Nightfall Over Konoha
The moon loomed over the Hidden Leaf, its cold light washing over the village like a silent sentinel. A quiet wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the weight of secrets unseen.
From atop the Hokage Monument, Ryūsei watched.
To the villagers below, Konoha was at peace. Lanterns flickered, the scent of grilled food and warm sake filled the streets, and children laughed in the distance.
But Ryūsei knew the truth.
This peace was fragile. The world was shifting.
Madara was moving.
And the balance of power would soon be shattered.
With a breath, Ryūsei vanished into the night.
The Aftermath of the Mission
Inside the Hokage Tower, the weight of Minato's report settled over the room like a heavy fog. The dim candlelight cast long shadows as Konoha's leadership listened in silence.
"The research base wasn't just an experiment site," Minato began, his voice steady but grim. "It was a breeding ground for something worse."
Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe. "Explain."
Minato's gaze darkened. "They weren't just testing bloodlines. They were trying to create them."
A sharp exhale from Jiraiya. "So they're playing gods now?"
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "If they succeed, they could artificially produce bloodline warriors."
Orochimaru smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "They wouldn't continue unless they had results."
Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temple. "Then we must prepare accordingly."
Danzo's single eye gleamed in the dim light. "The balance of power is shifting. We need to shift with it."
Silence followed.
The Gathering of Konoha's Top Brass
The war council convened.
Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, Koharu, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Ryūsei sat around a long table, the atmosphere tense.
This was no longer about if a war would come.
It was about when.
Hiruzen exhaled. "If Cloud and Stone are advancing their research, we must act before the balance tips."
Danzo folded his hands. "If they seek to weaponize bloodlines, we must ensure Konoha is not left behind."
Orochimaru's smirk deepened. "Then it is time for my report."
Silence.
Orochimaru leaned forward, his serpentine gaze glittering. "The first phase of bloodline purification is complete."
Tsunade's fingers tightened against the table. Hiruzen's grip on his pipe stilled.
Danzo remained unreadable. "Then we are one step closer."
Ryūsei remained motionless. He had expected this.
Orochimaru continued, his voice smooth and deliberate. "With purification complete, we can begin the next phase—unification."
Tsunade frowned. "You mean combining multiple bloodlines into a single, stable form?"
Orochimaru nodded. "Precisely. If done correctly, we will eliminate weaknesses while preserving the strengths of each bloodline."
The room was silent.
Then, Ryūsei reached into a small storage seal.
A pale, plant-like creature materialized on the table.
A White Zetsu.
The air grew heavy.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Where did you find this?"
Ryūsei's voice was calm. "In a place that should have never been disturbed."
Danzo's single eye flickered. "And you entrust it to Tsunade?"
Ryūsei's response was simple. "She is the only one I trust with this research."
Tsunade hesitated, then nodded. "I'll analyze it."
Hiruzen took a slow breath. "If what Orochimaru has achieved is true, and what Ryūsei has uncovered is connected to something deeper, then we must prepare."
Jiraiya leaned back, unusually serious. "Then we don't have a choice. We have to be ready."
No one disagreed.
The Moonlit Encounter
A silent forest clearing.
The scent of damp earth lingered in the air, mingling with the distant promise of rain. The trees swayed, whispering secrets only the wind could hear.
Ryūsei stood alone.
He had sensed them approaching long before they revealed themselves.
A presence.
Then, a shift in the air.
From the darkness emerged a cloaked figure. Their movements were slow, deliberate. And beside them—
A child. Barely a year old, his small frame trembling in the cold night air. His pale eyes, wide and filled with unspoken sorrow.
An Ōtsutsuki.
Ryūsei did not move.
The elder pulled back their hood, revealing a sharp but aged face. Their hands trembled slightly, yet their gaze held firm.
"I am the last servant of the Branch Family of the Moon Clan," they said, voice heavy with exhaustion.
They gestured to the child.
"This is Toneri Ōtsutsuki."
Ryūsei's golden-tinged Byakugan flickered.
Silence.
The elder exhaled. "The Main Family is dead."
A sharp gust of wind rustled the trees.
"The Branch Family rose against them. They slaughtered every last member. The Main Family was erased from existence." Their fingers clenched. "Only the child and his father survived. His father lies dying."
A pause.
"And you?" Ryūsei's voice was quiet, yet it carried an unmistakable edge.
The elder lifted their chin slightly. "I am the last servant of the Branch Family. I swore to protect this child."
Another silence.
The wind howled between them.
Then, at last, Ryūsei spoke.
His voice was quiet—dangerous.
"Why should I spare you when you killed my partner?"
The elder did not flinch.
Their next words would decide their fate.
To Be Continued…