News of the Eight-Tails' rampage in Kumogakure spread like wildfire across the shinobi world, carried through countless covert but highly efficient channels.
Konohagakure, Hokage Office
"Oh? Orochimaru and Ryo… they really didn't disappoint this old man."
Hiruzen set aside a top-secret scroll, a rare, genuine smile creeping across his weathered face, tinged with mischief and satisfaction. He carefully stored the scroll, then walked to the window, gazing toward the Land of Lightning. Deep in his experienced eyes flickered a trace of schadenfreude, like someone watching a neighbor's roof go up in flames.
"Hidden Cloud… looks like it's your turn." He gently stroked his pipe, his voice calm and pleased. With the enemy's backyard ablaze, it was the best news Konoha could ask for. Especially when the Land of Rain frontlines were pushing them to the brink. The pressure eased, if only slightly.
Sunagakure, Wind Tower
The Third Kazekage set down an intel scroll. From beneath his gold-sand mask came a muffled hum.
"The Eight-Tails lost control? At a time like this?"
He passed the scroll to his trusted advisor Chiyo. His voice carried deep suspicion. "The intel is confirmed. What do you think? Could Iwagakure really be behind it?"
Chiyo didn't respond immediately. She took a slow sip from her still-warm teacup, letting the aroma settle before calmly setting it down. Her aged eyes narrowed.
"To slip past Kumo's internal security and directly target their Jinchūriki with such precision…" Her voice was low and deliberate. "That's not something average forces could pull off."
Ebizō added, frustrated, "The latest casualty report is in. Because of the internal purge triggered by the Eight-Tails' rampage, the intelligence network we spent years embedding into Cloud… especially the deep-infiltration agents… they're all gone. Not a single one made it out."
He pressed his temples, trying to suppress the sting. Cultivating even one agent buried deep in an enemy's inner circle took enormous time and effort. Now it was all ash.
"So, your suspicion is…" The Kazekage's frown deepened.
"No one but Iwagakure," Chiyo said firmly. "They're the only ones with the motive and the means. Ōnoki's ambitions are no secret, and his grudge with the Third Raikage runs deep. The border skirmishes between them have never truly ceased. If not for mutual deterrence, full-scale war would've broken out long ago. And now, with Kumo thrown into chaos, the one who stands to benefit most is Ōnoki."
She paused, then her voice turned cold. "Kumo's misfortune may be amusing to others, but we must not forget our own risk. Kazekage-sama, we must immediately reinforce security around Bunpuku. Not a single flaw allowed. The moment the tailed beasts become targets, every village that has one becomes a potential battlefield."
The room's atmosphere turned grim.
Watching others burn was only fun until the fire reached your house. If the Eight-Tails could cripple a mountain-stronghold like Kumo, what would happen if Ichibi, housed within the fragile walls of Sunagakure, went berserk?
The thought was chilling.
Sunagakure was poor. Its buildings, mostly sandstone, were brittle. Its resources strained. The war effort already consumed more than the village could sustain.
Even if the Kazekage's Magnet Release could subdue Ichibi, the collateral damage would be devastating. Rebuilding wasn't an option. It would be Sunagakure's ruin.
"Advisor Chiyo is absolutely right." The Kazekage's voice turned hard. "The chaos in Kumo is a warning. Relay my orders. Assign the elite ANBU to guard Bunpuku. Full secrecy. Maximum protection. Seal teams must remain on 24-hour standby."
Losing their base now would spell disaster. Even the smallest mistake could reduce Sunagakure to dust in the eyes of its enemies. The Kazekage's gaze turned steely. His tone allowed no dissent.
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage's Office
Far away in the rocky bastion of the Land of Earth, the mood was very different.
Inside his office, Ōnoki of Both Scales had just concluded a strategy meeting. He was reviewing proposals to increase support for the Land of Rain frontlines when a trusted ninja placed a thin scroll on his desk.
"Tsuchikage-sama. Urgent intelligence."
Too tired to even look up, Ōnoki said flatly, "Read it."
But the moment the words "Kumogakure," "Eight-Tails Jinchūriki," "loss of control," and "mass casualties" hit his ears, his brush froze mid-stroke. A huge blot of ink splashed across the page.
His head snapped up. His eyes narrowed.
"The Eight-Tails… lost control?"
First came shock. Then—pure glee.
"HAHAHAHA!!!" Laughter burst from his chest. "Beautiful! Brilliant work!"
He laughed so hard he forgot his bad back.
Crack!
A sharp pop echoed through the room. His old spinal injury flared. Pain stabbed up his spine. His laughter choked into a cry of pain.
He doubled over the desk, clutching his waist. His aides flinched, unsure whether to help or pretend nothing happened.
But even in pain, Ōnoki's joy burned hot. He forced his head up, eyes gleaming.
"Excellent. Simply excellent. That meathead Ai must be scrambling like a rat in a flood right now. Let's see if he still has time to watch our border."
Everything was aligning. With Cloud in chaos, his plans to pressure Konoha and retrieve his son, could proceed unopposed. This was divine favor.
"Danzō, Konoha… wait for me. My son, I'm coming to get you!"
Ōnoki's short frame practically danced with energy. He was already plotting, should he stoke Kumo's fire further? Extort reparations? Press the advantage?
Then—
Bang!
The office doors flew open. A disheveled ANBU rushed in, face pale with panic.
"Report! Tsuchikage-sama! Urgent!"
"What now?!" Ōnoki snapped, annoyed.
The ANBU stumbled forward, voice tight. "Kumogakure's main forces have mobilized. They're heading straight for our border. The Third Raikage is personally leading them. He's declared war. Publicly. Claims he has irrefutable proof that the Eight-Tails rampage was orchestrated by you, Tsuchikage-sama. There will be no negotiations."
Silence.
Ōnoki stared at him. Blinked once.
The joy on his face froze.
The blood drained from his cheeks.
Cough, cough, cough, cough!
He hacked violently, choking on the laugh he hadn't finished. It felt like being doused in ice water.
He clutched his spine again, which now throbbed with rage-induced pain.
"What the hell do you mean I did it?! Evidence?! What evidence?!"
Just minutes ago, he was celebrating. Now, he'd been framed as the mastermind? Ai was coming with his full army, based on some "irrefutable proof"?
A massive black cauldron of blame had dropped from the sky and landed on his already injured back.
His aides stared, eyes wide.
"Did we do it?"
"No one gave the order…"
Ōnoki was shaking, his fingers twitching in rage.
"DAMN YOU, A!!!"
He slammed his fist into the table, ignoring the pain. His voice roared through the stone building.
"I SWEAR TO THE GODS—IT WASN'T ME!!!"
(To be continued.)