Baryon Mode

Once Ōnoki understood it all, the grief in his heart gave way to boundless rage!

"Damn Kumogakure! And that Nine Nether, always hiding in the shadows!" He slammed a hand against the rock beside him, shattering the solid stone!

"Akatsuchi!" Ōnoki barked.

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!" Akatsuchi hurried forward, tear tracks still wet on his face.

"Have you made any progress on the Nine Nether intelligence I asked you to gather?" Ōnoki's voice was icy.

Akatsuchi drew a deep breath. "Lord Tsuchikage, according to the latest report from our informants in Konoha, Nine Nether has joined forces with Orochimaru's remaining followers and a mysterious group of monsters called Naraka. They plotted a surprise attack on Konoha!"

"They attacked the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"What?!" Ōnoki's pupils contracted.

Akatsuchi continued grimly, "The Third Hokage was killed. Tsunade has now succeeded him as the Fifth Hokage."

The news struck Ōnoki like another crushing blow!

"Nine Nether has stopped hiding and begun attacking Konoha outright?!" Ōnoki's thoughts raced. "Are they trying to cut short the future Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki's path before he can grow into his power?! Just as they eliminated Deidara!"

A chill climbed his spine. The Nine Nether organization planned further ahead and acted more ruthlessly than he had ever imagined!

"Quick!" Unable to stay calm, Ōnoki turned to Akatsuchi. "Find a way to contact Deidara immediately! Tell him to leave the Akatsuki Organization and come back as soon as he possibly can!"

"Tell him Iwagakure needs him! A far greater conspiracy may be brewing in the Shinobi World! Tell him to be careful!"

He knew the "future" they had pieced together from the Canopy Screen might already have happened, and reaching out now might be futile.

But he could not stand by and do nothing! Even if there was only