Chapter 70 - Movements of Various Parties
Land of Fire Border — Orochimaru's Base
Orochimaru sat alone in the dimly lit command tent, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows along the canvas walls. His golden, snake-like eyes scanned the parchment in his hands, his thin lips curling into a delighted smile.
"Kazane truly understands me well..."
The words slipped from his mouth in a near whisper, filled with amusement and anticipation.
The letter, delivered through summoning jutsu, detailed Kazane's decisive victory at Kohaku Village. Orochimaru had always been well aware of Kazane's extraordinary talent, but even he had not anticipated that the young swordsman's strength would continue to evolve at such a terrifying rate.
However, what pleased him most wasn't the victory itself—it was the gift that Kazane had prepared for him.
Sealed within a special barrier, Kazane had captured Taketori Souchou and Mizunoyuki Izumi, two shinobi with rare Kekkei Genkai. Their bloodlines, their abilities—they were treasures beyond measure to Orochimaru, a man obsessed with the mysteries of the shinobi body.
And to sweeten the deal even further, Kazane had arranged for Might Duy to personally deliver them to Orochimaru's base, ensuring their safe arrival by the next day. Afterward, Duy himself would remain under Orochimaru's command, free for the Sannin to use however he saw fit.
Might Duy…
A so-called "eternal Genin," but Kazane's letter suggested otherwise.
If Duy truly possessed the strength Kazane claimed, then the Hidden Rock's forces would soon learn to fear his name. Originally, Orochimaru had been forced to adopt a defensive stance against Iwagakure, but now…
Now, with a fighter of such caliber under his command, the tides could shift.
A counterattack was no longer a foolish notion—it was a tempting reality.
Just as Orochimaru's mind danced with possibilities, the tent flap was thrown open, and a breathless Jonin, Moonlight rushed inside, his expression brimming with excitement.
"Lord Orochimaru!" The Jonin's voice quivered with barely contained exhilaration. "A new intelligence report has just arrived from the village—Kazane led our forces to a decisive victory over the Fourth Mizukage!"
The report was thrust into Orochimaru's hands, but the Sannin merely chuckled, waving Kazane's letter in the air.
"Hmm, I was informed of this some time ago," he said with an air of nonchalance. "Kazane anticipated the outcome and sent word in advance."
Moonlight Jonin's eyes widened in admiration. "To think he had such foresight…!"
Orochimaru's fingers idly traced the edges of the letter, his smirk deepening. "Kazane has also sent Might Duy to assist us. He should arrive by tomorrow. And once he does…"
His golden eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "We'll be able to launch an offensive against the Iwa ninja. Simply defending is not my style."
The Jonin's excitement only grew. "With Might Duy, the Azure Fierce Tiger, on our side, we no longer need to fear the enemy jinchuriki!"
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, intrigued by the title. "Azure Fierce Tiger?"
"Ah…!" The Jonin hesitated for a moment before explaining. "The nickname is already spreading among the troops. After witnessing his performance against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the men felt that such a warrior deserved a fitting name."
Orochimaru chuckled, his voice smooth as silk. "How amusing. A man once ridiculed as the 'Eternal Genin' now commands such respect. How quickly the world changes."
Respect was fleeting, after all. Power was the only thing that mattered.
"Enough of this," Orochimaru continued, his amusement giving way to cold efficiency. "Summon Uchiha Syōma and the Jonin stationed here. It's time we discuss the next phase of our operations."
The Moonlight Jonin bowed. "Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"
With a quick turn, he exited the tent, his hurried steps fading into the distance.
Alone once more, Orochimaru leaned back in his chair, his fingers tenting before him. His mind churned with thoughts of Taketori Souchou and Mizunoyuki Izumi—two specimens that would soon be at his disposal.
What secrets lay within their blood?
What knowledge could he extract from their bodies?
The possibilities were endless, and Orochimaru reveled in them.
His lips curled into a serpentine smile.
Tomorrow would be an interesting day indeed.
---
Elsewhere – A Dimly Lit Cave
Deep within an underground cavern, nestled far from the ongoing chaos of war, an aged man sat motionless upon a stone throne. Tubes, thick and grotesque, extended from his frail body, pulsing with unnatural fluids that kept him tethered to life. His skeletal frame, wrapped in a loose, flowing robe, barely concealed the signs of time and the price of his forbidden experiments.
Despite his withered form, his presence radiated a suffocating pressure.
From beneath his long, silver-white hair, a pair of blood-red eyes gleamed ominously—eyes that had once commanded entire battlefields and struck terror into the hearts of even the strongest shinobi.
This man was none other than Uchiha Madara, the ghost of the past, the shadow of a forgotten era, the man whose very name was synonymous with war itself.
Standing before him, half-submerged in the darkness, was Black Zetsu—a strange, twisted being with an eerie, dual-toned face, its black and white halves contrasting like a fractured existence. This creature, far older than it appeared, had long since abandoned its guise as a mere servant. It was the orchestrator of countless schemes, the unseen hand that guided history toward its destined conclusion.
Madara's eyelids lifted slowly, his breath shallow but steady.
"Lord Madara, you're awake," Black Zetsu greeted, bowing deeply. His voice, slick and reverberating, carried a mixture of reverence and intrigue.
Madara exhaled, his voice hoarse yet commanding.
"How long has it been?" he asked, his gaze unfocused but sharp, like a sword that had not dulled despite centuries of wear.
"A year since your last awakening," Black Zetsu answered smoothly.
Madara shifted slightly, his fingers tightening around the armrest of his throne. The motion alone seemed to drain him.
"The war… what has become of it?"
Black Zetsu's lips curled, his tone laced with amusement.
"A new figure has emerged from Konoha," he began, pausing just enough to gauge Madara's reaction. "A boy named Hatake Kazane."
Madara's gaze darkened at the unfamiliar name.
"Hatake? One of Sakumo's spawn?" he muttered, recalling the famed White Fang of Konoha. "Why does his name matter?"
A slow grin crept across Black Zetsu's face.
"Because he is no mere child. He has already altered the tides of war, much like you did in your youth."
Madara's fingers twitched.
"Explain."
"Kazane killed Kitsuchi, one of Iwagakure's strongest commanders. That alone was a feat worthy of recognition. But the boy did not stop there. He single-handedly crushed the Mist's invasion force at Kohaku Village, forcing the Fourth Mizukage to surrender."
Madara's expression remained unreadable, but the flicker of interest in his gaze did not go unnoticed.
"Kitsuchi was fine," he acknowledged. "And the Mist… though fools, they are not weak. For a single shinobi to turn the tide of war at his age…"
His voice trailed off, lost in thought.
"Pathetic," he scoffed finally. "Three Great Nations, all undone by a mere child. The world has fallen into disgrace."
Black Zetsu chuckled, the sound slithering like a whisper against stone.
"Iwa and Mist have already conceded. Only the Cloud remains, but even they will soon buckle under Konoha's pressure. If this continues, Konoha will emerge stronger than ever before, with Hatake Kazane at its forefront."
Madara exhaled through his nose, unimpressed.
"And the Rinnegan?"
"They remain in Amegakure," Black Zetsu answered. "A new group called Akatsuki is forming around them, under the guise of peace. They believe they can end war without bloodshed."
A low, guttural laugh rumbled from Madara's throat.
"Fools," he said, his voice thick with disdain. "War is inevitable. It is the lifeblood of humanity."
Then, his gaze sharpened.
"My time is running short," he admitted, his voice a rare blend of frustration and finality. "Have you found a worthy successor?"
Black Zetsu's grin widened.
"Not yet. But there is an elite faction of the Uchiha Clan near Orochimaru's base. I will find the right heir soon."
Madara closed his eyes for a long moment, exhaustion seeping into his bones.
"Good," he murmured. "When I awaken next… make sure everything is in place."
Then, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, his body went still once more.
Black Zetsu bowed deeply before fading into the darkness.
---
Iwagakure – Village Office Building
Within the towering rock formations of Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Oonoki, sat behind his desk, his wrinkled face marred by deep lines of contemplation. Despite his small stature, the old man radiated authority—his very presence demanded respect.
Across from him stood Akatsuchi, his most trusted Jonin, his broad shoulders squared with concern.
"Lord Tsuchikage," Akatsuchi said carefully, his voice steady but wary. "With the defeat of the Mist, Konoha is now poised to win the war outright. What are our options?"
Oonoki remained silent, staring out the window at the towering cliffs that defined his village.
"The Leaf," he muttered at last, "has always produced a handful of geniuses every generation. But this time…"
He turned back to Akatsuchi, his gaze heavier than before.
"This time, they've created a monster."
Akatsuchi's brows furrowed.
"You're talking about Hatake Kazane, aren't you?"
Oonoki nodded grimly.
"Kazane's strength… it reminds me of someone I fought long ago. Someone whose power shook the very foundation of the shinobi world."
A silence stretched between them before Oonoki finally said it aloud:
"Uchiha Madara."
Akatsuchi stiffened.
"Lord Tsuchikage… surely you're not saying—?"
"I'm saying," Oonoki interrupted, his voice like stone grinding against stone, "that Konoha has given birth to another warrior of that caliber. And if we let him continue growing unchecked… we will never recover."
Akatsuchi shifted uneasily.
"But Lord Tsuchikage, how could a mere child—?"
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Oonoki snapped, his patience thinning. "Kitsuchi was one of our strongest warriors. Even among S-rank shinobi, few could defeat him in a fair fight. And yet, he died—not in battle, but in slaughter."
He shook his head, exhaling deeply.
"And now, Kazane has forced the Fourth Mizukage into submission. He is fighting entire nations on his own, and winning."
Akatsuchi swallowed hard.
"Then… what do we do?"
Oonoki's expression hardened.
"For now, we wait. We let Konoha exhaust itself against the Cloud. But we must be ready."
His voice darkened, his gaze piercing.
"If Kazane continues to rise, we will have no choice but to eliminate him."
A heavy silence followed.
Akatsuchi hesitated, then finally asked the unspoken question.
"And if we fail?"
Oonoki's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Then we pray… that Kazane does not turn his blade toward us next."