At the same time — Iwagakure, Earth Country.
Inside the Tsuchikage's office, the atmosphere was tense.
Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, sat silently in his chair, his eyes half-closed in thought. A kneeling Iwa-nin in front of him reported swiftly but respectfully.
The moment the words landed, Onoki's eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-what did you say?!"
His voice trembled ever so slightly.
"Are you certain this information is accurate?!"
The Iwa-nin nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage. And it wasn't just Orochimaru involved—Zeldris was there too."
Onoki's expression darkened instantly. His face, usually calm and weathered with age, twisted in frustration.
"That kid… I had a feeling."
Ever since the reports of the Hokage and Kazekage being killed in the same incident, Onoki had sensed something was off. Orochimaru alone, no matter how dangerous, couldn't have taken down both.
So Zeldris was involved.
The last time he'd heard of Zeldris, it was after he accepted a mission to eliminate the Eight-Tails in Kumogakure. And then… nothing. No follow-up, no reports. Complete radio silence.
Was he plotting all this with Orochimaru from the start?
And he used Sunagakure as bait?
Onoki rose from his chair and stepped to the window, peering out over the village with a heavy gaze.
Konoha's rogue shinobi… now turning their sights on other villages? What's their goal? Why go after Rasa? What are they trying to achieve?
As realization slowly settled in, a glint flashed in Onoki's eyes.
No matter their goal… this war has crippled both Konoha and Sunagakure. Sunagakure was never that strong to begin with, and now with their Kazekage gone, they're in chaos.
As for Konoha…
Now was the perfect opportunity.
The Iwa-nin, still kneeling, hesitated before speaking again.
"Lord Tsuchikage… should we take this chance to attack Konoha directly? If we move fast, Iwagakure can claim the position of the number one village!"
His tone was filled with ambition—something Onoki had once admired in younger shinobi. After all, their rivalry with Konoha ran deep.
But Onoki didn't answer immediately. His sharp eyes stayed on the horizon for a moment longer.
Finally, he shook his head.
"No. Even if we succeed in taking Konoha, the price would be steep."
He turned back toward the ninja.
"You underestimate them. Konoha may be wounded, but they are still the most powerful hidden village in the world. That kind of strength doesn't just vanish overnight."
He paused, then continued:
"If we act now, we risk triggering retaliation from Kumogakure and Kirigakure. If they decide to intervene… this won't be a skirmish. It'll be a full-blown Fourth Great Ninja War."
His tone was calm, but the warning was clear.
"And let's not forget the most unpredictable variable—Zeldris."
That name alone cast a shadow over the room.
Onoki's brows furrowed deeper.
"He hasn't been heard from since he abducted Deidara. And instead of finishing the Eight-Tails, he resurfaces to kill a Kage."
"Not to mention, If Konoha and Kumogakure decide to ally to stop him, we'll be the ones caught in the crossfire."
"And even if we try to hire him through the Shadow Organization…" Onoki grunted in frustration. "He's a swindler. His prices are outrageous. And frankly, I don't trust putting the fate of Iwagakure in his hands."
After a moment of silence, he turned back to the Iwa-nin.
"Keep watching. I want detailed reports on any movements from Kumogakure and Kirigakure."
"Understood, Lord Tsuchikage!"
With a flicker, the shinobi vanished.
Far away, in the Land of Water…
In a dimly lit chamber deep within Kirigakure, the flickering flame of a candle cast long shadows across the stone walls.
Sitting at a low table, Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi stared at the flame, his youthful face tense with unease. His lips were pressed into a thin line, brows drawn together.
A knock came at the door.
"Lord Mizukage, we have urgent intelligence."
Yagura didn't look up.
"Come in."
The door creaked open and a Kirigakure shinobi entered, quickly relaying the latest reports.
As the ninja finished, Yagura's eyes narrowed sharply.
"…You're saying both the Hokage and Kazekage were killed?"
The Mist-nin nodded.
"Yes, sir. The attack was orchestrated by Orochimaru. But Zeldris, the leader of the Kage Organization, was also involved."
"…Zeldris again." Yagura murmured.
A moment passed in silence as he processed the implications.
"I remember… he's an ex-Konoha shinobi, right? Orochimaru must have hired him."
His voice dropped lower.
That group… the Kage Organization. Are they active again?
And Zeldris—just how strong has he become? To strike down two Kage in one coordinated attack…
Yagura waved his hand.
"That's enough. Dismissed."
The shinobi nodded and disappeared, leaving Yagura alone with his thoughts.
He sat in silence for a long time, the candle flickering as if swayed by his turbulent mind.
The balance the ninja world had maintained for so many years...
It wouldn't be long before Zeldris shattered it completely.
Meanwhile – on the border of the Land of Sound.
A dim, underground basement buzzed with the hum of scientific equipment. Test tubes, beakers, monitors—all of it sat in eerie silence, bathed in flickering fluorescent light.
Orochimaru, usually calm and collected, sat on a rusted metal chair with a rare trace of unease on his face. His eyes lingered on the steel door, tapping his fingers impatiently.
Then—creak—
The heavy basement door slowly swung open.
A tall figure stepped through, silver hair glinting under the flickering light. Behind him, suspended in the air as if weightless, floated a corpse.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up, excitement instantly washing away his grim expression. He stood up quickly.
"So you've finally come, Mr. Zeldris."
The man said nothing at first, only giving Orochimaru a cold, indifferent glance. His voice was calm, but carried weight.
"This place was hard to find, Orochimaru-san."
Orochimaru gave a low chuckle, regaining his composure.
"Of course. Can't be too careful these days." He smirked. "Not all of us are as... powerful as you."
His words were laced with curiosity and awe. Truthfully, he still hadn't gotten over what he'd seen.
Zeldris—this man—had nearly wiped Konoha off the map in a single strike.
The power he held... It was incomprehensible.
Even now, Orochimaru shivered slightly as the memory flashed through his mind.
But before he could dwell on it, Zeldris's cold voice cut through the silence.
"No more small talk. I brought you Rasa's corpse. Now—pay up."
The body of the fallen Kazekage floated down in front of Orochimaru.
He blinked in surprise.
Wait… What about my hands?!
His brow furrowed as he raised his charred, lifeless hands for Zeldris to see.
"Mr. Zeldris, I appreciate the delivery, but… weren't you going to heal my hands?"
Zeldris's lips curved slightly. "Of course. Since you've brought it up... let's get it all settled at once."
He held up one finger.
"One billion. That's the cost. Pay up, Orochimaru-san."
Orochimaru froze.
One... billion?!
His mind raced.
Where the hell was he supposed to get a billion?!
He clenched his jaw, then forced a weak smile.
"I—I don't have that much on hand. I can pay the five hundred million now, and after you heal my hands, I'll be able to gather the rest much faster."
He looked up with pleading eyes.
"I swear, once my hands are healed, I'll earn it back in no time. You know my capabilities."
Zeldris studied him for a moment in silence.
Orochimaru's heart pounded.
He couldn't afford to offend this man. Not when he was this close to getting everything back.
Then—Zeldris chuckled softly.
"Alright. Since we're both outcasts from Konoha, I'll trust you... just this once."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up with relief.
"Thank you, Zeldris. I won't forget this favor."
But Zeldris was already lost in thought, his gaze distant, lips curled into a subtle grin.
Fifty draws.
That's how many chances he'd saved up.
And now, with Orochimaru's payment...
Fifty more.
Just imagining it made his blood stir.
Orochimaru noticed the change in his expression and blinked, confused.
Why the hell is he smiling like that?
Did I say something funny?
But then again… Zeldris always had that eerie grin plastered on his face.
Before Orochimaru could speak, Zeldris stepped forward.
"Well then... shall we begin?"
Orochimaru swallowed. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but there was no turning back now.
He took a deep breath and nodded.
"Do it."
Zeldris approached, his boots echoing in the silent room.
He stopped in front of Orochimaru, eyes scanning his pale, ruined hands. Then, wordlessly, he reached out and took them in his grasp.
Orochimaru flinched at the contact, both terrified and hopeful.
Seconds passed.
Then—Zeldris released him.
"Done."
"…Huh?"
Orochimaru blinked.
What? Done? That's it?!
"Is this okay?!"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Zeldris hadn't used a single hand sign. No chakra fluctuation. No glowing symbols or incantations. He just touched my hands—and that was it?
"This guy… did he really do anything?!"
Orochimaru was certain—absolutely certain—he hadn't missed a thing. That wasn't healing. That was just… contact. Plain and simple.
His eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at Zeldris, who stood calmly, that faint, unreadable smile still lingering on his face.
Is he mocking me?! Playing some kind of trick?!
Before Orochimaru could open his mouth to lash out, a strange sensation crept through his hands—like a slow warmth, seeping beneath the skin.
"What the…" His breath caught.
He looked down—and froze.
His pitch-black, decayed hands were changing.
The dark, lifeless skin peeled away like old bark, revealing healthy, pale skin beneath. His fingers twitched—responded. Life surged back into them.
The skin smoothed. The color returned.
And in less than ten seconds… they were whole again.
Exactly as they were before.
Orochimaru stood in stunned silence, eyes wide, lips parted slightly.
"This… this is…"
He couldn't believe what he was seeing. What he was feeling.
This wasn't some superficial fix. The damage—soul-deep, irreversible even to most high-level medical ninja—was just gone. Reversed.
And all Zeldris had done was touch him.
What the hell is he…?
He slowly looked up at Zeldris, voice hoarse.
"Zeldris… What did you just do to me…? How did you…?"
Zeldris met his stunned gaze, calm and unbothered.
"Orochimaru-san," he said casually, "five hundred million. You still owe me the rest."
Orochimaru didn't respond. His mind was still racing, trying to understand what just happened. He nodded blankly, as if hypnotized.
Zeldris studied him for a moment—then smiled again, this time a little more genuine.
He's hooked.
It was the perfect moment.
"Actually…" Zeldris continued, tilting his head, "I have a proposition."
Orochimaru blinked, slowly coming back to his senses.
"...A proposition?"
Zeldris stepped closer, voice low and enticing.
"Join my Shadow organization. I'll pay you a salary, cover your experimental funding, and let you work off your debt while pursuing your own research."
He paused, letting the offer hang.
"No more scrambling for funds. No more working in the shadows—unless you choose to."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
He's serious. He didn't need to ask twice.
Zeldris had power that even Orochimaru couldn't understand—and that scared him a little.
But it also intrigued him.
To work under someone like this… just what kind of doors would it open?
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