"Hashirama Cells, they really are a thing full of unknowns," Kakashi remarked, thinking of Yamato. He felt a sense of familiarity over it. Out of all those test subjects, only Yamato survived, and the strength of Wood Release wasn’t particularly high either. It seems even if you can use it, no one can reach the level of the First Hokage.

"Speaking of which, what about the Hokage? Has she been informed about this?" Kakashi told Hatake Satoru about Danzo’s coveting of the Hokage position.

"But it should be fine now. Jiraiya-senpai has probably taken Naruto over there by now to resolve the crisis."

That old bastard Danzo is stirring up trouble too. He’s already planning to make his move even before the attack on Konoha later has begun. It looks like when Nagato attacks, we absolutely must avoid the village being destroyed. Otherwise, Tsunade’s position as Hokage really will be gone.

"By the way, can you help me deliver a couple of letters? Shisui is still in Sunagakure. There’s also something I want to discuss with Mangetsu over in Kirigakure."

Thinking of this, Hatake Satoru decided to get the消息 across to Shisui and the others, and he needed Shisui and his group to return to Konoha Village ahead of schedule.

"Yeah, sure."

Kakashi naturally wouldn’t refuse. Hatake Satoru didn’t have a summoning creature. For this kind of thing, Kakashi’s ninja dogs were the most suitable by far.

After Hatake Satoru finished writing the letters, Kakashi summoned Pakkun and Bisuke, and the two ninja dogs immediately set off for the two destinations.

The letter to Shisui mentioned the message about bringing Itachi back to Konoha.

As for his health condition, Granny Chiyo’s ninjutsu has pretty much repaired his body. Aside from losing his eyes, his mobility has mostly recovered now.

With Sasori and Shisui accompanying him, they shouldn’t encounter any danger on the road.

Hatake Satoru didn’t plan to make Itachi being alive public knowledge; only Nagato needed to know. After all, to Konoha, Itachi is still a missing-nin. Hatake Satoru bringing Itachi back now would require keeping his identity hidden.

As for Mangetsu, Hatake Satoru informed him to stay in his village for the time being. The Akatsuki’s plan to capture the tailed beasts was entering its final stages. The relationships between the major ninja villages were somewhat weird. He probably was already swamped with work.

The matter with Hozuki Mangetsu was exactly as he guessed. As soon as he returned to the village, Mangetsu was driven crazy by all the thing happened. He was just waiting for Hatake Satoru to tell him to go to Konoha so he could run away overnight.

But it seems he miscalculated.

The letter for Mangetsu arrived a day later than the one for Shisui. Receiving the letter, Mangetsu felt somewhat dissapointed.

"What’s this? I was waiting to go out and have some fun."

Hozuki Mangetsu still preferred life outside; it was much more free than being stuck in this village. Right now, even leaving this Mizukage’s office required someone else’s permission.

Hozuki Mangetsu slumped on the desk in a huff, half-melted into water and blowing bubbles.

Compared to Mangetsu’s side, things went much more smoothly for Shisui. By the time Mangetsu received his letter, Shisui was already preparing to set off with Itachi. Along with Sasori, the three of them and a dog embarked on the journey to the Land of Fire.

Itachi had lost his eyes, so now he could only let Shisui carry him while they traveled.

Hatake Satoru had also explained the situation in the letter and told Shisui there was no need to hurry.

Hatake Satoru had already thought about how to have Itachi disguise himself.

Itachi, having lost his Sharingan, wouldn’t be recognized even if someone met him face to face, unless they were very familiar with his chakra. A simple transformation technique would be enough.

Obito should already know about the content of his conversation with Nagato and had communicated with Nagato. But did Nagato know about him coming to Konoha?

Did he still need to go to Amegakure again?. The current progress was somewhat slipping out of his control.

Forget it. Hatake Satoru didn’t plan to waste any more time. Shisui and the others would arrive in a couple of days. He would just wait quietly for Nagato to make his move. If Nagato gave up on attacking Konoha, that wouldn’t be a bad outcome for him either.

It wouldn’t be wise to alert Nagato before he acted, and infiltrating Amegakure would come at too high a cost. Satoru had no intention of wasting any more time or energy on it.

"Sigh, a perfectly good rest period is over just like that."

Just the day before yesterday, he had been soaking in the hot springs. Now he was back in a state of combat readiness.

During their conversation in the hospital room, Hatake Satoru had also told Kakashi about the intelligence on Nagato, asking him to notify the village if necessary.

Everything was prepared once again. It felt like the days before Obito’s invasion—calm on the surface, yet danger lurking beneath.

Time rewinds to before Obito met with Nagato.

Sasuke went to see Obito and brought along the captured Gyuki.

"You look pretty badly injured."

"Yeah. You never mentioned before this mission that Gyuki was the strongest Jinchuriki." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Sasuke was very dissatisfied with the withheld intelligence. This time, his Hebi team had nearly been wiped out by that guy.

"This is the last time I’ll do anything for you. Don’t forget the conditions you promised me before."

"Ah, don’t worry. I’m looking forward to that old man’s death as well."

Sasuke didn’t stay long. Zetsu took him to the base where Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan were kept. After the battle with Gyuki, his condition wasn’t good. He was also beginning to wonder how many more fights he could endure before going blind.

Each time he used these eyes, Sasuke could feel just how difficult it must have been for his brother.

"He got played. Sasuke is still too young."

.... .... ...

Obito watched as Killer Bee, standing before him, slowly transformed into an octopus tentacle.

"Well then, I’d better go see Nagato first."

By the time he arrived, Nagato had just returned from capturing the Six-Tails.

"The capture of Gyuki failed. Sasuke is far inferior to his brother."

"If Itachi were still alive, our plan wouldn’t be able to proceed."

"During the capture of the Six-Tails, I encountered a man named Hatake Satoru."

"Hmm? What was he doing there?"

"He tried to persuade me to surrender. He said he would achieve the peace I seek on my behalf."

Nagato didn’t hide anything.

He had always followed Obito’s instructions, but Konan had never trusted Obito. Now that Hatake Satoru had appeared, he might truly be more trustworthy than Obito.

"So, what do you plan to do?"

Obito quietly prepared himself for battle. If Nagato intended to defect, he would have to kill him here and reclaim the Rinnegan.

"I’m not foolish enough to trust someone I’ve only just met."

Nagato did not break the balance between them in front of Obito.

"That’s the right way to think."

Obito didn’t continue the conversation and left shortly after.

Even so, this exchange made him feel a growing sense of unease. He decided not to entrust the task of capturing the Nine-Tails to Nagato.

Of course, he didn’t tell Nagato that he planned to go to Konoha himself to capture the Nine-Tails. At this stage, he couldn’t afford to let Nagato sense his distrust.

.....