Outside the tent, Ryo's words "Let him wait" echoed like a silent slap across his face. Humiliation and fear burned in his chest. He took a deep breath, suppressing the storm in his gut, and rasped an order to the kneeling Root ninja.
"Report. Situation outside the camp. Chiyo escaped. What about Suna's main force? How far did that brat's stunt reach? I want details."
"Yes, Danzō-sama," the Root shinobi replied with rigid tone. "Suna's elite assault unit has been wiped out, except for Chiyo and a few guards who managed to flee. The Ten Puppets were all killed or captured. Prisoner numbers have far exceeded projections, primarily due to the mental shockwave released by Kamiyama Ryo. Its range was massive. Most enemy Chūnin and below lost consciousness and were easily captured."
"Range?" Danzō's eye flashed with sharp light.
"Initial estimate is over fifteen kilometers. Within that radius, all Konoha personnel below Special Jōnin rank were also knocked out. Many still haven't regained consciousness. Multiple unconscious Suna scout and support teams have been discovered on the perimeter."
Danzō's heart jumped violently. A radius of fifteen kilometers? That exceeded his understanding of any ninjutsu. It was a natural disaster.
He forced himself to stay composed, but his voice betrayed a trace of urgency. "Suna's main camp, any movement?"
"Suna's main force halted after the shockwave. Small units on the fringe stirred but were suppressed. The main troops have withdrawn behind fortifications. Their movements are unclear. Overall posture has shifted to defense. No sign of renewed aggression. Recon teams report a heavy atmosphere and declining morale in their camp."
"Defensive posture... low morale..." Danzō repeated, his eye flickering. Suna had suffered a major blow. Their elites were gone, Chiyo severely wounded. Morale collapse was inevitable. Which meant, it was time.
He abruptly looked at the Root ninja. "Immediately. Send a diplomatic envoy to the Suna camp, under the authority of Konoha's front-line commander. Request peace talks."
"Yes!" The Root shinobi vanished.
Danzō slumped into his seat. He picked up a brush, unrolled a scroll, and began writing with a hand still slightly trembling. His handwriting was sharp and cold, a faint weakness buried beneath each stroke.
[Hiruzen,
The situation in the Land of Rain is settled. Suna's elites are gone. We have captured many prisoners. Chiyo fled, gravely wounded. They have no hope of reversing the tide.
This outcome was thanks entirely to Kamiyama Ryo. His strength defies common sense. His spiritual shockwave affected a 15-kilometer radius, incapacitating enemy and ally alike. Such power is unheard of in the shinobi world.
However, he is arrogant and disregards his elders. On the battlefield today, he made me kneel...
If this power cannot be brought under Konoha's control, it will become a serious threat.
We must quickly understand the principles behind his techniques, identify his weaknesses and bonds, and prepare measures to contain him if needed.
— Shimura Danzō]
After writing the last word, he leaned back in his chair, eye fixed on the dim ceiling above. Within it swirled lingering fear, bitter resentment, and snake-like greed. Ryo's power... if he could grasp the position of Hokage, it would be within reach.
---
Mountain Graveyard.
In the vast underground cavern, only the sound of the dark river echoed faintly.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path stood at the center, chakra tubes stretching out below it.
Uchiha Madara sat with eyes closed like a stone carving. Deep creases marked his face, worn by time. Only the occasional flicker of crimson from beneath his eyelids revealed the terrifying will still residing within this decaying body.
Plop~
A soft, squishy sound broke the silence. The ground rippled like water as a pure white, fungus-like creature emerged — White Zetsu, poking its head up.
"Madara-sama, something interesting just happened~"
Madara didn't move.
"Madara-sama! Madara-sama!" A louder, more obnoxious voice rang out. From the shadow of a nearby rock, a figure in a swirl-patterned single-eye mask and a white body sprang forth, arms flailing — it was Tobi.
"In the Land of Rain! It's over! Boom boom boom! Huge noise! We even felt the tremors outside! That little Konoha brat, crazy strong!"
"Annoying." Madara's lips barely moved. His voice was as rough as stone grinding. A heavy, invisible pressure filled the air.
"Ahhh!" Tobi yelped and collapsed like sludge, whining, "I just wanted to say… 'Asura'! They're calling him Asura! Is he as strong as you? Does he fight like—"
"Silence, Tobi." Madara's eyes opened.
Crimson three-tomoe Sharingan gleamed in the dim light, cold and indifferent.
"One more word and I'll send you back to the culture tank."
This so-called "armor" made from Hashirama's cells had a brain full of childish nonsense. It was even dumber than Hashirama himself.
From the shadows, a black, sticky mass wriggled. Black Zetsu's voice rasped out like metal scraping metal, full of disdain. "Hmph. Idiot Tobi. Always angering Madara-sama."
Madara ignored the shadow, focusing instead on the actual report.
White Zetsu quickly complied. "Yes, Madara-sama. The battle in the Land of Rain is over. That red-haired Konoha brat cleaned up the mess by himself! He put Hanzo on the ground and scared Chiyo off! The outside world is saying Konoha has a new Asura! Even saying... he's stronger than you were! Of course, only fools would believe that."
"Asura?" Madara's lips curled into a mocking smile. He leaned back slightly, his crimson eyes reflecting the outline of the Demonic Statue.
"If a clown like Hanzo can be called 'Demigod,' then yes, the shinobi world is rotting."
His tone was flat but absolute in its contempt.
Kamiyama Ryo?
A brat without Uchiha blood, glorified for one battle, shooting through the sky like a comet. A fleeting spark. Meaningless.
Worthy opponents? Only those trampled beneath his feet.
"Right, right!" Tobi chimed in, whispering, "But the 'Asura' really made a lot of noise... Madara-sama, aren't you even a little curious? Should I go take a look? Stealthily..."
"Hmph." A cold snort left Madara's nose.
Curiosity? What a waste of time. He glanced at Tobi, the red gleam in his Sharingan flashing, clearly a warning.
He was cautious.
Back when Uzumaki Mito was alive, he had strictly forbidden White Zetsu from approaching Konoha's core area. He understood the terrifying sensory abilities of her Kagura's Mind Eye.
Exposure meant trouble. Possibly a united assault by the five great nations, disrupting the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Because of that, they had completely missed Ryo's early development in Konoha. But a non-Uchiha brat? No matter how he started, what value could he have?
Power? Compared to Uchiha power, just a flicker.
"Hehe, but they're calling him Konoha's new Asura~" White Zetsu mimicked the tone, then suddenly changed his expression.
"But, Madara-sama~ there's something that might affect the plan. The Rinnegan you placed on Nagato has been noticed by that white-haired guy, Jiraiya! He wants to teach Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan ninjutsu!"
"Jiraiya?" Madara's Sharingan slowly rotated. He didn't care who Jiraiya was. But the words "Rinnegan" tightened something inside him.
Nagato was the key vessel for the Eye of the Moon Plan. Anyone who tried to approach or influence him… was a threat.
Those eyes must not be lost!
Black Zetsu immediately followed up from the shadows, voice oozing venom, "That fool wants to infect your destined one with his naive ideas. That's unacceptable. He must be eliminated."
Tobi tried to speak again but was silenced by a glance from Madara, quickly shrinking back behind White Zetsu.
"Increase surveillance on Nagato, Yahiko, Konan, and Jiraiya's movements. Especially Nagato. He is the core. Those eyes cannot be compromised. Any attempt to interfere…"
He paused. Killing intent surged.
"…eliminate them."
"Understood, Madara-sama~" White Zetsu chirped.
"Plop! Mission accepted!" Tobi bounced out again.
"Out." Madara growled, and Tobi flopped to the ground again.
White Zetsu giggled and sank back into the earth. The chamber returned to its dead silence, leaving only Tobi sulking in a puddle.
Madara closed his eyes once more, cutting off the noise of the world. The uproar of the shinobi world, this so-called "Asura," was nothing but dust and foam.
His gaze transcended time, fixed on the eternal dream woven by the Eye of the Moon. Only Infinite Tsukuyomi held meaning.
Madara's thoughts shifted. Ryo's area of effect was enormous, but his power didn't seem to surpass Hashirama's Wood Release or Madara's own prime. Perhaps it was some unknown kekkei genkai or a mutated secret technique.
That didn't matter.
What mattered was…
Madara's thoughts turned to Konoha and the clan he once led.
A new powerful figure had emerged. That might subtly affect the mindset of the Uchiha.
Pride? Caution? Or perhaps… plant the seeds of yearning for power?
"Also, increase surveillance of the Uchiha clan. Focus on those who've awakened their eyes. Especially youths with exceptional talent and intense emotions or deep voids in their hearts. I need… an executor for the plan."
The gears of the plan could not rest solely on Nagato. Within the Uchiha bloodline, there would always be a spark that could carry the will.
Ryo's appearance might be the catalyst.
Madara didn't care about Ryo himself, only the ripple effects he caused.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)