Inoiki chose to remain at the Iwagakure camp until he could confirm the status of Han, the Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails. His presence there wasn't idle—he had predicted an imminent storm, and sure enough, chaos began to brew within Iwagakure.
Sensing the urgency, Onoki acted without delay. He demanded an immediate update on Han's condition and whereabouts. It was troubling enough that Han wasn't in the village—but more disturbing was the fact that such a powerful asset had been allowed to operate outside Iwagakure without direct oversight for almost a week. For a village of their stature, this lapse was unacceptable.
Onoki ordered a message to be relayed at once to the Anbu unit currently tasked with monitoring Han. He wanted a detailed report, immediately. But he didn't stop there. To eliminate all uncertainty, he dispatched a second reconnaissance team to the location cited in the Anbu's latest transmissions. Their mission: confirm Han's exact position and verify his status beyond any doubt.
A full day passed, and Onoki still hadn't received a single word from the Iwagakure Anbu team assigned to monitor Han. The silence was unnerving. Then, on the second day, a report finally arrived—but it wasn't from the Anbu.
It came from the secondary team Onoki had dispatched to verify Han's last known location. What they found only deepened the crisis: the corpses of the entire Anbu unit, left in the wilderness, lifeless for nearly a week. No trace of Han was found at the site.
From the condition of the bodies and the pattern of injuries, the investigating team made one thing clear—it wasn't Han who had killed them. The attack didn't match his abilities or combat style. That possibility was ruled out entirely.
Onoki rose abruptly from his chair, fury tightening his face. He slammed his hand on the desk and shouted, "Damn it! Who is behind this? Is it the Akatsuki?!"
His voice echoed through the chamber as he turned to the Anbu operative in front of him.
"Tell Kitsuchi what's happened," he barked. "Mobilize the ninja stationed at the forward camp—start a full-scale sweep across the entire Land of Earth. I want eyes on every trail, every outpost. Find Han. If he's alive, bring him back to Iwagakure. If he's dead... then bring me his corpse."
He paused, his voice lowering but filled with dread. "And look for Son Goku. He's missing too. I thought he was simply lying low, but clearly I misjudged the situation."
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. "I should've expected this after what happened to the Kazekage. After the One-Tail was taken. I considered the risk... but now, it looks like the Akatsuki may truly be making their move."
The Anbu ninja standing before him bowed solemnly. "Understood, Tsuchikage-sama."
With nothing more to say, Anbu ninja vanished from the Tsuchikage's office in a flicker.
He didn't even consider asking Inoiki for help in locating Han. Pride wouldn't allow it. How could Iwagakure, a major shinobi village, admit that it couldn't track its own Jinchūriki? They had already swallowed their pride once—when they requested aid from Konohagakure to rescue his granddaughter. That humiliation still lingered.
Onoki never wanted to turn to Konoha, not even then. In fact, his first instinct hadn't been to reach out to the Leaf—but to the Akatsuki.
Yes, the very group now suspected of hunting the tailed beasts.
Back then, before their full intentions were known, he had approached them with a desperate request: help rescue his granddaughter. He had offered them a generous reward—more than enough to tempt most mercenary groups. But the Akatsuki declined. At the time, he didn't understand why. Now, the answer was all too clear.
They were never interested in helping Iwagakure. They were already working against it—likely already moving in on Han. Of course they wouldn't take the mission. Accepting it would have risked exposing their true objective.
Onoki let out a long, tired sigh and turned his gaze to the cloudy sky beyond his office window. His village—once strong, once feared—was showing cracks. The foundation was weakening, and he knew it.
Now, his only hope rested with his granddaughter. She was the last remaining pillar, the only one with the strength and potential to rise and one day wear the mantle of Tsuchikage.
----
Somewhere deep within the rugged terrain of the Land of Earth, Pain stood still, his expression unreadable, his eyes—those piercing Rinnegan—fixed on the horizon. At his side, Konan waited in silence, the wind tugging faintly at her Akatsuki cloak.
Without warning, the ground just a few feet away shifted. From the earth, Zetsu emerged—half black, half white—rising smoothly until he stood upright before them. His gaze met Pain's.
"It's confirmed," Zetsu reported. "Inoiki from Konoha has arrived in the Land of Earth. He successfully rescued Kurotsuchi, wiping out nearly all of the rogue ninjas in the process. Tsuchikage's granddaughter is safe."
He paused, then added, "And now, Onoki has learned of Han's disappearance. He's already begun to suspect Akatsuki. The worst part? His suspicion was triggered by Inoiki's deductions."
Pain remained silent for a moment, processing the report. Then he spoke, his voice low and controlled—but laced with intent.
"Inoiki is interfering with Akatsuki's operations more often than he should," he said. "Because of him, we lost two core members—Sasori and Deidara. Worse, our presence was exposed before we intended it. The element of surprise was crucial. Now, thanks to him, the major villages have glimpsed our abilities. Not everything, but enough."
His gaze hardened. "He's becoming a problem. A threat. If we don't eliminate him now, he'll only grow stronger. And this is our chance to take revenge—for the comrades we lost."
Konan nodded quietly at his side, her expression grim. She didn't need to speak; her agreement was clear. Inoiki was young, powerful, and dangerous. With time, he could become an even greater obstacle—one that could jeopardize the Akatsuki's entire plan.
He needed to be erased—before he had the chance to become unstoppable.
----
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