On the open sea, two figures sprinted across the waves. Only after confirming no Leaf pursuers were on their tail did they finally slow to a stop.
"Looks like Leaf's not chasing us," Mizunotsuki Hiyori panted, glancing back toward the vanished battlefield.
"Damn it. That Matsushita Taiichi—he's way stronger than the rumors said. Nothing like what we expected," Yagura growled.
This fight was supposed to be simple—bleed the Kaguya and Ghost Lantern clans a little. Instead Taiichi had locked them down so tight neither could break free. The plan had always been to grind down their own side's numbers without making it obvious. But without clear orders from above, the clan ninja had thrown themselves into the fight like it was a real war. That alone had wrecked the original intent.
Worse was Taiichi himself. Everyone called him a monster, but hearing it and seeing it were two different things. That gap in understanding had cost them the battle.
"Send up the signal," Yagura said, voice tight with frustration. "Round up whoever made it out. We're moving the camp farther out to sea—tonight. This spot's too damn close now."
He rubbed his temples. Another defeat like this and the Mizukage would have their heads. At least Hiyori was still here to take the worst of the blame; officially, he was the one in command.
While Mist scrambled to relocate and Leaf began fortifying their new forward position, the rest of the ninja world refused to sit still.
Mist's open declaration of war had forced them to pull forces that had been helping Sand pressure Leaf. The southern front went quiet again, reduced to low-level scouting and harassment. As a result, Minato's team was pulled off the south and sent west. Uchiha Yohei and Saori were reassigned north.
On the western front, Mimura Yagami finally had breathing room once Minato's squad arrived. He held the line against Rock inside the Land of Grass and started hitting their rear supply routes. The harassment kept Rock off-balance and slowed their momentum without overextending.
In the north, Orochimaru flipped the script the moment Yohei joined him. Leaf forces pushed hard, reclaiming the entire Land of Hot Springs and driving into the Land of the Moon. Yohei's Susanoo became the talk of both sides—some called it a crimson giant wreathed in karmic red fire from the underworld, others the wrathful heavenly king of punishment. Orochimaru watched the power with growing interest. Unlike Taiichi's steady, learnable growth, the Mangekyo's sudden leap in strength fascinated the Sannin far more.
Meanwhile the war between Rock and Cloud showed no signs of slowing. Fresh reports confirmed the Third Raikage had taken the field himself. Orochimaru had wisely halted further advances in the Land of the Moon; letting those two villages tear each other apart served Leaf perfectly.
Deep underground in the Land of Earth, Black Zetsu entered a vast chamber. Two White Zetsu trailed behind him like pale shadows.
On a massive deadwood throne sat Uchiha Madara, eyes closed, chest motionless. Thick tubes connected him to the Gedo Statue behind the chair; faint green light pulsed through them at intervals.
Zetsu stopped in front of the ancient man and bowed. "Madara-sama. Uchiha Obito has arrived in the Land of Earth with his team. Do you want continued surveillance?"
One of the White Zetsu couldn't help itself. "Maybe Madara-sama's just remembering what taking a shit feels like. I'm jealous!"
Even Madara's withered face twitched at the corner of his mouth.
He opened cloudy eyes and fixed his gaze on Black Zetsu, ignoring the idiot White Zetsu entirely. His voice was thin and weak. "What's his condition?"
"His Sharingan is still only one tomoe. No changes there. But his taijutsu and ninjutsu have improved noticeably." Black Zetsu hesitated, then pushed on. "Madara-sama… are you sure about the plan with him? The kid seems clueless. He spends all his time chasing after the girl on his team. Zero drive."
Madara's eyes narrowed slightly. "Obito has his own darkness waiting. The stronger the light, the deeper the shadow when it finally breaks. He simply hasn't faced that moment yet. When he does, he won't disappoint us."
Black Zetsu still looked doubtful, but he didn't argue. Madara's will was absolute.
One White Zetsu spoke up anyway. "Why Obito? Uchiha Yohei's already got the Mangekyo. We wouldn't even have to push him."
The temperature in the chamber dropped. Madara's eyes opened wider, staring straight at the offending White Zetsu.
"Zetsu. Throw that one back in the forge. Something that stupid will ruin everything the second we send it out."
The White Zetsu started panicking. "Madara-sama, I spoke out of turn! Just give me ten more minutes—let me experience taking a shit one last time before you recycle me! My life will be incomplete otherwise—"
Two more White Zetsu dragged the rambling one away without ceremony. Silence returned.
Black Zetsu tried again. "What about Uchiha Yohei? That pair of Mangekyo already exists. Could it interfere with the plan?"
Madara's voice grew even weaker. "Leave him. He's already come into his own. Forcing influence on someone like that would cost too much. Focus on Obito for now."
Exhaustion pulled at Madara again. Every extra word was a luxury he could barely afford.
"The Rinnegan with Nagato—still secure?"
"Everything is proceeding as planned. Nagato and the others eliminated Hanzo and took Amegakure. They're using the chaos among the Five Great Villages to consolidate power."
A faint smile touched Madara's lips. At least that part was going right.
The next morning, after a full night's rest, the Leaf forces marched out across the water toward the old Mist camp. Taiichi, Fugaku, and Hiashi led the column. Morale was high—two straight victories had everyone convinced this would be the final blow.
It wasn't.
A Hyuga scout returned from the island. "No Mist forces detected, sirs. They cleared out yesterday."
Fugaku let out a frustrated breath. "We're too late."
Taiichi shrugged. "We knew they'd run. Two crushing defeats in a row? Only an idiot stays put. This was always a long shot."
Hiashi activated his Byakugan and swept the surrounding ocean. Nothing. Not even another island worth noting.
"Taiichi," Hiashi said, "finding their new camp out at sea is going to fall on you. Regular sensors won't cut it that far from land."
Taiichi nodded. Working with Hizashi before had shown him the value of combining Byakugan range with his own speed and sensing. This was manageable.
They checked the island one last time, found it completely stripped, then turned back toward their own camp.
Word of the victory over Mist reached Konoha quickly.
Hiruzen read the full report in his office, then let out a long, relieved sigh. A rare, genuine smile crossed his face. He passed the scroll to Koharu and Homura, then lit his pipe and took a slow drag.
"Tsunade didn't let us down," he said, exhaling smoke. "She handled Mist clean and fast. One month and they're gone."
Koharu and Homura finished reading and nodded in agreement.
"With the southern front stabilized, the pressure everywhere else eases up," Koharu added.
Hiruzen agreed. The other villages would think twice about escalating against Leaf now that they'd seen Tsunade crush Mist so decisively.
Homura tapped the casualty and merit section at the end. "The credit distribution looks heavy toward Matsushita Taiichi. Is that accurate?"
Hiruzen and Koharu had already seen the signatures—Fugaku, Hiashi, Inoichi, Choza. No one was padding numbers for Tsunade's sake.
"The report's solid," Hiruzen said. "Too many clan heads signed off for it to be cooked."
Homura leaned forward. "Hiruzen… have you decided on the Fourth Hokage yet?"
The question hung in the smoke-filled air.