Blue skies and white clouds, green mountains and clear waters.
A breeze brushed through the treetops, carrying the fresh scent of vegetation from the distant mountains. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting shifting, dappled patches of light across the grass.
An lay leisurely on a lounge chair, his eyes lazily narrowed as he watched the clouds gather and scatter overhead. Every so often, he reached over to the low table beside him, picked up a piece of sliced fruit, and slowly chewed it, as though all that bloodshed belonged to a story from another world.
Not far away, Haku and Karin traded moves as they sparred with ninjutsu. Their short blades clashed with bright, ringing chimes, as pleasant as music that lulled one to sleep.
The ground beside him suddenly bulged, and Zetsu emerged from below.
"Lord An, there's new information from the Land of Fire."
"As expected, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire refuses to accept Konoha's fall. He's gathering Konoha's remnants and recruiting wandering ninja in large numbers, intending to retake the village."
"Hmph, I knew it. Unless I wipe out the Land of Fire, Konoha will never be truly destroyed."
"Looks like I'll have to visit the capital of the Land of Fire."
"Those rotten daimyo and nobles ought to experience the agony of losing their country, too."
An gently rocked his body as he lay on the lounge chair, casually deciding the fate of a great nation.
Zetsu was not surprised in the slightest. He continued his report. "We've also found a lead on that fellow called Jigen."
"I've had Obito and White Zetsu tail him in secret. Once they find his base, you can set out to deal with him, Lord An."
"Me?" An tilted his head, glanced at Zetsu, and curled