Crossing the Land of Hot Water and the Land of the Moon, Konoha's elite Kage-level strike squad took two days to reach the border of the Land of Lightning. They stopped beneath a jagged cliffside concealed by natural overgrowth.
"Rest. Ashikaga — activate your Byakugan and watch the perimeter. If you spot any shinobi, capture them alive. We'll extract intel."
Hyūga Ashikaga nodded. His pale eyes turned milky; veins bulged at his temples as his Byakugan expanded. Dark sigils spiraled faintly across his pupils — the hallmark of his heavily-cultivated vision.
Within an eight-kilometer radius, nothing escaped him.
Every branch, every insect, every chakra flicker—laid bare.
With Ashikaga's watch secured, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio slumped to rest.
Inuzuka Jin fed his panting ninken. Even for Kage-class shinobi, two days of nonstop sprinting took its toll.
Uchiha Setsuna formed seals, pressed a palm to the ground, and summoned a ninja cat. After relaying intel, he sent it racing toward Konoha, then drove a Flying Thunder God kunai deep into the soil.
"The Hokage will be here soon. Rest while you can."
Konoha's War Council — Old Legends and New
Nara Luming — once Tobirama's aide and former chief strategist — eyed the kunai and sighed.
"The Second's Flying Thunder God… I studied it for years. Still too difficult."
Trying to warm up to Setsuna, he added:
"The Third Hokage's talent is terrifying. He may truly become the next God of Shinobi."
Setsuna's chest swelled.
Hearing Soren praised always brightened him.
"But of course! Our clan's Young Lord has the bearing of a Shura."
His grin widened.
"Once this mission ends, the next event is his wedding. Make sure you all attend."
Inuzuka Jin barked a laugh. His massive black-and-white wolf chimed in with two hearty howls.
"A Hokage's wedding? The entire village would riot if they missed it."
Nara Luming snorted.
"Just don't run off drunk like last time, Setsuna. Hiding behind the Hokage's sake barrel was shameful."
Setsuna pointed at him dramatically.
"Nonsense! I, Uchiha Setsuna, have never run from anything!"
He slammed a fist over his chest.
"After the wedding, we'll have another party. Bring your best — we'll see who stands!"
Their laughter echoed beneath the cliff.
None felt heavy pressure.
They knew Lightning Country's situation intimately:
Nangyun Village → Kinkaku & Ginkaku, plus the unstable Two-Tails jinchūriki
Beiyun Village → Third Raikage Ai, two Kage-level subordinates, the Eight-Tails jinchūriki
Lightning's jinchūriki seals had always been historically weak — ticking bombs. A slight trigger and the beasts would break free, slaughtering indiscriminately.
Kinkaku was heavily wounded. Nangyun was likely destroyed entirely.
To Setsuna's six-man squad, the hardest part of the mission was the travel, not the battle.
Once Soren arrived, seven Kage-level shinobi could steamroll Lightning.
"Two Lightning squads detected — one chasing, one fleeing."
Hyūga Ashikaga's voice cut the air.
Setsuna considered, then left Inuzuka Jin to await Soren while the other five raced toward the target.
Within minutes, both Lightning squads were captured alive.
Yamanaka Bamboo extracted their memories:
Kinkaku & Ginkaku abandoned Nangyun Village
The Two-Tails broke free, now wild
Beiyun Village renamed itself "Kumogakure" (Cloud Village) again
Ai re-sealed the Two-Tails using the stolen Six Paths treasures
Supplies were moved to Cloud–Thunder Gorge (Yunlei Gorge)
Ai was still chasing the brothers
Nara Luming summarized crisply:
"The brothers are headed toward Cloud–Thunder Gorge. Beyond it is the coastline. They'll attempt escape by sea — their chakra pools are deep enough."
He pointed at the map.
"With the Eight-Tails there, the Six Paths tools in transit, and Ai distracted… we may gain full control of the situation — even capture the Eight-Tails."
Setsuna asked:
"So you recommend we go straight to the gorge?"
"Captain decides. But speed is everything."
Everyone's eyes gleamed.
Soren had hinted during mobilization:
those who contributed in Lightning would receive a share of the nation's "cake."
Setsuna smirked.
"I'll send Jin a message. We move first. Scout the gorge."
A ninja cat sprinted away as Setsuna's team advanced.
Cloud–Thunder Gorge
"Noisy. Annoying pests."
A colossal blue chakra hand descended — part of a towering Susanoo.
It pinched the transformed Kinkaku and Ginkaku like squirming chicks.
They barely had time to understand.
Crushed.
Their bodies smeared into two mosaic distortions against the canyon floor.
"Ai!"
The Third Raikage dropped to one knee, soaked in cold sweat.
"Lord Madara, forgive my interruption! Ai submits to any punishment!"
A cold voice rolled across the gorge:
"Send people to clean it. There will not be a second time."
"Understood, Lord Madara."
The Susanoo receded.
Red armor gleamed.
The Gunbai Fan hung at his back.
Uchiha Madara surveyed the gorge — still smoking from Tailed Beast Bombs — and snorted. He walked into the underground chamber.
Inside, shattered instruments littered the ground.
Researchers lay crushed beneath fallen stone.
Mauling. Ruin. Silence.
Madara's expression darkened.
He cared nothing for the petty north–south conflicts of Lightning.
But interrupt his research?
Anyone who did so…
would die.
Suddenly — he froze.
Someone was watching.
"…Byakugan."
His face went blade-cold.
Madara vanished.
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