Uchiha Itachi was a consummate shinobi. Even in the face of such a sudden and chaotic development, he remained preternaturally calm.
The current situation was dire for the Leaf: a mysterious masked man of overwhelming power, an opportunistic Cloud squad lurking nearby, and a mission that had spiraled out of control.
His priority now shifted from capture to a strategic withdrawal.
Though "Lop Nur" wore a silver mask, the aura radiating from him was terrifying. It was a dense, suffocating pressure that made the surrounding ninja tremble, their breath hitching in their chests.
"Leaf, Cloud... leave this place."
"Haha! Now that's a joke worth a rhyme!"
Killer Bee spun his seven blades, transforming into a whirling gale of steel. Lop Nur met the assault with a single hand, his other palm clenching the air to erupt into a localized hurricane.
"Bee, stay sharp! This man is dangerous!"
Inside Bee's mindscape, even the Eight-Tails was on high alert. This masked stranger possessed a power that made the massive beast feel deeply unsettled.
"Quiet!"
Blade light flashed from all directions, a peak display of Bee's chaotic Kenjutsu. Yet, Lop Nur's fingers glowed with a sharp radiance.
Moving with a speed that surpassed Bee's, he used a single finger as a blade, parrying every strike with mathematical precision.
Though the exchange lasted but a moment, the swordplay and Taijutsu Lop Nur displayed were those of an unparalleled master. Itachi's Sharingan remained fixed on the man, memorizing every movement, trying to decipher his identity.
Meanwhile, Hagoromo Matou turned his gaze toward Itachi. His Six Paths staff crackled, sending a bolt of lightning surging toward the Uchiha.
Surprisingly, the Cloud chose this moment to strike at the Leaf. As Itachi dodged the bolt, his eyes caught a glimpse of a specific family crest etched into the base of Matou's staff.
So, it really is the Hagoromo clan...
Historically, they were a clan that had rivaled the Senju and Uchiha, only to be decimated shortly after the Leaf's founding.
The remnants had migrated north, but after the deaths of Ginkaku and Kinkaku, the lineage had effectively vanished.
While Matou had claimed the name, many doubted his pedigree—until now. The presence of the "Sword of Nunoboko" and that ancient crest confirmed the lineage.
The battle between Bee and Lop Nur was reaching a crescendo. Despite Bee's legendary skills, Lop Nur's "Single Finger Sword" technique was superior. Using a combination of Blade Dance and Holy Sword, he predicted and locked down Bee's offensive patterns.
The "blade flow" transformed into countless chakra needles that pierced Bee's body, sealing the majority of his chakra pathways and effectively ending the skirmish.
Lop Nur's dominance forced both villages into a stalemate. Seeing that he had successfully secured the Seven-Tails, Lop Nur wove a series of hand signs and vanished in a plume of smoke.
The Shadow's Deduction
"In this world, there is only one man capable of effortlessly sealing the Seven-Tails, suppressing an Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and forcing a Mangekyo-wielding Itachi into a state of wary dread," a cold voice spoke from the shadows.
Black Zetsu emerged from the ground. Though he hadn't seen the face behind the mask, he had already deduced the stranger's identity.
"Who?" White Zetsu asked.
"Who in the current shinobi world has that kind of power?"
"Six Paths Pain...? No, wait... is it the Fifth Kazekage?"
White Zetsu pondered for a moment before finally remembering Shiraishi. The Kazekage had spent recent years quietly developing the Land of Wind's internal affairs, and while he rarely took to the field, the world had not forgotten his terrifying capabilities.
Compensation and Conspiracies
In a small town north of the Land of Fire, Leaf medical ninja were working frantically. "Lop Nur's" injuries were severe; the "accidental" blast of superheated fire had left his body charred. The medical staff had been forced to wrap him from head to toe in thick bandages.
"Asuma, do you think Lord Lop Nur will be alright?" Kurenai asked softly. While Asuma disliked the man, Kurenai found the nobleman somewhat charming in an eccentric way. The failure of the mission weighed heavily on her.
"Trust the medical team..." Asuma replied. He personally didn't care if Lop Nur lived or died, but he kept his tone neutral for Kurenai's sake.
After hours of treatment, Lop Nur was declared out of danger, though a full recovery would take time. For the foreseeable future, he would have to live as a "mummy."
"Am I disfigured?"
The moment he woke, Lop Nur turned to Kakashi. "Your ninja used a weapon of mass destruction that nearly crippled me and destroyed my entire caravan. I wonder how the Leaf intends to respond to this?"
Facing the accusation, Kakashi wiped sweat from his brow. "Shikaku Nara, the Jonin Commander, will be here in a few hours to handle the negotiations."
The destruction of the caravan and the "disfigurement" of a high-profile client put the Leaf in an extremely awkward position.
The Daimyo's office had already sent word, expressing deep concern over the Leaf's ability to guarantee the safety of its diplomatic guests.
The Coup in the Waterfall
Inside the Hidden Waterfall Village, the struggle between Shibuki and Suien had reached a boiling point. The two brothers had split the village in half, leading to a state of constant civil war.
Shibuki was backed by the Leaf, while Suien was supported by the Cloud. The Stone watched from the sidelines.
Though it was a minor village, the concentration of foreign interference made it a powder keg.
While Suien held the upper hand, Shibuki's possession of the Hero's Water acted as a final deterrent, maintaining a fragile, bloody balance.
Suien was a man in his thirties who frequently conspired with the Cloud to seize the leadership. However, few knew that he had another, far more powerful backer.
"Your progress is too slow."
In Suien's secret chamber, Lop Nur—now wearing the Akatsuki cloak—spoke with a slow, deliberate cadence. Sweat poured down Suien's face, his skin turning pale. "My apologies... I have failed your expectations, My Lord."
Lop Nur ignored the apology. "The only thing you fear is Shibuki and the Hero's Water."
"Yes..."
Lop Nur stepped forward toward the trembling Suien. "In that case, I will release the Seven-Tails directly into the Hidden Waterfall tomorrow.
Once it has forced Shibuki to exhaust the Hero's Water, you will emerge as the village hero. You will defeat the beast and seal it within yourself."
"What?"
Suien looked up in shock, only to find himself staring into a pair of hypnotic, crimson Mangekyo Sharingan eyes. Under that blood-red gaze, Suien understood the truth:
Becoming a Jinchuriki would only make it easier for this "Lord" to control him.
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