In the dimly lit underground laboratory, the flickering candlelight cast Orochimaru's pale face, making him appear ghostly. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, the dark red liquid splattering onto the lab table with a corrosive hissing sound.
"Lord Orochimaru!" Kabuto Yakushi immediately stepped forward, his medical Chakra glowing. "Your body..."
"It's no use, Kabuto." Orochimaru looked at his sealed hands, the weakness in his body growing stronger. "This vessel... is decaying faster than expected." His golden snake eyes narrowed as he stared at the peeling skin on his arms. "At most... I can last three more days."
Kabuto's glasses reflected a cold light. "But Sasuke..."
"It's too late." Orochimaru clenched his fist tightly, a piece of rotting flesh falling from between his fingers. "Kimimaro and the others won't be able to succeed for at least two days, and the reincarnation ritual requires at least a week of preparation..." He suddenly coughed violently, his whole body hunching over. "Activate... the backup plan."
Kabuto quickly unfurled the scroll on the experimental table. "Currently, there are three suitable containers: Kekkei Genkai ninja from Kusagakure, a Genjutsu genius from Yugakure, and..." He paused, "... that child from the Land of Snow whom you specifically noted earlier."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile, "Heh... Kazahana Dōtō's 'masterpiece'?" He looked north. "Choose it. Perfect... to test the effects of the Land of Snow's research."
"But in that case," Kabuto adjusted his glasses, "Even if you successfully bring Sasuke, you'll need at least three years before you can reincarnate again..."
"Three years..." Orochimaru's snake-like eyes flashed with calculation, "Enough for that Uchiha seedling... to grow to its most beautiful state." He suddenly convulsed violently, his skin cracking in large areas, "Quick... go prepare!"
Kabuto quickly went to the wall and pressed the mechanism on it, and the entire laboratory began to sink. The Reincarnation Chamber, hidden at the bottom of the base, slowly rose up, with the stone coffin in the center engraved with forbidden runes.
With the roar of the mechanism in operation, the lid of the stone coffin slowly opened, revealing a silver-haired youth inside—the very War Weapon Kazahana Dōtō had modified years ago using people with the bloodline of the Ice Clan and secret techniques. Ice crystal-like patterns still remained on his skin.
Orochimaru greedily licked his lips. "Let's begin... after we get Sasuke..."
Land of Snow...
In the blizzard, the snake inside Kimimaro's clothes suddenly awoke and bit Kimimaro, causing Kimimaro to instantly crouch down in the snow.
"Kimimaro!" Sakon rushed forward in a panic.
"The plan... has changed." Kimimaro stood up, the bone spurs under his skin slowly retracting. "Lord Orochimaru can't wait any longer... He's already activated the backup container."
Tayuya's magic flute emitted a piercing shriek. "So, are we still going to capture that Uchiha kid?"
"Of course." A morbid loyalty flashed in Kimimaro's eyes. "Even if Lord Orochimaru doesn't need it now... we must prepare for three years from now." He looked towards the port. "Proceed according to the original plan, but remember—make sure to take him away intact."
The Sound Four disappeared into the snowstorm once more, while the Konoha villagers, completely unaware Earth Flow the hot spring inn...
On the other hand...
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade slammed a gold-embossed document heavily onto the table, causing ripples to spread across the surface of her teacup.
"The Five Kage Summit?" Utatane Koharu her reading glasses, asked. "How many years has it been since it was last held?"
Mitokado Homura stroked the flame pattern on the edge of the document. "This time the scale is probably even larger..."
Mei Terumi leaned against the window, her emerald eyes reflecting the cityscape of Konoha: "You've all seen the future in the Heavenly Screen. If we don't want it to actually happen, we won't be prepared..." As she turned, her red hair billowed like flames, "Now is the best time."
Shizune rushed in through the door. "The Raikage has replied, agreeing to hold talks in the Land of Iron." She unfurled the scroll, "But he's requesting an increase in the number of guards."
"As expected." Tsunade snorted. "That muscle-bound idiot never knew what it meant to be low-key."
"The Tsuchikage's reply was more interesting."
"The old man said, 'Since the Heavenly Screen have foretold that I will participate in the war, it wouldn't hurt to meet my allies beforehand.'"
Mei Terumi chuckled softly, "That's so typical of Ōnoki."
Sunagakure...
Amidst the swirling yellow sand, Chiyo Chiyo's Puppet "father" and "mother" were sparring. Gaara stood at the edge of the Training Ground, the Sand Eye hovering beside him.
"Teacher Baki is ready." Temari, holding the schedule. "However, the elders will object to your going."
Gaara's blue eyes gazed at the Heavenly Screen: "I must go." Grains of sand gathered and dispersed in his palm, "If the future truly unfolds as the Heavenly Screen foretells..."
Kankuro, adjusting the Black Ant mechanism of the new Puppet: "But your body has only just recovered..."
"It's alright. If the future is being projected onto the Heavenly Screen, I'll have to be present at this meeting anyway." Gaara's voice was soft yet firm.
Chiyo suddenly manipulated her Puppet to send the training target flying. "That brat looks a bit like Kazekage already." She retracted her Chakra Threads, "This time, I'll be coming too."
Kumogakure...
"Bang!"
The Raikage smashed the granite desk to pieces with his fist. "The Five Kage Summit? Just what I wanted!" His body crackled with lightning. "The content playing on the Heavenly Screen mostly features Konoha's missing-nin; perfect timing for a good chat!"
Mabui calmly tidied up the scattered documents. "According to the agreement, private fights are prohibited during the talks."
"Enough talk!" The Raikage ripped open his cloak. "Darui! Shi! Get ready to go!" His eyes gleamed with fighting spirit. "Let those Konoha cowards see what true power is!"
Iwagakure...
Floating in mid-air, Ōnoki looked at the blank Heavenly Screen and thought about the Five Kage vs. Madara episode that had aired a few days ago.
"Grandpa! It's time to go!" Kurotsuchi shouted from below.
"What's the rush?" Ōnoki descended slowly. "What's wrong with letting those young people wait for the old man?" He suddenly revealed a sly smile. "Why are you in such a hurry? What if we can't reach an agreement..."
Chitu scratched his head honestly. "But you are not fighting side by side with everyone in the sky..."
"Whether it's true or not, we don't know yet; if it's true, that's in the future!" Ōnoki suddenly accelerated towards the transport vehicle. "Now, of course, we must strive for the greatest benefit!"
The Land of Rain...
The raindrops, like needles, pierced the perpetually gloomy sky of Amegakure.
Pain stood atop the highest steel beam, raindrops forming eerie, suspended droplets around him. Konan's paper flowers miraculously remained intact amidst the storm.
"The latest intelligence indicates that the Land of Iron has completed the setup for the Five Kage Summit." Konan unfurled a scroll soaked with rainwater, yet the paper miraculously remained dry. "Mifune has mobilized five hundred samurai for defense."
Pain's Rinnegan shifted slightly, his gaze piercing through the rain to look into the distance. "Interesting..." He suddenly reached out and caught a raindrop. "The number of guards from Konoha and Kumogakure is twice the usual amount."
"Should we interfere with the Five Kage Summit?" Konan's paper wings gently unfurled.
"No need." Pain's voice seemed to come from the abyss. He clenched his fist, and the raindrop burst into mist in his palm. "Let them form an alliance... that way, the destruction will be more worthwhile."
In the underground cave, Obito's mask flickered in the candlelight. He looked at the latest intelligence sent by Zetsu.
"Lord Madara, do you need to disrupt this Five Kage Summit?" White Zetsu poked half his body out from the rock wall, his tone flippant.
"Foolish." Obito crushed the intelligence in his hand. "Wouldn't it be better to let them revel in their false unity?" He stood up, shadows twisting into grotesque shapes on the cave walls. "Despair tastes sweetest when they think they're safe."
Black Zetsu slowly rose from the ground. "The Three-Tails' revival will still take time, and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki remain unknown."
Obito's mask turned towards the depths of darkness. "Where was the Six-Tails Jinchuriki last seen?"
"A hot spring village on the border of the Land of Hot Water." Black Zetsu's voice was like the rustling of withered leaves, "But since that rampage three years ago, he has completely disappeared. Not even a trace of his Utakata Ninjutsu remains."
"I will continue to send more White Zetsu Clones to search hidden locations in various countries, "Black Zetsu said.