"Mito… your heart wavers."
Deep within the seal-world, Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes.
The massive form of the Nine-Tails crouched before her — a mountain of hatred and chakra. Adamantine Chains burst from the void, binding every limb, its chest, its neck, its tails. Even its muzzle was sealed shut so tightly that the beast could only bare its fangs in rage.
A momentary slackening shivered along the muzzle chains.
The fox's blood-red irises flared with murderous light.
"Compared to that Mangekyō brat… doesn't your own son feel worthless?"
"If so… kill the burden and try again."
"A life for a life. One child is easily replaced…"
"Silence."
Mito's voice cracked like a whip.
The Adamantine Chains instantly constricted. The Nine-Tails roared, body convulsing under the binding jutsu — but it could do nothing. Its hatred burned bright, but its power had no outlet.
"So proud… yet so bound," Mito murmured.
Her consciousness withdrew from the seal. The room around her dimmed again into quiet night. She sat on the edge of her bed and could not stop the faint crease of worry from settling between her brows.
Something in her heart was wavering.
And she hated that she knew why.
Uchiha Soren Returns
"You're back?"
When Soren stepped into his room, Uchiha Zhili was already waiting — Sharingan glowing faintly as she scanned him head to toe.
Pulse. Chakra flow. Fingers. Eyelids. Breath.
A complete check for genjutsu or seals.
"No signs of manipulation," she said firmly, letting out a breath. "Good."
Soren stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her slim waist, and kissed her forehead.
"Zhili, trust me. Not them."
Her cheeks flushed; she smacked lightly at his hand.
"Ever since that day… you've lost all propriety. At least wait until after the wedding for such indecent behavior."
"That's your charm," he teased.
His gaze shifted toward the door — where Princess Minamoto Kaori stood with Juno in her arms, hugging the fat orange cat as if the world were soft and safe.
Soren's heart thudded.
Her smile always did that.
He grinned.
"What shall we do tonight?"
"Meow!" Juno answered, as if protesting the sin he was about to witness.
The room dissolved into warmth.
The Land of Lightning — A Different Night Entirely
Lightning flashed across the northern sky.
Within the Daimyō's great manor, torches burned high. Armored sentries patrolled the walls, banners rustling softly. The Land of Lightning had enjoyed peace for generations — its lords believed their walls and soldiers were unbreakable.
Tonight, that illusion ended.
Hidden in the forest line, the Third Raikage — A — stood in silence.
His eyes had no warmth left.
Behind him, two operatives finished disguising themselves flawlessly as Kinkaku and Ginkaku. A strike squad of elite cloud-nin waited, lightning flickering across their skin.
"Raikage-sama," one whispered, "everything is ready."
A nodded once.
"Move."
The strike team burst from the trees like a storm.
Lightning tore across the night sky.
"ENEMY!! SOUND THE ALARM!!!"
Archers loosed arrows — which evaporated under sweeping lightning-chakra. Soldiers screamed as cloud-nin ran up the walls, cut down the guards, and surged into the manor.
Within minutes, the Daimyō fell.
His children died beside him.
A flare shot into the sky — and the assassins vanished into the darkness, leaving chaos behind.
When the strike team regrouped, one operative reported:
"Many saw our faces."
A's jaw tightened.
"Good. That was the point."
He stared up at the dark heavens, voice cold.
"Once the daimyo's puppet takes the throne, we will summon the other Hidden Villages. We will accuse these false 'Kinkaku & Ginkaku' of rebellion… and in the confusion, we will harvest manpower, scholars, and resources."
His men nodded fervently.
A continued:
"When the real Kinkaku & Ginkaku are eliminated, and the north–south civil split ends… Lightning will belong to us."
"And all of it… will serve Madara-sama."
Far Below — In the Lightning Abyss
Deep in the Cloud–Thunder Gorge, Uchiha Madara watched calmly from the heart of a secret laboratory.
Ancient war-fans hung on the wall.
Scrolls lay open.
Forbidden devices hummed softly.
Madara smiled without moving.
"Hashirama… no matter how many nets you wove, you could not stop the rise of another Mangekyō."
He lifted a strand of preserved flesh — Senju tissue — still brimming with vitality.
Everything was proceeding exactly as he needed.
"Patience," he murmured. "I will forge an age for those robbed of one."
Outside the cavern, the manipulated Third Raikage stood beneath the torchlight, lightning dancing along his skin. His vow echoed low and savage:
"Madara-sama… I will reshape the world for you."
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