Chapter 233: The Council of Shadows
A hushed, electric anticipation filled the chamber. The Oto-nin assembled here had once sworn allegiance to Orochimaru, drawn by his formidable power and his acceptance of their unique, often ostracized, skills. But now, their gazes were fixed on a new figure, and the fanaticism in their eyes burned even brighter. They looked upon Uchiha Ren not as a replacement, but as an evolution.
This was the man who, with only his small Eagle Team, had dared to wage war on Kumogakure. He hadn't just raided it; he had humbled it, leaving their village scorched, their forces decimated, and their Raikage clinging to life from grievous wounds. And as if that were not enough, he had then marched into Konohagakure itself, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and carved a path of destruction no less devastating. The Leaf's ninja corps had been shattered, its leadership nearly exterminated, and Ren had walked away from the rubble on his own terms.
In their minds, such feats were unprecedented. Not even Orochimaru at his peak, nor any of the great villages themselves, had achieved such devastating, one-sided victories. In the shinobi world, strength was the ultimate currency, and Ren had proven himself the wealthiest of all. He was, in their estimation, the strongest shinobi alive, and they followed him without reservation.
Ren took his seat at the head of the table, the silence deepening with the motion. His gaze, cool and appraising, swept over the assembled faces before settling on one.
"Karin," he began, his voice cutting through the quiet. "The report."
Karin adjusted her glasses, a habitual tic that couldn't quite hide the flicker of residual pique over Sasuke's continued absence. Still, her tone was professional. "The infiltration of the Five Great Villages is proceeding. Our agents are in place, though their cover as civilians limits their access to high-level intelligence. The flow of information is… adequate, but not optimal."
Ren gave a slight, approving nod. "Adequate is sufficient for now. We have already made enemies of Konoha and Kumo. While we do not fear them, caution is never a weakness. Knowing their movements is our priority."
A soft "Hmph" was Karin's only audible response, though a hint of pride softened her features. Praise from him was rare and potent.
"And Kumogakure?" Ren continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The Raikage is a stubborn old badger. His pride would never allow him to lick his wounds in silence. He will have recovered by now. I suspect he is not just planning a counter-attack, but a coalition."
This statement sent a visible ripple of unease through the Oto-nin who were not part of the core Eagle team. Murmurs of doubt and confusion arose. While they believed in Ren's power, the idea of facing a united front of the Five Great Villages was a prospect that chilled the blood of any sane shinobi.
A senior Oto-nin, gathering his courage, stood. "Lord Ren, with all respect… is such a coalition likely? Konoha and Kumo have their grievances, but the other three villages? We have no quarrel with Iwa, Suna, or Kiri. They have no reason to involve themselves."
Ren's lips curled into a thin, knowing smile. "Your thinking is too narrow. Our very existence is the reason. We have demonstrated that the old powers are vulnerable. We are a rogue element, a threat that operates outside their system of balance and treaties. My actions in Kumo and Konoha were not just attacks on two villages; they were a challenge to the entire world order they uphold. To preserve their power, they will unite to crush the common threat. It is the only logical path for them."
The Oto-nin paled, the logic undeniable. The other villagers in the room shifted uncomfortably, the grim reality settling upon them.
Before another worried question could be voiced, Suigetsu slammed the massive Kubikiribōchō onto the table with a resonant thud. "Tch! So what if it's the Five Great Villages?" he sneered, his shark-like grin wide and fearless. "We've already kicked Konoha and Kumo in the teeth! If the others want a piece of us, we'll give them a fight they'll never forget! Worrying about it won't change a thing. We fight, and we win. It's that simple."
His brutish confidence, while jarring, had the effect of quelling the open dissent. The Oto-nin fell silent, their anxiety now mixed with a spark of defiant resolve.
Ren watched the exchange impassively, making no move to chastise Suigetsu. Instead, he used the moment to steer the conversation forward. "The point is made. The Five Kage may be strong, but we are not weak. Karin, confirm my suspicions. What is the Raikage's move?"
Karin pushed her glasses up again. "Hmph! Your intelligence was correct. The Raikage has officially resumed his duties. His first act was to dispatch envoys to Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Konohagakure. He is formally proposing a 'Five Kage Summit' to discuss a unified strategy… against us. The envoys have likely already arrived."
A collective, sharp intake of breath came from the Oto-nin. The theoretical had just become terrifyingly real.
Ren, however, showed no surprise, only a cold, calculating interest. "It begins," he murmured. "And the proposed location?"
"The Land of Iron," Karin replied.
"The Land of Iron…" Ren echoed. It was as he had known it would be. Some things, it seemed, were destined.
"What are your orders?" Karin asked. "Shall we move to disrupt the summit?"
A slow, predatory smile spread across Ren's face. "Disrupt it? No. A gathering of the Five Kage is too significant an event to simply disrupt. I will attend."
Shock registered on every face in the room.
"You… you will go?" Karin stammered.
"Indeed. But I will not arrive empty-handed. Before the summit begins, I will prepare a gift for them. A statement of intent."
"A gift?" Suigetsu leaned forward, intrigued.
Ren's gaze turned toward the north-east. "Notify our network in the Land of Water. They are to monitor the Mizukage's movements with extreme prejudice. The moment she departs Kirigakure for the Land of Iron, I am to be informed immediately."
"Lord Ren…" Karin's eyes widened in understanding. "You're not going to the summit. You're going to intercept the Mizukage?"
Suigetsu let out a low, impressed whistle. "The Mizukage? You're going to take out one of the Kage before the meeting even starts?"
Ren's smirk was all the confirmation they needed. He would not wait for the storm to gather. He would break one of its pillars before it even had the chance to form. The message would be clear: their alliance was a paper shield, and he held the torch.
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