Time slowly crawled forward.
The Akatsuki organization gradually settled into a comfortable, if dysfunctional, rhythm.
With Sasori of the Red Sand finally getting a new partner in Deidara, the group was officially at full strength.
This motley crew of S-rank rogue ninjas spent their days secretly carrying out high-priced commissions while simultaneously "cultivating their power" or "perfecting their art," which mostly just meant the base got a lot noisier.
Emiya Shirou, however, did not stick around. This precious time couldn't be wasted.
He had to find an opportunity to study Hidan's peculiar genes and, more importantly, secretly amass enough power to counter the ever-looming threat of Kaguya.
Coincidentally, he had an excellent excuse.
Due to the... accidental killing of the Three-Tails jinchuriki, someone needed to secretly protect the most powerful Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails, before the official capture plan even began.
"But you're not very good at lying," Black Zetsu pointed out, strongly agreeing with the idea of protecting the Nine-Tails but vehemently disapproving of Shirou going to Konoha himself. "Why not send that fellow Obito? With his abilities, there shouldn't be any accidents."
"I seem to recall," Shirou said, frowning with exaggerated surprise, "that Obito murdered the Nine-Tails jinchuriki's parents. You really think he'd be willing to do this?"
Black Zetsu hesitated. A good point.
Would that idiot Obito actually defy a direct order?
Yes, it seemed entirely possible.
In fact, Obito had always been on the verge of rebellion, secretly colluding with Orochimaru and planning to betray the Akatsuki at any moment.
The only reason they hadn't already made their move was because Orochimaru's research on the Impure World Reincarnation wasn't quite advanced enough to bring back the reanimated at full power.
Of course, if Orochimaru weren't still useful, and if Obito weren't still needed as sacrificial fodder for Madara or Kaguya's revival, Shirou would have already dealt with the two schemers.
"Alright," Shirou said, placating Black Zetsu. "I'll be careful. Besides, I'll have you, won't I?"
"Yes," Black Zetsu's non-existent heart fluttered. It couldn't resist pushing its own agenda. "Actually, you could just have Nagato fully revive you. With your strength..."
"Nagato is our companion," Shirou cut him off.
This was partly because Nagato and Konan genuinely respected him, and partly because he needed to avoid the very obvious trap of becoming a sacrifice.
Black Zetsu's desire to see him fully revived was as subtle as a Tailed Beast Bomb—it just wanted him alive and kicking so he could become the Ten-Tails jinchuriki and, subsequently, the main course for Kaguya's revival party.
This constant plotting was one of the main reasons Shirou didn't want to hang around the Akatsuki base. Black Zetsu would never give up, and Shirou, for the sake of his own grand plan, couldn't afford to fall out with it just yet.
Just as Black Zetsu had endured for a thousand years to revive its mother, Shirou had endured for a thousand years for his own goals.
He'd endured for far too long.
The dawn was approaching, and he absolutely refused to let all his efforts go to waste. This period of endurance was agonizing, but the future harvest would be all the sweeter for it.
Coincidentally, this return to Konoha was also part of his plan. He had already prepared the Konoha ninjas for his arrival—otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered meeting Tsunade in the Land of Hot Water.
No, his arrangements went back even further. Even when he impersonated Orochimaru to abduct Anko Mitarashi, he was already setting the pieces on the board.
Orochimaru had always been the most suitable person to take the blame.
-----
Inside Konoha, Tsunade returned to her long-lost hometown with Shizune. The Third Hokage had planned a nice, long chat with his disciple about staying in the village, but was instead hit with a bombshell.
"Lord Emiya," Tsunade said, her voice tight with frustration as she stared at the empty secret room, "might have been revived by Orochimaru using the Impure World Reincarnation."
She rubbed her temples, trying to piece together the hazy memories of that drunken night. "I have to investigate Orochimaru," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Old man, does the village have any intel on him?"
"Not at the moment," Hiruzen replied, a worried look on his face.
The last time they had any intel on Orochimaru was when someone impersonating him had abducted Anko. The culprit was described as being extremely skilled in swordsmanship and Wind Style.
Swordsmanship? Wind Style?
A sudden, dreadful guess formed in Hiruzen's mind.
Besides Danzo, there was indeed someone else who fit that description perfectly. And it would explain why Kakashi was left unharmed.
After all, Emiya Shirou doesn't kill people. Hiruzen's heart tightened. He suspected Shirou had been used by Orochimaru for a long time.
No, that's not right. It's more likely he's being used by someone else!
"Tsunade," Hiruzen said, blowing a melancholic smoke ring, "if Lord Emiya has truly been revived, and his knowledge and power have been used by Orochimaru, it will become a real disaster for the entire world."
"He'll break free from Orochimaru's control," Tsunade insisted, her faith in Shirou unwavering.
"But he is also very easily deceived," Hiruzen countered, recalling his ten-year journey with the man. "I've spent more time with him than you have. He trusts people too easily. Whether it was the First Hokage or the dangerous Madara Uchiha, in his eyes, they were just people who needed help."
"He can be easily confused by more and more information."
"If it's a well-intentioned person who needs his help, this trust won't cause any big trouble."
"But once he is used by someone with ulterior motives..."
"Then what are you suggesting?" Tsunade's brow furrowed.
"Forget it," Hiruzen sighed, tapping his pipe. "Let's find Orochimaru as soon as possible. Even if he has deceived Lord Emiya, we can persuade him not to trust Orochimaru anymore. If you need intelligence, perhaps I can find a way to help you."
He thought of Itachi Uchiha. "Also, perhaps Jiraiya knows something. Ever since Orochimaru defected, Jiraiya has been investigating him. With the toads of Mount Myoboku at his disposal, his intelligence network is far more comprehensive than Konoha's."
"I understand," Tsunade said, clenching her fists.
"If you can't find anything," Hiruzen added, "then bring Jiraiya back with you."
The path ahead was shrouded in fog. He only knew that the truth hidden within concealed a huge crisis. To face it, Konoha needed to gather all its strength.
-----
In the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru's base had become a bit livelier.
Kabuto had brought back a new batch of children from the northern base for their experiments.
To speed things up, even Anko, whom Orochimaru had been teasing into assassinating him, had her memories re-sealed and was thrown into a cell.
After all, since he had successfully colluded with Obito, he wasn't particularly worried about the Akatsuki anymore. He had, it seemed, subconsciously forgotten the promise he had once made with Emiya Shirou.