In the Land of Iron, the conference chamber remained heavy with silence long after Kaito left. Tsunade and Ōnoki had spoken at length, but there was little more to say.
Tsunade finally sighed. "There's no helping it. Konoha has been attacked time and again, and I'm tired of watching it bleed. But… we'll endure."
The atmosphere was grim, a blow not only to their forces but to their very spirits.
Just then, the air rippled like water, and Ayanami Kaito stepped out of the distorted space.
"How did it go? Was it resolved?" Tsunade asked, her voice filled with urgency.
Kaito nodded. "Yes. All the enemies were sent to the Pure Land. But… half of Konoha has been destroyed again."
Tsunade waved her hand, forcing a smirk. "It's fine. We'll rebuild. Konoha has always stood back up."
Ōnoki studied Kaito with a complicated expression. "Hokage, now that this matter is settled, we must prepare for what's next. I'll notify the Rock Shinobi about the alliance meeting."
"As we agreed," Kaito said firmly. "In one week, all the shinobi of the Five Great Nations will assemble at the border between the Lands of Lightning and Wind."
Ōnoki gave a sharp nod before leaving with his guards. Shortly afterward, Gaara departed as well, hurrying back to Sunagakure to ready his forces.
A week passed in the blink of an eye. Armies from each nation marched toward the designated border point, their leaders at the forefront.
As decided during the Five Kage Summit, the shinobi of all nations would now stand together under one banner: the Allied Shinobi Forces.
Tsunade was appointed the Supreme Commander.
The Fourth Raikage served as the Chief Strategist.
Gaara, young yet resolute, was named Commander-in-Chief of the entire army.
To safeguard the tailed beasts, Tsunade remained at headquarters, while the other Kage led the vanguard into battle. Their goal was clear: to protect the hosts of the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails from the Akatsuki, and to prevent Uchiha Obito from realizing his Eye of the Moon Plan.
Before the march began, Gaara stood before eighty thousand shinobi, his voice ringing out in a speech that ignited their hearts. This was not just a war, it was the fight for their world's future.
Far away, deep in a dim cavern, Uchiha Obito observed in silence. His mask gleamed faintly, one Sharingan swirling with menace, the other a Mangekyō burning red. Behind him, the Uchiha clan crest stood boldly against the stone wall.
"The Five Nations have made their move. Even the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails are hidden away in secret places," Obito said coldly. "How about you?"
From the shadows, Kabuto smirked, his serpentine voice echoing. "Don't worry. Since I've chosen to cooperate with you, I won't disappoint."
His hands blurred through seals, and with a sinister crack, black coffins began to rise from the earth.
"First, the members of Akatsuki."
Clack, clack! Coffin lids fell away, revealing Itachi, Kakuzu, Nagato, and others, standing silently with eyes closed.
"Next, the Kage of past generations. Then the former Jinchūriki… and countless famed shinobi."
More coffins burst open, their eerie contents glowing faintly.
"Finally," Kabuto's grin widened, his eyes narrowing at Obito, "your army of one hundred thousand enhanced White Zetsu."
From beneath the cavern floor, the grotesque army emerged, filling the chamber like a pale tide.
Obito's voice was calm, almost casual. "And Uchiha Sasuke?"
Kabuto chuckled. "He has merged with Itachi's eyes. His Eternal Mangekyō is complete. He'll act independently. With his power, he'll be more than enough to create chaos among the Alliance."
Obito turned, cloak swaying. "Then it's time. The Fourth Shinobi World War begins now."
At the Allied Headquarters, Tsunade sat at the command seat, her hands resting firmly on the desk. The Yamanaka clan worked feverishly to transmit information, while Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi coordinated the battlefield strategies.
Not far away, Kushina paced restlessly. She knew the enemy's true goal: the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails. Naruto was safe for now, training at Mount Myōboku under Jiraiya, but her heart could not be calm.
The Eight-Tails was sealed away in a hidden location under the Raikage's supervision. Kushina, as the Yin Nine-Tails host, stayed close to Kaito for protection.
At the center of the command post, a massive glowing sphere of water pulsed. This sensory barrier, created through the cooperation of several sensory ninja, allowed them to monitor the entire battlefield.
Kaito watched the sphere curiously. The technique could track the movements of thousands of shinobi, something even his electromagnetic senses couldn't replicate. It was impressive, though only possible with the combined strength of many shinobi.
For him, however, the movements of armies were nothing but ants clashing. The only foes he truly cared about were the real threats—Madara, Obito, and eventually, Kaguya.
To the Alliance, though, he was their final trump card. His mere presence gave them hope.
Nearby, Yamanaka Inoichi frowned. "Shikaku, the situation isn't good. Akatsuki is using the Impure World Reincarnation. They've brought back past Kage and countless other powerful shinobi. Our forces will be heavily pressured."
Shikaku exhaled, eyes sharp. "True, but they can't perfectly control that many powerful souls at once. Their movements will be limited. That's our chance."
Still, everyone knew the Alliance was at a disadvantage.
Kaito barely listened. His attention had shifted to the battlefield, where Hinata, Ino, and Terumi Mei were fighting fiercely. His expression softened. They were strong, but they were also precious to him. He couldn't help but worry.
Night fell before he realized it. After a quick meal, he returned to watching over the battles.
Suddenly, an urgent messenger burst in.
"Hokage-sama! Terrible news! Konoha's rear lines have been ambushed!"