Ninja World Tension

A week had passed since the conclusion of the second part of the Chunin exams, and word had spread throughout the ninja world that only Konoha and Shigaraki had managed to advance to the finals. What shocked many was the absence of any Sand ninja in the final round, the terrifying reputation the Shigaraki ninjas had gained, and that Orochimaru was no longer leader of the Shigaraki village but an Uzumaki. Reports surfaced about their merciless killings, executed with precision and unmatched skill.

In the Land of Earth, within the Earth Village, Tsuchikage Onoki sat with a stern expression on his aged face, reviewing the gathered information from the Chunin exams. He spoke with a sense of gravity to his assistant, Akatsuchi, who stood nearby. Akatsuchi, a towering figure standing at six and a half feet with a prominent nose and round physique, was known more for his physical strength than his intellect. He responded to Onoki's musings without much thought.

"Lord Tsuchikage, if these Shigaraki ninjas are so formidable, why not conquer them now? We outnumber them significantly, perhaps even a hundred to one," Akatsuchi suggested matter-of-factly.

Onoki couldn't help but shake his head in frustration at Akatsuchi's lack of understanding and wished his assistant's mind were as robust as his body. He decided to elucidate the situation for him.

"Akatsuchi, do you recall what transpired during the Third Ninja War when we led a force of ten thousand to ambush the Cloud Village, only to be held back for three days by the Raikage alone?" Onoki asked, hoping to prompt Akatsuchi's comprehension.

"Lord Tsuchikage, that event will forever be etched in my memory. However, I fail to see the connection between that and a small village like Shigaraki. They are neither the Cloud Village nor do they possess a Raikage," Akatsuchi responded with genuine confusion adorning his countenance.

"On this point, Akatsuchi, you are mistaken. The Shigaraki ninja are not to be underestimated. They have surpassed the might of the former Grass Village long ago. I believe that after the conclusion of this Chunin Exam, we will see a glimpse of the power they truly have. ," Onoki clarified, looking to the letter from the Cloud Village that lay unopened on his desk.

Onoki was taken aback to receive a letter from Raikage A, considering the tumultuous history between the Earth Village and the Cloud Village, with the former being responsible for the death of A's father. However, the Tsuchikage realized that the ever-changing dynamics of the ninja world, particularly with the emergence of the formidable Shigaraki village and their steadily increasing strength, demanded a shift in perspective.

"Lord Tsuchikage, are you suggesting that the Shigaraki village possesses even greater strength than what has been witnessed so far?" Akatsuchi inquired, finally grasping the gravity of the situation.

"Indeed," Onoki confirmed, his frustration evident on his face. "Take into account the number of Kage-level ninja they have dispatched to deliver letters, the rumors surrounding their sage mode and its enhancing effects, as well as the reports highlighting the strength of their genin. The results of the first half of the Chunin exams have only served to confirm these rumors."

Onoki's mind began to contemplate the possibility of forming an alliance with the Shigaraki Village. If the combined forces of the Earth and Shigaraki Villages were to unite, Konoha would likely crumble.

Onoki recognized the futility of attempting communication with the Shigaraki Village and the potential risk it posed to his ninjas. As he pondered the situation, Akatsuchi chimed in with newfound understanding. "I see now, Lord Tsuchikage. Thank you for sparing our Earth ninja from a fruitless mission," Akatsuchi acknowledged gratefully.

With Akatsuchi's appreciation in mind, Onoki made a firm decision. "It is best to wait until the conclusion of the Chunin exams before responding to the Raikage's letter. By then, we will have a clearer understanding of the Uzumaki leader's capabilities," he asserted, opting for a cautious approach.

The Tsuchikage acknowledged the significance of the Uzumaki clan's ties to Konoha, but he remained wary of the uncertain future. He felt it necessary to observe the Uzumaki leader's behavior and assess their impact before making any further decisions.

The rapidly changing landscape of the ninja world demanded prudence and discernment. Onoki was determined to protect the interests of the Earth Village and ensure the safety of his people by carefully evaluating the situation and proceeding accordingly.

In the Cloud Village, Raikage A seethed with fury and frustration upon receiving no response from the Earth Village regarding his letter of cooperation. The disturbing news that reached Raikage A from the Chunin Exam only served to deepen his concerns about the Shigaraki Village. With the confirmation that an Uzumaki, rather than Orochimaru, now led the village, A became convinced that this was all part of a Konoha orchestrated plot that would lead to war.

The sequence of events, from the emergence of the Uzumaki leader or Orochimaru to the appearance of the strange creature in the Land of Fire, reinforced A's belief that Konoha was manipulating the situation. The alliance between Konoha and the Sand Village further solidified A's conviction. He felt that war was imminent, and the Cloud Village alone would not be able to emerge victorious.

Fury enveloped A, leading him to slam his arm down on his desk, the impact causing it to break with a loud crash. In the privacy of his office, with his assistant Mabui as the sole witness, A yelled in frustration, "Damn Onoki! Does he not understand that Konoha is preparing for war? Does he foolishly believe that the Earth Village can win it single-handedly?"

The tension continued to rise as A apprehensively pondered the impending conflict and the Cloud Village's precarious position amidst it all. Mabui, a jonin with silver hair, brown skin tone, and green eyes, stood silently as she observed the Raikage's reaction.

"Lord Raikage, that's yet another desk you've destroyed. It's worth noting that while the Hokage advocates for peace, Konoha has not initiated any wars. Moreover, Konoha suffers from a shortage of high-level personnel since the loss of the Fourth Hokage and his wife," Mabui stated, hoping to calm down the Raikage.

"Mabui, just because Konoha hasn't started any wars doesn't mean they're not planning to. I'm convinced that this Shigaraki village has connections with Konoha, but I will wait until after the Chunin exams to take action. You and the village must trust me," replied the Raikage, gradually calming down and considering his next steps.

"You never know, sir. Konoha may not have as close a relationship with Shigaraki as you think. However, I agree that a wait-and-see approach is wise in order to gather more information," responded Mabui.

The Raikage remained silent, determined to await the results of what his spies could uncover during the resumed Chunin exams in three weeks. He figured that when news of the finals reached Mabui and the village, they would realize he was right. Additionally, he expected the Tsuchikage to respond to his cooperation letter, solidifying their alliance.

In the Land of Rain, within the hidden Rain Village, towering metal structures adorned the landscape, protecting the village from constant rain showers. At the very top of the highest tower resided the leader of the Rain Village, Hanzo the Salamander, renowned as Hanzo the Demi-God due to his extraordinary strength.

Currently, Hanzo found himself confronted by a group of fifteen ninja from the Hidden Mist Village. This encounter stemmed from a previous communication between Hanzo and the Mizukage regarding an unknown organization that had infiltrated the Land of Rain.

Initially skeptical of the Mist Village's warnings about the Akatsuki, Hanzo placed more trust in his own formidable abilities and figured that if the organization became a nuisance, he could easily crush it. However, much to his surprise, the Mist Village revealed a hidden detail about the organization—a member possessing an incredibly powerful doujutsu, hailing from the Uzumaki clan.

Hanzo had initially disregarded this information as false, believing it to be a ploy to establish Mist Village presence in his territory. Despite his doubts, Hanzo sent a spy to confirm the authenticity of the Mist's claims, and to his amazement, the reports seemed to validate the information he had received.

Upon further communication with the Mist Village, Hanzo discovered that the leaders of the organization in question were former students of Jiraiya. This revelation, coupled with Hanzo's memories of Jiraiya as a Konoha ninja, led him to believe that the Mist might be trying to eliminate a secret Konoha organization.

Hanzo was not fond of the idea of Konoha having ninja operatives within the Land of Rain, potentially utilizing them as a future attack force. Agreeing with Hanzo, the Mist Village decided to dispatch a group of fifteen ninja from various clans to reinforce Hanzo's efforts.

As Hanzo observed the arrival of the Mist Village's reinforcements, he took note of the diverse clans represented among the group, including the Kaguya, Hoshigaki, Hozuki, Yuki, and Takeda clans, each known for their unique abilities. Keeping their communication brief, Hanzo summoned his own forces, joining the Mist ninja to initiate their covert approach towards the Akatsuki's base, unbeknownst to the Akatsuki themselves.

Presently, the leaders of the Akatsuki—Yahiko, an orange-haired young man with brown eyes and light skin, wearing a black kimono with a gray slash; Konan, a blue-haired young woman with orange eyes, light skin, and similar attire to Yahiko; and Nagato, a red-haired young man with purple eyes, six black circles, pale skin, and matching clothing—were engaged in a meeting.

Their objective was to devise a plan to arrange a meeting with Hanzo the Salamander, seeking to form a collaboration that would bring about peace within the Land of Rain. The war-torn land had not witnessed peace since before the commencement of the Second Great Ninja War, and all three Akatsuki leaders had tragically lost their parents between the second and third wars.

"I truly believe that if we send a letter to Hanzo, we could arrange a meeting with him. Through understanding and cooperation, we can work towards peace," asserted Yahiko with a serious expression, prompting a supportive nod from Konan. However, Konan couldn't help but express her doubts about the meeting.

"Yahiko, how can you be so certain that Hanzo would even listen to us instead of eliminating us, given his recent paranoia following the previous two wars?" she questioned skeptically. Just as she turned towards Nagato, who seemed lost in thought, Nagato spoke up abruptly.

"Someone is approaching," he announced, his gaze fixed on a particular corner of the room where spacetime appeared to distort. A figure emerged from the distortion, dressed in a black robe and sporting an orange spiral mask with a single eye hole—a Sharingan eye.

Taken aback, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato prepared for a confrontation with this unknown intruder who had infiltrated their meeting without detection. The figure remained still, their Sharingan eye fixed upon them. Before any of them could say a word, the figure spoke.

"My name is Madara Uchiha, and I am here to assist you in achieving the world peace you seek," declared Madara, his gaze lingering on Nagato intently. The three were astonished to hear the intruder proclaim himself as the legendary figure from the past. Overcoming their initial shock, Yahiko was the first to confront Madara.

"Madara Uchiha? Wasn't he slain by the First Hokage at the Valley of the End? How can you claim to be him when he's long gone?" questioned Yahiko, his expression a mix of apprehension and skepticism.

"Rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated. While I was indeed defeated by the First Hokage, I still live on, driven by the same desire for peace," Madara explained as his three-tomoe Sharingan underwent a transformation, connecting to form a circle with three holes.

"This is my Mangekyo Sharingan, a power possessed only by me, Madara, in this era. I am also acquainted with the Rinnegan, also known as the eyes of the Sage of the Six Paths," he continued, seemingly unfazed by the shock on the faces of Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, who realized that Madara knew of one of their best-kept secrets.

As Nagato, possessing the Rinnegan, felt the weight of Madara's words, he tensed up, distrust evident in his voice as he questioned the supposed Madara. "How do you possess knowledge of these eyes? And if your intention was to truly bring about peace, why didn't you accomplish it already with your strength? You should have been capable of doing so," Nagato challenged, ready to employ his abilities at a moment's notice.

Madara, undeterred by Nagato's skepticism, began to elaborate. "Though I did not perish in my battle against the First Hokage, I sustained severe injuries, causing a significant loss of my power. The existence of your eyes is mentioned on a stone tablet left by the Sage of the Six Paths himself. You see, the Uchiha clan, like yourself, are descendants of the Sage," Madara explained, dropping a bombshell on the three individuals before him.

However, Nagato remained unconvinced and staunchly held onto his belief in Yahiko's path to peace. He adamantly expressed his dissent. "No, I will not follow your path to peace. Instead, I will follow Yahiko's path of understanding and cooperation among individuals, which holds the promise of true peace. If the Sage of the Six Paths indeed had a plan, he should have enacted it himself," Nagato proclaimed firmly, aligning himself with Yahiko's ideals and dismissing the notion of joining forces with Madara.

Madara remained undeterred as he anticipated Nagato's decision to follow Yahiko. However, he was also aware that Hanzo and the Mist ninja were on their way. Despite this, Madara decided to persist with his plan and addressed them, "As the reincarnation of the Sage, I will honor your wishes. However, if you ever find that your path to peace fails, remember that I'll be here, ready to assist you."

As he began to vanish into a spiraling vortex, Madara issued a warning, "On your journey towards peace, you will encounter those who refuse to understand and those who resort to violence without seeking understanding." With that, Madara disappeared entirely.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan remained vigilant until Nagato confirmed, "He's gone. I cannot sense his presence or any spatial disturbances." Yahiko nodded and expressed his gratitude, "Nagato, thank you for standing up for my dream and not joining him. We may not know who he truly is, but he poses a great threat. His idea of peace seems to involve violence, so we should avoid him if possible."

Before anyone could respond, another member of the Akatsuki rushed in, notifying them of Hanzo's approach with a large group of ninjas. They mentioned the presence of Mist ninja accompanying him. The three leaders exchanged glances, reaching a mutual understanding.

Yahiko, taking the lead, stated firmly, "I don't know why Hanzo is here with the Mist ninja, but this is our chance to communicate our goals and bring peace to this country and the world." Konan and Nagato mirrored his determination as they headed towards the exit to intercept Hanzo.

However, on their way, Konan couldn't shake the feeling that this situation might be related to Madara. She dismissed the idea on the grounds that Hanzo would consider Madara an even greater threat than the Akatsuki. Little did they know, they were all merely pawns in Madara's grand scheme, just like Hanzo and the Mist and Rain ninja. The results of the meeting of Hanzo and the Akatsuki were already set and once they come out the ninja world will change forever.