"The current status?"
Aburame Ryoma adjusted his sunglasses, falling silent for a moment before speaking.
"The assassination occurred the day before yesterday. There is a lag in the intelligence reaching us. The last report indicated that 'A', the son of the Raikage and heir-apparent to the title, has appeared in the capital of the Land of Lightning. Following that, the entire city was placed under lockdown. Information is struggling to get out."
Ren Uchiha froze upon hearing this. "What did you say?"
His primary purpose for leaving the village was to counter the threat of Kumogakure's AB Combo attacking the Valley of Hell. Killer B had already made his move, and it had been proven that B alone could not dismantle the combined defensive forces of the Uchiha and Konoha stationed here.
Yet, at this critical juncture, A—B's partner—had left the front lines to hunt down cultists?
Then who is planning the move on the Valley of Hell?
"It is merely a minor interlude, Ren," Ryoma said, his expression turning solemn. "Both the village and Kumogakure know that the 'leader' those Undead Zealots speak of isn't truly you."
"What you truly need to know is this: After the Iwagakure forces retreated from the Land of Hot Springs, they quickly regrouped. Allied with Sunagakure, they are now pushing into the Land of Rain. Meanwhile, intelligence from the village arrived this morning. Our Root operative, the 'Walking Priestess,' has located a massive Kumogakure force. They have emerged from the Unraikyo, crossed the straits of the Land of Frost, and are now stationed at the border of Hot Springs and Frost."
"Without a doubt—" He looked up, his voice heavy. "A much larger war is coming!"
Ren's brow furrowed. The Third Great Ninja War would not end just because he had killed Ebizo or dealt a blow to Suna. On the contrary, that battle was merely the spark. A grander, more tragic, and more savage conflict was silently baring its fangs.
It was currently the 47th year of Konoha. According to the original timeline, Konoha should be facing Kumogakure's southward invasion through the Land of Rice Fields. That was the campaign where Minato Namikaze, the "Yellow Flash," first clashed with the AB Brothers.
But now—
Ren's expression shifted violently. He turned to Ryoma, his voice sharp with interrogation. "You said Kumogakure is stationed at the border of Hot Springs and Frost... not the Land of Rice Fields?"
The question felt like it was directed at himself. Before Ryoma could answer, the realization hit Ren: Because the Chinoike clan had not yet been wiped out by En Oyashiro, Kumogakure had a much better strategic option than they did in the original history.
By stationing at the Hot Springs-Frost border, they held the ultimate pivot.
Advance: They could cross the natural barrier of the Valley of Hell to reach the other side of the Land of Hot Springs, launching a direct march on Konoha.
Retreat: They could pivot back to the Land of Rice Fields and follow their original strategy of slowly devouring the Land of Fire's territory.
Their choice depended entirely on whether the AB Brothers could seize the Valley of Hell.
And yet, A had been diverted. This meant Kumogakure was so certain of victory that they didn't even feel they needed A's strength. Coupled with the previous "meaningless" skirmishes—which Ren had thought were driven by bounties—it was clear those were merely distractions.
The logic led to a terrifying conclusion. To ensure the success of this mission, the person Kumogakure sent must be...
Ren's eyes widened. He looked down into the Valley of Hell, where the setting sun turned the churning sea of clouds into a golden haze. Down there, in the lightless depths of the abyss, amidst the boiling springs, blood pools, and corpses of birds...
Ren felt a chill crawl up his spine. He felt as if a pair of blood-weeping, crimson eyes were staring back at him from the darkness!
"Not good!" Ren shouted at Ryoma, his voice cracking with urgency. "At this rate, the Valley of Hell is going to fall!"
Ryoma was startled by the sudden outburst. "What are you talking about?"
Ren shook his head, his face pale. He reached into his tool pouch and pulled out a specially marked kunai.
It was Minato's Flying Raijin Kunai!
"I hope I'm still in time..."
Ren slammed the kunai into the ground at the cliff's edge and instantly began weaving signs. He pressed his palms to the earth!
Sealing Jutsu: String Light Formation!
Dense sealing formulas rippled outward, forming a small, bowl-shaped barrier around the kunai. This was a basic seal, but it served its purpose: ensuring the anchor for the Yellow Flash wouldn't be easily destroyed.
"That's... the Yellow Flash's kunai? Ren, what are you—"
"Ryoma-senpai, there's no time to explain!" Ren didn't stop his movements. He turned his head, shouting rapidly. "Get back to the camp with me immediately! The mission is over. I have something critical to tell everyone!"
Ryoma was bewildered, but he recognized the signs Ren was weaving now.
Boar - Dog - Bird - Monkey - Ram!
The Summoning Jutsu!
Ryoma realized Ren was calling for backup. One hand was the Flying Raijin to summon Minato—the fastest reinforcements Konoha could offer. The other was likely a messenger snake from Ryūchi Cave to alert Orochimaru and the village.
What kind of crisis has he foreseen to justify such extreme measures? Ryoma wondered. There were over ten elite Jōnin in the Valley of Hell. Even a Kage-level threat shouldn't be able to tear through this line easily.
Just as Ren was about to complete the final seal, a wave of unsettling chakra surged from beneath the cliffs.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
The wind howling up from the abyss became a physical shockwave, carrying gravel, grass, bone fragments, and scalding water into the sky!
In that moment of unnatural stillness, like the calm before a hurricane, the mist-veiled water screen rising from the valley floor suddenly shattered!
It turned into a torrential downpour of boiling rain in the twilight. Then, a roar that shook the very foundations of the earth exploded from the depths of the Valley of Hell!
"KILL—!!"
"FOLLOW ME AND BREAK OUT OF THE VALLEY!!"
Ren's face went white. He felt the cliff beneath his feet shudder violently. His weaving slowed for a fraction of a second, then he slammed his chakra into his hand and shifted the final seal.
Standing on the precipice of the abyss, facing the chaos rising from the depths, Ren spread his fingers and slammed his palm against the open air!
Massive summoning formulas expanded in the sky! Growing larger! Larger! Until they filled the horizon!
"I don't have time for you prisoners!" Ren roared into the abyss. "All of you, get back down there!"
"Summoning Jutsu—"
"Manda!!"
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