Sullivan's plan worked perfectly. The whispers he planted grew into loud shouts.
Shinobi from every major village swarmed the Forest of Death.
They weren't working together. Oh no, they were fighting each other.
Each village thought the castle held the greatest treasures and power.
Each village wanted it for themselves.
The Forest of Death became a battlefield.
Explosions rocked the trees. Shuriken flew through the air like deadly rain.
Shinobi clashed with kunai and jutsu, their shouts filling the air.
There was no order, just chaos. It was a free-for-all, a greedy scramble for a prize that wasn't even real.
Back in Konoha, the mood was tense. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood by the window, his face grim.
Reports poured in every hour. Sand, Stone, Cloud, Mist – all were battling inside his village's training ground. It was an insult.
Worse, it was a danger.
"Hokage-sama," an Anbu operative reported, "Our scouts confirm large-scale engagements.Iwagakure and Sunagakure forces are clashing near the castle's perimeter. Kumo is trying to flank them. It's a mess."
Hiruzen sighed.
His village was at risk. He couldn't afford to send more of his Anbu to the Forest of Death.
They would just be swallowed by the fighting, just like Danzo's Root operatives.
"Recall all Anbu from the Forest of Death,"
Hiruzen commanded. His voice was tired but firm.
"Their new orders are to defend the village walls. No one goes near that castle. We protect our own, first and foremost."
The Anbu captain bowed and vanished.
Hiruzen turned to his desk, picking up a picture of his former students.
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.
Oh, how he wished Tsunade was here. He should be stronger than this and not let the councilors force her into a corner.
Just as Hiruzen was lost in thought, a knock came at his door.
"Enter," he called out.
The door opened, and two familiar faces stepped in.
One had spiky white hair and a mischievous grin.
The other had pale skin and a snake-like gaze. It was Jiraiya and Orochimaru, two of Konoha's legendary Sannin.
"Jiraiya! Orochimaru!" Hiruzen exclaimed, surprised and a little relieved. "You're back."
Jiraiya scratched his head.
"Heard about the big shiny castle, sensei. And all the ruckus in the forest. Figured we should come see what's what."
Orochimaru's eyes, however, were fixed on something else – a map on Hiruzen's desk showing the general location of the castle.
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"This castle," Orochimaru said, his voice a low hiss, "they say it holds immense power. Immortality, perhaps? Forbidden jutsu?"
His eyes gleamed with a dangerous hunger.
He had always been obsessed with forbidden knowledge and eternal life.
This castle, to him, was a grand new experiment waiting to happen.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Always with the immortality, Orochimaru. I heard Tsunade's chakra signature was seen near the castle. I want to go find her. She's been gone too long."
Hiruzen's eyes softened at the mention of Tsunade.
"That's why I sent the Anbu, Jiraiya. But I've called them back. The Forest of Death is too dangerous. It's a war zone out there. All the villages are fighting for some imagined treasure. Sending you two would be… reckless."
"Reckless or not, sensei,"
Orochimaru said, his gaze unwavering,
"I must see this castle for myself. The potential knowledge... it's too great to ignore."
The two didn't know that the biggest reason that made Tsunade run away from Konoha was because of him.
Jiraiya nodded.
"And I'm not leaving without checking on Tsunade. Even if she's just a fake, I need to know."
Hiruzen knew it was useless to argue.
When these two set their minds on something, they were stubborn.
Especially Orochimaru.
"Very well," Hiruzen said, defeated.
"But be careful. Do not engage. Gather information and return. That is an order."
Orochimaru just smiled, a cold, unreadable expression.
Jiraiya gave a thumbs-up. Then, both of them were gone, heading towards the chaos of the Forest of Death.
Hiruzen sank into his chair.
"Foolish students," he muttered, "always running headfirst into danger."
But a part of him felt a sliver of hope.
Perhaps Jiraiya could reach Tsunade, if she truly was there.
Inside the colossal castle, Sullivan watched the unfolding war with delight.
A vast, shimmering screen in the main hall showed the entire Forest of Death.
Glowing dots moved and clashed, indicating the various shinobi battling below.
"Look at them," Sullivan chuckled, leaning back on his starlight throne. "So eager, so desperate for power. It's truly a sight."
Tsunade, Nawaki, Shizune, and Anko were also watching, though with different expressions.
Tsunade still felt a pang of worry for her village, even if she understood Sullivan's game.
Anko was mesmerized by the sheer scale of the fighting.
"And he's doing his part too,"
Sullivan said, pointing to a small, dark dot moving swiftly through the forest, subtly nudging different shinobi groups together.
"Black Zetsu, ever so diligent."
Black Zetsu, a shadowy, sentient being who served Kaguya, was unknowingly acting as Sullivan's pawn.
He thought he was pushing the shinobi to attack the castle, to somehow free Kaguya, but he was simply following Sullivan's subtle commands.
He wanted to cause as much trouble as possible for the villages, thinking it would lead to Kaguya's ultimate freedom and world domination.
He had no idea he was being manipulated.
"He's making them attack the castle?"
Anko asked, confused.
"Not directly," Sullivan corrected. "He's making them believe the others are trying to get to the treasure first. He's stoking their greed, making them fight harder. It's all part of the fun."
A loud explosion shook the distant forest, even from inside the castle.
The shinobi below were tearing each other apart.
Yet, none of them could even get close to the castle gates.
Kaguya stood there, a silent, powerful guardian.
Her presence alone was enough to deter any direct assault.
Those who tried to force their way through simply ceased to exist, their chakra and very being wiped away as if they had never been.
No pain, no struggle, just… gone.
"See?" Sullivan said, a contented smile on his face.
"No one harms my people. No one gets to live in this castle without paying a price. But for those inside," he gestured to Tsunade and the others, "you are free. Completely free. No strings, no payments. Just safety and whatever you desire."
Tsunade looked at her brother, Nawaki, who was examining a beautiful, glowing orb he'd found in one of the castle's many rooms.
She looked at Shizune, who was happily exploring the medical facilities.
And then at Anko, who was just starting to understand the strange new reality they were in.
Sullivan was right. Here, they were truly free, safe from the endless conflicts of the shinobi world.
And outside, the world was burning, caught in a trap set by a playful, god-like being.
It was a bizarre, unsettling, and strangely comforting situation.
Suddenly, a series of soft, ethereal whispers reached Sullivan's mind.
He smiled, turning his attention away from the chaos outside.
These were his servants, living in a special shadow realm connected to him.
They were powerful beings, loyal to him, and they had been quiet for too long.
"My dear disciple," a clear, strong voice echoed in his thoughts. It was Scathach, the legendary warrior queen.
"The time for idleness grows tiresome. We sense the turmoil in the world outside. Our blades are eager to be tested."
Next, a more reserved, yet equally firm, voice followed.
"Indeed, Master. We are ready to serve. A true challenge has been long overdue."
This was Saber, her spirit honed for battle.
Then came a gentle but insistent voice.
"Our faith demands action, my Lord. To witness such strife and not intervene... it weighs upon us."
This was Jeanne, her desire to protect strong even from the shadow realm.
Finally, a sharper, more calculating voice chimed in.
"Let us out, Master. Let us stretch our power. This 'Forest of Death' sounds like a suitable training ground."
This was Morgan, always seeking to exert her will and power.
Sullivan chuckled, a deep, satisfied sound.
"So you all are basically bored." he thought, responding to them all at once. "You want to exercise, do you?"
He leaned forward on his throne, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
The fighting outside was entertaining, but a new layer of chaos, directed by his formidable servants, would be even better.
He had just the task for them.
...
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