A few days later, rumors spread across the entire shinobi world:
Iwagakure had conspired with the Akatsuki to capture all nine Tailed Beasts and conquer the world.
Tsuchikage's Office, Iwagakure
"Those bastards! This is a despicable smear campaign by Konoha! It's a plot targeting us!"
"Find the spy inside the village—immediately!"
Ōnoki was so furious upon receiving the news that he twisted his back in anger.
As several ANBU rushed off to carry out his orders, the room remained silent. The village elders and senior advisors didn't say a word.
Because the so-called "leaked intel" circulating throughout the shinobi world… was disturbingly detailed—and frighteningly accurate.
It correctly noted that Iwagakure had indeed been preparing for war against Konoha, with the attack scheduled to begin within two weeks.
It even listed several accurate invasion routes.
The report emphasized how Iwa and Akatsuki were planning to defeat the strongest shinobi village—Konoha—and take the Nine-Tails, using its power to pressure the other villages into surrendering their own Tailed Beasts.
To the Five Great Nations, this sounded preposterous at first.
After all, power ruled the shinobi world—no village would back down from mere threats.
But then… the report provided a series of "corroborating incidents" that made the collaboration between Iwa and Akatsuki seem highly credible.
For instance:
It stated that Ōnoki had personally arranged for his most prized prodigy, Deidara, to become a core member of Akatsuki.
To show goodwill, Iwa had allegedly betrayed the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki, who had been living in Yugakure, handing over his location to Akatsuki.
Deidara and other Akatsuki members then launched an operation to capture the Five-Tails.
Luckily, one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, happened to be in Yugakure at the time "looking for inspiration" for his novels. He stumbled across the incident and interfered, allowing the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki, Han, to escape.
According to the report, Han then secretly returned to Iwagakure and tried to expose the truth.
But no one in the village dared speak out—either they feared Ōnoki's Dust Release, or they had already pledged loyalty to him.
Only one man believed him: Rōshi, the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails.
With no other choice—and for the sake of his own survival, as well as peace in the shinobi world—Rōshi fled the village alongside Han.
However, the two rogue Jinchūriki were isolated, unsupported by any nation.
Hunted by both Akatsuki and Iwagakure, they were eventually captured and dragged back to the village.
The report ended by claiming that Iwa and Akatsuki were using the Tailed Beasts to build a kind of ultimate weapon to dominate the shinobi world.
"Damn it!!"
Ōnoki flew into a rage, floating around the office before landing hard on his desk.
"Bring me everything the bounty stations have on Akatsuki—NOW!"
Just as he barked the command, a tall, burly man entered the office.
"Father, the Daimyō has arrived—he brought the full Council of Advisors with him. Looks like they set out a few days ago."
Ōnoki floated over. "What? The Daimyō himself?! With how many advisors?"
The man—Kurotsuchi's father, Kitsuchi—grimly handed him a scroll.
"All of them. They say they want to discuss postponing the invasion… And also… they've received the intel."
Ōnoki's hands trembled as he took the document. One glance and his eyes bulged with rage.
"Konoha has no shame! They're accusing me of conspiring with Akatsuki to gather all the Tailed Beasts—just to dismantle the current One Nation-One Village system?!"
At the same time, the other Great Nations—Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure—were all reviewing the report's credibility.
Kumogakure – Land of Lightning
Kumo had already heard through their own bounty intel that Ōnoki was planning a war.
The Fourth Raikage, A, had even been preparing to join the conflict.
As for the report's claims about Iwa collaborating with Akatsuki to hunt Tailed Beasts?
A didn't care one bit.
After all, both of Kumo's Jinchūriki had full mastery over their Tailed Beasts—especially his partner Killer Bee, the perfect Jinchūriki.
If Iwa did start a war with Konoha, then Kumo had to make sure they profited this time.
Unlike in the Third Great Ninja War, A would hold back and strike at the right moment—seizing prime territory in the Land of Fire, and maybe even settling an old score with Iwa to avenge his father's death.
Sunagakure – Land of Wind
Suna, too, was itching for action.
Since the Third War, the Land of Wind's Daimyō had grown more reliant on Konoha's shinobi, cutting back Suna's funding repeatedly.
Their attempts to recover through gold mining were unsustainable.
If not for Konoha's overwhelming strength and Suna's own weakened state, they would have launched a war long ago.
So when the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, received the intel, he immediately summoned his council.
Within two rounds of discussion, they reached a decision:
The moment war breaks out, Suna will join the assault on Konoha.
Kirigakure – Land of Water
Kirigakure made no response.
The Fourth Mizukage showed no reaction to the intel.
Some elders suggested investigating the matter, but he shut them down immediately.
He remained focused on his bloody purge of the kekkei genkai clans, consolidating power through terror.
Meanwhile…
Somewhere in the Land of Rain – Akatsuki Hideout
Inside a dim cave, Akatsuki's members gathered around a projection—meeting via the Illusionary Body Technique.
They had also received the so-called "leaked intel."
Everyone was present except Hidan and Kakuzu.
The others stared at Deidara and Uchiha Itachi, whose names were mentioned in the report.
Pain scanned the group before speaking:
"Our objective has been exposed. For now, observe and lay low. When handling bounty missions, keep a low profile. Avoid unnecessary attention."
From the other side of the room, Hidan scowled. His slicked-back grey hair caught the flickering light.
"Oi oi oi! I don't care about your damn 'low profile' crap—I still gotta spread the word of Jashin."
Deidara spun his eye and chimed in, "I can't stop my artistic expression either. My art is explosive, hmm."
Pain turned toward Sasori. "Deidara, Sasori—you two will investigate a newly-formed village called Otogakure. It's likely Orochimaru is behind it. Everyone else is dismissed."
Somewhere on a hill
Sasori, now fully repaired and back inside Hiruko, turned to leave.
"Let's go, Deidara. My instincts tell me Orochimaru has his hands all over this new village."
Deidara ran up beside him with a grin. "Don't worry, Sasori-senpai. If we find that bastard, I'll show him true art. BOOM. Hmm!"
A grumble came from inside the puppet shell. "Pain did say to investigate secretly..."
Back in the cave, Pain walked into another chamber where a figure sat silently on a stone bench.
The man wore a hooded cloak, his face concealed by a swirling spiral-patterned mask, with only a single eyehole.
"You heard everything just now," Pain said flatly. "The organization's intel has leaked—Uchiha Madara."
The masked man slowly stood.
"I've said before—it doesn't matter if they know our objective. The Akatsuki has completed its first phase. If war breaks out now, it's perfect. We can accelerate the second phase—and prepare for the third."
Pain narrowed his eyes. "The intel came from Konoha. It clears Itachi of suspicion… but the leak nailed our objective with uncanny accuracy."
The man chuckled darkly beneath the mask.
"This is Danzo's doing. From a schemer's point of view, it's a brilliant move.
But like I said—this is just how Konoha handles its war-time crises."
"If our secrets were truly exposed, Danzo would've revealed the Gedo Statue too. He didn't. That proves this is just misdirection."
"The best way to redirect anger is to fabricate a shared enemy—if he really knew the truth, he'd never pass up that kind of opportunity."
Pain remained stoic. "Even so, the intel has already drawn attention.
Every village is now watching Akatsuki closely. Nations that once cooperated with us… are starting to withdraw."
"This intel may be fabricated—but it's extremely convincing."
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