Chapter 86: Shifting Tides

Cloud Village: The Raikage's Wrath

The Raikage's footsteps echoed like distant thunder as he stormed through the grand halls of Kumogakure's central tower. Torches flickered wildly in his wake, their flames barely able to keep up with the storm of chakra radiating from his towering form. His council followed at a cautious distance, their expressions tense.

His voice was a low growl, barely containing his fury. "The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails… gone. And you still have no idea who took them?"

The head of the Intelligence Division, a wiry man with deep-set eyes, knelt before him. "Our operatives have found no evidence of an attack. No survivors, no bodies… nothing. It's as if they vanished into thin air."

A sharp crack split the air as the Raikage's fist slammed into the stone wall beside him, splintering it like dried wood. The vibrations rattled through the chamber, but no one dared to flinch.

"That's impossible!" he roared, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. "B had full control over the Eight-Tails. And Yugito was no weakling! You expect me to believe that two of our strongest Jinchūriki were taken without a fight?"

The intelligence officer hesitated. "There is… one possibility."

The council members turned their gazes toward him.

"What?" the Raikage demanded.

"A force strong enough to extract the Tailed Beasts without resistance."

Silence filled the hall, heavy as a thundercloud before a storm.

The Raikage's hands clenched, nails biting into his palms. "If someone is collecting Jinchūriki, the balance of power in the world is crumbling." He turned sharply. "Send scouts to Konoha. I want to know if they've truly lost the Nine-Tails or if this is some elaborate trick." His gaze burned with unspoken rage. "And if I find out who did this… I will erase them from existence."

Konoha: A Meeting in the Shadows

Beneath Konoha, deep within the hidden chambers of Root's headquarters, the dim glow of candlelight cast twisted shadows along the stone walls. Danzo Shimura stood in the center of the room, his single eye unreadable as his operatives knelt before him.

"The rumors are spreading," one of his agents reported, voice steady despite the oppressive air of the chamber. "The Raikage has begun mobilizing scouts toward Konoha. They seek confirmation of the Nine-Tails' disappearance."

Danzo's fingers tapped against his cane, the rhythmic sound the only movement in the heavy silence.

"And the other villages?"

"Kirigakure remains silent, but Sunagakure is watching closely. The Kazekage is waiting for an opportunity. Meanwhile, Iwagakure is too cautious to move without proof."

A thin, knowing smirk flickered across Danzo's lips. "Good. That means they are afraid. Keep the rumors alive. If the world believes Konoha is weak, they will expose their own vulnerabilities."

One of his senior operatives, a masked woman with a presence as cold as steel, stepped forward. "And what of the missing Jinchūriki?"

Danzo's expression darkened. "If the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails have been taken, then this is far greater than a simple rumor. Someone is playing a long game." He turned, his gaze unreadable. "But no matter what happens, Konoha will not be left behind."

Sand Village: A Calculated Gamble

In the Kazekage's dimly lit chamber, the desert winds howled outside, carrying whispers of change. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows over the gathering of advisors, their expressions etched with concern.

"The balance of the world is shifting," one of the elders murmured. "If the rumors are true, the Hidden Cloud has been weakened as well."

The Kazekage, his face an unreadable mask, exhaled slowly. "Which means we are in the best position. We have no Jinchūriki to lose."

An advisor leaned forward. "That also means we are at a disadvantage if someone is gathering the Tailed Beasts."

The Kazekage's fingers tapped lightly against the table, his mind working through the possibilities. "Not necessarily. If war breaks out between Konoha and Kumo, we stay our hand and wait. The moment one falters, then we act."

The room fell into silence. The desert winds outside screamed against the walls, as if echoing the tension within.

Konoha: The Hokage's Decision

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the window, watching the village below. Smoke curled from his pipe as he exhaled slowly, lost in thought. Behind him, Orochimaru leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his golden eyes gleaming with quiet amusement.

"The Raikage has begun his investigations," an ANBU reported.

Tsunade scoffed. "So he is nervous."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Powerful men make the worst mistakes when they feel threatened."

Ryusei, silent until now, finally spoke. "What if we confirm the rumor?"

Tsunade shot him a sharp look. "That would paint a target on our backs."

"Would it?" Ryusei countered. "If the world believes we lost the Nine-Tails, they may lower their guard around us. That would give us an opportunity."

Orochimaru tilted his head. "A rather interesting gamble."

Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe before speaking. "We will remain silent for now. Let the world believe what it wants." He turned to the shadows of the room, where his ANBU waited. "But keep watching Danzo. If he oversteps, we will act."

The Senju Secret Compound: The Truth Beneath the Surface

Deep beneath Konoha, in the underground sanctum of the Senju Clan, the air was thick with an overwhelming pressure, raw and untamed. Ancient stone walls, carved with seals older than the village itself, pulsed faintly with chakra.

In the center of the vast chamber, four massive figures loomed in eerie stillness.

Tsunade inhaled sharply as her gaze swept over them. "So it's true…"

Four Tailed Beasts, their forms flickering between solidity and chakra-infused mist, were bound by intricate sealing formations. The oppressive aura of raw power filled the space, making the very air heavy.

The Two-Tails. The Four-Tails. The Five-Tails. The Eight-Tails.

Orochimaru took a slow step forward, a strange glint in his eyes. "To think we have come this far."

Hiruzen's expression was unreadable as he exhaled, his voice steady despite the immense pressure of the beasts before them.

"Which… is next?"

End of Chapter 86.