Kumogakure's foreign affairs advisor, Betsuki, arrived at Iwagakure.
His gaze was filled with urgency.
Ever since Ryuuren, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, had been killed, Kumogakure had been secretly preparing for war. They were eager to avenge Ryuuren through war, weaken Konoha through war, and expand Kumogakure's living space.
After entering the Tsuchikage's office, Advisor Betsuki met the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
"Tsuchikage-sama, what are you still waiting for? Why haven't you declared war yet?"
Seeing that the Raikage had sent an advisor, Ōnoki rested his chin on his hands and said leisurely, "No rush. No rush. The shinobi world is like a pressure cooker right now. It will explode soon enough.
Konoha is strong. Stronger than we imagined.
Against a Konoha like that, we must prepare until there are no mistakes.
I'm waiting. Waiting for certain people."
Betsuki asked in confusion, "You're waiting for people? What people?"
Ōnoki smiled, his eyes cunning.
"The only thing that can defeat Konoha… is Konoha itself."
Betsuki grew even more confused.
"Could someone inside Konoha start a rebellion and plunge the village into chaos?"
"No, no. I'm not expecting chaos inside Konoha," Ōnoki said. "Stay in Iwagakure for a few days. Just wait here."
A few days later, Betsuki received notice from the Tsuchikage's assistant and left the Tsuchikage building together with Ōnoki.
As they walked, Betsuki realized that Iwagakure's Jinchūriki—Han and Roshi—were following behind Ōnoki.
The group arrived at a place far from Iwagakure.
The Land of Earth's plateau was filled with ravines, ridges, and valleys.
In one valley, Ōnoki waited patiently.
After a long while, the sound of Body Flicker cutting through the air rang out from above.
One figure after another appeared, each wearing a black cloak patterned with red clouds.
Betsuki swept his gaze across them.
Some he recognized.
Others, even as a Kumogakure advisor, he had no information on at all.
Anyone who could attend this kind of meeting was no simple person. Those unknown even to Kumogakure's intelligence network were likely terrifyingly strong.
Ōnoki glanced over them and asked, "Which of you is the leader?"
The Deva Path said, "I am the leader of Akatsuki. Pain."
Ōnoki stared at Pain's strange eyes.
The legendary Rinnegan.
"So this is the Akatsuki that was almost wiped out by Konoha's Danzo and Hanzo working together. I didn't expect you to gather so many members again.
As expected of the top mercenary organization that claims it can help the anti-Konoha alliance win the war.
Pain? You are Yahiko, Akatsuki's leader, aren't you?
But according to my intelligence, you didn't have the Rinnegan before. I wonder how your strength rose so dramatically, and why you now possess eyes said to surpass even the Sharingan."
Ōnoki then looked at the others.
"Konan, Akatsuki's female ninja.
Spiral Zetsu, Uchiha Madara's subordinate. You possess Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Obito, the missing Uchiha boy from Konoha.
Kakuzu, rogue ninja from Takigakure. A top-tier missing-nin rumored to possess immortality and eternal life.
And you are... Sasori? The grandson of Sunagakure's Advisor Chiyo?
Interesting. Your organization is very interesting."
Ōnoki's intelligence network was shockingly excellent. He had recognized every one of them. That, too, was a display of ability and power.
Most of Kakuzu's face was hidden behind his high collar, and no emotion could be read from his strange eyes.
Sasori stood at the back of the group, in an extremely foul mood.
Ōnoki had recognized him at a glance. If Ōnoki contacted Sunagakure, then the fact that he had become a rogue ninja would be exposed.
Both Akatsuki and Ōnoki gave Sasori an extremely dangerous feeling.
Deva Path Yahiko said, "Ōnoki, I have already shown Akatsuki's sincerity. Do you now believe that Akatsuki has the ability to help you defeat Konoha?"
Ōnoki thought for a moment, then nodded.
"The mysterious Rinnegan, Uchiha Madara's famous first enforcer Spiral Zetsu, and Kakuzu, who can be considered a first-rate wandering ninja outside the five great villages. I acknowledge your strength.
However, where is Sarutobi Kanosuke?
He is also one of Uchiha Madara's capable subordinates. In the Land of Grass, he slaughtered Konoha's Guardian Ninja until heads rolled everywhere.
I was looking forward to seeing him. I thought I would meet a little Sarutobi Hiruzen here."
A piercing voice came from behind Spiral Zetsu's mask.
"Sarutobi Kanosuke is not one of ours! We don't know who that person is. He acts under Madara-sama's name, but he has never come to meet us."
Ōnoki frowned, assuming Akatsuki was hiding a card from him.
But it didn't matter.
The strength Akatsuki had already revealed was enough for Ōnoki to take the organization seriously.
Deva Path Pain asked, "Ōnoki, since we are cooperating, reveal your strategy. Akatsuki will coordinate with your anti-Konoha alliance and weaken Konoha."
Iwagakure advisor Gendo signaled for an assistant to open a map.
Two assistants held the top edge of the map, letting the scroll hang naturally.
Many red arrows had been drawn across it.
Iwagakure advisor Gendo explained to everyone:
"The anti-Konoha alliance will attack Konoha and the Land of Fire from multiple directions.
Konoha occupies the richest central region of the shinobi continent. Hatred toward them comes from all sides, and so the attack will also unfold from all sides.
Kirigakure will attack the Land of Whirlpools. The force will be commanded by Yagura Karatachi, with the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, Six-Tails Jinchūriki, and Mist ninja as the main force.
Kumogakure will attack the Land of Hot Water. The force will be commanded by the Third Raikage's son, A, with the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and Cloud ninja as the main force.
Iwagakure will attack the Land of Grass. The force will be commanded by Lord Kitsuchi, with the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Five-Tails Jinchūriki, and Stone ninja as the main force.
Sunagakure will attack the Land of Rivers. The force will be commanded by Kazekage Rasa, with the One-Tail Shukaku and Sand ninja as the main force.
In addition to these four armies, Tsuchikage Ōnoki-sama and the Third Raikage-sama will form an elite force. They will depart from the Land of Iron and directly enter the Land of Fire's border.
The two lords will become the spearhead, forcing Konoha to send out its strongest warrior—Fox.
As long as the two lords hold Fox in place and prevent him from supporting the other battlefields, the Jinchūriki and main armies on those fronts will crush one quarter of Konoha's forces.
If Fox does not dare come to stop Ōnoki-sama and the Third Raikage, then the two lords will advance straight in and destroy Konoha Village directly.
Even during the era of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the combined strength of the four great villages would have given him a serious headache.
This time, the anti-Konoha alliance will wipe Konoha from the shinobi world completely!"
As they listened to Gendo's impassioned explanation, the Akatsuki members nodded repeatedly.
The anti-Konoha alliance had committed its full strength. In particular, the alliance between Ōnoki and the Raikage was something even a resurrected Uchiha Madara would have to take seriously.
Deva Path Pain said, "Your tactics are very good. But there is one flaw. A fatal flaw."
Gendo's eyes showed dissatisfaction.
What gave this corpse-pale freak the right to say their plan had a flaw?
But deep in Ōnoki's eyes, a hint of relief and anticipation flashed.
"Oh? What fatal flaw does our plan have?"
Deva Path Pain said, "Fox possesses Flying Thunder God. If he uses it to shuttle between different battlefields, how will you respond?"