The other major ninja villages all set aside their business, packed up, and headed for the neutral Land of Iron.
On paper, they were meeting to deal with the Akatsuki together. In reality, each had its own schemes, and hardly anyone genuinely wanted unity across the shinobi world.
First came Iwagakure.
In the Land of Earth, a large contingent of Iwagakure ninja raced along the road.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, floated in midair on a small stone platform made of earth. His eyes were half closed, and he looked as though he were resting, but his mind never stopped turning over schemes.
Kitsuchi, Kurotsuchi, and several senior Iwagakure officials accompanied him. They traveled in silence, none daring to interrupt the old man's thoughts.
Ōnoki barely worried about the Akatsuki wreaking havoc everywhere. His mind was occupied entirely by Iwagakure's secret underground artificial human project.
The people Deidara had sent back had secretly delivered word that Orochimaru had already created a replica Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The news had kept Ōnoki awake for days.
If Iwagakure could get its hands on that technology, its strength would surpass every other village within a few years.
Seeing his expression, Kitsuchi leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Teacher, are you still thinking about that business with Orochimaru?"
Ōnoki slowly opened his eyes, calculation filling his gaze. His aged voice rasped.
"How could I not?"
Listening beside them, Kurotsuchi looked a little worried.
"But Orochimaru's movements are unpredictable, his personality is downright bizarre, and he has ties to the Akatsuki. Why would he agree to work with us? That's a serious risk."
"Risk? What in the shinobi world doesn't involve risk?"
Ōnoki snorted.
"The Akatsuki causing trouble everywhere isn't necessarily a bad thing for us."
"When we reach the meeting in the Land of Iron, Iwagakure must