A few days later.
Inside the Hokage's office, the sky was as dark as iron. The snow and wind outside had only just let up, and sunlight slanted through the window, dispelling the chill in the air.
Uchiha Yoru sat quietly at his desk, his expression stern. His fingertips tapped the desktop in a steady rhythm, each beat producing a dull thud.
Suddenly, the door swung open. Nara Kashima strode in, brows knitted and eyes grave.
"Lord Hokage." He bowed, his voice low. "As for the campaign to wipe out Akatsuki, we now have full control over most of Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure."
He paused, his expression hesitant, as if weighing his words.
"But... there are still scattered forces resisting. The Land of Iron, for instance, refuses to submit."
At this, Uchiha Yoru raised an eyebrow. His gaze was cold as a blade of frost, but his tone remained as calm as still water.
"Obstinate nations don't need to be persuaded. Crush them directly—quickly and cleanly."
He paused, his eyes settling on Kashima. His voice was casual, yet carried an undeniable pressure.
"From now on, there's no need to report this kind of trivial matter to me. Understood?"
Nara Kashima's heart lurched. A cold sweat broke out, and he quickly bowed his head. "Understood, my lord."
Uchiha Yoru casually turned a page of the report, his voice utterly level.
"What have you found about the Six-Tails and Seven-Tails?"
Kashima's expression grew graver. He answered in a low voice, "We've thoroughly searched the areas where they were last seen, but..."
He lowered his head, his voice subdued. "We've made no real progress. Witnesses say the two Tailed Beasts suddenly vanished right before their eyes, as if some kind of power had... erased them outright."
The room fell silent.
Uchiha Yoru's fingertips