In a natural stone forest just outside Iwagakure, wisps of steam rose faintly into the air.
From a bird's-eye view, one could see that this area was dotted with small pools of hot springs. If an Iwagakure villager were to pass by, they wouldn't find it unusual, as this region was known for its rare geothermal resources.
However, today, in one section of the stone forest, the steam was unusually thick, forming a dense, milky fog that was strikingly conspicuous.
If one were to step into the fog and observe closely, they would find the area in complete disarray.
The so-called fog was actually high-temperature steam. The patches of wild grass poking through the ground had turned yellow and withered, unable to withstand the intense heat.
The stone pillars that stood upright across the area were either toppled, shattered into fragments, or broken into several pieces, as if rampaging beasts had wreaked havoc. Some of the pillars were charred black, as though scorched by flames.
At the center of this chaotic scene lay a tall man. He wore a conical hat, a red mask covering his mouth, and red armor over his body.
However, he was lying flat on his back, unconscious. Strangely, his body bore no visible injuries, making the situation all the more peculiar.
Standing beside him was a black-cloaked man wearing a mask. In a low voice, the masked man murmured, "As expected of the famed Steam Ninja of the shinobi world..."
"Cleaning this up was quite a challenge..."
"And yet, it's only now that I've captured my first Tailed Beast..."
The high-temperature steam, which could sear human flesh, still lingered in the air. Yet the masked man stood amidst it, completely unaffected, as if he were enjoying the soothing mist of a hot spring.
Suddenly—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A fierce wind swept through, scattering the dense steam that had enveloped the stone forest.
"Hmm?"
"What's this...?"
The masked man narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly sensing a familiar presence.
Before long—
As the steam dissipated, a young man emerged from the other side of the stone forest. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips. He wore black-and-white clothing, and his appearance was strikingly handsome.
The moment the masked man saw the youth, he pressed one hand onto the unconscious armored man. With a whoosh, a spatial vortex swirled into existence, swallowing the armored man whole.
"Sōmi..."
"Didn't we agree? One Tailed Beast each, and we split Iwagakure's territory evenly."
"Why aren't you helping over at Iwagakure? What are you doing here instead?"
Having completed his task, the masked man turned to question Sōmi.
A blood-red glow flared in his lone eye, the Sharingan radiating a hateful intensity.
"What if I want both Tailed Beasts?"
Sōmi's faint smile remained, as if mocking the masked man.
"Heh..."
"Looks like our partnership ends here and now..."
"You greedy fool. Today, I'll show you the consequences of your actions!"
"The Tailed Beast inside you, and the fate of Sunagakure behind you, will both be rewritten today!"
"And as for you... once you reach the Pure Land, you can reflect on your sins!"
The masked man's expression turned icy as he sneered in response.
Yet, he didn't seem surprised by Sōmi's betrayal. After all, in the Akatsuki's plans, Sōmi—both as the Jinchūriki of the One-Tail and the captor of the Four-Tails—was merely a pawn.
This rebellion was simply a matter of timing, bringing the inevitable confrontation forward.
The masked man brought his hands together in a sudden motion, and spatial ripples burst forth from his lone eye.
"Fire Release: Explosive Wind Dance!"
The rippling space twisted violently, unleashing a powerful gust that ignited into swirling flames. A serpent-like inferno spiraled forth, coiling as it charged toward Sōmi.
Whoosh!
The scorching wind, interlaced with spatial distortions, seemed to melt the very air around it, as if the fiery serpent's heat was dissolving space itself.
In an instant, Sōmi entered his Sage Crane Mode, his body enveloped in a dense, emerald-golden Chakra that radiated upward like a divine aura.
Faced with the fiery serpent's terrifying heat, Sōmi calmly extended his right hand.
Suddenly—
His outstretched hand expanded, transforming into a massive emerald-golden beast claw that intercepted the fiery serpent.
Boom!
The serpent collided with the beast claw, erupting into a dazzling burst of flames. But to Sōmi's surprise, the serpent didn't disintegrate upon impact, as it had in their previous encounters.
Instead, like a living snake, it slithered deftly through the gaps in the claw, coiling around it and advancing toward Sōmi's body.
"Hmm..."
Sōmi tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting from disdain to mild surprise. He had initially dismissed the masked man's attack as another ineffective trick, but it seemed the technique had been refined.
Still, the idea of defeating Sōmi with a mere Fire Release was laughable.
Sōmi retracted the beast claw, shrinking it back to its original size. Then, as the serpent slipped off the claw, he suddenly expanded it again, striking out with a powerful swipe.
Whoosh!
A deafening sound of air being torn apart echoed as the claw lashed out. With a bang, the fiery serpent was shattered into countless sparks, scattering like falling fireworks.
"To think you'd dare to charge at me directly!"
A smirk of contempt appeared on Sōmi's face. Knowing the mechanics of the masked man's intangibility, he felt no fear of someone without both Kamui and the Rinnegan.
The masked man, holding a sharp wooden spike in his hand, closed the distance rapidly.
Sōmi raised his right hand slightly, summoning a golden cloud beneath his feet. It lifted him into the air, allowing him to hover above the ground.
Seeing Sōmi preparing to engage in aerial combat, the masked man didn't hesitate. He continued charging forward, showing no signs of slowing.
However, five fiery red flames quietly ignited on the tips of his fingers.
As he approached the area directly beneath Sōmi, the masked man leaped into the air. While flipping mid-air, he pressed his right hand against the ground.
"Uchiha Flame Formation!"
Suddenly—
A blazing red barrier erupted from the ground, forming a ring of flames that burned like blood, encircling both Sōmi and the masked man.
"Hmm?"
Sōmi narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not expecting the masked man to pull off such a move.
Did he really think he could stand a chance?
What gave him such confidence...?
Cautious by nature, Sōmi's thoughts began to wander.
The masked man must know that he alone couldn't possibly defeat him...
Which meant he must have stronger allies lying in wait nearby...
Could it be Pain? But Pain should still be battling Ōnoki...
Was this a trap set by Iwagakure and the Akatsuki?
Or perhaps... had that "Old Dancer" already made his move?!
The masked man's inexplicable confidence caused Sōmi, now lost in speculation, to grow increasingly suspicious.
But—
Sōmi's allies had also been lying in wait elsewhere, though they hadn't yet arrived.
With this in mind, the flickering golden cross-shaped pupils in Sōmi's eyes gradually steadied.
Today!
Even if the "Old Dancer" himself appeared—
You won't escape!
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