Chapter 12: All Parties in Motion
"Remember me… come back for me…"
At the riverbank, Sasuke's team—Taka—found Jūgo lying unconscious in the grass, his body unusually small, almost childlike in appearance.
"Ngh…" Jūgo groaned as he sat up, holding his swollen head.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked, stepping forward.
Jūgo blinked, confused. His memory was hazy, fragmented. He couldn't recall what had happened before he lost consciousness.
Unbeknownst to him, Naruto had already tampered with his memory before leaving. Naruto didn't want Sasuke to discover his presence—at least, not yet.
Sasuke could've pushed for answers, but now wasn't the time. The bigger concern was the enemy's movements.
"Forget it. You're alive, that's enough for now," Sasuke said calmly. "We'll investigate later. Right now, there's something more important."
Jūgo looked puzzled. "More important?"
Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan ignited, its ominous glow slicing through the air.
"Our target has changed," he said coldly. "We're heading to the Land of Iron. The Five Kage Summit is happening soon. Taka will be there… to hunt down Konoha's scum—Danzo."
And just like that, Taka set off toward the snowy, neutral territory of the Iron Country.
From a distance in the forest canopy, two figures watched.
Obito, masked and silent, stood beside a clone of White Zetsu.
"You're not going to tell Sasuke about Naruto's recent actions?" Zetsu asked, puzzled. "Wouldn't it be easier to manipulate Sasuke into fighting Naruto now?"
Obito's voice was quiet, calculating. "Naruto took Nagato's body. That means he now holds the Rinnegan… and the Demonic Statue. These are secrets that even Sasuke can't be allowed near yet."
He paused, then added, "Besides, I doubt Sasuke could beat Naruto right now."
Zetsu nodded. "True. He's gotten too strong too quickly…"
Obito folded his arms. "The Five Kage Summit will serve as a crucible. Sasuke's kaleidoscope needs tempering. The summit will sharpen him, push him to his limits. That's safer… for now."
He turned. "Have you found Naruto's location?"
"Not exactly," Zetsu replied. "But one of my clones disappeared recently. Someone eliminated it before I could relay any intel…"
Obito's lone visible eye narrowed. "Zetsu's clones are mentally linked. For one to vanish without warning—it had to be Naruto."
"Give me the coordinates."
Ten seconds later—
Whoosh!
A swirling vortex collapsed on the forest floor. Obito stepped out of the spiral and appeared at the site where Naruto and Orochimaru had recently battled.
Kamui required space-time markers, and after years of preparation, Obito had marked nearly every corner of the Fire Country. Within that range, his access was instantaneous.
Moments later, White Zetsu appeared beside him.
Obito surveyed the cratered landscape—shattered rock, scorched trees, and twisted terrain.
"No doubt about it," he muttered. "Only ocular powers could cause this level of destruction. Naruto… has already awakened the Rinnegan's full potential."
Zetsu frowned. "It's unreal. Nagato took years to reach that level, and that was after the Akatsuki formed…"
Obito's voice dropped. "Naruto's always been a late bloomer. But now… he might have more stamina than Nagato ever did."
Zetsu asked, "So what do we do now? We're falling behind."
Obito turned, his tone grim but steady. "As long as I have the Gedo Statue and the tailed beasts, Naruto can't claim full control. And even if the worst happens…" His eye flashed with a hint of something darker. "I still have one card left. One I've refused to play for years…"
Konoha.
Outside of the core Jonin circle led by Shikaku, most of the village had been swayed by Danzo's manipulation. Through relentless disinformation, Danzo had succeeded in turning public opinion sharply against Naruto.
The village was tense.
Everything now hinged on the Five Kage Summit.
If the meeting concluded successfully and Sasuke was officially denounced, the rest of the world would be forced to acknowledge Danzo as the rightful Hokage.
Inside a makeshift command tent, Danzo sat rigidly. Kneeling before him were three ANBU from Root.
Danzo spoke, voice cold and clipped. "The summit is our priority. I'll be attending in person. We cannot afford any mistakes."
His thoughts drifted toward Kabuto.
That man likely knows too much… especially about my ties to Orochimaru. If he leaks the data from Orochimaru's human experiments, everything I've built could collapse.
He unwrapped the bandages around his right arm, revealing a grotesque iron-covered limb.
His fingers brushed over his right eye, the one he stole from Shisui.
I need that data… for both my right eye and my right hand. It could still be of use.
He turned to his subordinates. "Fū and Tōu will stay. Terai, you're assigned to monitor Kabuto."
"Yes, sir!" Terai vanished in a blur.
Danzo nodded. "Only two guards are allowed at the summit. As two of Root's finest, you'll accompany me—but remove your masks. No disguises allowed."
The two ANBU pulled off their masks, revealing Fū Yamanaka and Tōu Aburame.
"What weapon configuration do you want?" Fū asked.
"Choose whatever you see fit," Danzo replied.
He then looked to Tōu. "Your clan is to track Naruto's location. The Nine-Tails must remain under our control. Also… keep a close eye on Sai. He may betray us."
Outside, the village was in chaos.
"Punish the traitor Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Eliminate the demon fox!"
"Bring justice to Konoha!"
The villagers had taken to the streets, furious and loud. Effigies were burned, homes were vandalized—including Naruto's own, which was set ablaze.
The narrative had been carefully shaped: Naruto was now a threat to the village. A traitor.
In the face of this wave of outrage, even Naruto's close friends couldn't defend him. Not publicly.
And so, the youth of Konoha gathered on a park bench, silent and heavy with doubt.
Neji and Shino sat motionless. Their clans had also suffered losses in the recent turmoil.
Ino wept openly, tears spilling onto her lap. Sasuke had once been her prince.
Sakura sat beside her, hollow-eyed.
Her mentor was in a coma. Her home in ruins. The two boys who defined her team—both gone, both branded traitors.
Could Team 7 even be called Team 7 anymore?
But the one who suffered most was Hinata.
Rumors claimed that Naruto had killed Tokuma Hyūga—her cousin. The clan elders were enraged. The shame and grief were unbearable.
Still, she sat in silence.
Until she couldn't.
"I'm going to find Naruto-kun."
The words were quiet—but firm.
Everyone turned.
"Hinata…?"
Hinata stood up, eyes trembling but resolute. "Naruto left for a reason. I don't believe he killed Tokuma. There's something more going on—something we don't know."
Neji stepped in gently. "Hinata-sama, I understand how you feel. But as shinobi, we must not act on emotion—"
"No," Sakura said suddenly. "Hinata's right."
"Sakura…?"
If Naruto's lost himself, she thought, then I'll bring him back… my way.
Rock Lee stood up, striking his usual pose. "If that's the case, then there's no choice! Youth means pushing forward, no matter the odds!"
Kiba grinned. "Well, we're not finding him without a nose. Right, Akamaru?"
"Woof!" the pup barked in agreement.
Neji looked around. "I never believed Naruto could've done this. Let's find out the truth."
Shino adjusted his collar. "I'm going too. They left me out of the Sasuke retrieval mission. I won't be sidelined again. Besides… I need to know what happened to my brother Muta."
Shikamaru sighed and stood. "Man… what a pain. Every single one of us just has to be a headache…"
Hinata looked at them all, eyes shining. "Thank you. Everyone… thank you."
And so, while world leaders prepared to decide the fate of the ninja world, a group of friends quietly made their own decision—
To chase the truth.
And to find Naruto Uzumaki… before the world turned its back on him completely.
Thus, the Five Kage Summit began—each side already moving in silence, beneath the surface of diplomacy, war, and betrayal.
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