Three factions

The Land of Fields bordered the northern reaches of the Land of Fire and was the birthplace of Otogakure. In recent years, as the Sound Ninja declined, it had faded from the shinobi world's attention.

An insignificant little country instead became fertile soil for the flowers of evil to take root.

Deep within a dense forest surrounded by wetlands and swamps stood a secret fortress, its entrance leading underground.

The walls were old and weathered, clearly showing their age. Serpent-shaped candleholders stood symmetrically along both sides of the corridor. Their light reached only five paces, with a pair placed every thirty. Light and darkness intermingled, lending every corner an eerie air.

The corridors twisted into a labyrinth riddled with hidden mechanisms and traps. Those who recklessly ventured inside often never returned.

The labyrinth led to the deepest reaches of the Underground Fortress, where the vast Human Experimentation Facility lay.

The experimental chamber was spacious, yet its dim colors made it feel cramped.

In transparent glass vessels arranged along all four sides, specimens of every description floated in solution: humans, snakes, half-human, half-snake creatures, and all manner of malformed beings.

Rustle! Scrape!

A man stood hunched over an operating table, absorbed in his work.

A dark coat enveloped his back, and a hood concealed his head.

Hiss, hiss, hiss... Yet two white snakes extending from beneath his robes flicked their tongues behind him!

"Heh heh heh, the world outside is getting livelier by the day..." His sinister laughter sounded especially chilling in the quiet air.

Well, that was hardly surprising. After spending so long in the darkness, talking to oneself was a reasonable pastime.

"That Naruto not only defeated your capable subordinates, he also took the eyes that should have belonged to you."

"Those eyes are crucial to your future plans, aren't they? That's why you're afraid to act, terrified of losing everything."

"I know you originally intended to ignite a war at the Five Kage Summit, didn't you?"

"Rather than lurking in the shadows any longer, you would openly seize the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails with all the power you've amassed!"

"A perfectly sensible strategy, efficient and direct!"

"I even prepared a 'surprise' for that moment."

Swish! As he spoke, his slit pupils flashed briefly toward a coffin in the corner!

"But since you've changed your plans, I can't reveal my 'trump card' too soon, either."

He withdrew his gaze and shook his head. "What a shame. I really wanted to see that ridiculous expression beneath your mask..."

"But at this point, that hardly matters. Come to think of it, the war never had anything to do with me. My only goal was to take 'Sasuke' back from you."

"Rather than that roundabout, unpredictable method of cooperating with you, I've found a more suitable 'bait' for Sasuke. Yes, for the sake of revenge, Sasuke will come for Danzo sooner or later..."

He lowered his gaze to the operating table before him. "Though it seems I may have gone a little overboard..."

On the operating table, Danzo had become a genuine monster!

The First Hokage's face covered his entire body!

Sharingan had been inserted into the eye sockets of every one of those faces!

"Heh heh heh..." Dangerous words accompanied his laughter. "No longer confined to a mere arm, I've implanted Uchiha Shin's rejection-resistant cells throughout Danzo's body to increase his tolerance for the First Hokage's cells!"

"Then, after negotiating with Shin, I obtained one hundred Uchiha Shin Clones and implanted all two hundred of their 'Mangekyō Sharingan,' mass-produced through cloning!"

"Besides, Danzo's new right eye is the surprise I reserved for you..."

"Heh heh heh heh heh...! Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

His hood rose, revealing Kabuto Yakushi's face as he threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Take all the revenge you want, Sasuke!! I'll make you taste an unprecedented 'defeat' at Danzo's hands! When your resolve is trampled and you're lost and bewildered, you'll seek even greater power! Naturally, just as you sought out Lord Orochimaru three years ago, you'll come to me!!"

"Then I, who have become Lord Orochimaru-no, who have surpassed Lord Orochimaru-will personally create someone who transcends the Uchiha legend! That's right, Sasuke. In my hands, you will ultimately surpass that legend, that Uchiha, Madara!!"

His laughter gradually subsided. Kabuto Yakushi pressed a finger against the bridge of his glasses, their lenses reflecting white light. Into the silence, he spoke his true purpose.

"Then I can prove to the world that my existence has meaning..."

Their individual obsessions and madness had not reached the quiet village in the rain.

Amegakure, the tower.

After receiving treatment, Konan's high fever had subsided, and she slept peacefully.

"Whew." Shizune composed herself and left the room.

Naruto smiled. "Thanks, Miss Shizune."

Shizune gave a slight nod, then said seriously, "Naruto, I have something to-"

Naruto cut in first. "Forgive me, but I can't tell you why I left the village."

"..." At those words, Shizune's expression darkened.

Naruto added, "All I can tell you is that I won't do anything to harm the village."

"Lady Tsunade has already woken up. After learning what happened in the village, she's been utterly overwhelmed! I don't understand. Why won't you discuss anything with us this time?? You know that no matter how headstrong you were before, Lady Tsunade always stood by you!!"

Shizune spoke urgently, watching Naruto's reaction closely. Unfortunately... she saw none of the emotion she had hoped for on his face.

There was only clarity and depth in Naruto's eyes as he calmly explained.

"This isn't something we can solve through discussion. Without absolutely convincing evidence, even if I gained the trust of a handful of people, I'd still face resistance at every turn..."

"Rather than have a whole group bear that pressure alongside me, it's more efficient to act alone."

"That's the conclusion I reached after careful consideration. Even if it isn't the most correct approach, at least it's the least costly..."

Naruto reached out and gripped Shizune's shoulder.

Swish!

With a flash of light, he brought Shizune to the woods outside Konoha and placed Tonton in her arms.

"..." Shizune looked bewildered. She truly couldn't understand Naruto anymore.

After a moment, she asked, "What exactly happened to you? Can you tell just me? I promise I won't tell anyone!"

Naruto smiled. "Miss Shizune, go home..."

"Sigh." Knowing further questions would get her nowhere, Shizune sighed softly and walked toward the village in the distance, holding Tonton.

Watching her retreating figure, Naruto said, "Oh, and tell Granny Tsunade something for me..."

Tap!

Shizune stopped.

A dark gleam flickered in Naruto's eyes. "Tell her that no matter what happens, I have no intention of letting Danzo return to Konoha alive. Tell her to prepare to reclaim the Hokage position!"

"..." Shizune had no answer. After a moment, she continued on her way.

Once Shizune was gone, Naruto slowly turned his gaze to the side and extended his palm.

Banshō Ten'in!

"Aaargh...!!!" The White Zetsu lurking in the shadows screamed as Naruto pulled him into his hand.

Naruto smiled faintly. "Well, what a coincidence. You lot really are everywhere!"

White Zetsu snapped angrily, "Why aren't you sleeping at this hour instead of flying all over the place?!!"

Naruto said, "I should be asking you that. But I have a quicker way..."

Crunch!!

Naruto clamped his hand around the White Zetsu's head. Light swirled through the Rinnegan in his left eye as he slowly closed it.

Human Path!

In mere seconds... Naruto read everything in White Zetsu's mind about the Akatsuki's plans!

"I see..." Naruto opened his eyes. "So that's what the Akatsuki plans to do next."

Whoosh!

He pulled his hand back, drawing a ball of white light from the top of White Zetsu's head.

The consequence of having one's mind read by the Human Path was the loss of one's soul!

"Then I'll need countermeasures of my own..."

Swish! Naruto's cloak billowed, and he vanished into the thin mist of dawn.