Faking Death to Escape, Kumogakure's Response

The night was deep, and an oppressive atmosphere filled the valley of Cloud-Thunder Gorge.

Chiyo Uchiha and Orochimaru had successfully dealt with Fuka, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. The mission had gone remarkably smoothly.

The two quietly withdrew from the depths of Cloud-Thunder Gorge and met up with Yakushi Nonō, who had been waiting outside the village.

"How did the mission go?"

Seeing the two return, Yakushi Nonō spoke with a trace of urgency in her voice.

Chiyo nodded.

"Everything went smoothly."

Orochimaru looked at Yakushi Nonō, then took a Scroll from his ninja tool pouch and tossed it to her.

"Lord Danzo has new orders. You no longer need to remain undercover in Kumogakure."

Yakushi Nonō caught the Scroll, her gaze tightening slightly as though she were hesitant.

She looked up at Chiyo and Orochimaru.

Her lips moved, but she said nothing.

Chiyo keenly sensed her hesitation and raised a brow slightly.

Why would she hesitate about leaving Kumogakure...

Does she think she's Yu Zecheng and enjoys working undercover?

"Nonō, is there a problem?"

Yakushi Nonō fell silent for a moment before finally sighing.

"Chiyo-kun, Lord Orochimaru, actually... there are some things I want to tell you."

The corner of Orochimaru's mouth curled slightly in a cold smile. Clearly, he had noticed Yakushi Nonō's earlier expression.

"Oh? What is it?"

Yakushi Nonō lowered her head, her voice subdued.

"When I was undercover in Kumogakure, several children saved my life.

"I've always cared deeply about them. If I leave this time, I'm worried they'll be implicated because of me."

Chiyo frowned, already understanding her concern.

After all, the sudden disappearance of a ninja would be thoroughly investigated.

Once any clue surfaced and her identity as a spy was confirmed, those children naturally would not be spared.

He looked at Orochimaru, waiting for his response.

Orochimaru's gaze grew several degrees colder.

"Nonō, if you truly cared about those orphans, you should never have approached them.

"Now that you're leaving, Kumogakure's ninja will easily notice. Those orphans won't have a chance of surviving."

Yakushi Nonō's face instantly turned pale.

She gritted her teeth.

"I can't just leave like this."

Chiyo looked at the gentleness and determination in Yakushi Nonō's eyes.

Knowing she had already made up her mind, he fell into thought.

"Perhaps we can use the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's rampage to create a fake death for you."

Orochimaru's cold gaze swept toward him.

He was clearly signaling Chiyo to continue.

"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki rampaged today, so Kumogakure must have suffered casualties.

"We can create a fake death scene amid the chaos and make Kumogakure believe Nonō is dead.

"That way, they won't suspect her anymore."

A glimmer of hope flashed through Yakushi Nonō's eyes.

"Can it really be done?"

Chiyo smiled faintly.

"As long as we plan carefully, there's a high chance of success.

"Besides, this is currently the only way to protect those children."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment.

"Fine, we'll follow your plan.

"But we must act carefully. There can't be any mistakes."

Chiyo nodded and immediately began making detailed plans for the fake death...

The night grew deeper, and the valley of Cloud-Thunder Gorge was permeated by the smell of blood.

The Eight-Tails' rampage had clearly been violently suppressed, leaving it unnaturally quiet.

Kumogakure's ninja stood around the perimeter, having already sealed off the entire area.

At the intersection between the gorge and the village.

Chiyo, Orochimaru, and Yakushi Nonō arrived there.

They quietly approached a hidden cave in Kumogakure.

Chiyo's Sharingan flickered faintly in the darkness, catching every detail.

"How about this place?"

Chiyo asked quietly, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

Yakushi Nonō nodded.

"It's well-hidden, and it isn't far from where the children are.

"As long as we make it convincing enough, we should be able to fool them."

Orochimaru took a Scroll from his ninja tool pouch, quickly unfurled it, and gave a low shout.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

At his summons, a massive snake burst out from the ground.

From the huge snake's mouth came a Kumogakure ninja trapped in Genjutsu.

With a blade in hand, Orochimaru immediately began performing "plastic surgery" on the man's face.

Before long, the entire face was a bloody mess.

"Nonō, heal him!"

After finishing, Orochimaru turned his gaze toward Yakushi Nonō.

Yakushi Nonō quickly stepped forward. Green Chakra passed through her palm and rapidly repaired the wounds on his face.

Before long, the treatment was complete.

Chiyo looked at the ninja before him. Judging from the face alone, he now bore an eighty percent resemblance to Yakushi Nonō.

Then Orochimaru drove a Kunai into the ninja's chest.

A muffled grunt rang out.

The ninja, still immersed in Genjutsu, died on the spot.

Orochimaru raised his head, satisfaction flashing through his eyes.

"Let this prisoner take Nonō's place. If nothing goes wrong, the plan has succeeded."

Chiyo swept his gaze over the surroundings, confirming that no flaws had been left behind.

"It's time to withdraw."

Orochimaru nodded.

"This kind of death should be enough to fool Kumogakure."

The three swiftly left the scene and vanished into the night.

Thick clouds hung over Kumogakure, lightning flickering within them as though foretelling the arrival of a storm.

Inside the Raikage's office, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was nearly suffocating.

The Third Raikage stood before the window with his thick arms behind his back, his knuckles whitening from the force of his clenched fists.

His silhouette was like a volcano on the verge of erupting, radiating a terrifying pressure.

Had the Third Raikage not gone personally to forcibly suppress the unconscious rampaging Eight-Tails today, it might have charged into the village and caused massive destruction.

Knock, knock, knock!

Several Cloud Jonin entered the office, cold sweat sliding down their cheeks.

"Reporting to Lord Raikage, Fuka, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, has been confirmed dead. During the Eight-Tails' rampage, eight elite Jonin were killed. The Cloud-Thunder Gorge Training Ground was completely destroyed. The losses... are impossible to estimate."

The Third Raikage turned around, his face full of fury.

"...Do you know why the Tailed Beast suddenly rampaged?"

The reporting Cloud Jonin swallowed.

"At present... we have yet to determine the cause. The reason for the Eight-Tails' rampage is still under investigation, but Lord Fuka's condition had always been stable before this. Logically, it shouldn't have..."

BANG!!!

The Third Raikage smashed his fist onto the desk. The heavy solid-wood table shattered instantly, sending splinters flying everywhere.

"'Logically'?! Logically, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki shouldn't have died! Logically, Cloud shouldn't have lost so many elites! And what happened?!"

The entire office seemed to tremble from his roar, and the several Jonin became cautious even with their breathing.

Just then, the office door was pushed open, and a tall young ninja with a stern face walked in.

He was the youth who had previously severed the Eight-Tails.

"Father, things are probably not that simple."

The Third Raikage turned his sharp gaze toward him.

"What did you find?"

"Three days ago, I spoke with Fuka. His mental state was stable, and the Eight-Tails' seal showed no abnormalities.

"A sudden rampage could not possibly have been an accident."

The Third Raikage was silent for a moment, then narrowed his eyes.

"You mean... someone tampered with it?"

"The Eight-Tails rampaged too suddenly. At the same time, sensory ninja discovered suspicious Chakra traces.

"I suspect someone from another village infiltrated Cloud-Thunder Gorge and deliberately triggered the Eight-Tails' rampage."

A cold glint flickered in the Third Raikage's eyes.

"Which village dares lay hands on Cloud?!"

"The most likely suspect at present is Konoha."

A Cloud Jonin nearby froze.

"Konoha? But they're currently fighting Sunagakure and Amegakure. How could they have the strength to come to Cloud and cause trouble?"

"Precisely because they're fighting on the front lines, they need to weaken us even more.

"If Cloud joins the war, Konoha will face pressure on three fronts. They must want to eliminate this threat in advance."

The Third Raikage snorted.

"Pass down the order. Immediately investigate every suspicious person who has recently entered Cloud!

"Especially Medical Ninja, merchant caravans, and wandering ninja. Do not let a single one escape scrutiny!"

"Also, strengthen border patrols, especially in the direction near the Land of Fire.

"If Konoha truly did this, their people can't have gone far yet."

Killing intent blazed in the Third Raikage's eyes.

"If I find out who did this...

"I'll make him regret being born into this world!"