Chapter 12: Stirring Clouds of Conflict

"Jūgo, Jūgo...!"

Team Taka followed the riverbank and found Jūgo lying unconscious on the ground, his form reduced to that of a child.

"Ugh..." Jūgo groaned, clutching his throbbing head as he sat up.

Sasuke asked, "What happened?"

Jūgo's expression was blank, his memory hazy. Before leaving, Naruto had tampered with Jūgo's memories. Naruto wasn't ready to reveal himself to Sasuke just yet.

Although Jūgo had been ambushed, Sasuke chose not to pursue the matter for now. His mind was preoccupied with tracking down his enemy.

Sasuke said, "Forget it. It's enough that you're alive. We'll investigate this later. Right now, we have more important matters to attend to."

"More important matters?" Jūgo asked.

Sasuke's six-pointed Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed with a sharp light. "Our target has changed. The Land of Iron. The Five Kage Summit. Team Taka will hunt down Danzō of the Leaf there!"

And so, Team Taka set out for the Land of Iron.

Meanwhile, Obito, wearing his mask, and White Zetsu observed from the treetops in the distance.

White Zetsu asked, puzzled, "Why don't you let me inform Sasuke about Naruto's movements? Wouldn't it be better to use him against Naruto?"

Obito, after some thought, replied, "Naruto took Nagato's body. This concerns the Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue, two of our highest secrets. It's best not to involve Sasuke... Besides, the current Naruto is likely beyond Sasuke's ability to handle."

White Zetsu nodded. "Fair point."

Obito continued, "Through battles with the Five Kage, we can cultivate Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan as a backup plan. That's the safer approach. Speaking of which, have you found Naruto's whereabouts?"

White Zetsu replied, "Not yet. However, one of my clones recently went missing. It was likely eliminated by someone."

"Oh?" Beneath his mask, Obito raised an eyebrow. "To take out one of your clones before it could relay information... intriguing. Tell me where the clone disappeared."

*Whoosh!*

Seconds later, Obito appeared at the site of Naruto's earlier battle with Orochimaru, his Kamui vortex transporting him there.

Kamui's teleportation required spatial markings. Over the years, Obito had marked much of the Land of Fire. While it wasn't exaggerated to say he had marked the entire region, he certainly had enough coverage to move freely within a hundred-mile radius of the Hidden Leaf Village.

About a minute later, White Zetsu arrived, slightly late.

Surveying the scene of destruction, Obito's voice was low. "There's no mistaking it. Only those eyes could cause such devastation. Naruto has mastered the power of the Rinnegan."

White Zetsu remarked, "Unbelievable. Back then, it took Nagato years after Akatsuki's formation to reach this level of mastery."

Obito responded, "Not surprising. Naruto is a late bloomer. His potential now likely surpasses Nagato's."

White Zetsu hesitated. "So, what do we do now? We've been put on the back foot."

Obito's gaze darkened. "No need to fear. As long as I control the Gedo Statue and the Tailed Beasts, Naruto can't gain the upper hand. And even if the worst happens, I still have a trump card—a last resort I've avoided using all these years."

...

In the Hidden Leaf Village, the populace, apart from a few Jonin led by Shikaku, had fully accepted Danzō's leadership. This was the result of Danzō's smear campaign against Naruto—a strategy that had proven highly effective.

Now, all that remained was for the Five Kage Summit to conclude successfully and for Sasuke, the rogue ninja, to be eliminated. With that, even the Jonin would have no choice but to acknowledge Danzō as Hokage.

Inside the Hokage's temporary tent, Danzō sat upright, three Root members kneeling before him.

Danzō spoke, "This way, I can leave for the Five Kage Summit without worry."

"Given the current situation, we must ensure everything proceeds without error."

"Deploy more personnel. Capture Kabuto at all costs," Danzō thought to himself. Kabuto might possess knowledge of his dealings with Orochimaru—a connection that could destabilize his newly secured position as Hokage.

"Also, retrieve Orochimaru's research data from Kabuto. It might prove useful for my right eye and arm..."

Danzō revealed his iron-clad right arm and pressed his bandaged right eye, his expression grim.

After issuing his orders, he addressed the three Root members. "Fū and Torune, stay here. Terai, you're in charge of Kabuto. Go."

"Yes, sir!" Terai vanished, leaving Fū and Torune behind.

Danzō continued, "Now, it's time for me to attend the Five Kage Summit. By agreement, only two guards are allowed to accompany me. As two of Root's finest, you'll come with me. However, masks are not permitted. Remove them."

The two complied, revealing their faces—Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune.

Yamanaka Fū asked, "As guards, what weapons should we prepare?"

Danzō replied, "That's up to you."

"Understood."

Danzō added, "Torune, have your men locate Uzumaki's whereabouts. The Nine-Tails must remain under our control. Also, keep an eye on Sai. He may betray Root. Be cautious."

...

"Eliminate the rogue ninja Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Destroy the Nine-Tails demon fox Naruto!"

"Restore our home!"

The villagers of the Leaf, outraged, marched in protest against Naruto. Some even set fire to his house, reducing it to ashes.

The situation had spiraled out of control.

Kakashi and others, deeply troubled, found themselves unable to defend Naruto in the face of seemingly irrefutable evidence.

Danzō, now Hokage, had issued a kill-on-sight order for Sasuke, branding him a rogue ninja. Meanwhile, Naruto's reputation as a hero had been utterly destroyed.

The appearance of these two rogue ninjas was a heavy blow to their peers.

Near a makeshift bench in the village, Naruto and Sasuke's former classmates gathered to discuss the matter.

Neji Hyūga and Shino Aburame remained silent, their expressions heavy. After all, the deceased linked to Naruto included members of both the Hyūga and Aburame clans.

Ino Yamanaka sat on the bench, crying. To her, Sasuke had once been the prince of her dreams.

Sakura Haruno, too, looked pale. Her village was in ruins, her mentor comatose, and her two teammates had become traitors. One had been her pillar of support, the other her deepest longing.

Without Naruto and Sasuke, could Team 7 still be called Team 7?

But no one was more heartbroken than Hinata Hyūga. Everyone said the boy she loved most had killed members of her clan.

Shikamaru Nara, always the most rational, broke the oppressive silence. "It's too early to convict Naruto. The three corpses were brought back by Root. Knowing their methods, there's likely more to this than meets the eye."

The group fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, Sakura hesitantly asked, "What about Sasuke?"

Shikamaru sighed. "Sasuke's crimes are undeniable. No one can defend him. His situation is even more precarious than Naruto's. While Naruto's actions threaten only the Leaf, Sasuke is now a global enemy. The Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron was convened specifically to discuss his elimination."

Sakura bit her lip, her heart aching. "Naruto, why? As a hero, why would you do something so reckless at such a critical moment? You're the only one who can save Sasuke..."

A soft yet firm voice interrupted her thoughts. "I'm going to find Naruto!"

The group turned in shock. "Hinata...!?"

Hinata's determination was unwavering. "Naruto must have had no choice but to leave the village. There's no way he killed Tokuma. There must be more to this!"

Neji tried to console her. "Lady Hinata, I understand how you feel, but as shinobi, we can't let personal emotions cloud our judgment."

But Sakura interjected, "Hinata's not wrong!"

"Sakura...?"

Sakura thought, "Naruto... If you've lost your way, I'll bring you back myself!"

Rock Lee exclaimed, "There's no other way. Youth means charging forward!"

Kiba Inuzuka chimed in, "Tracking someone is what we do best. Isn't that right, Akamaru?"

"Woof woof!" Akamaru barked in agreement.

Neji finally relented. "I don't believe Naruto would do such a thing either. Let's investigate."

Shino added, "Count me in. If you must ask why... I was excluded from the mission to retrieve Sasuke. This time, I won't be left out. Besides, I need answers about Tokuma's death."

Shikamaru sighed and stood. "Troublesome. One after another, all of you... including me."

Hinata was deeply moved. "Shino, Kiba, everyone... Thank you."

And so, as the clouds of conflict gathered, the Five Kage Summit began as scheduled.