Orochimaru Defected from Akatsuki
"...Haa."
The old man's sigh carried the weight of an era.
The elder of Kirigakure,
Genji,
closed his eyes briefly. That single breath expressed more than a thousand arguments ever could.
The facts true or fabricated had already been arranged before the entire assembly. At this point, what could he possibly say in defense of the Kaguya Clan?
The accusations were riddled with inconsistencies. The so-called evidence relied heavily on conjecture. Under proper investigation, many points would likely collapse.
But this was no ordinary political dispute.
This was the will of the Mizukage.
And standing behind the Mizukage…
…was something far more terrifying.
Genji understood that clearly.
He was old but not foolish.
"Fourth Mizukage-sama," Genji said slowly, rising with visible fatigue, "this old man is unwell. I shall take my leave."
"I will not interfere further."
He did not look at Kaguya Kaku, who stared at him with desperate, bloodshot eyes.
He looked only at
Yagura Karatachi.
Yagura's expression was wooden. Empty. His crimson eyes reflected nothing.
"Very well."
Two simple words.
No hesitation.
Genji narrowed his gaze slightly. For a fleeting moment, he searched Yagura's chakra flow subtle fluctuations, any hint of irregularity.
Nothing.
At least… nothing detectable.
He bowed and departed.
As the elder's figure disappeared beyond the chamber doors, Kaguya Kaku felt the last pillar of support crumble within him.
Even Genji had chosen silence.
Then
Yagura spoke.
"This matter is concluded."
His tone was absolute.
"Kaguya Kaku is guilty of colluding with Konohagakure."
"The Kaguya Clan is hereby placed under surveillance for suspected treason."
The verdict struck like a hammer.
"According to village law"
"Kaguya Kaku will be detained in the high-security prison and subjected to interrogation by the Torture and Interrogation Division."
"If the Kaguya Clan shows any suspicious movement"
"Execute without exception."
The killing intent in the chamber surged instantly.
Kirigakure was not Konoha.
Under the "Bloody Mist" era, suspicion alone could lead to extermination.
Kaku's fists clenched. For a brief moment, bone protrusions pressed faintly beneath the skin of his arms the instinctive reaction of the Shikotsumyaku.
But he suppressed it.
He understood.
Surrounded by elite jōnin, with the Mizukage present, resistance would only doom his entire clan.
If he escaped
His wife. His children. His clansmate.
They would be slaughtered.
So he lowered his head.
ANBU stepped forward and bound him.
As he was escorted out of the Mizukage's administrative tower, the world seemed drained of color.
Gray.
Silent.
Hopeless.
"The meeting is dismissed."
Yagura's command ended it.
But behind those lifeless eyes
Another consciousness stirred.
Far away, in the shadows unseen by ordinary shinobi
Obito Uchiha allowed a faint smile to curve beneath his spiral mask.
The manipulation of the Bloody Mist continued flawlessly.
Elsewhere Hidden Observation
"Impressive…"
Uchiha Yi watched the entire political execution unfold with narrowed eyes.
"I underestimated him."
He had always considered Obito impulsive driven by emotion rather than calculation.
But today's orchestration proved otherwise.
Blackened resolve truly sharpened a man.
Just as he began contemplating Obito's next move
The ring on his finger pulsed.
The crimson nail polish shimmered.
A familiar chakra frequency activated.
It was a summons.
The will of
Nagato.
More precisely
Tendō.
The leader of the Akatsuki.
Uchiha Yi withdrew immediately, locating a secure and secluded chamber before injecting chakra into the ring.
The world shifted.
Darkness swallowed the physical plane.
Illusionary Meeting Space Demonic Statue of the Outer Path
He materialized as a spectral projection upon one of the massive fingers of the
Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Around him, other illusory forms emerged one by one.
"Damn it," muttered
Kakuzu,
"I was about to collect a hundred-million ryō bounty. Why call a meeting now?"
"Hahaha!"
Hidan laughed wildly.
"Anyone here interested in joining Lord Jashin's faith?"
Silence greeted him.
Across the statue stood
Sasori,
expression unreadable.
Beside him
Itachi Uchiha.
Calm. Unmoved.
Watching.
"Quiet."
The voice of Tendō Pain echoed through the cavern.
"First matter."
A brief pause.
"Orochimaru has defected from Akatsuki."
The name hung heavily.
Orochimaru former Konoha Sannin, researcher of forbidden techniques, seeker of immortality.
"His current whereabouts are unknown."
"If discovered kill him immediately."
No elaboration.
No explanation.
Those who understood… understood.
Orochimaru's ambition to seize Itachi's Sharingan had failed. He lost an arm to Itachi's blade and withdrew from the organization soon after.
Betrayal.
Unforgivable.
Hidan slapped his chest.
"I'll sacrifice that snake to Jashin-sama!"
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed.
"That bounty will be enormous…"
Sasori's lips curved faintly.
He knew Orochimaru better than most.
The so-called "partner" had long harbored independent schemes.
Only Itachi remained silent.
His gaze flickered briefly toward Uchiha Yi subtle, unreadable.
Pain continued.
"Second matter."
"Biwa Jūzō is dead."
A former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist killed during a mission alongside Itachi.
"The organization is short-handed."
Pain's Rinnegan focused toward the spiral-masked figure.
"Recruitment of
Kisame Hoshigaki?"
Obito coughed lightly.
"It will succeed soon."
"Too slow."
Pain's response was immediate.
"Uchiha Yi will assume primary responsibility."
"'Tobi' will assist."
Uchiha Yi's brow twitched slightly.
So the task circled back to him.
It made sense.
Jūzō was dead.
Itachi could not reapproach Kisame without suspicion.
And Obito busy destabilizing Kirigakure had delayed too long.
Pain moved on.
"Third matter."
"Zetsu has identified a suitable candidate."
A figure materialized faintly
Deidara.
"A talented shinobi of Iwagakure."
"Strength acceptable."
"However, extraction from his village will require force."
"Sasori. Itachi. You will handle this."
Both acknowledged silently.
"Kakuzu. Hidan."
"Continue bounty operations."
"Yes," came the synchronized reply.
The meeting concluded.
The spectral projections began to fade
And just before the illusion dissolved completely
A mechanical whisper echoed within Uchiha Yi's consciousness.
The darkness lifted.
Uchiha Yi opened his eyes.
The world of blood and shadow continued turning.
And the game had only just begun.