Konoha's reactions, part one

Kirigakure, the Mizukage's Office.

White Zetsu gesticulated wildly as he reported the battle: "The Allied Forces lost! Ten thousand troops were routed by the Six Paths of Pain! The Third Hokage died on the battlefield! Darui, Baki, Kitsuchi—three elite jōnin, and they didn't even last three seconds against Pain! You should've seen it. Tsk, tsk, what a slaughter!"

Obito said nothing. He sat by the window, looking out at the sea, his eye beneath the mask betraying no emotion.

Black Zetsu stood in the shadows, his voice sinister. "The Allied Forces lost, and Akatsuki won. Akatsuki's name will go from unknown to something that strikes terror into the Five Great Nations."

"But that also means everyone will be watching our efforts to collect the tailed beasts. Nagato has drawn far too much attention."

"Let him."

Obito spoke slowly, his voice utterly calm. "He wants this world to feel pain. This defeat is the perfect way to teach the Five Great Nations who they can provoke, and who they can't."

"The Third Hokage is dead... How will Konoha's new Hokage handle this? I'm rather looking forward to finding out."

Black Zetsu said nothing. His figure sank into the shadows in the corner, as though he had never been there.

Dawn had only just broken, and the morning mist at Konoha's entrance had yet to clear.

At the far end of the road, a group of figures staggered into view.

They stumbled and scrambled forward. Some had lost their forehead protectors, others their ninja tool pouches. Some had blood covering half their bodies, their tattered clothes hanging from them like ghosts that had crawled out of hell.

A guard raised his hand and gripped the kunai at his waist.

"Who goes there!"

As the figures drew closer, the guards finally saw