Kumogakure.
Inside the Raikage's office, the Fourth Raikage, A, was exercising his arm with a large iron dumbbell. The door was open.
Samui knocked once before entering, closing the door behind her.
Thump.
The door shut tight, leaving only three people in the room: A, Samui, and Mabui. The two women were practically his most trusted confidantes.
"Was the mission successful, Samui?" A asked.
Samui shook her head. "Lord Raikage, the situation is complex. We gathered more intelligence than we anticipated."
Seeing the usually composed Samui looking so serious, A put down the dumbbell.
"Tell me everything."
Bang!
A slammed his fist on the desk, his voice booming with excitement. "Is this information reliable!?"
Samui responded calmly, "Kawasaki told me himself. He said if we're interested, he's willing to discuss the details. The credibility is extremely high."
A stood up and began pacing the room. His thick fingers clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
"I never thought Uchiha Kawasaki had such ambition." He turned to his aide. "Mabui, what's your assessment of this Uchiha Kawasaki?"
Mabui picked up a file and flipped through a few pages. "Uchiha Kawasaki is no simple man. He began making a name for himself even before our peace talks with Konoha. After the Shisui incident, Fugaku unexpectedly appointed him as the clan's first-ever Vice-Patriarch. Since then, his influence has been visible in all of the Uchiha's major decisions."
"Unlike other Uchiha, he doesn't seem obsessed with power in Konoha. He voluntarily relinquished control of the Konoha Military Police Force, freeing the Uchiha clan from a difficult position. During our last operation, he defeated Killer B and won over the Hyuga clan, entrusting them with the authority the Uchiha once held."
"Following that, he focused on developing the restaurant industry. Now, Uchiha-owned establishments can be seen all over the Land of Rice Paddies. Konoha even has a dedicated food district, which has generated immense wealth for the Uchiha. Even the clan's civilians are incredibly affluent."
"In his political clashes with the Third Hokage, Kawasaki has consistently come out on top. Even when he's not present, the clan continues to implement his policies, effectively operating independently of Konoha's control."
"Based on his actions, he is a restless individual with incredible foresight. Though he hasn't militarily overpowered the Third Hokage, every move he makes strengthens the Uchiha while diminishing the prestige of the Hokage's faction. In conclusion, it is highly probable that Uchiha Kawasaki intends to establish his own independent power."
Mabui handed the compiled intelligence report to A, who read it from beginning to end. Combining it with the information Samui had brought back, he confirmed that Uchiha Kawasaki was indeed ambitious, and the current situation was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
As the nation closest to Kirigakure and possessing a large naval fleet, the Land of Lightning could potentially swallow the entire Land of Water if they could establish a foothold quickly. Konoha, currently preoccupied with the Uchiha, wouldn't dare to make a rash move. Iwagakure was too far away. If they could create a time gap, Kumogakure's chances of success were high.
There were risks, of course, but for Kumogakure, a village known for its martial prowess, this was an unprecedentedly favorable situation.
A had already made up his mind. He would act immediately. However, since the intelligence came from Kawasaki, he needed to consult with him first.
A's fist tightened. "Get Dodai in here at once."
Samui understood his decision, feeling a surge of excitement herself.
"Yes, sir."
...
Amegakure.
The sky remained overcast, the rain falling endlessly. Konan's paper wings carried her through the sky and into a tall tower, where Pain, controlled by Nagato, was waiting for her.
"Have you tested it?" Konan asked.
Pain nodded. "The medicine works. It can suppress the Rinnegan, but the risk is significant. I'm hesitant."
"Then let's wait. We can look for other solutions," Konan said. She was also against Nagato using the potion. While it had an eighty percent chance of success, failure would mean utter ruin. Nagato wasn't afraid of death, but he carried Yahiko's dream on his shoulders and couldn't afford any accidents. He hoped to find a safer method.
"Kawasaki provided a large amount of funding. I've already distributed some of it and converted the rest into supplies. But Obito has been avoiding us. I don't know how much stronger he's gotten," Konan said with a hint of worry.
"What's the situation within the organization?" Pain asked. He had been busy testing the items Kawasaki provided and hadn't paid much attention to the Akatsuki's affairs.
Konan replied, "Kakuzu is still working as a bounty hunter, currently active near the border of the Land of Fire. Unfortunately, his partner was killed again."
Pain's voice was cold. "He's always like that. Sooner or later, he'll get everyone in the organization killed." He paused. "We'll have to assign him a new partner."
Within the Akatsuki, Kakuzu was the most obsessed with money. Since being recruited by Nagato, he had managed most of their finances. Occasionally, when he needed a new heart and faced a powerful opponent, he would ask for the organization's help, but such instances were rare. In the early days of the Akatsuki, Kakuzu's accumulated wealth was a great help. The man was a miser who loved to save money and hated spending it, which was why he often used new members as cannon fodder, constantly cycling through fresh blood.
Konan shook her head. "The newcomers, Suigetsu Hozuki and Zabuza, won't leave Juzo Biwa's side. They're all from Kirigakure and are solely focused on acquiring the Executioner's Blade."
Pain nodded. "Let's leave it for now. We can address it when Kakuzu needs a new partner."
"Deidara and Sasori have been roaming around the Land of Lightning. After getting their funds, they went off to find new materials."
"Do we need to stall for more time?"
Pain closed his eyes and shook his head. "We're already moving slow enough. Any further delays might arouse suspicion."
After his long talk with Kawasaki, Nagato had decided to slow the organization's development. On the surface, it was to accumulate power; in reality, it was to find an opportunity to heal his body. However, the members they had recruited were all highly capable. Even while trying to maintain a low profile, the organization was still growing steadily. At this rate, they would have to begin the Tailed Beast capture plan soon.
...
Within Amegakure, Pain felt the situation was becoming difficult. He had always thought building an organization would take a long time. The lack of resources and powerful shinobi required years of accumulation. He had to remain wary of the masked man claiming to be Madara while simultaneously figuring out how to capture all the Tailed Beasts in a short time.
Ever since connecting with Kawasaki, his entire approach had been upended. Not only did Kawasaki provide unconditional support—money when they were short, Hashirama cell solution for his physical ailments, and even revealing his trump cards to build confidence—but he also placed no restrictions on Nagato. His only hope was that Nagato would strengthen himself first and deal with Obito.
Kawasaki's sincere attitude made Nagato feel that being suspicious at this point would be ungrateful.
"I plan to contact Kawasaki again," Pain said gravely.
A look of joy appeared on Konan's face. This meant Nagato was ready to trust Kawasaki completely and cooperate with him. For so long, Nagato had been carrying this heavy burden alone. The two of them were all they had in the world, with no other allies. Nagato had to ration his chakra daily, estimate his remaining lifespan, and travel endlessly for the organization, with every step feeling like he was on the edge of a cliff.
Behind the invulnerable facade of Pain's power was a fragile core, which had gradually twisted Nagato's psyche. He had come to believe in his dream of nuclear deterrence, slowly sinking into the lies woven by Obito.
When Kawasaki exposed it all, Konan's first reaction after her initial shock was to believe him. If what Kawasaki said was true, Nagato would be freed from his burdens and might even gain a reliable ally. After Kawasaki's repeated gestures of goodwill, Nagato finally chose to trust him.
This was undoubtedly a great relief for Konan as well.
Konan pressed her lips together. "I trust your judgment, Nagato."
Pain looked at her and nodded. "I'm going to contact Kawasaki with my real body."
Konan froze for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
...
The Uchiha Compound.
The clansmen who had returned from their duties abroad enjoyed two blissful days at home.
And then... they started to feel restless.
They were simply too idle. In Otogakure, they had grown accustomed to a life of constant missions with only occasional days off. Now that they were back, there was nothing to do. Their families had more than enough money; they could live comfortably doing nothing at all.
With nothing else to do, the clansmen swarmed the training grounds, packing them from dawn till dusk. Since they were free anyway, Kawasaki arranged for them to take turns sparring with Sasuke and Naruto, or sometimes had the two boys team up against a single Uchiha.
The rule was simple: whoever lost wasn't allowed to eat.
This put everyone on edge. They were afraid of winning too easily and hurting Sasuke's pride, but they were also terrified of intentionally losing and going hungry. After all, the clan head was watching from the sidelines. If they truly lost...
"Tie them up tighter!"
Uchiha Kazuki and Uchiha Kei stood shamefaced, bound to two adjacent trees.
Kawasaki stood before them. "I told you, anyone who loses doesn't eat. Did you two think my words were just empty air? You, Kazuki! You had already awakened your three-tomoe Sharingan when I became clan head. You're telling me you couldn't even follow Naruto's movements? And you, Kei! Your genjutsu is so good, yet you didn't use it at all? A genjutsu specialist trying to compete with Sasuke in taijutsu?"
Kawasaki didn't mind them holding back, but losing because they couldn't even control the extent of their restraint was another matter entirely. That was incompetence. This was a time to make an example of someone. Kazuki and Kei had walked right into it and had to be taught a lesson.
"Leave them tied here. Don't release them until midnight," Kawasaki commanded before walking toward the Uchiha Hospital.
Sasuke and Naruto were just coming out after receiving treatment.
"Sensei..."
"Senior..."
"How did it feel to win for the first time today?" Kawasaki asked with a smile. It was their first victory, after all; an interview was in order.
Sasuke turned his head away. "I have no interest in such a hollow victory."
Naruto also looked awkward. "Senior Kawasaki, I don't think we really won today."
After being constantly "beaten down" during this period, Sasuke and Naruto's combat abilities had improved significantly. Naruto had always been down-to-earth. After a defeat, he would identify his weaknesses and work to improve them.
Sasuke was different. Whenever his skills improved even slightly, he'd get cocky again, completely forgetting how badly he'd been beaten before. Then, on a whim, he'd challenge someone and get another thrashing.
The returning Uchiha clansmen were all battle-hardened veterans. They felt uneasy if they went a day without a mission, having lived their lives on a knife's edge. Their combat experience was immense. In this environment, Sasuke was having a daily existential crisis, feeling crushed in every aspect.
But only Itachi and Kawasaki knew just how fast the two were progressing. Initially, they had only sparred against genin-level Uchiha. Now, they could hold their own against chunin-level clansmen. Of course, any Uchiha with a three-tomoe Sharingan could still overwhelm Sasuke in every category. Naruto's control over his Tailed Beast transformation was still raw; occasionally, a single tail would emerge, allowing him to pull off unexpected moves.
Naruto's strength was growing at a normal pace. Sasuke's, however, was explosive. Whenever Sasuke realized he was weaker than Naruto, his pride would kick in, and he would push himself relentlessly to catch up. As a user of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Kawasaki could sense Sasuke's Yin Release power growing stronger with each passing day. The three-tomoe Sharingan was just around the corner.
After his system upgrade, Kawasaki had also started training in his dream space. It used to be one-on-one, but now it was one-versus-many. His experience in group combat was improving rapidly. Moreover, the environmental simulation feature was a true treasure. It allowed Kawasaki to experience all sorts of scenarios in his dreams, training him to fight in any condition. Even better, it had another incredibly useful function that would be a great help for his future development, though it wasn't applicable just yet.
Back at the Uchiha training grounds, those who had been training all day were starving. The two pitiful figures, Kazuki and Kei, were still tied to the trees, their stomachs growling as they watched the time crawl by. The two trees were right at the edge of the training grounds, so clansmen would frequently pass by. Each time, they would glance at the wooden sign hanging next to the two men. It read: "Lost to Sasuke and Naruto in today's sparring. Punishment: No food."
This was the ultimate social humiliation in the clan.
The two were already finding the passage of time unbearable when, after mealtime had passed, Kawasaki appeared again. Following him were two clansmen in chef hats, pushing a small cart. On the cart was a large pot, bubbling and steaming.
"Set it up right here. Yes, let them get a good whiff of it."
As soon as Kazuki and Kei smelled the familiar, beloved aroma, they stammered, "Is... is that..."
Kawasaki walked over with a grin. "That's right. Your favorite spicy hot pot. Anyone who's hungry can come over and have some. But you have to eat it standing right here."
Tears were about to well up in Kazuki and Kei's eyes. The fragrant steam made their mouths water, and their empty stomachs rumbled like thunder.
Kawasaki watched them with a cheerful smile. "So you lost by accident, what's the big deal? It's almost over. Just five more hours, and I'll let you go. I'm not a monster, you know."
After disciplining Kazuki and Kei, Kawasaki returned to his office to handle his administrative duties. It wasn't long before the Third Elder, Takuya, came to see him.
Takuya had thoroughly enjoyed his leadership role in Otogakure. Although the village was small, its population was much larger than the Uchiha clan's, fulfilling a dream from his youth. These past few years had revitalized him. At sixty, he was full of energy, with bright eyes and a spring in his step.
"Clan Head, these boys have no missions. It's not good for them to just sit around at home all day," Takuya said. He had spent the last few days inspecting every corner of the Uchiha compound and wandering through the food district. He was deeply impressed by the clan's prosperity, which filled him with pride. But after a few days, he grew restless. Why? It was too quiet! Back in Otogakure, he was busy with administrative tasks every day. Here in the Uchiha compound, he was living like a retiree. The other clansmen could at least burn off their energy at the training grounds, but he hadn't practiced martial arts in years and had no outlet for his vigor. He had come to ask about the other idle clansmen, but also to find something to do for himself.
Kawasaki had already made plans and was about to discuss them with Takuya. "I've already thought about this. Soon, I'll have Orochimaru return and use his 'coercion' as a pretext to send you all back. But once you're there, be ready. A new mission is coming, one that will require everyone's participation."
"So the Clan Head already has a plan," Takuya said, nodding in satisfaction.
The Uchiha didn't lack money, but they couldn't stand being idle. They felt uneasy if they weren't fighting. After Konoha's apology, they had quietly reverted to the previous mission-sharing model. But why should the Uchiha work for Konoha? So they simply stopped accepting missions from them. The missions from Otogakure could only accommodate a small number of people. For the clansmen accustomed to constant work, it was far from enough.
Many Uchiha had few relatives, and some were entirely alone. The clan had been wondering how to provide a life where everyone could have missions to undertake every day.