Chapter 77: The Coup of Iwagakure

"Using the edge of the doorframe as a reference, measure 4.2 meters to the left. Then, using the ground as a base, measure 1.5 meters upward. Once you've located this intersection, draw a circle with a 50-centimeter radius. Make sure it's precise—down to the last millimeter—or there will be serious consequences."

Zetsu pointed at the wall, speaking with a tone of utmost seriousness.

On the other side of the wall, Ōnoki carefully measured the distances with a tape measure, marking the points inch by inch. What seemed like a simple task—drawing a circle on the wall with a compass—took Ōnoki a full hour to complete.

"Done!"

After repeated confirmations, Ōnoki finally nodded with determination.

Zetsu glanced at Kurotsuchi, who was standing nearby, and asked, "Shall I begin?"

Kurotsuchi nodded. "Go ahead."

With that, Zetsu placed his hand on the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A coffin, marked with the number "2," slowly emerged from the ground.

"This is...?" Kurotsuchi asked in astonishment.

Zetsu smiled at Kurotsuchi. "Exactly what you're thinking."

The lid of the coffin creaked open, revealing its contents—a man wrapped in bandages.

It was none other than the Second Tsuchikage, Mū.

"Who dares disturb my rest?"

Although his face was obscured by bandages, his displeasure was evident in his voice.

Kurotsuchi immediately knelt, bowing deeply. "Forgive me, Second Tsuchikage-sama. I am Kurotsuchi, son of Ōnoki. It is an honor to meet you, and I deeply apologize for disturbing your peace."

"Ōnoki's son?" Mū examined Kurotsuchi closely, seemingly struggling to recall. The last time he'd seen this person, he had been a mere infant.

"What is it you want from me?" Mū asked.

Before Kurotsuchi could explain, Zetsu suddenly drove a kunai embedded with a talisman into the back of Mū's head. Mū's eyes immediately lost focus. His arms fell limp, and he stood motionless, like a puppet.

"Why waste so many words on a corpse?" Zetsu said impatiently.

"This is the Second Tsuchikage, my father's master!" Kurotsuchi protested, clearly displeased.

"Still just a corpse, isn't he? Enough chatter. Are we doing this or not? Let me remind you, this technique has a time limit. If we don't finish in half an hour, all our efforts will be wasted," Zetsu warned.

Indeed, Orochimaru had been cautious when trading the Edo Tensei technique to Zetsu, providing only an incomplete version. The "reanimated" corpse could only be sustained for thirty minutes.

But thirty minutes was more than enough for Ōnoki's prison break.

"I'll count to three. Then we begin. Understood?" Zetsu asked.

"Understood," came Ōnoki's reply from within the cell.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

From both inside and outside the cell, two identical semi-transparent barriers formed, converging on the same circular mark.

The rocky wall began to dissolve rapidly, like ice melting away. However, a yellow chakra barrier remained intact, holding firm.

"Push harder!" Zetsu shouted.

Hearing this, Ōnoki intensified his efforts.

The yellow "film" trembled, warped, and twisted under the immense pressure of the two Dust Release techniques, resembling a soap bubble caught in the wind.

"Pop!"

Finally, the barrier gave way, disintegrating into nothingness under the combined force of the Dust Release.

A circular hole, one meter in diameter, appeared in the otherwise impenetrable stone wall. Though small, it was large enough for an adult to pass through.

A hand reached out from the hole, followed by another. Kurotsuchi rushed forward to assist. Then came a head, a torso, and legs...

"Phew..."

Once outside, Ōnoki exhaled deeply. His appearance was nearly identical to six years prior, though his skin had grown noticeably paler—likely a result of prolonged confinement away from sunlight.

Suddenly, Ōnoki's expression turned emotional.

"Master!" he exclaimed.

"Now's your chance to talk. But remember, you only have twenty minutes," Zetsu reminded him with a smirk, pulling the talisman-laden kunai from the back of Mū's head.

Since the mysterious disappearance of Kari, the head of Iwagakure's Anbu, the Fourth Tsuchikage Murasaki had been plagued by unease.

For a key figure like the Anbu leader to vanish without a trace was highly unusual.

Having wandered the ninja world for years, Murasaki was no naive rookie. He knew that Kari was likely gone for good, which could only mean one thing—a conspiracy targeting him, the Fourth Tsuchikage, was unfolding.

Murasaki's tenure as Tsuchikage had been far from smooth. His appointment by Iwagakure's high council was a stopgap measure following the village's defeat in the Iwa-Suna War. Though he was a native of Iwagakure, he lacked significant connections or support within the village, leaving him in a precarious position.

As a leader with aspirations and a deep love for his homeland, Murasaki sought to free Iwagakure from its constraints and foster development. He admired the Third Kazekage Jinghang, who had transformed a near-bankrupt Sunagakure into a thriving village. Murasaki believed he could achieve similar success, if not surpass it.

Iwagakure's leadership was divided into three factions after the Second Shinobi World War: the "Elder Faction," led by long-suppressed elders under Ōnoki's rule; the "Old Shadow Faction," remnants of Ōnoki's loyalists; and Murasaki's "New Shadow Faction."

Following the war, the Elder Faction blamed the Old Shadow Faction for the defeat and pinned the burden of reparations on the New Shadow Faction. Their reasoning was simple: the war was fought under the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, and the negotiations were handled by the Fourth Tsuchikage Murasaki. Thus, the responsibility was theirs.

For years, the Elder Faction dominated Iwagakure, reducing Murasaki to little more than a figurehead. His decrees seldom left the Tsuchikage's office.

Over time, Murasaki built his own base of support while gradually eroding the Elder Faction's power, often allying with the Old Shadow Faction. After five years of effort, he finally dismantled the Elder Faction's influence and reclaimed control of Iwagakure, coinciding with the completion of reparations to Sunagakure.

Just as Murasaki prepared to implement his vision for the village, the Old Shadow Faction began resisting his reforms, rendering many of his policies ineffective.

Fortunately, Murasaki had cultivated loyal followers and maintained firm control over the Anbu. With Kari's capable leadership, the Old Shadow Faction dared not act out of line.

But now, with Kari gone, the shadows stirred.

"Old friend, when will this end?" Murasaki murmured to Son Gokū, the Four-Tails sealed within him. This companion, present since his birth, was his closest confidant and greatest strength.

"Don't worry. It'll all end soon," came a voice.

"Who's there?" Murasaki barked, his tone sharp.

The voice was not Son Gokū's, but a familiar one.

Under the moonlight, Murasaki squinted to make out the figure's face. His heart sank as recognition dawned—it was the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, who had been sealed away.

"You! How did you escape?" Murasaki exclaimed.

Ōnoki responded with a cold chuckle, saying nothing.

Behind Ōnoki stood a group of individuals, led by Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, key members of the Old Shadow Faction.

At that moment, Murasaki understood everything. This was a long-planned coup. For them to break Ōnoki's seal and infiltrate his quarters undetected, their preparations must have been meticulous.

It seemed unlikely he would walk away from this unscathed.

Silently, Murasaki communicated with Son Gokū: "Old friend, wake up. It's time to fight."

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