267. Sinister Plan

Land of Lightning

"Boom~"

Thunder roared across the skies, illuminating the mountains and the houses built along their slopes. This was the Hidden Cloud Village, the homeland of the mighty Raikage.

At the peak of the highest mountain stood the newly constructed Raikage Building. From this vantage point, one could see the entire village below.

Inside the Raikage's office, a towering figure, the formidable Raikage, was engrossed in an aerobic workout. His muscular physique glistened, each muscle sharply defined, swelling rhythmically with his exercises.

"Lord Raikage!"

Just as he was admiring his well-toned body, the office doors were flung open with a loud bang by a pair of rough, strong hands.

"What's happening now?"

The First Raikage frowned, grabbing a towel from the side and throwing it over his shoulders. He shook the sweat off his densely packed hair, his rugged face showing a hint of exasperation.

"You have a letter."

The man who entered, his face adorned with a meticulously groomed beard, spoke respectfully. He glanced around as if to ensure there were no other listeners, then pulled a letter from his robes.

"Just a letter? What's with the mystery?"

The First Raikage rolled his eyes. The man before him was reliable but overly cautious.

"It's not me being overly cautious. I'm worried if the Kinkaku brothers see this letter, they'll do something reckless."

The bearded man sighed, handing over the letter.

"It's from Hashirama Senju."

"Hashirama Senju? The First Hokage of Konoha? That certainly warrants discretion."

Taking the letter, the First Raikage nodded in understanding. The name "Senju" was a sensitive subject for the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers. If they discovered this letter, chaos was inevitable. The brothers were already sulking after being denied the position of Second Raikage due to their youth.

"Let me see. A Five Kage Summit? He wants to mediate the conflict between the Land of Earth and the Land of Water? What a naïve guy."

The First Raikage chuckled as he read the heartfelt invitation. He had no intention of involving himself in other nations' conflicts. Focusing on the growth of his own village was his top priority. Thanks to his familial ties with the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, the village's funding was generous.

When the Land of Water had requested passage through his territory earlier, he hadn't exploited the situation. Instead, he had only asked their elder, Byakuren, to help locate the long-lost Turtle Island—a sacred beast of the Land of Lightning that carried an ancient secret on its back.

"Keep this matter private for now, especially from Kinkaku and Ginkaku. When the time comes, you will accompany me to the summit."

"Understood!"


---

Konoha

Night had fallen, and the streets were alight with the glow of homes. A cloaked figure moved swiftly down the road, stopping before a grand mansion.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who's knocking at this hour?"

Senju Itama, dressed in black-and-white striped pajamas, opened the door, her expression annoyed. She was ready to give the intruder a piece of her mind.

"Shh, keep it down."

The cloaked figure hushed her and slipped inside as though he owned the place.

"Second brother?"

Recognizing the voice, Itama lowered her glowing fist.

"It's me."

The intruder removed his hood, revealing his unmistakable white hair. Senju Tobirama's usually stoic face softened slightly as he looked at his sister.

"What are you doing here? I’m not going back!"

Contrary to Tobirama's expectations, Itama stepped back defensively, her guard raised.

“I’m here to find Uchiha Gin. Is he here?”

Tobirama barely held back a sigh of exasperation at his sister's antics. “Yes. He’s in the backyard.”

"Good."

After a curt nod, Tobirama turned and headed towards the backyard, pausing momentarily. His expression grew conflicted as he looked back at Itama.

"Itama, now that our elder brother is Hokage, you can—"

"No, brother. I’m fine as I am."

Itama interrupted him with a shake of her head. She appreciated his concern but had grown accustomed to her life by Uchiha Gin's side.

"But—"

"Don’t worry, brother. He’s a good man."

Tobirama grumbled something under his breath but ultimately nodded. "The Senju clan will always support you."


---

In the backyard, Uchiha Gin stood tall and graceful, his long hair gently swaying despite the still air. Bathed in the moonlight, he seemed shrouded in an ethereal aura.

As Tobirama approached, Gin opened his eyes, revealing his calm yet intense gaze. His sharp features and the intricate facial markings that faded into his forehead’s seal made him appear otherworldly.

“This power is incredible,” Gin muttered to himself, smiling as he flexed his fingers. The completion of his Sage Mode had brought about newfound strength, though his intelligence and charisma stats remained frustratingly unchanged.

“Burning offerings to the ancestors really paid off!” he joked, recalling the tribute he had made to his forebears.

From somewhere far away, the spirit of Ōtsutsuki Hamura silently blessed his devoted descendant.


Intelligence: 9
Charisma: 1

After examining the facial markings from his Sage Mode, Uchiha Gin noticed they bore a striking resemblance to the markings of the Strength of a Hundred Technique. Curiosity piqued, he tried channeling natural energy into the Yin Seal on his forehead and found the process surprisingly smooth. The seal could store natural energy without issue.

“Is this a cheat code?”

Exiting Sage Mode, Uchiha Gin rubbed his chin in thought, a faint glimmer in his eyes. Suddenly, a realization struck him, and he smacked his palm with an enlightened expression.

“Could it be... I’m the protagonist of this novel?”

“What nonsense are you muttering now?”

A cold, slightly irritated voice interrupted his musings.

Hearing the familiar tone, Uchiha Gin turned around in mild surprise. Standing behind him, with a frosty expression and a clear sense of annoyance, was Senju Tobirama.

“What wind brought you here in the middle of the night? Sneaking around... don’t tell me you’re trying to dig up dirt on my dear cousin?”

“I…”

Tobirama paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Just as he was about to explain his intentions, Uchiha Gin interrupted with a sly grin.

“Let me make it clear: unless you can meet my price, there’s nothing to talk about!”

“Fine. That’s a conversation for another time.”

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Tobirama sighed, his gaze complex. While he wouldn’t deny the potential usefulness of some dirt on a rival, tonight he had a different purpose.

“I’m here to discuss something with you.”

“Oh?”

Gin raised an eyebrow. If Tobirama wanted to "discuss" something, it likely meant he needed a favor.

“What is it?”

Gin reclined lazily in a chair in the backyard, looking completely at ease, though his interest was piqued. It wasn’t every day that Senju Tobirama humbled himself to a Uchiha.

“It’s about the Tailed Beasts.”

“Tailed Beasts?”

Gin thought back, trying to recall if he had done anything recently to provoke interest in the beasts. Had rumors reached Tobirama, prompting this unexpected visit?

“I want to know if there’s anyone in the Uchiha Clan who can implant long-term or even permanent commands in a Tailed Beast’s mind.”

Tobirama got straight to the point, his tone serious.

“Huh?”

Gin’s eyes narrowed as alarm bells rang in his mind. His expression shifted, suspicion evident.

Is this white-haired schemer trying to bait me into revealing secrets so he can suppress the Uchiha Clan? Despicable!

“What’s with that look? I’m asking seriously. Do you or do you not have someone capable of such a feat?”

Tobirama frowned, clearly irked by Gin’s skeptical gaze and exaggerated expressions.

Over the years, Tobirama had gained extensive knowledge of the Uchiha Clan. He understood the limitations of the Sharingan; while it could temporarily control a Tailed Beast, even the Three Tomoe Sharingan wasn’t foolproof. The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, however, was an enigma—its abilities were still largely unknown to him.

“If there is someone with such an ability, it could greatly aid my plans,” Tobirama added after a pause.

Gin tilted his head, then replied lazily, “Whether we do or not, that depends. First, tell me what you’re planning.”

Tobirama hesitated, then sighed.

“Fine. My brother and I have decided to distribute the Tailed Beasts to the other four great nations to maintain balance.”

“You’ve lost your mind, haven’t you? You’re seriously considering giving away weapons of this magnitude?”

Gin was utterly baffled. Handing over nuclear weapons for free? Is this even the real Tobirama, or is he some knockoff version?

“If you’re that bored, just let Hashirama and My dear cousin leash the beasts and flatten the other nations. Expand the Land of Fire’s territory while you’re at it.”

“If only that were an option,” Tobirama said with a wry smile. “But you know my brother. He’s devoted his life to peace. The chance of him initiating a war is lower than him marrying Uchiha Madara.”

“Hey, hey! You don’t have to go that far!”

“So, no. We’re not giving them away.”

Gin perked up.

“Oh? Then what’s your plan?”

“I intend to make the other nations pay. And pay dearly.”

Tobirama’s expression turned cold, a cunning gleam in his eyes.

“I won’t rest until I’ve drained their coffers. Let’s see how they fund their wars when they’re forced to scrape for missions just to survive!”

Gin smirked, finally seeing the Tobirama he was familiar with—the one who wouldn’t part with a single coin without a fight.

“And, of course, I’ll be selling them... defective versions. Let’s see how well they fare with weapons that backfire.”

“Now that’s more like it.” Gin chuckled, fully grasping Tobirama’s strategy. “I understand, I understand.”

After hearing Senju Tobirama’s explanation, Uchiha Gin suddenly understood everything. His gaze at the white-haired man became filled with both caution and a hint of reluctant admiration.

Good thing this guy’s an ally. If he were an enemy, I’d need to sleep in iron underpants every night.

“Well then, tell me—does such a technique exist or not?”

“Of course!”

Previously, Gin might have said no, but with Tobirama’s direct question, he nodded confidently.

The technique of implanting subconscious commands in a target’s mind was quite simple. It required the user to plant a wedge formed from visual power into the target’s brain. However, while this worked on humans, ordinary Sharingan wouldn’t suffice for Tailed Beasts; they’d likely counterattack before the wedge could even take root.

“How long does it last?”

This was Tobirama’s main concern. The longer, the better.

“Hard to say. Ideally, it could last until death.”

Gin scratched his head. If Uchiha Hikari (Kuroko) were the one to execute it, there shouldn’t be any issues. With the infinite power of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and her chakra reserves, she could maintain control over a Tailed Beast indefinitely.

“Really?”

Tobirama’s face lit up with joy at this answer. His gaze toward Gin changed, making the latter feel slightly uncomfortable.

“When can you make it happen?”

“Tomorrow. I need a good night’s sleep first.”

“... One last thing—this must be kept secret from my brother.”

After finalizing the plan with Gin, Tobirama walked away with a spring in his step, vanishing into the night.

“Sigh... People always say the Senju are Konoha’s backbone. The Senju just flap their mouths, while we Uchiha always end up doing the heavy lifting.”

Gin sighed deeply, feeling an overwhelming sense of responsibility.


---

The Next Day

“Hikari, we’ve got a job—a big one!”

While eating breakfast, Uchiha Hikari looked up, confused by Gin’s serious demeanor. Upon hearing his words, a massive question mark seemed to appear above her head.

“Gin, we haven’t even finished the Tailed Beast task yet, and now there’s something new?”

“Well, it’s not exactly new.”

After letting Hikari finish her breakfast, Gin placed a hand on her shoulder. With a flash of golden light, the two vanished from the spot.

“Wait! I haven’t finished my soup!”

Senju Itama, holding a bowl of soup, stood dumbfounded in the empty dining room. The soup in her hands suddenly felt tasteless.


---

Controlled by Hikari and Gin, the Tailed Beasts were lying docile in the sun. Even as the two appeared out of nowhere, the giant creatures didn’t so much as lift an eyelid.

“Wow, they’ve recovered nicely!”

Observing the Tailed Beasts, Gin noticed their previously severed tails had regrown, though their overall size seemed slightly smaller.

Probably from hunger, Gin thought, dismissing the detail as unimportant. Turning to the puzzled Hikari, he began explaining Tobirama’s request.

“So, you want me to plant wedges in their minds? Anything specific?”

Hikari listened carefully, then shrugged. Implanting commands was simple for her, but she wondered if Gin had any particular instructions.

“Just make sure the beasts can be triggered to rampage anytime. The longer the control lasts, the better—ten years, a century, whatever works.”

Tobirama hadn’t specified the exact commands, but his intent was clear: use the Tailed Beasts to sabotage the other villages whenever necessary.

“No problem!”

Hikari’s crimson eyes glowed brightly as she unleashed the power of her Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. The pressure alone made the Tailed Beasts instinctively tuck their tails.

The process was tedious. Staring down each beast, Hikari invaded their minds with overwhelming ocular power. In a matter of minutes, one after another, the beasts tilted their heads, signaling success.

“Hikari, don’t overdo it. If it’s too much, just settle for a ten-year wedge.”

Seeing sweat bead on her forehead, Gin gently wiped it away and offered a concerned suggestion.

“It’s fine. As long as it’s something you want, I’ll give it my all.”

A faint blush crept across Hikari’s face. Looking at Gin’s worried expression, her heart swelled with warmth. This emotional surge seemed to amplify her power, and her progress quickened.


---

With a loud thud, the Eight-Tails collapsed, completing the final command implantation. Hikari closed her eyes and leaned weakly into Gin’s arms.

“Hikari!”

Holding the seemingly exhausted girl, Gin gently caressed her sweat-drenched face, guilt written all over his expression.

“I’m fine... just need a little rest,” Hikari murmured, her tone soft and sweet. Despite appearing frail, her mischievous side was hard at work, savoring the moment in Gin’s embrace.

“Let’s go home,” Gin said, scooping her up in a princess carry. Hikari naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, and their eyes met. The atmosphere grew heavy with unspoken emotions.

“Gin...”

“Hikari...”

Just as their moment seemed poised to escalate into something more intimate, an urgent figure appeared in the distance.

With her purple waves bouncing behind her, Uchiha Haruka approached, her face filled with panic. Having sensed her previously planted wedge being tampered with, she had raced over without even finishing her breakfast.

What she saw shattered her.

Despite expecting something like this, witnessing the closeness between Gin and Hikari made her heart ache unbearably.

Fueled by intense emotion, Chiri’s Sharingan morphed uncontrollably into a Mangekyō Sharingan. The clover-shaped patterns within spun rapidly, evolving under the mysterious energy coursing through her.

“I shouldn’t be here... I should be...”