XXXXX-Ay's POV
Ay had seen a lot of stupid things in his lifetime. But this? This was a new level of stupidity.
A Kiri Jōnin lunged at him, attempting to skewer him with a Water Bullet. Pathetic. Ay sidestepped the slow-moving jutsu with ease, then drove his arm straight through the man's chest.
This was so stupid.
Did one of his fellow Kage actually authorize this? 35 Kiri Jōnin had infiltrated Kumogakure under the cover of darkness, attempting a coordinated attack on his village's core infrastructure. As if Kumo were a fool's village.
One of them had been spotted. The alarm had been raised. And now? They were dying.
"Seven," Bee called out, his voice carrying over the battlefield as he shattered a man's ribcage with a single Lariat.
Ay smirked. He was ahead.
"Nine," he countered, gripping a Jōnin by the head and ripping it clean off. The body slumped, lifeless. Without missing a beat, he hurled it at another Kiri shinobi, sending the man crashing to the ground in a heap of broken bones.
It was over in minutes.
The final enemy fell, his body twitching as Darui electrocuted him to death. Silence settled over the battlefield—but it was the wrong kind of silence.
Ay turned to his men, scanning the battlefield. They had won. But the Kiri cowards had made them bleed for it.
For every three Kiri nin they'd slaughtered, one of his own lay dead.
His fists clenched. Rage burned through him. A rage unlike anything he had ever felt before.
"Draft the letter to the Daimyō," he said, his voice like thunder. He wasn't even sure who he was speaking to. It didn't matter.
Kumo goes to war at sundown tomorrow.
Dusk was the earliest he could unleash Kumo's war machine on the Mist. They had been preparing for this, but not this fast. This was an acceleration.
And acceleration meant more blood. More of his people would die.
But so would theirs.
XXXXXX-Karin's POV
Her head ached.
It felt like she had used it to test the durability of a dozen frying pans.
Groaning, she tried lifting it from the pillow, but even that small effort sent a wave of pain through her skull. Where was she?
"…Good to see you awake, Karin."
A voice. One she didn't recognize.
And… Karin? Who was that?
A hand rested gently on her forehead, followed by something pressing against her lips. Instinct took over. She obediently parted them, allowing the liquid to trickle down her throat. Warmth spread through her body as the pain—pain she hadn't even noticed—began to fade. Her mind grew lighter with each sip.
She was Karin Uzumaki.
And that voice—she knew it. It was stronger now, more confident, but she could still recognize it.
"Cousin Nagato," she tried to say, only to choke on the water still flowing into her mouth. Laughter rang around her. Some of it splashed onto her, but before she could react, she felt a wave of chakra brush over her—and suddenly, she was dry again.
She opened her eyes.
Nagato's gaze met hers. Not through a puppet.
He stood above her, watching her with his own eyes, standing on his own power.
She wanted to memorize every detail. His red hair—so much like hers. She reached out, running her fingers through it. Silky. Smooth. Perfect. A part of her felt jealous.
She laughed. He laughed with her.
How ridiculous. To be jealous over something so simple.
But then she noticed it—his laughter.
Not strained. Not interrupted by coughs. Not short and raspy.
Deep. Full. Free.
It was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard.
And she would do anything—anything—to protect that sound.
"It worked," she murmured, hearing the smile in her own voice.
Nagato smiled back. His cheeks were full now. It suited him.
She had to remind herself that she hadn't known him her entire life. But it felt like she had.
He was family.
She hadn't been able to save her mother. But she had saved him.
"It worked," he agreed, his voice warm.
She didn't know what triggered it—the relief, the exhaustion, the joy—but suddenly, tears spilled down her face.
And then his arms were around her.
She sobbed, burying herself in his warmth—the warmth of family.
XXXXX-One Week Later – The Library
"What do you plan on doing next?"
Karin sat beside him in the library, watching as he flipped through an ancient Uzumaki barrier technique scroll. She had tried peeking at it earlier, only to realize it made no sense to her. For Nagato, though, it was light reading.
"A lot," he said simply, his tone calm, almost detached. "We will continue acquiring the remaining Tailed Beasts. The plan must move forward as scheduled. The war between Mist and Kumo will work to our advantage."
Akatsuki.
That's who he meant when he said we.
A collection of rogue ninja, each as powerful as Orochimaru.
"And how exactly is that going to work?" she asked, folding her arms.
"You really want to know?" He asked, pinning her to her seat with his gaze. There was something there. Something serious. Something foreboding. But Karin had never been praised for her caution.
"Yes," she said, lifting her chin. "I want to know."
"Then follow me," he said, standing up. "And don't say a word."
Nagato led her through a section of the building she had never found—not even after all her exploring.
She watched carefully as he dispelled genjutsu so subtle that only her Mind's Eye of the Kagura could detect them. Layer after layer.
Beyond the illusions, the path grew more bizarre. At one point, they had to walk with one foot up and a hand on their stomachs.
By the time they reached their destination, she had no idea where they were.
A massive cavern stretched before them, an underground chamber so vast it seemed unreal.
She almost gasped.
The chakra signatures below—monstrous.
Only Nagato's sheer overwhelming presence kept her from outright panicking.
He gestured for her to move forward, leading her to a vantage point overlooking the gathering.
At the center of the group, Deva Path Nagato stood at the head of the table, Konan at his right.
His voice cut through the cavern, leaving no room for argument.
"Tobi has engineered a war between Kumo and Kiri to keep both villages occupied and out of the way as we move for the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki," Deva stated.
The others nodded.
"And Zetsu?" Deva turned his gaze to a half-plant creature wearing the same Akatsuki cloak.
"I can't spy on the Kyūbi Jinchūriki while he remains in the Hidden Sand Village," Zetsu reported. "But before he entered, the word was that he was planning an attack on Konoha—with the Ichibi Jinchūriki in tow."
"That plays well into our hands, does it not?" a red-haired boy commented.
"It should." The shark-like man next to Sasuke's brother smirked. "Two fish, one spear, eh, Itachi-san?"
"Precisely," Itachi replied, his tone unreadable.
"Tobi is a good boy," the masked man said randomly.
The big blond one scoffed.
"I want in on the attack on Kumo," he declared. "That's all that matters to me."
A sharp silence followed.
"You must have misheard," Konan said, fixing him with an icy stare. "Because surely you don't think you have the final say on assignments."
Karin expected a fight—this was Akatsuki, after all. But there was no chaos. No explosions. Just sharp words, a brief standoff.
And then, shockingly, the blond one backed down.
"Yes, yes. Of course," he said quickly. "I just wanted to say that I would be very happy to be assigned there. No need to bring out the big guns again."
Karin blinked. Again?
She reached out and pinched Nagato.
He just smiled.
"That's Noel Yatsuki," he explained. "Mouthy little thing when he first joined. I sparred him seven times, healed him seven times, and beat him seven times again. He learned his place quickly."
She smirked. No wonder.
"Now, pay attention," Nagato said, eyes fixed below. "It's time to lay down the law."
The Deva path coughed, gathering the room's focus.
"The plan is simple," he stated. "Sasori, Noel, Tobi, and Zetsu will lead the assault on the Hidden Cloud and secure the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer Bee.
"As for the Kyūbi and his escort of Sannin—Itachi, Kisame, and Konan will handle that.
"I will personally deal with the Kazekage."
His tone was flat. Unbothered. Absolute.
And yet, every shinobi in the room nodded.
Karin let her senses expand, feeling their chakra.
They were satisfied.
Even Itachi—Sasuke-kun's psychopath brother—was content with his placement.
The meeting ended.
XXXXXXX-POV: Obito Uchiha – Four Weeks Earlier
"So, you are the one they call Madara, huh?"
Obito resisted the urge to reach out and crush Kabuto's skull like an overripe melon. The sheer audacity of this fool speaking to him in such a manner was almost laughable.
"Orochimaru's servant," he said, his tone edged with irritation. "Give me one good reason not to cleave your foolish head from that useless body of yours."
Kabuto remained unfazed. "The same thing I promised our monochromatic friend—an alliance. Join forces with my master, and we will deliver the remaining Jinchūriki to you."
Obito couldn't help himself—he laughed. A hollow, scornful sound. This was pathetic. Orochimaru had played this little game before, and it had led him nowhere.
"What use do I have for you and your so-called master?" he scoffed. "The Akatsuki is more than capable of acquiring the remaining Jinchūriki. If you've been keeping count, you'd know that only three remain beyond our grasp."
He watched Kabuto carefully, gauging his reaction. Part of him was mildly curious—what could this snake possibly offer that would entertain him before he decided to dispose of him?
Kabuto smiled. "The last three Jinchūriki are far more dangerous than the others. The Kazekage remains an enigma. The only things you know for certain are that he fought a fully transformed Four-Tails one-on-one and killed the Third Tsuchikage—all while sealing away reanimated copies of the Second Tsuchikage, the First Hokage, and the Second Hokage. To underestimate him would be a grave mistake.
Then there's Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Perhaps the strongest of them all. He has perfect symbiosis with his beast. Even if you sent three of your most powerful Akatsuki after him, they'd struggle to claim victory.
And finally, Uzumaki Naruto—the wild card. Not just because of his own strength, but because of those who protect him. If this came down to a fight between what remains of Akatsuki and the Legendary Sannin with Gaara, I doubt many would bet on your side."
For the first time, Obito did not laugh.
These were legitimate concerns, ones he had himself.
Itachi's loyalty was questionable at best. Nagato… he wasn't sure if he would be willing to do what was necessary when the time came. The Akatsuki had moved relatively unchallenged thus far, but these final battles would be different.
The Kazekage was an unforeseen complication. The One-Tails alone wasn't a major threat, but that bastard had stolen his left eye from Kakashi—as if robbing him of his kill wasn't enough! Now, his most dangerous jutsu had been compromised.
Would the Kazekage figure out how Kamui worked? Could he counter it in a one-on-one fight? Obito wasn't about to take that risk.
As if that wasn't enough, the bastard had somehow cut off Zetsu's access to the Hidden Sand Village, leaving them completely blind to his recent plans. And now, with the Sannin duo and the Nine-Tails in the picture, The Akatsuki was stumbling in the dark.
This was a problem.
Still, Obito remained cautious. "And what exactly do you and your master offer that makes this worth my time?"
Kabuto's smirk widened. "Edo Tensei."
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"You've seen how dangerous Danzō became with an imperfect version. We've perfected the technique."
That smug smile. That confidence. Kabuto knew that his bait was too enticing to ignore.
Obito exhaled, letting a brief silence linger before speaking.
"Very promising," he murmured. "Now, listen carefully, snake—Longing, rusted, furnace, daybreak, seventeen, benign, nine, homecoming, one."
The effect was instantaneous.
Kabuto went rigid, his smirk vanishing. By the time Obito finished the sequence, the would-be manipulator dropped to one knee.
"I am yours to command, my Lord," he intoned, voice void of its usual arrogance.
Perfect.
Obito smirked beneath his mask. He owed Sasori for that control code—a clever failsafe to override Kabuto's will. To think that Orochimaru had sent his precious pawn into enemy territory without securing him from outside influence.
That was the difference between arrogant Konoha prodigies and the rest of the shinobi world.
"Are you capable of executing Edo Tensei?" he asked, his voice measured.
"Yes, Master," Kabuto replied obediently.
"Good." Obito's grin widened beneath his mask as his sharingan menacingly spun. "Now, listen carefully… and do as I say."
Everything was falling into place.
XXXXXX-THE DISPUTED ISLANDS - UNRULY AY POV
Ay surveyed his men with pride. There were no more disputed islands after their latest push—this was now the Land of Lightning's territory. Like his father before him, he was leading Kumo to war, the tip of the spear against which no enemy could stand. He had already proven that by taking over the islands in record time.
They had landed their ships to reinforce the existing garrison, and from there, taking over Kiri's installations had been a simple task. The key was preventing the enemy from sending word back to their main forces—or at least, that's what they wanted Kiri to believe.
"Did it go according to plan?" he asked as Darui landed beside him.
Darui exhaled before answering. "Perfectly. We gave the Chūnin just enough leeway to pull off a daring escape. We made it hard, of course—had to sell the ruse—but there's little chance he won't make it back before his wounds become fatal. They'll hurt like hell, but they look worse than they really are."
Ay nodded. For such a quiet man, Darui had a sharp mind. That was why Ay trusted him more than anyone else. If it hadn't been for the mess with the Yotsuki boy, Darui would have been his guaranteed successor.
A shame. Kumogakure wasn't Konoha. They couldn't afford a Kage whose student had betrayed the village. That kind of weakness could not be tolerated—it would set a dangerous precedent. The stability and unity of Kumogakure was its greatest strength, and any threat to that had to be eradicated.
"So now we wait," Ay said. Darui nodded.
Ay turned and walked into the stronghold, which was rapidly being fortified. The goal was simple: force Kiri to commit their best to defending these islands. Make them believe he was preparing a full-scale invasion of their mainland. Then strike elsewhere.
A reckless leader would try to attack the Mist Village directly. Sure, Ay would win. But he'd have to drown in the bodies of his own shinobi to do it. A pyrrhic victory at best.
This plan was different.
Let Kiri believe he was committing to an expansion of Kumo's military might. Let them think he was preparing to march on their capital. Then let them hear that the Raikage himself was leading the charge.
If Mei Terumi, the new Mizukage, had even an ounce of intelligence, she would know that the only way to stop him would be to mobilize in person, bringing her strongest warriors with her. That was the real objective—draw them out, defeat them in neutral territory, and cripple Kiri's defenses before making a decisive move.
Simple. Efficient. Deadly.
Just the way he liked things.
It took sixteen hours for Kiri to take the bait.
Ay had gone to bed, ensuring he was well-rested for the fight to come. The sound of screams woke him.
Not just any screams. His men.
Ay steeled himself. Some of them would die today—there was no avoiding that. But if it meant saving thousands in the long run, it was a sacrifice worth making.
He stood, fastening his bracers. He considered putting on his cloak but decided against it. No point in ruining it in battle. Mabui would be proud of that decision.
He smirked. This feeling. It had been a long time.
The last man to make him feel this way? Minato Namikaze.
Ay walked out of his quarters and immediately noticed the unnatural mist drifting toward him. His lightning-enhanced senses processed everything at once—the slumped bodies of two Chūnin, their skin dry and lifeless.
His mind snapped to a conclusion.
Before the mist could reach him, Ay activated his Lightning Cloak and dove through the wall.
He landed on the grass, assessing the battlefield. His men were holding their ground, not caught completely by surprise.
Good.
A flash from the corner of his eye. Ay turned and cleaved through a stream of lava with a lightning-coated chop.
"Unruly Ay. You've truly lived up to your name," a sultry voice said.
Mei Terumi.
Her beauty was just as the reports had claimed—enough to make a man hesitate.
By her side stood a boy he didn't recognize. But he did recognize the twin Kiba Blades in his hands.
Ay grinned.
"A shame Kiri holds the Raijin no Ken and the Kiba blades," he said. "No village deserves those legendary weapons more than Kumo."
The boy scoffed. "Keep yapping, old man. I'll shut you up soon enough." He brandished the blades. "Remember the name—Mangetsu Hozuki."
Lightning arced toward Ay, but he stood his ground, letting the energy course through his body before channeling it into his Lightning Cloak. A neat trick he'd perfected with Bee.
Hozuki, huh?
He stored the information for later. The Hydrification Jutsu would come into play soon—if the boy was stupid enough to use it. Then again, Ay had seen plenty of stupid opponents in his lifetime.
Mei weaved hand seals and launched a wave of lava into the sky. Ay amped up his Lightning Cloak's defenses, letting the molten rock crash against him harmlessly.
Enough waiting.
He attacked.
Mangetsu tried to react, swinging his blade, but he was too slow. Ay stepped into his guard, shoulder-checking him backward.
Mangetsu stumbled.
Ay didn't give him a chance to recover. He grabbed the boy's shoulder, lifted him into the air, and slammed him into the ground in one fluid motion.
Mei tried to skewer him with a water spear—he ducked.
Lava orbs followed—he weaved between them.
She jumped back—he advanced.
Another shinobi emerged from his blind spot, wielding a chakra-infused sword. Ay caught the blade mid-swing, stopping it dead.
"You're out of your depth, kid," he muttered, but the boy only looked confused.
Damn. He was speaking too fast again.
Another boy attacked, wielding a massive hammer. Another Hozuki?
Ay sidestepped, grabbing the incoming axe mid-swing. He tightened his grip and wrenched it sideways. The boy stumbled.
Ay slammed his fist into the kid's stomach—bones cracked.
The other boy had retrieved his sword and launched chakra arrows.
Ay barely paid attention. His eyes were on Mei.
Shameful. Hiding behind children.
She formed a seal and launched a massive fireball.
Ay charged through it.
A lava ball met him on the other side—he powered through.
He reached Mei in an instant, grabbing her by the mouth before she could unleash her next technique.
Her fists, encased in stone, slammed into him—he ignored them.
Then—her body dissolved.
Lava burned his hands as the clone melted.
He grit his teeth, ignoring the pain. His real fight was just beginning.
Then—
"Raikage-sama!"
A new figure appeared, breathless.
"Word from the mainland—Akatsuki is attacking Kumo!"
The battlefield blurred. Each word struck like a hammer.
Akatsuki.
Bee.
There was no time.
He turned, ignoring the brats and their Mizukage.
A boy stepped in his way. Ay cleaved his head from his shoulders.
"Sound the retreat!" he roared. "To Bee!"
And then, he ran.
A/N; Yeah. This is a fine ending for the chapter for me. We see Ay's hotheadedness on display here. This is a terrible decision he's making from a tactical standpoint, but Bee is his one emotional weak point in the story. And yes, Tobi pulled the strings of the war and Mei to make sure Ay would be drawn out of the village for their attack. Considering Ay is the one person in the same speed range as Minato, he'd probably be the threat Obito would consider the most.