Mastering senjutsu requires not only an unwavering will but also a pure heart and an attitude of harmony with nature.
In the history of Konoha, only the First Hokage Hashirama, Jiraiya, and Minato were capable of entering Sage Mode. All of them possessed absurd levels of talent. Even Jiraiya, who struggled in his youth, improved at a tremendous pace as he grew older.
This spoke volumes about Kabuto's own talent.
To think that such a promising shinobi was forced by Danzo to become a wanderer!
Uchiha Clan Compound. "Clan Head, the shinobi from the Hidden Sand have arrived."
After a few days of waiting, the Sand delegation had finally reached them.
"Good. Take them to the conference room."
Kawasaki rubbed his hands together. It was finally time to get down to business.
He walked into the conference room to find two Sand Jonin accompanying a figure completely cloaked in a robe. The figure raised their hood, revealing none other than Elder Chiyo.
"My apologies for troubling you to make this trip," Kawasaki said, adopting the demeanor of a junior. After all, Chiyo was advanced in years.
"Hehehe, Clan Head Kawasaki, you are too kind. These old bones of mine can still move," she replied.
Kawasaki glanced at the two Sand Jonin on either side of her.
Elder Chiyo waved a hand, and the two shinobi exited, closing the door behind them.
Kawasaki invited Chiyo to sit and wasted no time getting straight to the point. "The one who murdered the Third Kazekage was your grandson, Sasori of the Red Sand. His body was also turned into a puppet."
Chiyo looked up, her expression grim. "Is this information reliable?"
Kawasaki nodded. "Absolutely. One of our Uchiha has fought him. He used the Third Kazekage puppet and its Magnet Release secret technique, which should be the Third's unique skill."
After a moment of contemplation, Elder Chiyo asked, "What does the Uchiha clan want?"
Kawasaki smiled. "I've heard that Elder Chiyo presided over the development of a secret technique called One's Own Life Reanimation."
Chiyo's brow furrowed. She couldn't believe information about that jutsu had leaked. But it was no easy technique to learn. "Just that?" She didn't believe a single secret technique was worth the body of the Third Kazekage and Sasori himself.
Kawasaki waved his hand dismissively. "That's just a bonus." He decided to stop beating around the bush. "Yashamaru should have already informed you of our intention to form a mercenary force."
"The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha has become irreconcilable. There is no longer a place for us in the village," Kawasaki explained with a sigh. "Honestly, I am not one who excels at resolving problems with force. The Uchiha clan is thriving right now, and I do not wish to engage in open war with Konoha. Too many people would die."
"You should understand our current position. The Uchiha clan is brimming with talent and wealth. Anything is better than continuing to suffer under Konoha's thumb. We Uchiha plan to find a new place and leave the village."
There was no surprise in Elder Chiyo's eyes. "You wish to establish your own independent power?"
Kawasaki nodded. "We can capture Sasori and bring him back to you... alive. You can deal with him however you see fit. In exchange, we want the Hidden Sand's support for the Uchiha clan's independence."
Chiyo sized Kawasaki up. "Clan Head Kawasaki, you have courage." She stood, her kind face now radiating an imposing dignity. "This old woman agrees to both conditions."
Kawasaki smiled and bowed slightly. "Then I look forward to our pleasant cooperation."
Chiyo nodded. "In that case, I will take my leave."
"Why not stay a few more days?" Kawasaki offered. "Allow me to be a proper host."
Chiyo waved him off. "There is much to do back in the village. I cannot stay long."
Kawasaki didn't insist. He knew Chiyo had to return and discuss such a momentous matter with Rasa. "Then I wish you a safe journey."
Chiyo gave a final wave and left as quickly as she had arrived, taking her two Sand shinobi with her. The entire meeting had lasted less than half an hour.
During his previous trip to the Land of Wind, Kawasaki hadn't rushed to find Chiyo. First, there wasn't enough trust between them. Second, the Uchiha clan simply didn't have the leverage.
Now, however, the Uchiha's strength and wealth were known to all.
Elder Chiyo was a shrewd strategist. She agreed to what she could agree to immediately; any further discussion on matters she couldn't accept would be pointless. An independent Uchiha clan would only benefit the Hidden Sand. Furthermore, the Uchiha's choice not to publicize the truth behind the Third Kazekage's death was in itself a gesture of goodwill. After all, while the Third Great Ninja War was sparked by disputes over resources and territory, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage had been the final trigger.
Chiyo had agreed so readily because she knew that wherever the Uchiha went, they certainly wouldn't be encroaching on the Hidden Sand's territory. The reason for that was something everyone understood.
Chiyo might even have hoped for the Uchiha to clash with Konoha. But Kawasaki was clearly different from the other Uchiha. He was exceptionally intelligent and perfectly suited to be the clan head. He would never do anything that could potentially harm the Uchiha clan. He would find other ways to achieve his goals.
With enough allies on their side, the Third Hokage wouldn't dare touch a single hair on the Uchiha. And if the Third Hokage didn't make a move, neither would the Uchiha, because both sides knew that neither could win without suffering devastating losses. Such a victory would be hollow, only inviting other ninja villages to attack them in their weakened state.
Kawasaki's path to independence was, by all accounts, the most rational one.
The One's Own Life Reanimation was a difficult technique to learn because the forbidden jutsu required infusing one's own life force. This meant skipping the theoretical stage and jumping directly into practical application. A jutsu of this level could have fatal side effects if even the slightest mistake was made.
But Kawasaki had his dreamscape, where he could practice without any real risk.
After inheriting the position of clan head, Fugaku had entrusted him with all of the clan's secrets, including the Izanagi and Izanami. He was also given the eyes of clansmen who had died in the past. All of them were three-tomoe Sharingan.
Being mere mortals, the Uchiha clan's previous preservation methods had been lacking. Over time, many of the eyes had become useless. It was only after collaborating with Orochimaru that their techniques improved, allowing for the proper preservation of the more recently acquired eyes. Otherwise, even the final sixteen pairs might have been lost to decay.
The next day, shinobi from the Hidden Stone Village arrived.
Unexpectedly, Iwagakure had sent Kurotsuchi again, this time without her father, Kitsuchi.
In the conference room, Kawasaki was slightly displeased. "Onoki sent a little girl like you?"
What's the big deal about a high-slit dress? ...Wait, scratch that. Kurotsuchi is only twelve right now; she wouldn't be dressed like that.
Kawasaki figured she was likely just here to deliver a method of contact. The major villages all used messenger birds. Without summoning animals, messenger birds were the fastest way to send correspondence. Onoki would surely be interested in intel on Deidara, so he would provide a private contact method.
Kurotsuchi herself didn't understand why her grandfather had sent her. She had just returned from here. Couldn't he have sent any Anbu member?
"Clan Head Kawasaki, I'm truly sorry. My grandfather was the one who insisted I come," Kurotsuchi said apologetically.
Kawasaki's mind raced. It was true that Iwagakure didn't have many other suitable candidates. Kitsuchi was the wrong person to discuss matters concerning Deidara. Akatsuchi was Onoki's personal bodyguard and would never leave his side. That left only Kurotsuchi to make the trip. No wonder Onoki was so desperate to find a successor.
But he couldn't discuss the details with Kurotsuchi, as this involved the future campaign in the Land of Water.
"Very well. You may leave Onoki's contact information and then you can go."
Kurotsuchi looked a little crestfallen. She really was just a messenger. She had hoped to contribute something to Iwagakure, but Kawasaki had seen right through her.
"Lord Kawasaki, could you tell me what this is about?" Kurotsuchi asked, looking rather pitiful.
She had come a long way; it wouldn't hurt to tell her. "I have the latest intelligence on Deidara. And I have a way to obtain information on his movements for some time to come."
Kurotsuchi's face lit up. When they were younger, she used to follow Deidara around, calling him "big brother." But as they got older, Deidara became obsessed with his "art," caused trouble, and defected from the village after a huge fight with their grandfather, going on a rampage of destruction. They used to hear news of him frequently, as her grandfather was always the one cleaning up the messes left by his explosions. But now that Deidara had left the Land of Earth, they had received almost no word of him. "Really?"
Yes... the anticipation is written all over your face. Kurotsuchi and Deidara were close, and at her young age, she still lacked self-control.
Kawasaki glanced at her. "What comes next has nothing to do with you. I will speak with Onoki directly."
Seeing that Kawasaki truly wouldn't tell her more, Kurotsuchi nodded in disappointment. She informed him that she had given a messenger hawk to one of his subordinates, which could be used to send messages directly to Onoki.
After seeing the young girl off, Kawasaki shook his head, musing about Onoki. Sending someone as unreliable as Kurotsuchi... that wasn't how you trained a successor. Aside from leaving a private contact method, Kurotsuchi had essentially just delivered a letter. It seemed Onoki was truly short on capable personnel. Once he captured Deidara, he would have to make Onoki pay a hefty price.
Though the Hidden Cloud Village was farther away than the Hidden Stone, it was clear they were taking this matter more seriously. Kurotsuchi had barely left before the Cloud shinobi arrived that same night.
The envoy from the Cloud came alone, under the cover of darkness. They even managed to infiltrate some distance into the Uchiha compound before being detected. When Kawasaki arrived, the person had not yet revealed their identity, only stating they were a guest of his. Kawasaki had already notified the patrol and barrier teams, so no one made a move.
He saw a figure completely enveloped in a cloak.
Kawasaki waved his hand, signaling the other Uchiha to withdraw and maintain a perimeter.
The visitor pulled back their hood, revealing a face that was no longer young. His cheeks were sunken, his left eye was covered, and he wore a hat, his expression severe. "Clan Head Kawasaki, my name is Dodai."
Kawasaki's eyes narrowed. Dodai was a veteran from the Third Raikage's era, a deep thinker and a master strategist. This man would not be easy to fool. "So it is you, Master Dodai. Forgive my poor reception."
"You are too kind, Lord Kawasaki," Dodai said calmly. "I came in secret."
Cautious, as expected.
Kawasaki gestured to the side. "Please, Master Dodai, let's speak inside."
Dodai nodded, pulling his hood back up to obscure his face. Kawasaki led him to the conference room. "Rest assured, Master Dodai, this place is completely secure."
Dodai removed his cloak and set it aside. "Clan Head Kawasaki, I'll be direct. What kind of cooperation do you propose? How many people can the Uchiha commit?"
With Dodai's personal arrival, the Hidden Cloud's intentions were clear. There was no more need for subtlety.
Kawasaki tapped the table. "Your Hidden Cloud's military strength far exceeds that of the Hidden Mist. The Uchiha will not participate in conventional battles."
Dodai nodded. If they wanted to annex the Land of Water, it would inevitably be a war on multiple fronts. The Uchiha didn't have the numbers; what the Cloud valued was their high-end combat power.
"We Uchiha don't understand battlefield command, nor do we want it," Kawasaki continued. "We will not interfere or question how the Hidden Cloud prosecutes the main war against the Mist."
"I will dispatch two elite shinobi to bolster your forces. My main responsibility will be to keep Konoha in check and ensure they absolutely cannot send reinforcements."
Dodai nodded again. This was roughly what he had expected. The tension between Konoha and the Uchiha was already at a breaking point.
Conquering a nation wasn't something that could be done in a few days. At best, they could gain an early advantage. If the Hidden Mist couldn't hold out, they would certainly call for aid, and the conflict could escalate into a multi-national war. Among the Five Great Shinobi Countries, besides the Land of Wind, only Konoha and the Hidden Stone remained.
Although Konoha and the Mist had a poor relationship, they couldn't just stand by and watch the Cloud annex the Land of Water. Konoha might declare war on the Cloud, or they might try to fish in troubled waters, entering the fray to take out the Mist as well.
But now, if Konoha were to deploy its forces, the village itself would be left vulnerable. It was hard to say what the Stone and Sand might do then; alliances were fragile things. Moreover, with the Uchiha lurking like a tiger, if Konoha moved its troops, the Uchiha might just make their move.
Therefore, as long as the Uchiha kept their eyes on Konoha, the Leaf would not dare to act rashly. If Konoha did move, it would mean all-out war between them and the Uchiha. In that chaos, for the Stone to intervene in the Cloud-Mist conflict, they would either have to take a long detour or pass right by Konoha's doorstep. It would be hard to say if the Stone would truly attack the Cloud at that point; after all, the lands of the Land of Fire were far more fertile.
This was why a Great Ninja War, once started, could easily spiral into a multi-national conflict. It was the very reason Hashirama had sought to balance the power of the Tailed Beasts.
"However..." Kawasaki's tone shifted. "If a conflict does break out between us and Konoha, we may have to recall Itachi and Shisui ahead of schedule."
"That's not a problem," Dodai said with understanding. "On the main battlefield, as long as our intelligence is accurate, we can handle things ourselves."
"You may not fully grasp the situation," Kawasaki said, shaking his head. "I visited the Hidden Mist many years ago. The situation there is chaotic, with numerous factions. These warring factions have a habit of bringing in outside forces. If we attack the Mist, we might first have to deal with a host of mercenaries."
There were mercenary groups in the world now, though Akatsuki's name was not yet widely known. Without their Tailed Beast hunts, their true strength remained a mystery.
Dodai's mind raced, but he couldn't think of any mercenary groups that would pose a threat to the Cloud. Still, his cautious nature prompted him to ask, "Are there any who could contend with Killer B and Yugito?"
Kawasaki feigned a thoughtful expression, then nodded. "Yes, and more than one."
Dodai rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. A war of this scale wouldn't end quickly. The Cloud's immediate concern was how to secure a stable footing in the early stages to gain an advantage for the battles to come.
On foreign soil, the key to victory was spotting the enemy first. The Land of Water was the Hidden Mist's home turf, perpetually shrouded in vapor. For the Mist, who excelled at assassination, dispersed enemy formations were incredibly dangerous. Therefore, the Cloud would have to operate in small squads to mitigate this disadvantage. This would inevitably lead the Mist to launch concentrated assaults, making the role of elite shinobi paramount.
The Hidden Cloud certainly had more elite shinobi than the Mist, but who would complain about having too great an advantage? Moreover, Kawasaki had said the Mist would hire powerful mercenaries. Having two elite Uchiha on their side was a welcome addition.
"The Hidden Stone is another factor we must consider," Dodai continued. The grudge from when 10,000 Iwa shinobi fought the Third Raikage for three days and three nights was a wound that would never heal. The current Fourth Raikage, the Third's son, certainly hadn't forgotten.
Although it was ten thousand against one, the Third Raikage possessed the Hell Stab, the "strongest spear," and the Lightning Release Armor, the "strongest shield." Offensive ninjutsu couldn't penetrate his defense, and defensive ninjutsu couldn't block his attacks. His Lightning Release Chakra Mode granted him terrifying speed and reflexes. Against the Third Raikage, the Iwa shinobi couldn't hurt him, couldn't block him, and couldn't escape him. One could only imagine how few of those ten thousand shinobi survived the three-day ordeal.
After that battle, the hatred between the Stone and the Cloud ran ocean-deep. If the Cloud attacked the Mist, the Stone would never stand idly by. However, they wouldn't dare mobilize on a large scale. Konoha wouldn't allow it, nor would they risk it. If the Stone asked for passage and joined forces with the Uchiha near Konoha's border, they would pose an immediate threat to the Leaf.
So, the Stone would likely observe the situation at first. If the Cloud gained the upper hand, Iwagakure's most probable course of action would be to form an alliance or take a long detour. But forming an alliance takes time, and a detour takes even more. And right now, the Stone was short on elite shinobi. Besides Onoki, there was only Kitsuchi.
"Is it possible that Onoki would join the battle himself?" Kawasaki asked, feigning contemplation.
Dodai chuckled. "Onoki would never advance deep into enemy territory alone. Our Lord Raikage is no pushover."
Kawasaki nodded in agreement. After all, Onoki was an old man. No matter how powerful his Dust Release was, it was useless if it couldn't hit the Raikage.
But Kawasaki also knew that the tides of war were ever-changing. Onoki was a veteran with the ability to fly and a one-hit-kill technique in his Dust Release.