The battle with Nagato had already taken place a year ago.
While enjoying the delicacies of the Land of Hot Water, Kazuyama Gekkō listened as Terumi shared the latest developments.
"So, they found that Jashin Cult?"
"Mm. But it's just a small sect without any notable figures. Still, Sensei, how do you always seem to have such reliable intel? Back then, I didn't even know such a cult existed."
After a year of training and experience, Terumi had begun to carry the air of a leader. Kazuyama felt fortunate he had sent her to the Land of Hot Water as planned.
Over the past year, Kazuyama had barely returned to the village, always roaming about.
Sometimes he even took Pakura and his son along. As for his younger brother, Kazuyama Hayate, well... he had gone completely off track.
Still, under strict supervision, Hayate had at least mastered their clan's Kekkei Genkai along with a range of ninjutsu, especially defensive ones.
"Heh, there's a lot you don't know."
"Anyway, you've done well here. Yugito's side, though, that's another story. Still, at least it's something."
The mention of Yugito gave Kazuyama a headache. She and Terumi couldn't have been more different.
One was a brute, the other a strategist. No comparison at all.
Yugito's little gang in the Land of Grass had expanded countless times over. As long as she could gather intel, that was enough.
"I really can't with her!"
"A perfectly good intel network, and she's turned it into—what kind of leader drags her underlings into fights every other day?"
"She's running it like a gang of beggars!"
Terumi couldn't hold back her laughter at Kazuyama's complaints.
"Enough of that. I'm leaving. It's been more than a year; I should return to the village."
Kazuyama slowly rose, his whole demeanor lazy and unhurried.
Building the intel network had been easy for him anyway—he never had to dirty his own hands.
He had left the Land of Grass to Yugito and the Land of Hot Water to Terumi, who also gathered information from the surrounding regions.
She even had a flower shop set up in the Land of Water.
That was exactly why Kazuyama was so pleased with her.
What an outstanding disciple—exceeding expectations without needing him to spell things out.
As for the Lands of Earth, Wind, and Lightning...
Kazuyama had gone full merchant. Selling fruit in the Land of Earth, seafood in the Land of Wind, and clothing in the Land of Lightning.
Every major town had one of his shops.
And the startup funds? Provided by Minato.
In just over a year, he had borrowed a total of fifty million ryō from Minato, nearly making him collapse in distress.
After all, these were great nations. Establishing an intel network there was no easy task. But Kazuyama's methods meant information flowed naturally through his businesses, supplemented by leaks from the black market.
His intel network was flawless!
"Sensei, what's the word from the village?"
"The network is complete. When do we strike Amegakure?"
Terumi was now part of Takigakure. Yahiko and Konan had already told her about their plans against Amegakure.
To her, it was simple. Big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp.
After the blow it had taken from her own teacher, Amegakure was a shadow of its former self. With the intel network in place, all they needed was the right moment to topple it.
"Soon. I've already discussed it with Yahiko. When we move, it'll be swift and overwhelming."
"That bastard Hanzō of the Salamander—I'll set the stage. You, Yugito, Yahiko, and Konan will take him down."
"Kill him as quickly as possible. Once he's gone, Amegakure is ours."
Hanzō of the Salamander, the so-called Demi-God of the Shinobi World, single-handedly supporting Amegakure...
To catch the bandit, strike the leader. Take him out!
"Just the four of us? Sensei, you're not joining?"
Terumi looked at her teacher in surprise. She trusted her strength, but she wasn't naïve.
This was Hanzō of the Salamander. Sending them to fight him alone?
"Hmm? What's the problem? This is a battle between Takigakure and Amegakure. Can a Konoha shinobi like me openly intervene?"
"If I did, the other great nations would jump on the chance to condemn us."
"Relax. I've found you an ally—a powerful one. He'll fight against Hanzō as well."
The Land of Iron was also waiting for his word. After all, Kazuyama was now a famous sake merchant there, beloved by the samurai.
Even Mifune had grown close to him. Kazuyama had truly managed to gather many allies to his side.
"Alright, I'm heading back to Konoha."
"When the operation begins, I'll be at Takigakure."
...
Back in Konohagakure, Kazuyama kept a low profile. If he showed himself, he'd be summoned straight to the Hokage's office.
As Minato would always say: "What can I do, Kazuyama? You're like family. If you don't help me, who will?"
So now, whenever Kazuyama returned to the village, he never went home. Instead, he stayed somewhere no one would think to look—
The Uchiha compound, right next to the residence of Fugaku Uchiha, the clan head, and his family.
"Oh? Kazuyama-sensei, you're back."
"Oh? Itachi. Is your father home?"
"No, the Lord Hokage summoned him."
Summoned by the Hokage...
Hearing that, a trace of awkwardness crossed Kazuyama's face.
And why? Because of Fugaku Uchiha's current situation.
Since Kazuyama had left the village on his mission, Fugaku had followed his advice, carrying out sweeping reforms within the clan to secure the Uchiha's survival.
Of course, this couldn't escape the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups.
The four elders, including the old man Sarutobi, had all focused heavily on the Uchiha, worried they might cause trouble.
But the result completely defied their expectations.
Fugaku Uchiha, unlike his usual self, had carried out a drastic purge.
He locked up the well-known hawks within the clan, imprisoning them. Though this greatly reduced the clan's strength, for Fugaku, nothing mattered more than protecting his wife and son.
After stabilizing internal affairs, he personally approached the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
From then on, he became one of Minato's top generals, just like Kazuyama.
The cost? Working year-round without rest.
Which left Fugaku Uchiha utterly exhausted—because the other general wasn't in the village.
On this point, Fugaku held no small amount of resentment!