Ch. 281Bearing fruit
Hokage Madara used a covert operation to force the Land of Water's Daimyo into signing orders that brought him and Kirigakure into the Land of Fire's control. After learning that the Land of Water and the Land of Wind had both been dealt with, Orochimaru wondered what agreement bound Edo Madara to Hokage Madara.
- Kiyomori learned that all the ships along the Capital's shore had disappeared, then panicked as dense mist engulfed the Imperial City.
- Zabuza and Haku cornered Kiyomori and threatened him until he signed documents ending the conflict with Kirigakure, appointing them as his bodyguards, and ordering Kirigakure's forces to join Konoha in the Land of Fire.
- Zabuza and Haku forced Kiyomori to read the documents, and he realized that Hokage Madara had trapped him with no way to escape.
- Hokage Madara brought Kiyomori and the Land of Water's senior officials to the Land of Fire, while Kirigakure's army headed there as well.
- Yuanxin and Shinhiko praised Hokage Madara's actions, and Orochimaru received his message that the Land of Water and the Land of Wind had both been dealt with.
- Orochimaru wondered what agreement had made Edo Madara trust Hokage Madara so completely.