"Sacrificing a Jinchuriki? The higher-ups of Sunagakure must really be out of their minds. No wonder they're considered the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages," Daniel shook his head in disbelief as he hung up the phone. It had been a call from Chiyo, informing him of Sunagakure's plans.
Thanks to a promise from the Daimyo, Sunagakure's Council saw this attack on Amegakure as a golden opportunity to secure more support from the Daimyo. They also intended to eliminate Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, whom they viewed as an inconvenience.
The potential loss of their Tailed Beast, Shukaku, didn't concern them. Sunagakure clung to the outdated belief that if their beast was captured, they could simply negotiate its return, much like how Rasa, the previous Kazekage, thought when he attacked Konoha. Although this idea was somewhat odd, it wasn't entirely baseless. If Konoha retained control of Shukaku, the other villages would grow wary of them. After all, when the First Hokage sold the Tailed Beasts, it wasn't just about the money.
It was all about maintaining balance. In fact, when Hashirama was alive, the other four great villages had cooperated more closely than at any other time. The First Shinobi World War, which began after his death, was initially an effort to test whether Hashirama was truly dead. Once they realized he was, they turned on each other.
"Jinchuriki... Maybe this is the perfect chance to capture all the Tailed Beasts." Daniel considered the other villages. Besides Tsunade in Konoha, who wouldn't sacrifice Naruto, and the Fourth Raikage, who wouldn't sacrifice Killer Bee, the other Jinchuriki were all disposable in the eyes of their leaders.
"I wonder if Fuu, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki from Takigakure, will get involved. Sunagakure is so poor." Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure had all purchased two Tailed Beasts from Hashirama. However, Sunagakure had only managed to buy one, not because they didn't want more, but because they simply couldn't afford it. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind refused to fund it, allowing Takigakure to snatch up a bargain.
Back in the day, Takigakure wasn't much weaker than Amegakure, which was why they could afford a Tailed Beast. Unfortunately, Takigakure had since fallen into decline, now a shadow of its former self.
Takigakure's leadership also had a peculiar mindset, as evidenced by sending Kakuzu to assassinate the First Hokage. What was even more absurd was that they had declared Kakuzu a traitor before he had even attempted the assassination. Their convoluted schemes seemed less about taking down Hashirama and more about dealing with Kakuzu.
It was reminiscent of how Sunagakure had betrayed their hero, Pakura of the Scorch Release, by offering her as a scapegoat. Kakuzu faced a similar fate because of his strength and rising influence in Takigakure, which threatened the village's leaders.
"This is a rare opportunity," Daniel thought as he began drawing complex seals on the ground. He placed a White Zetsu body in one of the seals, while in another, he placed a vial of blood. Then, with his hands performing the necessary hand signs, he muttered, "Edo Tensei."
With a puff of smoke, a dark coffin emerged from the ground. As the coffin lid slowly opened, Uzumaki Kushina stepped out.
"Hello again. Do you remember me?" Daniel waved with a smile as Kushina took in her surroundings.
"So, this is the timeline you're from." Kushina glanced around at the forest, noting the lack of anything significant aside from the trees. The memory of meeting Daniel was unsealed just before her death, so she still remembered him.
"That's right. Naruto is around thirteen years old now," Daniel replied softly.
"Which direction is Konoha?" Kushina asked, clearly eager to see Naruto.
"Before we go to Konoha, there are some things you need to know. It's better if we talk elsewhere." Daniel touched her shoulder, teleporting them to the meeting room inside the steel tower in Amegakure using Flying Thunder God.
"Let me explain the current state of the shinobi world," Daniel began. He activated a holographic map, giving Kushina a detailed rundown of the current situation, as well as Akatsuki's goals. He also revealed Nagato and Konan's true identities.
"The Uchiha clan was wiped out?" Kushina was taken aback by the news. She had been close friends with Uchiha Mikoto, and Naruto and Sasuke were almost the same age, with Sasuke only a few months older.
"Yes. After the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and yourself, the Third Hokage regained power, overturning all of Minato's policies. The pressure on the Uchiha clan mounted, forcing them to rebel. Uchiha Itachi, working with several forces, wiped them out. Currently, only three Uchiha remain: Itachi, Sasuke, and Uchiha Obito." Daniel paused deliberately after mentioning Obito's name.
"Obito is still alive?" Kushina's voice trembled slightly, remembering Minato's students—Obito, Kakashi, and Rin. The news of Obito and Rin's deaths had deeply saddened her back then.
"I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news. The masked man who caused your deaths and attacked Konoha was Uchiha Obito. He is currently imprisoned here, and I'll take you to see him shortly."
"What? That's impossible! Obito couldn't be the masked man!" Kushina immediately rejected the idea.
"I'm sorry, but it's true. His Mangekyo Sharingan has space-time abilities. After Rin's death, Obito, who had always been a deeply emotional person, fell into despair and sought to destroy the world." Daniel then told Kushina everything about Obito, Rin, and his involvement with Uchiha Madara.
"Uchiha Madara… Infinite Tsukuyomi?" Kushina's expression shifted as she processed all this new information. She sighed deeply, feeling the weight of everything.
"What a foolish child..."
"Obito isn't foolish. This world just seems to forgive everything, doesn't it?" Daniel noted, picking up on Kushina's tone. It was clear she had already absolved Obito for the role he played in her and Minato's deaths.
"Actually, even Uchiha Madara was deceived. Infinite Tsukuyomi is just a ruse. The real goal is the God Tree, which brings us to the origins of the Tailed Beasts. Have you heard of the Ten-Tails?"
"The Ten-Tails? I don't think there's a beast like that in the shinobi world," Kushina replied, puzzled.
"That's because the Ten-Tails was split into the nine Tailed Beasts by the Sage of Six Paths before his death. The Ten-Tails is the combination of all nine beasts," Daniel explained, going on to reveal the truths behind the God Tree, Kaguya Otsutsuki, and the Otsutsuki Clan.
This was the first time Daniel had fully shared this information, something he had not even told Sasuke or Nagato.
"Kaguya betrayed the Otsutsuki Clan by refusing to feed the God Tree with this world. It's only a matter of time before they come here looking for her. I have reason to believe they'll appear soon. Their strength is overwhelming, which is why Akatsuki's goal is to unify the shinobi world—not just to prevent future wars, but to prepare for their arrival."
Of course, Daniel's claim was only partially true. In reality, facing the Otsutsuki Clan required more than just numbers. What was truly needed were individuals with the strength to challenge them, as a mere army would stand no chance.
"It's amusing, isn't it? Konoha once had the power to unify the entire shinobi world but chose to let it slip through their fingers. They even abandoned the Uzumaki Clan, their most vital allies, all in the name of this ridiculous Will of Fire." Daniel chuckled.
"What is it you want from me?" Kushina asked, her gaze sharp.
"Simple. I don't want you or Minato as enemies. Konoha will be destroyed by Akatsuki; that's inevitable." Daniel then explained to her, as he had to Sasuke and Nagato, the unavoidable circumstances leading to the next Shinobi World War.
"The First Hokage was so focused on peace, but he didn't even last a year before the First Shinobi World War began."
"Naruto is safe in Konoha for now. Why not take this opportunity to explore Amegakure? It's very different from what it was before." Daniel gestured for Kushina to relax.
Amegakure had flourished under Akatsuki's governance, now rivaling Konoha in prosperity. After the defeat of the Land of Iron, the blockade imposed by the great nations had become meaningless. The influx of new goods attracted merchants from all over. For these traders, making money was far more important than the opinions of the great nations, and many saw the blockade as an opportunity to smuggle goods without paying taxes.
"This old man really did all of this?" Kushina stormed into the room one day, holding up a book with an annoyed expression. The title
read, The Dark Life of Hiruzen Sarutobi: The King of Scapegoats, Danzō's True Story.
Lately, Akatsuki had published a variety of books, including Jiraiya's Icha Icha Paradise and other informative works, such as the one Kushina held. Other titles included The Life of the Third Tsuchikage and The Bloody Mist: The Story Behind the Village's Reign of Terror. There was even a collection detailing the sinister actions of the Daimyo.
Daniel had even considered writing a book in the Qin's Moon world titled The Greatest Mastermind in the Warring States Period: Changping Jun, exposing all the manipulations he had orchestrated behind the scenes.
"What do you think?" Daniel chuckled.
"I want to see Naruto."
"Alright."
Daniel wasn't surprised by Kushina's request to see Naruto. In fact, he was more surprised that she had waited two whole days before asking.
"I'll take you," he said, using Flying Thunder God to transport them to a forest near Konoha. He had previously left several markers throughout Konoha for such occasions.
"Rushing in recklessly will only make you look like an enemy. Let me handle this," Daniel cautioned as Kushina prepared to enter the village. He activated the Mirror Dimension, allowing them to enter Konoha undetected.
"It's changed a lot," Kushina remarked, taking in the sight of the village she hadn't seen in over a decade.
"Shall we visit Naruto's home first?"
"Yes."
Following Daniel's suggestion, they arrived at a run-down apartment complex. The moment Kushina laid eyes on it, her expression darkened. Her only child, the son of the Fourth Hokage and the Uzumaki Princess, was living in such a dilapidated place. In contrast, Sasuke Uchiha, after his clan's massacre, still lived in his family's grand estate.
Despite everything Daniel had already told her about Naruto's hardships, seeing the squalid conditions firsthand stoked Kushina's anger. Inside the apartment, the mess of dirty clothes, instant ramen cups, and milk cartons only deepened her fury.
"Get out."
"Alright."
Seeing the dark look on her face, Daniel complied. He opened the Mystic Gate, allowing Kushina to enter Naruto's room alone, while he stepped outside to wait. He sent a shadow clone into the village to locate Naruto.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen..." Kushina muttered bitterly once Daniel left, casting her eyes over the apartment. After inspecting the clothes in the closet and the sparse contents of the fridge, she coldly spoke the Third Hokage's name.
"Naruto's currently training with Jiraiya in one of the caves," Daniel informed her once his shadow clone returned with the information. Given the current situation, there was no way Jiraiya would take Naruto on a three-year training journey like in the original story. If they were gone for that long, Konoha might not even exist by the time they returned.
With Tsunade dealing with pressure from the two elders and Danzo, Jiraiya's presence in the village was crucial.
"Let's explore the village first," Kushina decided after leaving Naruto's apartment, seemingly in no rush to see him now.
"Sure." Daniel observed the now tidy apartment, nodding slightly in approval. Though her actions might reveal her presence, it wasn't a big deal. After all, Akatsuki was strong enough that defeating the Five Great Shinobi Villages was only a matter of time.
Disguised with the Transformation Jutsu, the two walked leisurely through the streets of Konoha. While Konoha maintained tight surveillance over outsiders, once someone was inside, as long as they didn't cause a commotion, they could blend in without attracting attention.
After all, when Itachi and Kisame infiltrated Konoha, they had time to sit down for a meal before being discovered by Asuma. Konoha's ANBU weren't omniscient.
Even in modern society, with all its technological advances, it was impossible to monitor everyone all the time. Criminals got smarter as technology improved.
"These people are digging their own graves." Daniel shook his head as he listened to the villagers casually discussing Naruto as the "demon fox," noting the deepening frown on Kushina's face.
Even at this point, Konoha had yet to reveal Naruto's true identity.
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