As Fumori Masaki escorted the prisoners of war, Kumo Ninja Village also began preparations to release their Konoha captives, planning to return them near the meeting location in coordination with Konoha's forces.
When the Konoha captives learned they were finally returning home, they couldn't suppress their cheers, despite being deep within enemy territory. They praised the Second Hokage for his efforts. The Kumo ninjas, observing their joy, couldn't help but feel mixed emotions but continued with their duties nonetheless.
During the transfer, some Kumo ninjas encountered two notorious figures—Kinkaku and Ginkaku. The Konoha prisoners recognized them immediately, their eyes filled with hatred. These two had gained a cruel reputation for torturing Konoha's captives, making them despised by every Konoha ninja.
Yet beyond the hatred, there was also a sense of ridicule. The Konoha captives knew that Kinkaku and Ginkaku's battlefield failures had forced this peace talk. They recalled the arrogant manner of the brothers when they tortured them, and now, irony played its hand—those same brothers had caused their own humiliation.
Kinkaku noticed the contemptuous gazes directed at him, and already bitter over their defeat, it fueled his rage. Slowly, he began approaching the prisoners, clearly intending to torment them again.
A Kumo captain escorting the prisoners quickly stepped in front of Kinkaku, speaking firmly, "Kinkaku-sama, please refrain. Raikage-sama has given orders for the safe return of the Konoha ninja."
"Move," Kinkaku growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Do you intend to stop me?"
"Kinkaku-sama, please reconsider," the captain replied, his voice steady despite the lethal aura emanating from Kinkaku. "If you harm them, I will report this directly to Raikage-sama."
For a moment, Kinkaku contemplated drawing his sword and cutting the man down, but his recent failures, coupled with the fact that this was one of his own villagers acting on Raikage's orders, restrained him. Any action against his comrades could result in harsh punishment, even for him.
"Fine. I'll remember this," Kinkaku sneered, loosening his grip on his sword. He cast a long, venomous look at the captain, as though memorizing his face.
The captain, undeterred, saluted calmly. "Thank you for your understanding." Without missing a beat, he resumed escorting the prisoners.
As Kinkaku walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling of insult, his anger deepening. Beside him, Ginkaku muttered, "Can you believe that even people like him are showing us disrespect? It's outrageous."
Kinkaku rounded on him. "You're one to talk! If you hadn't lost the Bashōsen, we wouldn't be in this mess."
While the Second Raikage had reprimanded them for underestimating the enemy, Ginkaku's carelessness in losing the Sage of Six Paths' legendary fan had only worsened their disgrace. It wasn't just a personal loss but a matter of village pride, and many in Kumo had been disappointed by Ginkaku's failure to protect their ancestral treasure.
Unable to argue with his brother's rebuke, Ginkaku fell silent, gritting his teeth.
"And Raikage is no better," Kinkaku fumed. "Instead of regaining our honor, he's cowering, trying to negotiate peace with the Second Hokage. He's unfit to be Raikage!"
Ginkaku, agreeing with his brother, added, "It's disgraceful! A Raikage who abandons the traditions of the Land of Lightning for peace? How can we accept that?"
Tensions were rising not only between the brothers but also within Kumo Village. The peace treaty, seen as a humiliating surrender by many, was becoming increasingly unpopular. Although the Second Raikage's firm control kept the dissatisfaction in check, whispers of rebellion had begun to circulate. The most vocal of these dissenters were Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who were now gathering their forces—members of the elite Golden and Silver Brothers' Troop.
The Golden and Silver Brothers' Troop was comprised of Kumo's finest ninja, fiercely loyal to Kinkaku and Ginkaku. They shared the brothers' belief that the Raikage's decision was weak and dishonorable. Using secret signals known only to the troop, the brothers summoned their cadres to a clandestine meeting.
"The war might not be in our favor right now," Kinkaku addressed the group. "But the Fire Nation is still at war with the Wind Nation. With proper planning, we can turn this around. Even if we can't conquer Fire Nation lands, we should make them pay dearly. But what is our Raikage doing? He's bending over backward to Konoha's demands. Has he lost all sense of our village's honor?"
"This is a betrayal!" one of the cadres exclaimed.
"How could the Second Raikage agree to such terms?"
"We must convince him to withdraw from the peace talks!" another shouted.
Kinkaku's eyes gleamed as the room echoed with agreement. He knew it wasn't enough to convince them to oppose Raikage's decisions; they needed to take drastic action. "You think Raikage will listen to us?" Kinkaku said coldly. "Look at his actions. He's suppressing anyone who opposes the peace treaty. He won't stop until Kumo is completely subjugated under Konoha's terms."
The room fell silent as Kinkaku's implication sank in.
"We don't need a Raikage who colludes with the enemy," Kinkaku continued. "When he meets with the Second Hokage for peace negotiations, we'll assassinate them both."
The idea of assassinating two village shadows was extreme, even unthinkable for most. But the Golden and Silver Brothers' Troop had unwavering loyalty to Kinkaku and Ginkaku. If their leaders commanded it, they would execute it without hesitation—even if it meant killing Raikage.
With the plan set, they dispersed, acting as though nothing had happened. But the shadow of rebellion had already begun to creep over Kumo Village.
At this time, the Second Raikage remained unaware of the plot brewing against him. Though he harbored concerns about the growing influence of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, he dismissed his worries after seeing their behavior had calmed in recent days. Little did he know that this calm was merely the eye of the storm.
As the day of the peace talks approached, the Second Raikage set off with his guards. In an attempt to avoid any complications from the brothers, he ordered Kinkaku and Ginkaku to stay behind in the village—a decision that, in hindsight, would prove to be his gravest mistake.
No sooner had the Raikage left than Kinkaku and Ginkaku launched their coup. They swiftly took control of key points within Kumo Village, spreading their war propaganda and accusing the Raikage of betrayal. Released from their cells by the brothers, anti-Raikage factions quickly joined the rebellion, further deepening the divide within the village.
Although many in Kumo Village wished for peace, the absence of the Raikage and his loyalists left the village defenseless against the coup. The village was soon engulfed in chaos, torn between those who favored war and those who desired peace.
With the village under their control, Kinkaku and Ginkaku set out for the negotiation site, preparing an ambush for the Second Raikage and Second Hokage. They would strike before either leader could anticipate the betrayal, ensuring that neither could escape their trap.
Unbeknownst to the two shadows, their lives would soon hang in the balance.