Chapter 564: A Different Uchiha (Patreon)

Kumogakure — Raikage's Office — Land of Lightning

The messenger reached Kumogakure before sunset.

He had crossed most of the distance under chakra enhancement, switching with another Konoha courier only once along the route so that neither shinobi wasted time recovering in the field. The sealed packet tied beneath his flak jacket was small enough to fit inside one hand, although the markings across its surface identified it as something that should be placed directly into a Kage's hands.

No intermediary, no ordinary intelligence office, no delay.

By the time the messenger entered the Raikage's administrative floor, A had already been informed that Konoha was sending revised intelligence concerning Madara Uchiha.

The Raikage stood beside his desk rather than behind it.

Darui remained nearby with one hand resting loosely at his side, while Mabui waited close enough to begin recording new orders the moment A issued them.

The Konoha messenger bowed. "Raikage-sama. Priority intelligence from Hokage-sama."

A looked at the messenger before he extended one hand. "Give it."

The packet transferred immediately.

A broke the outer seal, then stopped when he saw the instruction beneath it.

Secured information. Written summary incomplete by design. Courier possesses verbal authentication.

His brows lowered.

"Speak."

The messenger straightened.

"Hokage-sama has received new intelligence from Alaric Kenway regarding Madara Uchiha."

Darui's attention sharpened.

A's expression changed at Alaric's name. "What intelligence?"

Seeing the change, the messenger spoke carefully.

"Madara Uchiha is no longer considered the principal active enemy of the Five-Village Alliance."

Silence entered the office.

"…"

"…"

A slowly lowered the written message.

Darui's eyes narrowed.

Mabui stopped breathing for a fraction of a second.

The Raikage stared directly at the messenger. "Explain."

"Hokage-sama reports that Alaric Kenway personally confronted Madara several days ago."

A's grip tightened slightly around the paper.

"And?"

"According to Kenway, the confrontation ended with Madara abandoning the objective connected to the Eye of the Moon."

Darui looked toward A.

The Raikage's expression became harder. "Madara abandoned it."

"Yes, Raikage-sama."

"Because Kenway told him to?"

"The report does not state that."

A looked down at the written summary again.

The document was intentionally restrained.

It confirmed only what Tsunade considered safe enough to commit to paper.

Madara was no longer the active central threat, but Obito Uchiha remained operational.

The tailed-beast objective remained active.

The alliance was to maintain mobilization.

The enemy designation was to change.

A looked up.

"Who replaces Madara?"

The messenger answered immediately. "Obito Uchiha."

Mabui's eyes sharpened.

Darui quietly repeated the surname.

"Uchiha…"

The messenger continued.

"Hokage-sama's intelligence identifies Obito as the masked shinobi who previously used Madara Uchiha's name, participated in Akatsuki operations, pursued the tailed beasts, and remains committed to the Eye of the Moon."

A placed the document flat against his desk. "S Killer B remains a target."

"Yes."

That answer mattered more than anything else that even A's entire posture changed.

Whatever Madara had done or abandoned, the alliance's reason for protecting B remained.

The Raikage looked toward Mabui. "No reductions in the jinchūriki security deployment."

Mabui nodded immediately. "Yes, Raikage-sama."

"Tell every unit already moving that the mobilization continues."

Another nod.

"Only the threat profile changes."

Darui looked toward the Konoha messenger. "What does Kenway say about Obito's strength?"

The messenger hesitated.

"That detail was not included in the written intelligence."

A noticed and asked, "What was included verbally?"

The shinobi answered carefully.

"Kenway considers Obito dangerous enough that the Five Great Villages should remain united against him."

A's eyes narrowed. "That is not what I asked."

The courier remained composed despite the pressure filling the room.

"Hokage-sama did not authorize me to speculate beyond the information given."

A stared at him for another moment, then he looked away.

The restraint was irritating, although correct.

Darui's attention settled upon the document. "If Madara is truly gone from the enemy command structure, the battle changes substantially."

A glanced toward him.

Darui continued with a quieter tone.

"We built several contingency formations around the possibility of Madara appearing directly on the battlefield. If Obito becomes the primary opponent, we need to redistribute those forces instead of leaving everyone positioned against a man who may never arrive."

A nodded. "Do it."

Mabui began writing.

A looked once more toward the messenger.

"Tell Tsunade I want another summit."

The courier blinked.

A continued before he could respond.

"This intelligence changes the entire alliance command structure. I will not reorganize Kumo's forces around a second Uchiha based upon letters carried between villages."

He folded his arms.

"If Madara is truly no longer our principal enemy, the Five Kage discuss it together."

The messenger bowed.

"Yes, Raikage-sama."

A's expression remained severe.

"And tell her I want everything Kenway told her."

The messenger wisely did not promise that part and merely bowed again.

"I will deliver your request."

Sunagakure — Kazekage's Office — Land of Wind

Gaara read the message twice.

Temari stood across from his desk while Kankurō remained beside one of the open windows, his arms folded as the evening heat gradually left the village.

Unlike A, Gaara did not react immediately.

His pale eyes remained on the same paragraph for several seconds.

Madara Uchiha is no longer considered the primary active enemy.

The words changed the threat, but it did not erase it.

Gaara lowered the message. "The messenger is certain this came directly from Tsunade-dono?"

Temari nodded.

"He delivered the verbal authentication himself."

"And Alaric is the original source."

"Yes."

Kankurō shifted his weight. "That makes me feel better and worse at the same time."

Gaara looked toward him.

Kankurō gestured toward the paper.

"If someone else claimed they personally dealt with Madara Uchiha, I would assume the report was wrong."

He paused.

"With that man, Alaric, I have to consider that he actually did."

Gaara understood.

He had seen enough of Alaric's capabilities during the Kage Summit and the events surrounding it to know that normal assumptions did not apply comfortably to him.

Still, one question remained.

"What happened to Madara?"

Temari's expression tightened slightly. "The report doesn't say."

Gaara looked down again.

That omission was significant.

It did not say Madara had been killed, and it definitely did not say Madara had been captured.

It merely said he was no longer considered the active central enemy.

Gaara touched one finger against the desk. "And Obito Uchiha replaces him."

Kankurō nodded.

"The masked man."

"Yes."

Gaara's eyes became colder.

A shinobi who could move through space, infiltrate the Five Kage Summit, coordinate Akatsuki operations, and pursue the tailed beasts was still enough of a threat to justify the alliance.

Temari unfolded another page.

"Konoha specifically says mobilization is not to stop."

"Good," Gaara looked toward the map beside his desk. "Keep our existing forces moving."

Kankurō raised a brow. "No reductions?"

"Not yet," Gaara stood. "We have spent too long preparing based upon incomplete intelligence to make another immediate shift before the Kage speak directly."

Temari watched him.

"You want a summit."

Gaara nodded.

"Send Tsunade-sama my agreement if another Kage has already requested one."

"And if nobody has?"

"Request it ourselves."

Temari inclined her head.

Gaara looked toward the intelligence map again.

The name written at its center would change.

That was all.

The reason for cooperation remained.

"If Obito intends to force an illusion upon the entire world," Gaara said while his gaze moved across the territorial markers of all Five Great Nations, "then whether Madara stands beside him is secondary to what happens if he succeeds."

Kankurō's expression grew serious.

Gaara continued.

"The alliance remains."

Kirigakure — Mizukage's Administrative Hall — Land of Water

Mei Terumī received Konoha's message during an ongoing review of Kirigakure's naval and sensor deployments.

Chōjūrō stood beside the long table while Ao had positioned himself nearer the intelligence board, one hand resting against the edge of a chart showing likely maritime approaches that Akatsuki remnants might use.

The messenger finished delivering Tsunade's verbal intelligence.

Mei did not interrupt once.

When he finished, she rested her fingertips lightly against the sealed paper. "So Madara Uchiha is supposedly no longer the enemy."

The messenger chose his words carefully.

"No longer the principal active enemy, Mizukage-sama."

Mei looked toward him. "That distinction sounds deliberate."

"Yes."

Ao's visible eye narrowed. "What condition is Madara in?"

"The intelligence provided to me does not state."

"Dead?"

"Not stated."

"Captured?"

"Not stated."

"Sealed?"

"Not stated."

Hearing the answers, Ao's mouth tightened.

Mei looked down at the document calmly. "Then Konoha is withholding something."

The courier remained quiet.

It was not his place to deny an observation that was obviously correct.

Chōjūrō shifted slightly. "Alaric-san fought him personally?"

"Yes."

"And survived."

"Yes."

Mei gave Chōjūrō a brief look. "That part should not surprise you anymore."

Chōjūrō nodded. "It still does a little… I mean, it's the legendary Madara we're talking about."

Mei returned her attention to the messenger.

"What exactly does Tsunade want us to do?"

"Maintain mobilization. Redirect active intelligence toward Obito Uchiha. Preserve the alliance command structure until the Kage can discuss revised operations."

Mei's eyes sharpened. "She already expects another summit."

"The Hokage has not formally scheduled one yet."

Ao looked toward Mei. "She will."

Mei nodded slowly. "Of course she will… she will have to."

Her fingers moved from Madara's name toward Obito's on the intelligence board.

Unlike Madara, Obito had already demonstrated that infiltration was one of his preferred methods.

That changed the defensive problem substantially. "Double checks on barrier access."

Ao nodded. "Already thinking the same."

"I want sensor teams rotated so nobody remains exhausted enough to miss a spatial disturbance."

"Yes, Mizukage-sama."

"Any member of our forces appearing unexpectedly inside a restricted position gets verified before being trusted, regardless of rank."

Chōjūrō nodded.

Mei looked toward the messenger. "Tell Tsunade I support an immediate summit."

The courier bowed.

"Yes, Mizukage-sama."

Mei's expression became more serious.

"And tell her Kirigakure wants a direct answer regarding what happened to Madara."

The messenger nodded. "I will relay that."

Mei watched him leave.

Once the door closed, Ao looked toward her.

"You believe the intelligence?"

Mei considered the question. "I believe Alaric knows more than the letter tells us."

"That was not what I asked," Ao nodded. "But I agree…"

Mei's mouth curved faintly, although no humor reached her eyes.

"I believe Obito is dangerous."

She looked toward Madara's name.

"As for whether Madara Uchiha simply decided to stop threatening the world…"

Her fingers folded together.

"I would prefer to hear that explanation while looking directly at Tsunade."

Iwagakure — Tsuchikage's Office — Land of Earth

Ōnoki did not react when the messenger first said Madara's name.

He reacted when Alaric's assessment was repeated.

The old Tsuchikage floated several inches above the floor beside a low table while Kurotsuchi stood nearby with her arms folded. Akatsuchi remained beside the entrance, occupying enough space that the Konoha messenger had instinctively moved half a step farther into the room after entering.

Ōnoki held the dispatch close to his face.

His eyes moved across the written summary.

Then the messenger delivered the verbal portion.

"Kenway also informed Hokage-sama that the Five Kage, even together, would not have been sufficient to defeat Madara Uchiha if Madara had remained the active enemy."

Kurotsuchi's brow rose, and Akatsuchi remained silent.

Ōnoki did not.

"He said that?"

"Yes, Tsuchikage-sama."

Ōnoki lowered the document. "Exactly?"

The messenger nodded.

"He reportedly made it clear the statement was not intended as disrespect toward the Five Kage. His assessment was that Madara operated on a different scale."

Ōnoki stared at the wall.

For several seconds, his office became strangely quiet.

Kurotsuchi watched her grandfather and expected irritation, or perhaps anger.

Ōnoki had very little patience for someone casually dismissing the military power represented by all Five Kage.

Instead, the old man's expression became distant.

Madara Uchiha…

The name carried memories that none of the younger Kage could possess.

Kurotsuchi noticed the change.

"Old man?"

Ōnoki slowly exhaled. "He's right."

Her eyebrows rose.

Akatsuchi looked toward him.

The Konoha messenger carefully kept his expression neutral.

Kurotsuchi unfolded her arms.

"You're agreeing that Madara could defeat all Five Kage?"

Ōnoki looked toward her. "You have never stood in front of that man when he had no reason to restrain himself."

Kurotsuchi became quiet.

Ōnoki lowered himself toward the floor until his sandals touched stone.

His back protested immediately, but he ignored it.

"I was young when I first encountered him."

His fingers tightened around the message.

"The difference between knowing somebody is stronger and understanding that your strength has become irrelevant is difficult to explain until it happens to you."

Kurotsuchi watched him carefully.

Ōnoki continued.

"Madara did not need to prove anything."

His voice carried none of his usual irritation.

"That was what made it worse."

He looked toward the messenger.

"You said Kenway mentioned meteors."

"Yes."

Ōnoki's eyes narrowed.

"One?"

"The report specifically states Madara can follow the first with another."

Kurotsuchi looked toward her grandfather.

Ōnoki gave a short, humorless breath. "That sounds like him."

"Grandfather," Akatsuchi frowned. "How can one shinobi do something like that?"

Ōnoki glanced toward him. "Because the founders were monsters."

The statement carried no exaggeration.

"Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were the kind of men later generations turned into legends because accepting that human beings actually reached that level was uncomfortable."

He looked toward Kurotsuchi.

"You have seen what happens when villages compare modern Kage to the First Hokage because both held the same title."

Kurotsuchi nodded. "The title does not make the power equal."

"Exactly," Ōnoki looked back toward the report. "If Kenway fought that Madara for hours and won…"

His expression tightened.

Then another question emerged.

"…how?"

The messenger remained silent.

Ōnoki noticed, then he sighed. "Tsunade didn't send that part."

"Only a limited summary, Tsuchikage-sama."

Ōnoki scoffed. "Of course she didn't."

Kurotsuchi moved closer to the map. "And Obito?"

Ōnoki's attention shifted.

That was the problem before them now.

Obito Uchiha.

Masked, Spatial ninjutsu, Akatsuki, the tailed beasts, the Eye of the Moon.

Ōnoki folded the message.

"Changing the enemy does not change the fact that the alliance exists because none of us can solve this alone."

Kurotsuchi nodded. "Then we maintain mobilization."

"Yes," He looked toward the Konoha messenger. "And tell Tsunade I want another summit."

The messenger bowed.

"Tsuchikage-sama."

Ōnoki raised one finger. "Tell her I particularly want Kenway there."

The courier hesitated slightly. "I can relay the request."

"Oho…" Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. "That answer means you doubt he will come."

"I cannot speak for Kenway."

Ōnoki grumbled. "Neither can anyone else, apparently."

The messenger wisely remained quiet.

Ōnoki floated upward again.

"Go."

The courier bowed and departed.

Once the door closed, Kurotsuchi looked toward her grandfather.

"You really think Madara could defeat the Five Kage."

Ōnoki remained facing the window.

"I think the Five Kage would make him work harder than he did when I was young."

Kurotsuchi waited.

Ōnoki's expression became grim.

"I do not think that would save us."

Konohagakure — Hokage Tower — Late Evening

By the time the first confirmations returned to Konoha, Tsunade had already consumed enough tea to become personally offended by the existence of tea.

Shizune had not returned the sake.

Tsunade had checked… twice.

The alliance reports on her desk had multiplied again despite her effort to reduce them.

Madara's name was being crossed out of several operational headings, and Obito Uchiha replaced it beneath fresh ink.

The change looked simple on paper.

Strategically, it was anything but simple.

Madara represented overwhelming battlefield power.

Obito represented infiltration, spatial movement, intelligence networks, Akatsuki remnants, tailed-beast acquisition, and an enemy who had spent years allowing other people to believe they understood his identity when they did not.

The army would need different formations.

Sensor units mattered more now.

Jinchūriki security needed revision.

Barrier teams needed new instructions.

The Five Kage needed to decide what intelligence could be trusted.

Tsunade had spent hours issuing new orders.

At some point after sunset, Itachi had finally been dismissed from the office after answering only the questions Tsunade could reasonably press without forcing him to violate confidences he had never promised to expose.

That conversation had done little to improve her mood.

Alaric was hiding something about Madara… Tsunade was certain of that.

She simply did not know how much.

Eventually, her body made the decision for her.

She stood behind the desk and placed both hands against its edge. "Enough."

Shizune looked up from a stack of correspondence. "Tsunade-sama?"

"I'm going home."

Shizune blinked.

The words sounded almost unnatural after the previous several days.

Tsunade straightened her coat.

"I have spent the last several nights sleeping in this chair, waking up angry, signing things half-conscious, and apparently drooling on military intelligence."

Shizune very carefully looked away.

Tsunade noticed. "Don't even..."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking."

Shizune gathered several documents. "…"

"You should sleep," Tsunade sighed, seeing Shizune being so diligent made her pity the woman.

"I know."

Tsunade walked around the desk. "Properly… in a bed."

"Yes."

"For more than forty minutes."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade stopped.

Shizune's expression remained innocent.

The Hokage narrowed her eyes. "You sound pleased."

"I am pleased."

Tsunade sighed and continued toward the door.

Her hand had almost reached the handle when footsteps approached rapidly from the corridor.

Shizune's expression changed.

The door opened before Tsunade touched it.

A younger administrative shinobi appeared, breathing heavily. "Shizune-sama."

Shizune immediately stepped forward.

"What is it?"

"Responses from the other villages."

He held out several sealed packets.

Shizune accepted them.

Tsunade looked at the stack. "No."

Shizune glanced toward her.

Tsunade pointed at the letters. "Whatever those are, they can wait until morning."

The shinobi shifted uncomfortably.

Shizune examined the seals.

Cloud, Sand, Mist, Stone… four responses.

Her expression became increasingly concerned as she opened the first.

Tsunade slowly lowered her pointing hand.

"What?"

Shizune read quickly, then opened the second, and her shoulders tightened.

The third followed, then the fourth.

Tsunade stared at her. "Shizune."

Shizune looked up, and there was an expression on her face Tsunade had learned to dislike.

"What?"

Shizune glanced down at the open letters again. "Raikage-sama wants another Five Kage Summit."

Tsunade closed her eyes.

Shizune continued. "Kazekage-sama agrees."

Tsunade's jaw tightened.

"Mizukage-sama is requesting the same."

Tsunade opened one eye.

Shizune looked toward the final letter. "And Tsuchikage-sama is also demanding another summit."

Tsunade stood completely still.

She had been three seconds away from leaving.

Three seconds.

Her home waited somewhere beyond the window.

Her bed existed.

She remembered it.

She could almost imagine lying down and waking up without a map of continental military deployments stuck to her face.

Instead, four Kage had apparently coordinated their irritation from hundreds of kilometers away.

Tsunade slowly turned around.

Her eyes settled upon the desk she had just escaped.

Then she looked back toward Shizune.

Shizune held the four letters close to her chest.

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched.

"What the hell…"