Opening

"The Kumogakure is finished just like that? That's unbelievable."

"It's over, Kumogakure is finished, and the Land of Land of Lightning is in complete chaos. Lord Tsuchikage, should we take action?"

"Taking advantage of someone's misfortune?"

Kitsuchi sat behind the table, looking at the elders seated on either side of him with a complicated expression.

Three days have passed since he received news of the destruction of Kumogakure. He hasn't slept well during these three days because of the events surrounding the incident. He has dark circles under his eyes and hasn't had time to shave.

"The Land of Lightning is currently embroiled in internal strife, so there's no need for us to intervene now. If we provoke the factions fighting amongst themselves to unite, we'll become a laughingstock. Besides, I'm more curious about what the Akatsuki Organization is trying to do with the Tailed Beast." Kitsuchi frowned. "Don't forget, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails have been stolen. This Akatsuki Organization makes me very uneasy!"

Since the death of the Third Tsuchikage, Kitsuchi hastily took over as the Fourth Tsuchikage, and the originally honest and simple man has been honed into a tough character.

He easily steered the conversation towards the area he was interested in.

The Akatsuki Organization was not unfamiliar to anyone present.

After all, not long ago, members of the Akatsuki Organization stormed into their Iwagakure, defeated the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, and captured him alive, giving the Stone Ninja a slap in the face. Now, just thinking about it makes their faces burn with pain.

"Lord Tsuchikage, what are your thoughts?"

An elder asked.

"Honestly, if Akatsuki Organization could destroy Kumogakure, they could probably destroy Iwagakure too. The key is that we only know their name; we have absolutely no idea what they're made of. The most terrifying enemies are those hidden in the shadows. I'm terrified that one day I'll wake up and find our village blown to pieces."

Kitsuchi spoke slowly, as if he was organizing his thoughts.

"My view is that we must eradicate this damned Akatsuki Organization at all costs. The system of one village per country must not be broken. We shouldn't just focus on the small benefits of Kumogakure. If we don't remove this cancer, we might one day end up like the Cloud Ninja."

"You mean contact Konoha?"

The one who spoke was the patriarch of a large family.

Upon hearing this, everyone else's expression changed. The relationship between Stone Ninja and Konoha was far from harmonious. The Third Tsuchikage was killed by Konoha's natural disaster fifteen years ago, and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki was taken from them. It could be said that their hatred ran deep.

Especially since the Third Tsuchikage was Kitsuchi's father, and his elder brother Kamizuru Otto, also died at the hands of Konoha Ninja, no one could let this grudge go unpunished.

"Our conflict with Konoha is one thing, but the village's interests are another. Besides, how many Konoha Ninja have we killed over the years? This world is one where people kill each other. I have never forgotten the hatred between my father and my elder brother, but everything must give way to the interests of the village."

Kitsuchi spoke with a resounding voice, his tone filled with determination.

"I don't care how much of a grudge any of you have against Konoha. What we need to deal with now is this damned Akatsuki Organization. We need to contact not only Konoha, but also Mist Ninja and Sunagakure. This is not a problem that any one organization can solve alone."

The envoys from Iwagakure split into three groups and headed towards Sunagakure, Konoha, and Mist Ninja.

Meanwhile, it wasn't just the Stone Ninja who were considering wiping out the Akatsuki Organization; the Suna and Mist Ninja were also preoccupied with their respective Tailed Beast. Moreover, the Akatsuki Organization's power in destroying Kumogakure was terrifying, and such a formidable force could not be allowed to continue growing unchecked.

In the forest fifty kilometers outside Konoha.

"What? Are you finally going to make a move against Konoha?" Hidan sat cross-legged on a large Taiseki, his three-section scythe resting flat on his knees.

"That's right, of the Nine Tailed Beasts, only the final Nine-Tails is missing."

Senju Zen stood on the grass, scrutinizing the crowd before him.

Uchiha Genso, Kisame Hoshigaki, Deidara, Kakuzu, Hidan —this is the core fighting force of the Akatsuki Organization. Zetsu has already gone to Konoha to gather intelligence, so he has not shown up.

"Do you have any strategy? Konoha isn't Cloud Ninja; it's not so easy to take it down," Kakuzu said, his voice deep and somber.

"Hey, there's no need for all that trouble. Just charge in! These so-called great ninja villages are all all show and no substance. They're nothing special." After Kumogakure was defeated by Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso, Hidan's confidence suddenly skyrocketed. He seemed poised to punch and kick the five Kage and send them flying in a heap.

"Idiot, shut up."

Kakuzu cursed irritably. If he could kill this idiot, he would have already torn this noisy guy to pieces.

This idiot really thinks the Cloud Ninja are weaklings. Doesn't he even know who attacked him? Kakuzu knows Kakuzu of Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso. He was defeated by those two back then, losing four of his five hearts. If he hadn't agreed to join Akatsuki Organization at the last moment, he would have really died.

"Huh? When did you, you money-grubber, become so timid?"

Seeing that Hidan and Kakuzu were about to start arguing again, Senju Zen glared.

"Shut up, all of you."

Under the gaze of the Rinnegan, Hidan snorted coldly, but still kept his mouth shut.

"Tell me the plan of action, Genso. Use your Ninjutsu to launch a long-range attack on Konoha, drawing out the natural disaster, and then we'll attack together," Senju Zen said slowly, his expression solemn. "The plan itself is not complicated, it could even be described as simple. Our target has always been the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

"Hmph! My goal is to destroy Konoha."

Uchiha Genso interjected, making no attempt to conceal the intense killing intent burning in his eyes.

"Once you get the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, you can raze Konoha to the ground if you want," Senju Zen replied calmly.

Uchiha Genso curled his lip, his killing intent vanished, and he squatted down under the tree roots, lit a cigarette, and took a couple of puffs.

"Any other questions?"

Senju Zen looked around at the others.

"No problem, as long as I can appreciate my art, that's fine with me." Deidara's lips curled into an innocent smile, like that of a naive young boy who knew nothing of the world.

"I'm fine, I can take action when the time is right."

Kisame Hoshigaki's answer was even more straightforward.

"Good!"

Senju Zen nodded and immediately said, "Genso, get up. Prepare for action. You'll need to make the first move."

"I see, I see. Brother Zen, you still love giving orders!" Uchiha Genso exhaled a smoke ring, his smile faint. "By the way, Brother Zen, are you really planning to use that thing?"

"Of course, this is also one of the methods I've prepared."

Amber Purifying Pot were prominently displayed next to the Senju Zen master.

(To be continued)