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"I love you, Gaara!" Maki shouted as he rushed toward the unconscious figure lying on the stone slab.
But just then—
Karin swung the iron door she had ripped off its hinges in a full arc, aiming it directly at the seemingly comatose Gaara on the stone bed!
"What!? I knew we couldn't trust you!!!"
Maki's eyes widened in alarm, and he immediately leaped to shield Gaara. However, Ebizō kicked him hard in the backside, sending him flying to the side.
With nothing left to block its path, the heavy iron door crashed down onto the stone bed with a thunderous BOOM!
But—
Just before the door made contact, the Gaara lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes wide and sprang to the side, dispelling the transformation jutsu that had concealed his true identity.
Standing there now was none other than Yamashiro Aoba. Muji gazed at him with a faint smile.
Yamashiro Aoba, along with Genma Shiranui who had died earlier outside, were both staunch supporters of the Hokage faction. It seemed Danzō had deliberately placed them here as sacrificial pawns.
That old man truly couldn't be underestimated. Even without external assistance, given the right direction, he might very well pull off the coup d'état himself.
After all, there was no one like the Third Hokage—wise and calculating—to keep him in check anymore.
It seemed they needed to expedite their plans for Kurenai Yūhi. Heh, a balance of power between Wu and Wei. There truly was nothing new under the sun.
Seeing Yamashiro Aoba reveal his true form, Maki realized he'd been deceived. He immediately demanded, "Tell me! Where is the real Gaara?!"
Chiyo didn't bother looking at Yamashiro Aoba. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Muji and Karin. She doubted that someone capable of creating such chaos outside would make a mistake here.
Muji didn't disappoint her. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he said, "No need to ask. Just kill him. Gaara is sealed beneath this stone bed—it was merely a simple psychological trick. Once you realize the Gaara above is fake, you'll start wondering if the real one is hidden elsewhere. This is our first collaboration with Danzō. While he may employ some underhanded tactics, he wouldn't provide completely false information. After all, we still hold value to him."
Upon hearing this, Yamashiro Aoba swallowed nervously. It seemed he had just learned something significant—but…
Perhaps he wouldn't live long enough to relay it.
Shlunk.
There was no suspense. Maki swiftly ended Yamashiro Aoba's life.
Such was the way of shinobi—no one knew when or where they might perish in some dark corner.
Chiyo, being a legendary puppet master, naturally possessed exceptional skill in mechanical traps. She quickly located the switch and moved the stone bed aside.
A crystalline amber-like object rose from beneath, encasing Gaara inside.
Muji examined it briefly before speaking. "You can destroy it directly. It's just a simple seal meant to prevent the Jinchūriki from releasing the Tailed Beast and causing chaos."
Chiyo, too, recognized the nature of the seal. She tapped a specific node on the surface, and the amber shattered like glass, falling apart with a soft clatter.
At the same time, Gaara slowly opened his eyes within.
So this was all the cunning Danzō had done?
Gazing at Gaara, Muji rested his chin thoughtfully before addressing Chiyo. "Danzō has a subordinate named Yamanaka Fu. He hails from the Yamanaka clan and possesses a secret technique that allows him to seal an enemy's soul and transfer his own into their body, effectively replacing them. When you take Gaara back, you'd do well to thoroughly inspect him."
As soon as Muji finished speaking, Gaara's expression froze momentarily. Then, sitting up, he addressed Muji. "You're far more troublesome than we anticipated. Can you tell me how you obtained your intel?"
A cruel smile crept across Muji's face. "Of course. You see, I've come to believe that ROOT's strength might be too overwhelming for Konoha's current needs. So I'll tell you—it was one of your ROOT members who informed me. For instance, Sai, the boy who records his fallen comrades in a sketchbook. Go ahead and deliver this message to Danzō. Someone who trusts no one will inevitably begin purging all suspicious targets. After all, to him, those people are nothing more than expendable tools."
Gaara's breath hitched. His face darkened instantly. "You're truly a heartless demon! Do you even realize how many lives your words will cost?!"
Muji's lips curled upward. "That's precisely what I'm hoping for. Go ahead and tell Danzō this: the war sweeping across the world will last a long time. Sand's premature withdrawal benefits neither side. Tell him not to rush things."
After a moment of silence, Gaara nodded. "I'll deliver the message."
With that, he slumped back down, unconscious once more.
Maki gulped audibly. "I-Is there still a problem this time?"
Ebizō ignored him, instead fixing Muji with a grave stare. "I never imagined that words could kill so effortlessly—and so openly. Reflecting on it now, it seems you've laid out every step of your plan right in front of us. We even appeared to have choices, yet the outcome has always unfolded exactly as you desired, as though no one could refuse you. Care to share your secret?"
Muji smirked, turning away alongside Karin. "Just as the sun is destined to rise in the east and rain is fated to fall upon the earth, when shinobi bestowed tragic fates upon the Uzumaki, they sealed the world's destruction by their hands. Why can no one resist me? Because fate itself has already been decided."
Beads of sweat formed on Maki's forehead. He protested urgently, "What nonsense! No one can decide another's fate!"
Muji glanced back, grinning wickedly. "I can."
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In truth, there was no such thing as destiny in this world. But...
The strong!
They determined everything!
Even Naruto Uzumaki, the supposed savior of prophecy, rose only through the manipulation of the Great Toad Sage and the Sage of Six Paths. Without Sage Mode from Mount Myōboku or the Yang chakra gifted by the Sage, how could he possibly save the world?
The three watched silently as Muji and Karin disappeared into the dimly lit passageway. An oppressive silence filled the room.
After a while, Chiyo exhaled deeply. "Phew... That guy was truly born in the wrong era. If he had lived during the Warring States period, he might have become as feared as Hashirama Senju."
"No," Ebizō shook his head. "He would have been far more terrifying than Hashirama's colossal Buddha."
In Ebizō's view, anyone who personally captured Tailed Beasts only to distribute them to other villages...
Had to have questionable judgment.
But thinking about it further, Ebizō slapped his forehead. The First Kazekage, who had refused the Tailed Beasts to avoid spending money, wasn't much different either...
After a prolonged silence, Maki finally raised his head and spoke. "Are we really going to cooperate with someone like that? He's insane! If we follow his methods, the future of the shinobi world might crumble in our hands!"
Chiyo sighed, her expression complex as she looked at Maki. "Why are you concerning yourself with the future of the shinobi world? Are you some kind of justice crusader? Is your sympathy and ability so abundant that you can afford to spare it for others? Focus on securing the future of our village first. Once we ensure its survival, then we can worry about the shinobi world."
Gaara's eyelids trembled slightly, as if he were about to awaken.
Ebizō shook his head. "Enough. Let's leave it at that. Before Konoha's shinobi regroup, we should leave immediately. Once we return to the village, we must also begin preparing for war."
Meanwhile, in the library of Konoha, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio stood dumbfounded by the window, staring at the massive tsunami that blotted out the sun.
When Shikamaru spotted Muji and Karin standing atop the towering wave, he clenched his teeth and dashed out of the room.