Land of Earth, Iwagakure.

  In recent years, the Third Tsuchikage, ōnoki, had been persistently wary of Akatsuki. Unfortunately, all he could rely on was Iwagakure's own strength to mount a defense.

  Due to mutual distrust between the great nations, even though ōnoki suspected that Konoha might have more intel on Akatsuki, the iron rule of the shinobi world—information is priceless—meant Iwa couldn't glean much from them.

  "Still no word," ōnoki sighed. He had been searching but had found nothing useful. Even rumors of Deidara were scarce these days.

  "Isn't that a good thing?" asked his son Kitsuchi, puzzled.

  "Of course not!"

  The diminutive Tsuchikage leapt up and thumped his son on the head, shouting angrily, "No news is the worst news! You think someone like Lord Shigen, with his status and power, would just stay hidden in the shadows forever?"

  "…Right."

  Kitsuchi scratched his head helplessly. "We've done our best to track Akatsuki's movements, but they've become ghost-like—only showing up occasionally on missions in minor nations…"

  "Especially this year…"

  "Not a single trace."

  Kitsuchi felt Iwa had already gone above and beyond in its efforts, and since Akatsuki showed no direct hostility toward them, maybe his father was overthinking.

  But…

  That was a na?ve assumption.

  If someone hadn't turned on you yet, it didn't mean they were harmless—it just meant you weren't considered a threat. You were a mb to be sughtered at any moment.

  BOOM!

  Just as Kitsuchi and ōnoki were discussing Akatsuki, a deafening explosion rocked the vilge, shaking the entire earth and causing both men to stumble.

  "!!!"

  ōnoki leapt to the Tsuchikage tower's window and saw a massive plume of fme rising at the edge of the vilge.

  That direction—

  It was where the Five-Tails Jinchūriki lived!

  Had Han suddenly gone berserk? That hadn't happened in years!

  Han had always coexisted well with Kokuō, the Five-Tails. There hadn't been a single incident… until now.

  —

  At the vilge outskirts, Kabuto stood behind Shigen's wheelchair atop a stone building, both calmly observing the mushroom cloud of fire.

  "Isn't that a bit… excessive?" Kabuto muttered.

  "…"

  Shigen shook his head slightly, his blindfolded gaze resting on the burned but still-standing Jinchūriki in the distance.

  "Since we're visiting, it's only polite to announce ourselves."

  "Capturing the Five-Tails isn't the main goal," Shigen said coolly. "Making Iwa understand Akatsuki's threat is."

  "If I must… I should crush Iwagakure entirely to show them their helplessness."

  Only then—

  Could the shinobi nations be forced to unite.

  That unity, and the vast chakra it would gather, was key to reviving Kaguya ōtsutsuki. 2

  That unity, and the vast chakra it would gather, was key to reviving Kaguya ōtsutsuki.

  "Who… are you people?"

  Han, armored in his signature red suit, was scorched but unbroken. A single tail protruded behind him as he stared at the two figures standing atop the house.

  They were… far too strange.

  They had simply appeared—stepping out of a bck portal.

  Han had attacked immediately, only to be stopped with a single finger… and then scorched by devastating Fire Release jutsu.

  Who… were they?

  Han was a loyal, no-nonsense warrior. A model Jinchūriki who never involved himself in politics. He knew little about Akatsuki.

  Kabuto, however, smiled and pushed up his gsses. "Who we are? Haven't you figured it out yet?"

  "?"

  A massive question mark formed in Han's mind.

  "Standing before you is the greatest man in the shinobi world…" Kabuto said with a grin. "A god… a saint… surely you've heard his name—grew up listening to his tales…" 1

  "Standing before you is the greatest man in the shinobi world…" Kabuto said with a grin. "A god… a saint… surely you've heard his name—grew up listening to his tales…"

  "I am Shigen." 2

  "I am Shigen."

  Shigen cut Kabuto off calmly.

  His name alone struck Han harder than any attack.

  He didn't need titles.

  Just his name.

  Han's pupils shrank.

  Even the Five-Tails within him, Kokuō, trembled in recognition.

  They both knew the legend.

  "I need the Five-Tails."

  Shigen extended his hand. "Kokuō, you can hear me through your host. If you know my story, you should understand—resisting is pointless."

  Kokuō recoiled.

  If this was the same Shigen of legend, then there was no point in fighting.

  After all—

  He nearly destroyed the ninja world in ancient times. Even the Sage of Six Paths' teachings barely stopped him.

  Han didn't waver.

  "I won't give him up!"

  His red armor hissed as steam erupted around him. He unched himself at Shigen.

  No matter what—he couldn't hand over Kokuō!

  A Jinchūriki existed to serve their vilge. Han had sworn that purpose.

  Tails sprouted behind him—five crimson appendages of raw power.

  He'd mastered the Five-Tails' chakra.

  His tailed-beast cloak enveloped him in bzing chakra.

  He charged.

  A crimson fist, the size of a boulder, flew straight for Shigen.

  Neither Shigen nor Kabuto flinched.

  They knew it was futile.

  "Yomotsu Hirasaka."

  Shigen lightly tapped the air.

  A bck portal opened before him—another behind Han.

  Han's fist flew through both portals…

  and smmed into his own back!

  His steam armor shattered.

  He tumbled to the ground at Shigen's feet, stunned by his own blow.

  No…

  He wasn't done yet!

  He still had his ultimate move—Tailed Beast Bomb! 1

  He still had his ultimate move—Tailed Beast Bomb!

  "Rest now."

  But Shigen had already pced a hand on his head.

  A crushing surge of chakra smmed down on Han like a mountain.

  "When you awaken… your painful life will be over."

  "The Five-Tails belongs to Iwa…"

  Han tried to stand.

  He couldn't move anymore.

  Bck sealing chakra began flowing across his body, locking away his power.

  Yet—

  That brief struggle had bought just enough time.

  ōnoki arrived with Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi.

  ōnoki's heart sank at the sight:

  Han colpsed at Shigen's feet.

  Shigen himself, seated in a wheelchair. 2

  Shigen himself, seated in a wheelchair.

  "Hey! You—!"

  Kurotsuchi started to yell.

  "Kurotsuchi!"

  ōnoki barked.

  The elderly Tsuchikage floated gently down, eyes filled with a heavy mix of caution and disbelief.

  "Lord Shigen…"

  Meeting again now…

  felt like a lifetime ago.

  Shigen still looked like a man in his prime.

  ōnoki… had grown old.

  "ōnoki…"

  Shigen's eyes were blindfolded, but he didn't seem surprised.

  Maybe…

  He only recognized the chakra.

  He raised his head, emotionless, as more Iwa-nin gathered around, quietly encircling him.

  Kitsuchi subtly gave orders to close in.

  ōnoki didn't stop them.

  "Last time you came to Iwa, you saved our elders," ōnoki murmured. "You should've been our eternal benefactor…"

  "But now… it seems we must become enemies." 4

  "But now… it seems we must become enemies."

  ----------

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