For the past five years, the border between Kumogakure and Iwagakure had been like a taut bowstring, ready to snap at any moment. Competition over resources, territorial disputes, and repeated clashes had bred deep resentment between the two villages. Beneath the surface of their maintained peace, undercurrents had long been churning.
Obito hid in the shadows, coldly watching the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure. A sinister smile curled across his lips as ripples spread through the space behind him, and he vanished from where he stood.
The next second, he appeared beneath Amegakure's tower, which rose high into the clouds. At its summit, Pain sat like a statue upon the tongue of the enormous statue, his Rinnegan emitting an eerie glow.
Obito's appearance caused a faint disturbance in the air. Pain turned his head alertly and spoke first. "Why are you here, Uchiha Madara?"
"Sunagakure and Kirigakure have already gone to war with Konoha. The false peace between the Five Great Nations has crumbled in an instant." Obito spoke in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a successful scheme. "I intend to add more fuel to the fire."
Pain tilted his head slightly, his gaze probing. "It seems you want me to do something."
Obito nodded and said to Pain, "Akatsuki can send one or two people to create some chaos along the Kumogakure border. Given the years of friction between Kumogakure and Iwagakure, I doubt we'll need to do much else for them to start fighting."
Pain fell silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Then he said flatly, "Understood. You can leave if there's nothing else."
"Then I'll await your good news." With that, ripples appeared behind Obito once more, and he disappeared.
Under Pain's arrangements, Deidara and Sasori set out on their