The Third Kazekage's Disappearance

In the spring of Konoha Year 47, little warmth arrived. Instead, conflicts along the border showed signs of escalating. Kyohaku Uchiha moved like a silent ghost through the dangerous zones where the Land of Fire met its neighboring countries. He used missions as whetstones to continuously hone his skills while quietly gathering the "resources" he needed. His reputation had not spread far, but scattered rumors had already emerged in the areas where he operated, describing a pale-faced Konoha medical ninja with bizarre techniques and terrifyingly high efficiency.

During a brief break between missions, the team resupplied and rested at a border outpost. Making use of the rare downtime, Kyohaku sat quietly in a corner of the outpost, reading a set of research notes on abnormal hyperplasia in chakra pathways—material he had taken from Orochimaru's laboratory.

Suddenly, a hurried set of footsteps sounded. Kyohaku looked up and saw an unexpected figure—his uncle, Shota Uchiha.

Shota Uchiha wore the uniform of the Konoha Military Police Force. His face bore the dust and fatigue of long travel, but his gaze was sharper and more solemn than before. He had clearly learned the location of Kyohaku's team through certain channels and come specifically to find him.

"Uncle?" Kyohaku closed the scroll and rose to his feet. He did not have a bad impression of this uncle; at the very least, Shota had always maintained a veneer of concern for him.

"Kyohaku." Shota Uchiha nodded, his gaze swiftly sweeping over Kyohaku. It lingered for a moment on his steady legs and unusually pale skin. A complicated emotion flashed through Shota's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by a more urgent matter. "I'll keep this short. I came to inspect the border defenses, and I also wanted to tell you that the atmosphere in the village is growing increasingly tense. You're carrying out missions outside, so you must be doubly careful."

His tone was grave, carrying the oppressive weight of a coming storm.

"Did something happen?" Kyohaku keenly sensed that Shota's gravity did not stem solely from the usual border tensions.

Shota Uchiha took a deep breath and lowered his voice. Even within the relatively secure outpost, he appeared exceptionally cautious. "Two days ago, news came from the Land of Wind. It hasn't been fully confirmed yet, but I'm afraid... it's almost certainly true."

He paused, then said each word distinctly. "Sunagakure's Third Kazekage... has mysteriously disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Kyohaku's pupils narrowed slightly, and a crack appeared in his usual calm expression. This news was like a key, instantly unlocking a crucial piece of intelligence buried deep within his memories of his previous life!

"Yes." Shota nodded with a grim expression. "Apparently, after an utterly routine border patrol mission, he never returned to the village. No one has seen him alive or found his body. Sunagakure is already in complete chaos, and they can't suppress the news at all."

A simple patrol mission... the strongest Kazekage... mysteriously vanished...

Every clue perfectly matched the memories in his mind!

"How has Sunagakure reacted?" Kyohaku's voice remained steady, but turmoil had already risen within him.

"How else could they react?" Shota sneered, with a trace of disdain for the neighboring village's chaos, though far more of it was deep concern. "First, they began a frenzied internal search and started suspecting one another. Now... voices have begun accusing Konoha, or other major nations, of making a move in secret. After all, who could make a 'strongest Kazekage' disappear without a trace? This is practically an excuse for war!"

Shota Uchiha's concern was plain to see. "Right now, the slightest disturbance at the border could ignite a major war. Since you're active around here, you must be especially wary of Sunagakure's ninja. They're like a swarm of hornets whose nest has been kicked over—they could go mad at any moment."

After giving Kyohaku a few more reminders to stay safe, Shota hurried off. He still had demanding patrol duties to attend to.

After seeing his uncle off, Kyohaku stood alone where he was. He appeared expressionless, but his thoughts were racing.

The Third Kazekage has disappeared!

This was no accident. This was the opening act! The decisive fuse that would ignite the full-scale outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War!

According to his memories of his previous life, Sunagakure would direct its fury over the Kazekage's disappearance at Konoha and formally launch a war soon afterward. Then Iwagakure and Kumogakure would become involved in turn, and the entire Shinobi World would be plunged into a sea of blood.

A sense of urgency washed over him like an icy tide. He had originally thought he still had time to make calm preparations and accumulate strength, but this sudden upheaval had disrupted his plans.

His "Completion Plan" had only just begun. He had merely fused with White Zetsu Cells and obtained Uzumaki Clan blood. There were still many crucial Kekkei Genkai he needed to plan for, such as Shikotsumyaku and the Byakugan. His own strength was also nowhere near enough for him to protect himself with ease in a war of this scale, much less seize benefits from it.

War meant chaos, but it also meant opportunity. Large numbers of ninja with Kekkei Genkai would take to the battlefield, making it possible for him to obtain samples. Yet war also meant an extremely high death rate, especially for a lone wolf like him, without a powerful backer and forced to act alone.

He had to speed up! Before all-out war erupted, he had to increase his strength as much as possible and make arrangements in advance, securing more initiative for himself amid the chaos.

He walked to the outpost's observation slit and looked toward the dim yellow horizon in the direction of the Land of Wind. His gaze became incomparably deep.

The illusion of peace had been completely torn apart.

The battlefield of carnage was about to fully open.

He clenched the several vials of Uzumaki Clan blood in his pocket. The cold test tubes seemed to carry a trace of scorching heat.

"Faster..." he murmured, his voice scattering into the biting wind at the border.

The road ahead would place every step upon a blade's edge.