A few days later, Uchiha Tajima officially released the news to the outside world, setting a departure date four months later to personally travel to the capital of the Land of Fire to pay respects to the Daimyo.
As soon as the news spread, all the major ninja clans within the Land of Fire stirred at once, currents moving beneath the surface as unusual activity broke out everywhere.
Over the years, Konoha had relied on its absolute strength to monopolize all ninja missions in the Land of Fire, cutting off the livelihoods of the other clans and forcing every side to the brink.
The major clans had long harbored resentment, already holding back a surge of anger, just waiting for a chance to make a move against Konoha and deal it a harsh blow.
Tajima's impending departure from the village became the spark that lit their fury.
———
Inside a Six Paths Temple, a secret meeting was quietly convened.
This meeting was initiated and led by the Senju clan. Aside from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, who were tied to Konoha, every clan head or core representative from the Land of Fire was present.
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy.
Senju Butsuma stood on the high platform, his face dark as iron, fists clenched so tightly the knuckles turned white.
He shouted hoarsely at the crowd below, "Fellow comrades! These past years, Konoha has squeezed us until we can hardly breathe. They've already cut off every clan's path to survival!"
"If we don't eliminate Konoha now, we'll only sink deeper into passivity step by step. Sooner or later, we'll be swallowed by Konoha until not even our bones remain!"
"It was Konoha that smashed all our livelihoods with its own hands!"
"We must fight back! Only by completely uprooting Konoha can we preserve the foundation of our clans' survival!"
As Butsuma's words fell, the representatives and clan heads below all showed anger on their faces. Their eyes were filled with grievance and hatred, and low curses and words of agreement rose one after another.
"I propose we immediately form an anti-Konoha army and have all clans join forces to attack Konoha together!"
One clan head slammed the table and spoke sharply.
"The timing is perfect! While Uchiha Tajima leaves the village to head for the capital, we can strike in secret, kill him first!"
"Then send top assassins to infiltrate Konoha and directly eliminate the Great Elder Arisu!"
Another clan elder followed with a sinister tone, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
"But who should we send for the assassination?"
"Arisu is just an ordinary person. I know someone who can kill him!"
Voices overlapped in the hall, one after another. Emotions grew more and more heated, and in no time, the entire plan was finalized.
A team of elites would be split off to intercept and kill Uchiha Tajima midway.
Another group of expendable assassins would be sent to secretly infiltrate Konoha and assassinate Arisu.
As long as these two steps succeeded, Konoha would instantly fall into chaos without a leader.
At that point, the major clans would gather all their forces, form a united army, and march together to completely flatten Konoha.
———
Within the Land of Waterfalls, wetlands spread everywhere and forests intertwined.
At this time, Takigakure had not yet been established, and the various ninja clan groups scattered here each occupied their own territory.
Though they stayed in a remote corner, as Konoha rose powerfully and monopolized missions, strong dissatisfaction gradually took root.
"Kakuzu, this is your next mission."
In an ancient ninja clan outpost, an elderly man with graying hair and beard slowly stepped forward and handed a sealed mission scroll to the boy in front of him.
The boy was only twelve years old. His skin carried a healthy dark tone, his features were sharp, and his eyes were firm. His whole body radiated an unyielding edge. He was Kakuzu.
Kakuzu lowered his head and glanced over the contents of the scroll. His expression froze for a moment, and he couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
He looked up at the elder. "Elder, you want me to assassinate… Konoha's Great Elder Arisu?"
"Mm."
The elder's expression was solemn as he nodded heavily, speaking with certainty to reassure him. "That's right."
"You can rest assured. Everyone outside knows that Arisu is just an ordinary man skilled in schemes, without any powerful ninjutsu."
"You only need to find the right moment and use a kunai to pierce his heart. You'll be able to take his life easily."
Hearing this, Kakuzu lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. Then his gaze sharpened, and he agreed decisively. "Alright, I'll take this mission."
"I'll set off tonight."
His tone was firm, full of confidence.
At this time, Kakuzu was only twelve, right in the age of youthful arrogance. To him, this felt like an easy task within reach.
The only problem was figuring out how to avoid Arisu's guards.
On the other side, inside a Konoha residence, Arisu had just finished reading an intelligence report sent by his subordinates. When he learned that assassins were coming for him, he was slightly startled at first.
After a brief pause, he began to think calmly. Moments later, he made a decision and spoke softly, "Since the assassin is coming, then open the defenses and let him in."
———
[A Few Days Passed]
Kakuzu moved in stealth the entire way and successfully infiltrated Konoha, hiding in the shadows of the streets and alleys.
"Heh, Konoha's security is nothing special. I got in this easily. Next, I just head straight to the elder building, find Arisu, and kill him in one move!"
A cold, disdainful smile curved at the corner of Kakuzu's lips. A sharp chill flashed in his eyes as he subconsciously touched the short blade strapped to his arm.
But when he casually looked around at the entirety of Konoha, he was completely stunned by the sight before him.
Kakuzu couldn't help but marvel inwardly,
"This Konoha is truly bustling and prosperous everywhere. The streets are orderly, shops line every corner."
"It's a scene of peace and stability, like a land drowned in luxury I've never seen before. It's hard to imagine how much wealth accumulates here every day."
"It's even more prosperous than the Daimyo's capital of the Land of Fire."
Kakuzu calculated silently, "Even the monthly rent of Konoha Bank is probably higher than Mount Kikyo…"
———
[Konoha, Arisu's Residence]
Arisu sat alone on a stone bench by the pond, holding a fishing rod. With relaxed fingers, he flicked the line lightly, and the hook slipped calmly into the water.
A dark figure landed behind him like a ghost, silent and without a trace.
Only after the figure steadied itself did Arisu slowly open his eyes. His gaze was calm like still water, without the slightest hint of panic.
"Heh heh, I didn't expect that the great elder of Konoha wouldn't even arrange a single guard by his side. That really gave me an opening."
Kakuzu's cold voice sounded from behind, carrying the sharp edge unique to a twelve-year-old, his tone full of mockery.
Arisu's lips curved slightly into a faint smile as he spoke in a calm voice, "At such a young age, you dare to infiltrate Konoha alone for an assassination. That kind of courage is rare, Kakuzu."
The moment his name was called precisely, Kakuzu's brows tightened sharply, and a trace of doubt rose in his heart.
The Arisu before him was far too composed. From start to finish, there wasn't a single hint of surprise, as if he had already expected him to come. That unnatural calm made Kakuzu feel something was off.
In the next instant, he suppressed the stray thoughts. A cold light surged in his eyes as he sneered, "A dead man doesn't need to know that much. Just go on your way!"
Before his words even fell, Kakuzu's wrist snapped into motion. In an instant, he drew the hidden short blade from his arm, the cold edge slicing through the air.
It thrust straight toward Arisu's neck, fast and ruthless, leaving no room for mercy.
Facing this fatal strike, Arisu's expression remained completely unchanged, his features steady, as if he didn't even see the blade coming at him.
Just as the sharp edge of the short blade was about to touch Arisu's skin, right at the moment it seemed certain to succeed, a brilliant and dazzling light suddenly burst out from Arisu's body.
The radiance surged and spread, sweeping across the entire courtyard in an instant, carrying an indescribable, overwhelming power.
"What?!"
Kakuzu's pupils shrank violently, his face filled with extreme shock. He had no time to react at all, only feeling an irresistible force slam into him.
When he opened his eyes again, his whole body had already been thrown heavily to the ground. It felt as if all the meridians in his body were completely restrained.
His limbs were stiff, unable to move in the slightest. He could only lie there helplessly, completely losing the ability to resist.
[🎉 Shoutout to Ph4t0m for joining p@treon. Thank you very much.🤗]