A massive caravan of carts laden with gargantuan timber and stone beams rumbled across the open wilderness in a grand procession.
The overburdened wheels crushed the stone-paved ground, their collective weight composing a thunderous, rhythmic roar.
"That is the convoy transporting materials to rebuild the Tenshu," Yahiko noted, standing on the platform of the abandoned fortress. He pointed toward the distant ruins, explaining the origin of the noise Ren had heard upon waking. "With only five days left, the Land of Lightning has mobilized all its resources. They intend to raise a brand-new castle from the rubble before the Five-Kage Summit begins in Unming City."
"To serve as the stage for the summit," Ren murmured, realization dawning.
"But... building an entire Tenshu in five days? Is that even possible?" Ren frowned. Despite the name "Pavilion," a Tenshu was not a simple tower; it was a massive, fortified castle complex designed for observation, command, and defense.
Yahiko's expression turned grim as he gestured toward the inner city. "That is why they are using the power of ninjas."
The inner city of Unming, once grand and dignified, now looked as if its upper half had been sliced clean off. In the distance, one could see superhuman figures leaping up and down the vertical faces of the walls. Under their coordinated effort, the jagged ruins were becoming orderly at a visible speed. Bricks were laid with rhythmic precision, and under the influence of Earth Release, the walls were literally rising out of the ground.
"To guard against the assassination declaration you left yesterday and to ensure the summit proceeds as planned, Kumogakure has emptied its nest."
"The Kumo army previously stationed in the Land of Frost has arrived at Unming City after a day and night of forced marching." Yahiko watched the heavily guarded city with a furrowed brow. "This place is a far cry from what it was yesterday."
At that moment, the usually reticent Sasori chimed in. "Not only that, the Chakra Cannon—the weapon originally kept in Kumo that repelled Orochimaru—has been moved here."
"Though it's still a prototype, its raw power is no weaker than that lightning-sword beam you fired yesterday. Furthermore, based on my disassembly of the weapon's blueprints, its output can be significantly boosted if the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki provides the chakra."
"Chakra Cannon?" Ren blinked, glancing at Sasori.
Though they had been teammates for a brief day, Ren was still somewhat in the dark about the changes Sasori had undergone. Hearing this, it seemed Sasori had been involved in Orochimaru's sneak attack on Kumo—and had even used the chaos to steal the blueprints for their secret weapon.
So that's why Sasori's 'art style' shifted so suddenly? In the original timeline, Kumo's secret Chakra Cannon eventually became powerful enough to shatter the moon. Even with just two barrels, it could reach outer space and intercept a rain of meteorites. It was a piece of technology so abstract it looked like it was ripped straight out of a Star Wars film. Ren hadn't expected Kumo to have a functional, albeit smaller, version this early.
"Yeah," Sasori grunted in response.
Ren rubbed his chin, deep in thought. If it could repel Orochimaru's Eight-Headed Serpent, it could certainly damage a Susanoo. While such a fixed weapon had many weaknesses—a ninja could destroy it before it fired—the presence of the Third Raikage changed the math.
The Third Raikage was too fast. His speed allowed him to dodge visual-based eye techniques, and his defense ignored almost any non-countering attribute. He was a stats-beast. Ren had only managed to corner him last time because the Raikage was hell-bent on a killing blow and made a single mistake. In a rematch, with the Raikage now wary of Ren's tricks, killing him again would be nearly impossible.
However, the difficulty of the assassination didn't end there.
Terumi Mei, standing beside them on the platform, spoke up. "Ren, do you truly understand what you've set in motion?"
"The moment you issued an assassination declaration against the Daimyo of a Great Nation, your enemy became more than just the Land of Lightning. Under the joint decree of the Five Great Daimyos, the nature of this summit has changed. The ninjas from all five nations, attending at their lords' command, will be duty-bound to stop you."
"You are no longer facing one village. You are facing the Five Great Nations. You are facing the condemnation of the entire shinobi world!"
Mei looked at Ren, her emerald eyes filled with a heavy, somber light. "In other words, you are standing alone against the world."
Under that heavy question, Ren fell silent. While he had mentally prepared himself for the consequences, facing a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles one after another was daunting.
"Listen—"
Yahiko turned to face Ren and the assembled group. "We traveled a thousand miles from the Land of Rain to help you! The era that will overturn the status quo of the shinobi world has been born through you."
"Regardless of whether the Daimyo dies, countries governed by ninjas—like the Land of Rain—will begin to pop up like mushrooms after a rain. When that happens, a conflict far more brutal than this Third Great Ninja War will erupt across the entire world."
"In an era of endless combat, if we want to end all war and resolve all disputes, we need a weapon!"
"A weapon capable of deterring the Five Great Nations, of suppressing the ambitions of those who would start wars. A weapon that places a pain above them all, allowing an era of mutual understanding to descend!"
Yahiko reached into his cloak and solemnly pulled out two items.
The first was the Red Cloud Cloak of Akatsuki, which he hadn't been able to give Ren back in the Land of Rain. The second was a ring engraved with the kanji for "Zero" (零).
"I invite you once again—join Akatsuki!"
"This time, you shall be the leader. The Zero of Akatsuki!"
"Five days from now, let the entire shinobi world witness the Birth of a God!"
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