Land of Lightning, Kumogakure
Inside the Raikage's Office, Raikage A stood with his arms crossed, his imposing figure appearing particularly imposing in the large office chair. He stared at the scene in the Heavenly Screen where Momoshiki Otsutsuki invaded Konoha and captured Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a subtle, indescribable expression appearing on his rugged face.
"Tsk..." He stroked his chin, his tone tinged with displeasure and helplessness, "Why do I have this feeling that most of the powerful figures projected on this Heavenly Screen are from Konoha? And all those enemies are going to destroy Konoha?"
He turned to his secretary, Mabui, his brows furrowed. "Does our Kumogakure lack prestige? Why doesn't even a decent villain bother to visit us?"
Mabui adjusted her glasses and calmly analyzed, "Lord Raikage, perhaps it's because the Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki of Konoha are easier targets? After all, the Nine-Tails 'Chakra..."
The Raikage snorted coldly, interrupting her. "Hmph! Is the Eight-Tails really that bad? Its strength is no less than that of the Nine-Tails!"
Mabui sighed helplessly, "But the enemies projected on the Heavenly Screen seem to be targeting Konoha more... Perhaps it's because of Konoha's 'special nature'?"
Raikage scratched his head in frustration, then looked Rotation.
"Wait a minute—" He suddenly narrowed his eyes, pointing at a dark-skinned ninja in the image, "That person saving people... is that Darui?!"
Mabui examined it carefully and nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Lord Raikage."
The Raikage was silent for two seconds, then suddenly grinned. "Heh, looks like I'll be making him the Fifth Raikage in the future."
Mabui smiled slightly, "Although Lord Darui is lazy, his strength and judgment are excellent, making him a suitable candidate."
Raikage snorted, but his tone carried a hint of satisfaction. "That kid may always complain about being a pain, but he's actually reliable when it counts."
He paused, then stared thoughtfully at the scene of Konoha's destruction in the Heavenly Screen.
On the Training Ground, the members of Samui's team looked up at the Heavenly Screen, their expressions complex.
Omoi, chewing on a lollipop, said pessimistically, "It's all over... Even Konoha got beaten like that, aren't we going to be in even worse shape?"
Karui slapped him on the back of the head. "Shut up! How can Kumogakure ninja be cowardly before the battle even begins!"
Land of Earth, Iwagakure
Inside the Tsuchikage's Office, Ōnoki floated in mid-air, his hands behind his back, squinting as he watched the Ōtsutsuki trio wreak havoc on Konoha in the Heavenly Screen. A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashed across his wrinkled old face.
"Hmph... As expected, changing our attitude towards Konoha now was the right thing to do." He muttered to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips. "If there really are a lot of troubles in the future, it wouldn't be bad to let Konoha, the 'big fish,' shoulder the burden."
He stroked his beard, a shrewd glint in his eyes.
(Anyway, those guys love to show off, so let them fight those extraterrestrials. Iwagakure just needs to stay in the back...)
At this moment, Heavenly Screen scene changed, Kurotsuchi appeared in the rescue team. She used her superb Earth Release Ninjutsu to quickly evacuate civilians and directed the Iwagakure Ninja to set up temporary shelters.
Ōnoki raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly teasing. "Oh? The future Tsuchikage is that little girl Kurotsuchi?"
Huangtu stood aside, smiled honestly, and nodded in agreement. "Yes, father. It seems that Heitui has grown up well."
Ōnoki gave a soft hum, but a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
"It's not bad... but it's still far from perfect!" He was sharp-tongued, but his tone softened somewhat.
(At least... I can rest assured leaving the future of Iwagakure to her.)
Land of Earth, Iwagakure Training Ground
"Boom--!"
Kurotsuchi smashed the boulder in front of her with a powerful Rock Fist. Amidst the flying dust, she suddenly looked up and stared intently at the scene playing on the Heavenly Screen — Momoshiki Otsutsuki raised his hand and the earth trembled, crushing Konoha ninjas like ants.
"Hey... these guys are ridiculously strong, aren't they?!" She wiped the sweat from her forehead, her pupils slightly contracting.
But the next second, the scene changes—in the future, she is wearing Tsuchikage Robe, calmly directing the chaos, and the Oiwa formed by Earth Release: Earth Release and Rising Opening opens an escape route for the civilians.
"Huh?!" Kurotsuchi blinked, then suddenly grinned, "The future Tsuchikage... is me?!"
She put her hands on her hips, threw her head back, and laughed loudly, "It had to be me! The old man finally had good judgment!"
Southern Land of Fire, Desolate Valley
Sasori of the Red Sands's Hiruko Puppet stood silently on the rock wall, while Deidara sat cross-legged on a protruding boulder, looking up at Momoshiki Otsutsuki -shattering attack in the Heavenly Screen.
"Boom--!"
The moment the Tailed Beast Bomb exploded, a blazing white light engulfed the entire scene, and the shockwave even caused the robes of the two people far away in the valley to flutter.
"Mmm!!" Deidara jumped to his feet, his eyes gleaming with extreme excitement beneath his golden bangs. "This is art!! Art is—an explosion!!"
He raised his hands high, as if to embrace the aftershocks of destruction, and Clay Spiders wriggled excitedly in his palms.
"It's decided!!" He suddenly turned around and shouted to Sasori's Puppet, "Brother Sasori! Let's find a ninja village and do the same thing! Hmm!"
Hiruko's tail swayed slightly, and Sasori's deep, hoarse voice came from the Puppet: "... Idiot."
"Hey, don't be so cold!" Deidara pouted. "Look at those Ōtsutsuki to split with a casual wave of their hand, isn't that awesome! Yeah!"
Scorpion ignored him, simply gazing coldly at the Heavenly Screen.
However, when the scene switched to Kurotsuchi using Ninjutsu to rescue civilians, Deidara's expression instantly fell.
"Huh?! That girl Kurotsuchi from the future... actually became the Tsuchikage?!" He scratched his head in disgust. "The old man really has terrible taste in people! Hmm!"
Scorpion finally spoke, his tone sarcastic. "What, you care about that?"
"Huh?! Who cares!" Deidara exploded. "I just think—entrusting the future of Iwagakure to her is a recipe for disaster! Yeah!"
Scorpion snorted coldly, "Anyway, it's none of our business."
"Right!" Deidara quickly regained his excitement, pulling out a large lump of clay and kneading it wildly. "Instead of this, let's think about how to make our art even more stunning! Hmm!"
Sasori's Puppet eyes rolled, gazing thoughtfully at the figure of Momoshiki Otsutsuki in the Heavenly Screen.
(That kind of power... if it could be made into Puppet...)
Deidara scratched his golden bangs in frustration, and the Clay Bird wriggled impatiently between his fingers.
"Brother Sasori, how many days have we wasted?!" He kicked a piece of gravel away. "Orochimaru's subordinate— Kimimaro —is such a good hideer! Hmm!"
Hiruko's mechanical tail needle swayed slowly, and Sasori's gloomy voice came from inside the Puppet: "... Slippery as Orochimaru."
(This is indeed troublesome. After several days of tracking, every time they were about to lock onto the target, the other party would always disappear without a trace in various terrains. This feeling of being toyed with only intensified Scorpion's killing intent.)
The light from the Heavenly Screen shone on the two of them, illuminating Deidara's puffed-up face and the cold gleam of the scorpion Puppet's shell.
"This can't go on." Sasori's Puppet finger suddenly flicked out Chakra Threads, crushing a Clay Spider for scouting in the distance. "After the Heavenly Screen display finishes, we'll search for the final day."
"Give up for now if there are no leads." These words seemed to be squeezed out from between clenched teeth.
Deidara's eyes lit up, and he immediately perked up. "Great! Perfect, a place to test my new art! Hmm!" He excitedly patted the clay bag at his waist, "And while I'm at it, I'll replenish some clay—the volcanic ash clay I found in the Land of Rivers last time has amazing ductility! Hmm!"