy weight of political responsibility and personal frustration.
The Uchiha clan leader's tone suggested someone who had been struggling with impossible choices for an extended period, torn between competing loyalties that offered no possibility of perfect resolution.
"If you would stand with the family and use the information available to you through your position, the village leadership would be forced to take our proposals seriously," Fugaku continued, his words carrying both hope and desperation.
"Today's Uchiha clan simply needs an opportunity to reclaim the glory and respect that should rightfully be ours."
The political implications of what Sasuke was hearing were staggering. His father was essentially asking Itachi to use his position within Konoha's security apparatus to advance clan interests in ways that could be considered treasonous under certain interpretations of village law.
"The Hokage has already shown more consideration for our clan than we have any right to expect," Itachi's response carried the calm certainty of someone whose convictions were unshakeable.
"As for the concerns of our clansmen, they stem from nothing more than greed and ambition. Human desires are truly endless."
His voice hardened as he continued, taking on the kind of finality that suggested a decision that could not be reversed or reconsidered.
"Furthermore, Father, your line of thinking leads only to self-destruction. I will not participate in any action that could harm this village, even if my own father is the one making such a request!"
The rejection was absolute and delivered with a clarity that left no room for misinterpretation. Itachi had chosen his side in the conflict between clan loyalty and village allegiance, and his choice was irrevocable.
"So you intend to betray your own blood and align yourself with the Hokage and the village elders?" Fugaku's voice carried the kind of bitter disappointment that only came from having one's deepest hopes crushed by someone trusted above all others.
"I am profoundly disappointed in you."
BANG!
The sound of the main hall's door being thrown open echoed through the compound with violent finality. Itachi emerged from the building like a storm given human form, his movements carrying the fluid grace that marked him as one of the most dangerous individuals in the village.
His body flickered with the speed that had made him legendary among his peers, and within moments he had cleared the courtyard entirely, disappearing into the network of rooftops that connected Konoha's various districts.
Fugaku emerged from the hall moments later, his expression showing the strain of a confrontation that had forced him to confront the complete failure of his most important relationship. His fist struck the wooden pillar that supported the corridor's roof with enough force to shatter the ancient timber entirely.
Hidden in the shadows where his stealth training had taught him to blend seamlessly with his environment, Sasuke watched this destruction of his family's unity with growing horror. The foundations of everything he had believed about his place in the world were crumbling before his eyes.
Moving with desperate urgency, Sasuke circled around the compound's perimeter wall and launched himself onto the rooftops in pursuit of his brother. The chase led through Konoha's residential districts, where the normal evening activities of thousands of villagers continued in blissful ignorance of the drama unfolding above their heads.
Swish!
Itachi's landing on a deserted street in one of the village's quieter sections was graceful and controlled, suggesting someone who had chosen this location deliberately rather than simply running until exhaustion forced a halt.
When Sasuke dropped down beside him moments later, Itachi's sideways glance showed no surprise at his brother's presence. He had been aware of being followed from the moment he left the compound, but had chosen to allow the pursuit rather than lose Sasuke in the maze of Konoha's architecture.
"Where are you going, brother?" Sasuke's voice carried a tremor that spoke to emotional distress he was struggling to contain.
The question was simple, but its implications encompassed everything that had been destroyed in the conversation he had overheard. Where was Itachi going physically? Where was he going politically? Where was he going in terms of his relationship with the family that had raised and trusted him?
Itachi remained silent, his expression showing the internal struggle of someone whose convictions were forcing him to make choices that would cause pain to people he cared about. His furrowed brow suggested deep contemplation of consequences that extended far beyond immediate family relationships.
At this moment, Sasuke's emotional control finally began to break down completely. The stress of what he had witnessed, combined with uncertainty about what it meant for his own future, triggered a physiological response that he had never experienced before.
His black pupils began to tremble and shift, the normal darkness giving way to the crimson coloration that marked the awakening of his clan's most feared ability. The transformation was spontaneous and driven by genuine emotional trauma rather than conscious effort or training.
"Are you planning to report Father and the clan to the Hokage?" he almost roared, his voice carrying across the empty street with enough force to echo off the surrounding buildings.
"You heard my conversation with our father," Itachi observed with the kind of resigned acceptance that came from recognizing the inevitability of certain outcomes.
His pupils contracted slightly as he processed the implications of Sasuke's presence during such a sensitive discussion. The information his younger brother had acquired would force decisions that none of them were prepared to make.
"Why? Why would my brother make such a choice?" Sasuke's voice cracked with the strain of trying to understand concepts that challenged everything he thought he knew about family loyalty and personal obligation.
"I don't understand! Is this village more important to you than your parents and me?"
The questions were delivered with the kind of raw emotional honesty that stripped away all pretense and political calculation. This wasn't a debate about clan politics or village policy—it was a desperate plea from someone whose entire worldview was being demolished by the actions of the person he had trusted most.
Itachi lowered his head, his lips moving soundlessly as he struggled to find words that could explain decisions that had been shaped by knowledge and responsibilities that Sasuke couldn't possibly understand. How could he make his brother comprehend choices that had been forced by circumstances beyond anything a normal ninja would ever face?
The two stood in silence for what felt like hours, the weight of unspoken truths and impossible choices hanging between them like a physical barrier. The normal sounds of evening in Konoha—distant voices, closing shops, children being called home for dinner—seemed to come from another world entirely.
Finally, Itachi raised his head and spoke with the kind of gentle finality that marked the end of one phase of their relationship and the beginning of something completely different.
"There are things you will slowly come to understand as you grow older," he said, his voice carrying both sadness and hope for a future where explanations might be possible.
As he prepared to leave and continue whatever mission had driven him from the family compound, Sasuke moved to block his path with the desperate determination of someone making a final stand.
"If brother really intends to do this thing, then you'll have to defeat me first," Sasuke declared, his newly awakened Sharingan spinning with chaotic energy that reflected his emotional state.
Itachi approached his younger brother with the measured pace of someone who understood exactly what was being asked of him and what his response would cost both of them. When he was close enough for Sasuke to see every detail of his expression, his own eyes began to change.
The normal black of his pupils gave way to the blood-red coloration of the Sharingan, but the transformation didn't stop there. The familiar tomoe pattern began to shift and rearrange itself into something far more complex and ominous—the distinctive design of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Get out of my way," Itachi commanded, his voice taking on the kind of cold authority that brooked no argument or resistance.
The power that radiated from his transformed eyes was overwhelming in its intensity and alien nature. This wasn't simply an advanced form of their clan's dōjutsu—it was something that seemed to operate according to entirely different principles, promising capabilities that went far beyond conventional understanding.
When Sasuke looked directly into those transformed eyes, he felt a wave of primal fear wash over him with paralyzing force. Despite every effort to maintain his resolve and fighting stance, his body began to retreat involuntarily, responding to threats that operated on levels his conscious mind couldn't process.
The sensation was completely unlike anything he had ever experienced during training or sparring sessions. This was the kind of fear that spoke to fundamental survival instincts, warning him that he was in the presence of something that could destroy him without effort or hesitation.
Itachi studied his brother's reaction for a moment, his expression unreadable behind the alien power of his transformed eyes. Then, without another word, he simply vanished, employing movement techniques that made him disappear so completely that it was as if he had never been present at all.
Sasuke remained standing in the empty street for several minutes after his brother's departure, his mind struggling to process the multiple revelations that had fundamentally altered his understanding of his family situation.
The shock of witnessing Itachi's transformation was still reverberating through his system, but even more disturbing were the questions that his brother's departure had left unanswered. If Itachi truly intended to expose the clan's political activities to village leadership, the consequences would be catastrophic for everyone Sasuke cared about.
More puzzling still was his father's reaction to the confrontation. Fugaku had clearly understood Itachi's intentions from the beginning of their argument, yet he had made no attempt to physically prevent his departure or to implement emergency measures that might have contained the political damage.
Why would the clan leader allow such a devastating betrayal to proceed without resistance? Did he possess information that suggested the situation wasn't as hopeless as it appeared? Or had he simply accepted defeat and decided that the destruction of the clan was inevitable regardless of what actions he might take?
The questions multiplied without resolution, each one leading to additional uncertainties that made coherent planning impossible. Sasuke was trapped between competing loyalties that offered no possibility of perfect resolution, forced to choose between family bonds and village allegiance in ways that his previous experience had never prepared him for.
"Mother!" The word burst from his lips with sudden inspiration as he realized that there might still be one avenue for intervention that hadn't been explored.
If anyone possessed the influence and relationships necessary to mediate this crisis, it would be Mikoto. Her longstanding friendship with both Fourth Hokage Minato and Uzumaki Kushina had given her access to village leadership that might be sufficient to find some compromise solution.
Even if she couldn't prevent Itachi from following through on his intentions, her personal connections might be able to mitigate the consequences for the clan as a whole. The relationships she had built over years of social and political engagement could provide protection that formal clan status couldn't offer.
Deep in his heart, Sasuke couldn't bring himself to completely abandon either side of the conflict. His family bonds and clan pride demanded loyalty to Fugaku's political ambitions, but his genuine affection for many village residents made the prospect of betraying Konoha equally unacceptable.
Moving with urgent purpose, Sasuke set off toward Konoha's commercial district where his mother was most likely to be found. Before leaving for training that morning, he had heard Mikoto mention plans to spend the day shopping with Kushina and Chiharu—an arrangement that had become routine for the three women.
The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the village in the warm golden light that made even the most ordinary buildings seem beautiful and peaceful. The streets were crowded with people finishing their daily business, creating the kind of bustling atmosphere that normally brought joy to anyone moving through it.
But for Sasuke, the crowds represented nothing more than obstacles to be navigated as efficiently as possible. His Sharingan, still activated from the emotional trauma of his confrontation with Itachi, allowed him to scan faces and eliminate possibilities with superhuman speed and accuracy.
Despite the enhanced perception that his dōjutsu provided, the search proved fruitless. None of the shopping areas that his mother typically frequented showed any sign of her presence, suggesting that either she had already completed her activities for the day or had chosen different locations than usual.
Reasoning that the evening hour made it likely she had returned home to begin dinner preparations, Sasuke abandoned his systematic search of the commercial areas and headed back toward the Uchiha compound with all possible speed.
The family residence was dark and empty when he arrived, showing no signs that anyone had been present since his departure that morning. Even more concerning was the absence of his father, whose presence he had expected based on the man's obvious emotional distress following the confrontation with Itachi.
Expanding his search to encompass the entire Uchiha clan territory, Sasuke began a systematic investigation of every building and gathering place that might provide clues to his family's whereabouts. The enhanced perception of his Sharingan allowed him to cover ground with remarkable efficiency, but each negative result only added to his growing sense of urgency.
As the sun continued its descent toward the horizon, the warm golden light began to fade into the deeper colors that marked the transition toward evening. Shadows grew longer and more pronounced, while the bustling daytime activity of the village began to give way to the quieter rhythms that characterized Konoha after dark.
The approaching darkness carried implications that went far beyond simple inconvenience. If his mother truly was absent from the village, then his hopes for intervention might be impossible to realize. And if events continued to unfold according to the trajectory established by Itachi's departure, the consequences for his family could be catastrophic.
The light that had enveloped the earth throughout the day gradually disappeared as night fell across Konohagakure, bringing with it uncertainties that would reshape not just the Uchiha clan's future, but the entire political landscape of the ninja world.
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