A Killing Trap in the Land of Iron
Hokage Building, top-floor office.
The cold morning wind blew in through the broken French windows, stirring up a thin layer of lime powder on the ground.
"Bang!"
Naruto kicked open the half-closed mahogany double Opening Gate. Before he even entered the room, he had already flung out the five parchment scrolls in his hand, each bearing remnants of the seals of various great nations, which landed precisely on the large desk.
Tsunade was standing in front of the basin, splashing cold water on her face with both hands. Hearing the noise, she didn't even grab a towel, just shook the water off her hands and strode to the table. Her fingertips brushed along the edge of the parchment scroll, and when she saw the five national symbols branded on it, she suddenly stopped, and water dripped down her chin onto her clothes.
"So impatient already, huh?" Tsunade scoffed, grabbing a tissue to wipe her hands.
Shikamaru followed him in, panting, his hands on his knees, his chest heaving. He irritably grabbed a handful of his spiky ponytail, his eyes quickly scanning the five scrolls. "The Five Kage Alliance Ultimatum. Hidden Leaf's barrier is over 40% damaged, and their casualties haven't been replenished. Holding a meeting now clearly shows they've smelled blood and want to divide the spoils."
Naruto pulled out a chair, sat down with an air of authority, and crossed his legs, propping them up on the edge of the desk. He placed his hands behind his head, not even lifting his eyelids, and said, "Nen."
Shikamaru sighed resignedly, picked up the top scroll bearing the marks of lightning burns, and unrolled it.
"Document from the Land of Lightning: The Akatsuki has been rampant recently, causing heavy losses to the Hidden Cloud. To maintain peace in the Shinobi World, we propose holding Five Kage Summit. Furthermore, Hidden Leaf must not monopolize the power of the Tailed Beast. Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki attend and be questioned; otherwise, it will be considered a unilateral instigation of war."
"Heh." Naruto's lips curled into a mocking smile, a cold glint in his golden eyes. "Accept questioning? That bull of Fourth Raikage, he was beaten so badly by me in Lightning Cloud Gorge that he couldn't even maintain his Lightning Armor, and he signed a treaty overnight prohibiting the trading of Kekkei Genkai. Now, dragging along a few other old guys, he thinks he can stand up straight and speak?"
Shikamaru didn't respond, and quickly pulled out the second scroll.
"Land of Wind Documents: Hidden Sand will fully cooperate with Hidden Leaf in all its actions. Gaara."
It's very simple, just one sentence, but the meaning of taking sides couldn't be clearer.
Naruto snapped his fingers, "That guy's a good friend. When I go to the Land of Iron, I'll bring him a couple of bottles of good wine."
Shikamaru then unfolded the third scroll, its blue edges still damp with moisture. After glancing at the beginning, Shikamaru's eyebrows rose, and his tone became somewhat strange.
"Document from the Water Country: The Hidden Mist delegation has departed for the Land of Iron. The Water Country will absolutely ensure that the talks are not hijacked by any force. Furthermore... we look forward to another 'in-depth' exchange with the Uzumaki Clan. Terumi Mei."
The office fell silent for three seconds.
Tsunade crossed her arms, looking down at Naruto with a scrutinizing and amused gaze. "In-depth exchanges? The alliances the Uzumaki Clan been forging these past few days are certainly quite 'deep' in their efficiency."
Naruto turned his head away, avoiding Tsunade's gaze, touched the tip of his nose, and coughed lightly. "Adult matters are none of my business, kid. Shikamaru, continue reciting the Land of Earth."
"The Land of Earth's document is a bunch of nonsense, which can be summarized in eight words: 'Beware of Akatsuki, reshape the landscape.'" Shikamaru casually tossed the parchment scroll onto the table, his expression becoming more serious than ever before. "That old fox Ōnoki never suffers a loss. This meeting, ostensibly about dealing with Akatsuki, is actually about them being afraid of you."
Shikamaru walked to the map of the Shinobi World on the wall and tapped his finger heavily on the location of the Land of Iron: "You single-handedly suppressed the Six Paths of Pain, crippled Danzo, and now the Hyuga Clan has completely submitted to you. Although Hidden Leaf's strength has been damaged, its highest combat power has broken the balance of the Five Great Nations. They are going to expose you in the open and exert joint pressure on you."
"Pressuring?" Naruto lowered his legs, leaned forward, and braced his arms on the table. A massive amount of Yang Release Chakra roared within him, causing the teacups on the table to vibrate.
"Now that the table is set, how can we not eat our fill?" Naruto stared at the Land of Iron on the map, his voice low but filled with a chilling madness. "They want rules, don't they? This time, I'll teach them whose rules the new Shinobi World should follow."
As soon as he finished speaking, the office windows, which were tightly closed, opened automatically without any wind.
The countless white paper scraps gathered out of thin air, piecing together a tall, aloof figure in front of the French windows. Konan, stepping on paper wings, landed silently in the office. Her amber eyes swept over the scroll on the table before looking directly at Naruto.
"The Five Kage Summit will not be peaceful." Konan's voice was as cold as shattered ice.
Tsunade straightened up warily, and Shikamaru's hand instinctively reached for his ninja tool pouch. After all, the identity of this former core member of Akatsuki remained sensitive.
Naruto waved his hand, signaling the two to relax, and gestured with his chin toward Konan: "Be more specific."
"Nagato's Rinnegan has been taken, Obito's Chakra fluctuations are extremely unstable right now." Konan took two steps closer, and a piece of paper with a complex route map flew onto the table. "According to the intelligence that the remnants of Hidden Rain risked their lives to send back, Obito did not return to Turtle Island, but secretly transported a large amount of supplies and unidentified biological weapons to the north."
"From the Land of Iron." Konan looked up, staring intently at Naruto. "He knows you're going to the Five Kage Summit. A hundred thousand White Zetsu troops, plus the remains of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. It's a perfect, foolproof trap prepared just for you."
Ten thousand White Zetsu.
Upon hearing this number, Shikamaru gasped, his back instantly drenched in cold sweat. An army of 100,000, even if they were all cannon fodder, could overwhelm a great nation!
Tsunade slammed her hand on the table, making the scroll jump. "No! This is obviously a trap. You are Hidden Leaf's strongest fighter now; you absolutely cannot step into this minefield."
"If I don't go, Obito will just throw those 100,000 pieces of rotten wood into the streets of Hidden Leaf." Naruto stood up, grabbed the Uzumaki Clan's robe draped over the back of the chair, and casually put it on his shoulders.
Red flame patterns rolled along the hem of the robe, as if trying to burn through the solidified air.
He turned his head to look at Tsunade, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Old woman, you're in charge of protecting Hidden Leaf's resources. Shikamaru is responsible for coordinating all defensive barriers and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan sentries. Anyone who dares to take advantage of the situation at this time will be killed on the spot, no need to ask for permission."
Tsunade's lips moved, but she ultimately didn't utter any words of objection. Looking at the broad-shouldered young man before her, she seemed to see, in a daze, the First Hokage who had pacified the chaotic world years ago.
"Who are you taking with you?" Tsunade asked.
Naruto walked to the door and tapped twice on the door frame with his fingers.
From the shadows outside the door, a figure slowly emerged. Sasuke wore a high-necked black robe, with the Kusanagi Sword at his waist, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan emitted a cold, scarlet light in the dim corridor.
"I..." Sasuke said succinctly. He had just returned from the Old Naka Shrine, and the fire in his heart needed to be thoroughly settled with Obito, the culprit.
"With Kakashi-sensei along, and Karin in charge of wide-range sensory perception," Naruto turned to Konan. "You're in charge of the guidance, okay?"
Konan looked into Naruto's golden eyes, which showed no fear whatsoever, and nodded gently. "I will help you find Obito's true form."
"Set off."
Naruto Earth Flow the Hokage Building without the slightest hesitation.
The morning sun finally pierced through the clouds, shining on the streets of Hidden Leaf, which were under reconstruction. The expeditionary force of Team 7 quickly assembled under the Hokage Rock.
Just as Naruto was about to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to perform the first spatial jump.
Karin was standing to the side, pushed up her red-rimmed glasses and suddenly turned deathly pale. She clutched her chest, her knees buckled, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
"Karin!" Sasuke reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her steady.
"How... how is this possible..." Karin gasped for breath, her eyes wide with horror, her forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and her teeth chattering.
Naruto immediately stopped what he was doing, his brow furrowed. "What did you sense?"
Karin extended a trembling finger, pointing towards the Land of Iron in the far north. Her voice was sharp and distorted with extreme fear.
"Chakra... an immeasurable amount of Chakra's. Obito the Land of Land of Iron, an extremely ancient, violent, and massive Yin Release, imbued with the characteristics of the Uchiha bloodline, is awakening!"
Karin gripped Naruto's sleeve tightly, her nails digging almost into his flesh. "Naruto... the quality of that Chakra is ten times more terrifying than Nagato's! And... he's laughing! That Chakra source is laughing in our direction!"
Upon hearing this, the cold light in Naruto's eyes suddenly materialized.
Uchiha's nature is ten times more terrifying than Nagato's.
Obito, that spineless dog, could never possess Yin Release Chakra of this purity.
"So, an old acquaintance was Impure World Reincarnation and turned to death...?" Naruto sneered, and golden Pure Yang Chakra instantly left his body, transforming into a tangible wave of energy that melted the surrounding snow into white vapor.
He didn't back down an inch; instead, he cracked his knuckles.
"Interesting. Now that the gates of hell are open, I'll go and smash them to pieces, frame and all!"