The real Shinobi World...
The Heavenly Screen rays of sunlight faded outside the tower, and cold rain dripped down the windowsill.
Pain's Rinnegan reflected the final scene in the Heavenly Screen — the Five Kage lying in pools of blood, Edo Madara's figure gradually fading into the distance.
"It seems we underestimated the value of the Impure World Reincarnation." His voice was low and cold, devoid of any emotion.
Konan stood beside him, paper flowers spinning silently between her fingers, her gaze equally solemn.
"If that were the future... then Orochimaru holds the key."
Pain tilted his head slightly, the raindrops distorting in the ripples of his Rinnegan.
"Find him."
"No matter where he hides, he must obtain the technique for the Impure World Reincarnation."
Konan nodded gently, and the paper wings silently unfolded behind her.
"I will investigate personally."
"However..." Her eyes flickered slightly, "If we really cooperate with that 'Kabuto' in the future, does it mean..."
Pain remained silent for a moment, then left only one sentence:
"Strength is the only means to achieve peace."
In the dim cave, Obito's mask gleamed coldly in the faint Kakkō.
Black Zetsu emerged from the shadows, his hoarse voice tinged with amusement:
"Interesting... The Heavenly Screen say that Madara was Impure World Reincarnation."
Obito's fingers tapped lightly on the stone base, his Sharingan gleaming faintly behind the holes in his mask.
His voice carried a hint of sarcasm, "It seems that in the future, we'll be in a cooperative relationship with that guy."
Black Zetsu chuckled softly, like a viper flicking its tongue:
"Reincarnating a group of deceased powerful individuals to deal with the Five Great Shinobi Villages... is indeed a good idea."
Obito slowly stood up, the vortex of Kamui slightly twisting beside him.
"Send White Zetsu to find Orochimaru."
"He's already mastered the Impure World Reincarnation... so perhaps we can plan ahead."
Black Zetsu's figure slowly sank into the ground, leaving only a final whisper:
"Lord Madara's plan will eventually come to fruition..."
Inside the dimly lit underground laboratory, the eerie green culture tanks gleamed with a cold light, and various experimental remains were suspended in the liquid.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting the final image of the Heavenly Screen — the Five Kage's defeat, Edo Madara's arrogant departure. A slight, amused smile appeared on his lips.
"It seems my future self... accomplished something truly remarkable."
He turned and walked towards the experimental table, his fingers gently tracing the rows of scrolls, finally stopping at a file labeled "Research on Forbidden Techniques".
"Impure World Reincarnation..." he murmured, his eyes gleaming with longing.
The scene from the Heavenly Screen video reappeared in my mind—the scene where I was defeated by Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke working together.
"I see, so these segments are connected..."
He picked up a syringe and slowly injected some dark red liquid into the subject's spine. The subject convulsed violently, and strange Cursed Seal patterns appeared under the skin.
"Lord Orochimaru..." Kabuto's gaze drifted into the depths of the laboratory, Orochimaru's private area. "When will you teach me the Impure World Reincarnation?"
He looked away and continued his work, but his thoughts had already drifted away.
"If I could master that technique..."
"Perhaps, I should be the one to write the script for the future."
In the base, Danzo alone on a stone seat, the light from the Heavenly Screen illuminating his wrinkled face, casting a particularly deep shadow over his bandaged right eye.
He silently watched the Five Kage lying in pools of blood, and the figure of Edo Madara gradually receding into the distance.
"Madara Uchiha..." His voice was low and hoarse, like a curse squeezed from the depths of his throat. "This monster shouldn't even exist."
His fingers unconsciously traced the lines on his cane, his thoughts drifting back decades.
"That body... the teacher was clearly confirmed dead back then, but he mysteriously disappeared."
"Who... stole Madara's body?"
In the Heavenly Screen, the power of Edo Madara sent a chill down his spine. That overwhelming strength was enough to shatter the balance of the entire Shinobi World. But what unsettled him even more was—
"In the future... war broke out again."
His single eye narrowed slightly, his gaze sinister.
"Konoha needs me."
"No... I should say, only I can lead Konoha to true victory."
He slowly raised his left hand, his fingertips touching the bandage wrapped around his right eye, the icy touch of the Sharingan coming through the fabric.
"Kotoamatsukami..."
Faces flashed through his mind— Jiraiya, Tsunade, even... that Nine-Tails brat.
To whom should it be used to achieve the greatest effect?
A slight, sinister smile appeared on his lips.
"Power... I need more power."
"Whether it's the Sharingan, Wood Release... or even the Impure World Reincarnation."
"Any means necessary... are acceptable as long as Konoha can be protected."
Return from the mission
"Shikamaru, what do you think?" Asuma exhaled a smoke ring.
Shikamaru gazed up at the dissipating Heavenly Screen: "What a nuisance... an opponent of this caliber..." He suddenly looked at Choji, "Hey, share your bento with me."
"Eh? But... But..." Choji hugged the bento box tightly, looking at his friend's unusually serious expression, and still broke it open and handed it over.
Ino wiped her Kunai and muttered to herself, "Even the Five Kage... we Genin..."
"That's why we need to get stronger." Asuma stubbed out his cigarette. "Let's go. Double the training when we get back to the village."
On the streets of Konoha, the Sunagakure delegation, led by the Anbu, moved forward. Chiyo leaned on her cane, her steps steady, but a hint of solemnity lingered in the depths of her aged eyes.
"How ironic..." she murmured softly. "Just now, the future shown on the Heavenly Screen depicted our Kazekage being cleaved in two by Madara Uchiha, and now, we have to bow down to Konoha to redeem him."
Beside him, Sunagakure Sosuke Jonin's face was tense, his fingers unconsciously stroking his ninja tool pouch. "Chiyo, this negotiation..."
"I know," Chiyo interrupted coldly. "When the Third Kazekage disappeared, we didn't bow our heads; when the Fourth Kazekage was assassinated, we didn't bow our heads either. But this time is different— Gaara is still alive, and hundreds of Sand Ninja are still in Konoha's prison."
She looked up towards the Hokage Building, her eyes sharp. "What's more, the future projected on the Heavenly Screen... if war really breaks out, Sunagakure can no longer afford to be enemies with Konoha."
"Look! It's the people from Sunagakure!"
"They're the ones who killed three generations of officials!"
"Get out of Konoha!"
Angry villagers gathered on both sides of the street, some even throwing rotten vegetable leaves at the delegation. The Anbu quickly stepped forward to stop them, but their hostile gazes were still like knives piercing the Sunagakure members.
Sosuke whispered, "Chiyo, the situation is worse than we thought..."
Chiyo remained unfazed and continued walking. "The chain of hatred has always been like this."
"But that's precisely why we must end it."
Konoha Meeting Room...
Tsunade on the table, her gaze fixed intently on the Sunagakure delegation opposite her. Shizune stood beside her, holding a thick report of the damage.
"Elder Chiyo, your actions in Sunagakure this time have gone beyond the scope of 'provocation'." Tsunade's voice was cold and authoritative. "A surprise attack on the Chunin Ninja Exams, an assassination attempt on the Third Hokage, causing hundreds of Konoha Ninja and civilian casualties—how do you intend to explain all this?"
Chiyo slowly sat down, her aged fingers lightly tapping the table. "An explanation?" She sneered. "Lord Hokage of Konoha, you should know very well that Orochimaru was the mastermind behind this operation. We, the Sunagakure... were merely pawns being used."
"A pawn?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "A pawn wouldn't willingly send out hundreds of elite ninjas, much less let its Kazekage personally participate in the battle!"
Sosuke said in a deep voice, "There have been traitors within our Sunagakure. Orochimaru infiltrated the higher-ups, leading to these flawed decisions."
"A wrong decision?" Tsunade on the table. "The death of the Third Hokage cannot be dismissed with a simple 'mistake'!"
The air in the room froze instantly, and the Anbu Ninja's hand was already on the hilt of his sword.
Chiyo remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed. "Princess Tsunade, we didn't come here to shirk responsibility."
She slowly took out a scroll from her bosom and pushed it in front of Tsunade.
"Sunagakure is willing to compensate Konoha for all its losses and sign a new alliance treaty, on only one condition—the release of Gaara and our ninja."
Tsunade stared at the scroll, not taking it immediately.
"What makes you think Konoha would agree?"
Chiyo's eyes deepened. "Because you saw the future in the Heavenly Screen too."
An enemy like Madara Uchiha is not someone any single village can defeat alone.
"Sunagakure and Konoha... need each other."
Outside the conference room window, Jiraiya stood in the shadows, his gaze fixed on the Sunagakure delegation.
"What a troublesome situation..." He scratched his head. "But that old woman Chiyo is right."
His eyes sharpened.
"If the future truly unfolds as the Heavenly Screen foretells... the Shinobi World needs unity."