"Take this."
Kawasaki produced a rectangular box, about twenty centimeters long.
"Be wary of Obito at all times. He's likely much stronger now. The war between the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Mist might clue him in."
"Once your mission is complete, find a place to hide immediately."
"If the situation becomes critical, use the ring to contact me. It's for tracking your position."
"The moment you open the box, I'll be able to lock onto your location and arrange for an extraction team."
Konan accepted the box with a solemn expression and stored it away carefully.
"Have you ever thought about what we'll do after this war is over?" Kawasaki asked suddenly.
Konan was taken aback. She had no idea how this conflict would end. A victory would be cause for celebration, but if they lost, would they even survive? And if they did manage to live, where could they possibly run?
"Have you considered leaving a way out for yourself and Nagato?"
Konan didn't immediately grasp Kawasaki's meaning and stared at him, slightly dazed.
Kawasaki slowly unfolded the paper crane she had given him. He then took out a pen and handed it to her.
.....
The fires of war between the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Mist had finally been ignited.
When the Cloud first dispatched its many spies, some of the more perceptive powers had sensed that something was amiss. But no one had expected the conflict to erupt so quickly.
It took the Cloud Village a mere five days to invade the Hidden Mist's territory and establish a firm foothold.
By the time the other major powers received the news, those five days had already passed.
In the first two days, the Cloud sent out several elite squads to engage the Mist in initial skirmishes. The Cloud lost a dozen ninja, and the Mist lost a similar number. The two sides seemed evenly matched.
After a few more probing attacks, however, the true extent of the Mist's strength was gradually exposed.
The Cloud immediately played its trump card.
They deployed two Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii of the Two-Tails and Killer Bee of the Eight-Tails, to lead a forced landing.
The two of them formed a powerful vanguard, launching a surprise assault on the Hidden Mist. An army of nearly a thousand Cloud ninja followed close behind, sweeping through the defenders.
The Mist forces were beaten back at every turn, losing over thirty ninja, including two elite Jonin. With this victory, the Cloud secured its landing point.
Soon after, ships carrying two hundred of the Cloud's advance forces landed on the island.
The Hidden Mist had never anticipated that the Cloud would resort to such a bold strategy, deploying their Jinchuriki from the outset. Not only had they suffered heavy casualties, but they had allowed the enemy to establish a beachhead.
Judging by the Cloud's momentum, even larger armies would soon be landing.
Mei Terumi was frantic. She could only try her best to stall the Cloud's advance while desperately seeking aid from outside.
Over the next few days, the Mist forces broke into smaller units and engaged the Cloud in guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct confrontations. They continuously set traps and used the terrain to their advantage, effectively slowing the Cloud's progress.
The Cloud had currently landed on the smaller islands surrounding the Twin-Dragon Isles. Their daily operations consisted of clearing out the remaining Mist forces in preparation for the next phase: conquering the Twin-Dragon, Tsuzawa, and Tsuren Islands.
If these islands fell, the Cloud could use them as a staging ground to bring in a steady stream of reinforcements.
Therefore, the Hidden Mist was prepared to defend these two locations to the death.
Having assessed the lack of high-level combatants among the Mist's leadership, the Cloud split its forces into three divisions. Each Jinchuriki led one, while the third was commanded by Samui and C, who would provide rearguard support with the remaining ninja.
Once they landed on either of the Twin-Dragon Isles, this last team would be responsible for establishing a base for the follow-up forces to rest and regroup.
Meanwhile, the Cloud dispatched all its remaining spies to strategic points in every nation to closely monitor the movements of the other hidden villages. The Hidden Rock Village in the Land of Earth became their primary focus.
Under the cover of secrecy, the other warriors mobilized by the Cloud, led by the Raikage himself, had already begun their journey across the sea.
This kind of intelligence was difficult to keep secret for long, but the Cloud was banking on this brief window of opportunity.
...
"It looks like the Mist doesn't have any tricks left up its sleeve. At this rate, all they can do is struggle in vain," Yugito said, stretching her body and letting out a big yawn.
She had been cautious at the start of the battle. As a Jinchuriki, her role was to be a surprise weapon. A direct clash with an enemy Jinchuriki might not be worth the risk.
But now, several days after she and Killer Bee had made their landing, they had conquered one small island after another. Although the Mist had stationed elite ninja on these islands, they were no match for a Jinchuriki.
The Mist shinobi were troublesome, but they could only delay the inevitable. Once Yugito found them, escape was nearly impossible.
At first, she had worried about ambushes, but after days of fierce fighting, the Mist's Jinchuriki had not appeared, and their other ninja were mostly easy to defeat. It seemed the intelligence they had received from the Uchiha was accurate.
"Looks like we might not even need you for this war," Yugito said, glancing at the three cloaked figures beside her.
Beneath the hoods were three masked faces. It was Itachi, Shisui, and another ninja Shisui had specifically brought along, Yogetsu.
Shisui replied calmly, "This is just a victory in the initial clashes. The Mist will be resorting to guerrilla tactics now. They still have strength they haven't shown. You should be careful."
Yugito lifted her head proudly. "Unless the Mizukage herself shows up, no non-Jinchuriki can hope to trap me."
Shisui nodded without comment. Internally, however, he was calculating. Mei Terumi was likely seeking help from all sides. Whether his mentor's plan would proceed smoothly was still uncertain.
.....
Within the Uchiha Compound.
Through Itachi's Summoning Jutsu, Kawasaki was already up to date on the latest developments.
Shisui, Itachi, and Yogetsu had arrived at the front lines on the first day of the war.
Even Kawasaki hadn't expected the Cloud to take such a risk, launching a surprise attack with two Jinchuriki.
Fortunately, the battle was progressing smoothly. The Mist forces had crumbled on contact, so the three of them had not yet needed to intervene. They wouldn't get involved in conventional battles like this. As long as their presence remained unknown, they could serve as the Cloud's secret weapon.
It was precisely because they had the Uchiha's support that the Cloud dared to use two of their Jinchuriki in a frontal assault.
But the war had only just begun.
After suffering a major loss, why had the Mist switched to guerrilla tactics instead of organizing a counterattack?
The reason was simple: the Mist could not afford to lose any more shinobi.
Their village was severely lacking in both top-tier and mid-tier combat power. They couldn't even risk an even trade of forces. If the war dragged on, the Mist's manpower would be gradually depleted.
Soon, other nations would begin to covet the Land of Water. It was a vicious cycle that would ultimately lead to the destruction of the Hidden Mist and the partitioning of their country.
Therefore, only a small number of Mist Anbu were on the outer islands to slow the Cloud's advance. The majority of the Mist's forces had already gathered on the Twin-Dragon Isles. Their goal was to force the Cloud into a decisive battle there, relieving the pressure of fighting on multiple fronts.
At the same time, stalling the Cloud would buy time for their own reinforcements to arrive.
Inside the Hidden Mist Village.
Mizukage's Office.
Mei Terumi's eyes were bloodshot. Her expression was a mixture of exhaustion and deep worry.
The Cloud's powerful landing had shaken every faction within the village, throwing them into a state of panic.
They had landed with two Jinchuriki.
This was clearly a massive undertaking, and judging by the movements of the Cloud's advance forces, an even larger army was on its way.
Faced with immense external pressure, the various factions within the Mist finally began to negotiate. They had all witnessed Mei's efforts to manage the village over the past few years. Even those who were unimpressed by her personal strength had to admit that her leadership skills were undeniable.
If anyone could lead them out of their current predicament, it was Mei Terumi.
Now, the factions within the Mist had reached a consensus. If they could survive the Cloud's attack, they would officially recognize Mei as the village's leader.
Mei readily agreed. In her mind, if they couldn't withstand this assault, the Hidden Mist might cease to exist anyway. At that point, anyone who wanted to be Mizukage was welcome to the title.
With the internal conflicts resolved, Mei could finally dedicate her full attention to the war.
Her first move was to order all factions to release the criminals they had imprisoned. As long as their crimes were not unforgivable, they were to be set free and sent to the battlefield to atone. If they killed enough enemies, all past transgressions would be forgiven.
On the other hand, anyone caught taking advantage of the chaos in the Land of Water would be severely punished upon capture. She aimed to quickly restore social order, or at least prevent the lives of the civilians from getting any worse.
Simultaneously, Mei began to seek aid from other nations, primarily targeting the major powers of Konoha and Iwagakure.
The most ideal support would come from the Hidden Rock. After all, the Rock had a long-standing grudge against the Cloud. There was no chance of them siding with the Cloud against the Mist, so she didn't have to worry about letting the fox into the henhouse.
However, the Hidden Rock was located far away. Bypassing the Land of Fire would take an immense amount of time. To cross it, they would need Konoha's permission first.
Thus, Mei first sent an envoy to the Hidden Leaf to test the waters. The previous generation of the Mist had deep-seated animosity with the Leaf; Ao still possessed a Byakugan from the Hyuga clan.
Konoha's attitude was still unclear.
However, Mei remembered the letter Kawasaki had sent her.
While she sent a party to Konoha to request aid, she secretly dispatched Ao to the Uchiha to investigate.
Mei first sent an official request for help to the Hidden Rock and dispatched an envoy to the Hidden Leaf in the Land of Fire.
As for why she didn't ask the Hidden Sand for help, there were two reasons. First, the Sand would also have to pass through the Land of Fire. Second, the Sand had a strong desire for more territory. If they joined the war, it was uncertain whose side they would truly be on.
.....
Although the Hidden Rock was the farthest from the Hidden Mist, they were paying extremely close attention to the war. Their intelligence flowed almost as fast as that of the two warring nations.
While the Mist's decline surprised Ohnoki, Mei's request for help was entirely within his expectations.
Ohnoki was a shrewd and patient leader. Now was not the right time to intervene. The Twin-Dragon Isles were about to become a meat grinder, and joining the fray now would be a losing proposition.
Therefore, after receiving the Mist's message, the Hidden Rock did not give a clear answer, opting instead to wait and see.
In Konoha, the Mist's envoy arrived quickly. However, the ones who came to see the Third Hokage were merely a single Jonin and a half-grown boy—Chojuro.
The Third Hokage didn't mind. Instead, this arrangement revealed to him the severe shortage of personnel in the Hidden Mist. If they had anyone else to send, they would never have tasked such a young boy with this mission. It was clear that anyone in the Mist of a certain age was already on the front lines.
Although Chojuro was known as a prodigy and served as Mei's personal guard, his combat experience and strength were not yet top-tier. Sending him was an act of desperation; the Mist simply had no one more suitable.
"Lord Hokage, the Hidden Mist needs the help of the Leaf Village," Chojuro said. He was naturally shy and submissive, and being entrusted with such a heavy responsibility had left him on edge. His words were stiffly memorized, but at least he didn't stutter.
The Third Hokage replied with a gentle tone, "You've had a long journey. First, tell me the details of the situation."
Chojuro then recounted the events on the front lines to the Third Hokage. When Hiruzen heard that the Cloud had used the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails to force a landing, he was shocked. It was an incredibly bold move, risking their Jinchuriki to an ambush. But it was precisely that audacity that had allowed the Cloud to quickly secure their position.
As they spoke, a knock came from the door.
Before anyone could answer, Orochimaru walked straight in.
The Third Hokage didn't chide him for his rudeness, instead giving him a questioning look.
Orochimaru approached the Third Hokage. "Old man, my lab needs two pieces of equipment."
He and the Third exchanged a glance that only they understood, after which he gave a slight shake of his head.
The Third Hokage closed his eyes, indicating that he understood.
...
In addition to requesting aid from the Leaf Village, another person from the Hidden Mist secretly appeared within the Uchiha clan's territory, asking for an audience with Kawasaki.
In the reception hall of the Uchiha Compound.
The covert visitor from the Mist only removed his concealing cloak after entering the room.
"I didn't expect Mei to send you," Kawasaki said, sizing up the man with one eye covered. It was Ao.
Ao was an old adversary of the Uchiha—or more accurately, he had been unilaterally suppressed by Shisui.
"Lord Kawasaki, Lady Mizukage knew that Konoha would likely not send aid to the Hidden Mist. She sent me here to see you specifically," Ao said, his posture humble. He was, after all, the one asking for a favor.
The Mist was well aware of the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Rather than hoping for the Leaf to send troops, it was more practical to go directly to Kawasaki. After all, Kawasaki had previous dealings with Mei and had even hinted in a letter that the Uchiha were open to being hired.
Kawasaki smiled faintly. "Yugito Nii of the Two-Tails and Killer Bee of the Eight-Tails are both on the field now, aren't they?"
"Given the pace of their attack, once they establish a bridgehead in the Land of Water, it's only a matter of time before your Hidden Mist is annihilated."
Ao replied calmly, "Our Fourth and Fifth Mizukage are not to be underestimated. Besides, we still have Utakata of the Six-Tails. We may be at a disadvantage now, but that's only because we were caught by a surprise attack. Lady Mizukage decided to seek aid to prevent the war from escalating and to minimize our losses."
Seeing that Ao refused to back down, Kawasaki let out a soft chuckle. "Heh..."
His fingers tapped gently on the table as he spoke at a measured pace. "I am well aware of the Hidden Mist's situation. Utakata has already defected, the Fourth Mizukage is dead, and so is Isobu, the Three-Tails."
"As for Mei Terumi, I don't believe she is a match for the Fourth Raikage just yet."
"Even if the Fourth Raikage doesn't make a move, you alone cannot stop two Jinchuriki."
"There's no need to probe me. I learned everything I need to know about your country's situation during my last visit to the Land of Water."
"In the few short years since then, I doubt Mei has had enough time to completely reform the Hidden Mist."
Ao's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched into a fist.
Kawasaki's words were like a wall, cutting off every possible retreat.
As expected, the Uchiha clan knew that the Fourth Mizukage was dead. Mei had warned him before he left that Kawasaki was highly likely to know. He even knew about Utakata's defection.
At this moment, Ao didn't bother to argue. Denial was pointless.
"Lord Kawasaki, what price must we pay for the Uchiha to send aid to the Hidden Mist?"
Ao had no other choice. They were fish on the chopping block, forced to let the Uchiha name their terms.
The current Uchiha clan was a major power entrenched in the Land of Fire. Without their approval, the Hidden Rock couldn't even cross the country's borders. There was no way for the Hidden Mist to get around the Uchiha.
...
In the Uchiha Compound.
Inside the reception hall.
Kawasaki looked at Ao with a wide smile.
"Ah, now that's more like it. It's so much more pleasant when we're honest with each other."
"You see, I'm the kind of person who just loves to make a deal."
"There's an organization that has a cooperative relationship with us Uchiha. They specialize in these kinds of missions. I can recommend this job to them."
Ao asked with a hint of confusion, "What organization? How strong are they?"
Kawasaki stroked his chin. "Any single member from that group is stronger than your Mizukage."
Ao subconsciously retorted, "That's impossible!"
Kawasaki wagged a finger. "The shinobi world is a vast place, filled with masters. Your current Mizukage's strength is... average, at best."
"Hmm..."
Kawasaki paused briefly.
"I'll stake the Uchiha's name on it. As long as they make a move, you will not lose."
Ao was stunned. An organization with that kind of power actually existed?