To provide an explanation to the Daimyo of the Wind Country for the devastating loss in the war, Sunagakure first had to determine where responsibility lay. The village council gathered under a somber sky, tension hanging heavy in the air.
An elder, his face etched with disapproval, broke the silence with a stern voice that echoed in the chamber:
"Kazekage-sama, why did our village commit so many resources—our finest shinobi, our last reserves of supplies—and even go as far as deploying Shukaku, yet we still failed to defeat Konoha? How could such a calculated gamble collapse so thoroughly?"
Rasa's jaw tightened, his expression grim. He had anticipated this reckoning. He, too, was bitter from the loss, but more than that, he knew the weight of accountability would fall squarely on his shoulders. Still, in the face of the village's accusations, he hesitated. Words eluded him.
The elder pressed on, harsher this time:
"If even the Kazekage himself was unable to defeat Konoha, then we should never have gambled so heavily. Peace talks should have been our strategy from the start. Now the Water and Earth fronts are crumbling under pressure. This catastrophe is the result of your misjudgment."
Indeed, Rasa had dared a bold maneuver. He'd pulled back elite forces from other battlefronts, repositioning them to Kikyo Mountain in an ambitious ambush against Konoha. To ensure victory, he'd even joined forces with Sunagakure's senior advisors to unleash Shukaku, the One-Tail.
But what he hadn't foreseen was the cunning of the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—who arrived personally with his legendary disciples: Jiraiya and Tsunade. Konoha's unexpected unity had turned the tide.
Still, Sunagakure had gained ground. Shukaku's monstrous power had carved chaos into the battlefield, and for a time, it had seemed they might triumph. But then came the turning point—a shadow clad in otherworldly armor.
A single shinobi emerged from Konoha's side, his chakra oppressive, his presence overwhelming. That figure summoned a colossal avatar—Susanoo—powerful enough to hold Shukaku at bay. That moment shattered Sunagakure's hopes.
Frustrated by the elders' rising voices, Rasa finally barked out a defense:
"Yes, I took a risk! But had that mysterious shinobi not appeared, we would have claimed victory. His power defied logic—"
The elders scoffed.
"Are you saying a single man suppressed a tailed beast? Kazekage-sama, surely you're not fabricating excuses to deflect blame."
Just then, a firm voice interrupted the discord. It was Chiyo, stepping forward with authority:
"What Kazekage-sama says is true. I saw the enemy shinobi with my own eyes. The jutsu he wielded—it was unmistakably Susanoo, the technique once used by Uchiha Madara himself."
Gasps rippled through the chamber.
Chiyo continued, "Madara stood equal to the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju. To command a tailed beast with sheer force is within the realm of the Uchiha. That shinobi bore Madara's legacy."
With Chiyo's credibility backing Rasa's words, the room quieted. The accusations dulled, suspicion replaced by contemplation. Rasa offered Chiyo a subtle nod of gratitude before he turned toward her with a more urgent inquiry.
"What about Pakura? She engaged that Uchiha first. Has she awakened? Did she recognize him?"
Chiyo nodded slowly. "Yes. I asked her. She identified him as Uchiha Kawa—the older brother of Akira, Konoha's so-called 'Lightning Flash.' She has a personal history with him."
Rasa's eyes narrowed.
Chiyo elaborated, "Pakura only heard fragments, but it's likely Uchiha Kawa has defected from Konoha. His appearance seemed to be connected to Shukaku—or perhaps... revenge."
Suddenly, a voice from the corner of the chamber sneered:
"Revenge? Clearly he came to settle his grudge with Pakura. In that case, isn't it she who bears the blame for our defeat?"
"Enough!" Rasa thundered, fists clenched. "Pakura was only obeying the village's command when she carried out the mission that killed his mother. The blame lies not with her."
The elder's tone turned mocking. "Then will you bear the responsibility before the Daimyo, Kazekage-sama?"
Rasa faltered, his resolve wavering.
The elder pushed harder:
"We've failed in our campaign. Our troops are overextended. But Kirigakure has offered to negotiate peace—on one condition. They want Pakura dead."
The silence was suffocating.
Chiyo's eyes widened, and Rasa's face paled. The cost of peace was unthinkable, yet the strategic value undeniable. With peace from the Water Country, they could redirect their forces to the Earth front. The survival of the village might hinge on this decision.
Still, was it right to sacrifice a loyal kunoichi for political leverage?
The elder's voice slithered through the quiet:
"Do not hesitate, Kazekage-sama. One life to save the many. Offer Pakura's death as recompense and shift the blame for our failure. The Daimyo will understand."
That was the final push. Rasa's shoulders sank. The village came first—always. He gave the order.
Pakura, upon her recovery, was to be sent as a peace envoy to Kirigakure. A mission she would not return from.
Far away, in the shadowy depths of a hidden chamber, Black Zetsu relayed recent events to an aged Uchiha Madara.
Madara coughed, his body frail, yet his gaze sharp.
"So... that boy deceived even me," he rasped. "He had already awakened the Mangekyo when we found him."
Black Zetsu, shrouded in darkness, asked, "Shall we try to bring him under control again?"
Madara shook his head. "No. The curse mark I left has faded. His abilities are unknown, and neither you nor I are in any condition to subdue him."
He leaned back, thoughtful.
"But perhaps his existence serves us better from the shadows. Let him stir the pot—his chaos may distract the nations while we prepare."
Black Zetsu nodded. "What about your successor? You asked me to identify one. I reviewed three Uchiha."
"Go on."
"First, Uchiha Shisui. Konoha's prodigy, hailed as the fastest to ever awaken the Sharingan. Second, Akira—the Lightning Flash. Talented, cold, and emotionally distant. However, he may be too clever, too hard to manipulate."
Madara exhaled slowly. "Yes, clever shinobi are dangerous. Like Kawa."
Zetsu nodded. "And the third... Uchiha Obito. A fool. He hasn't even awakened the Sharingan, but he's simple. He adores a girl on his team. If she dies, it may drive him to awaken the Mangekyo."
Madara's eyes gleamed with interest. "A fool with a heart. Much easier to mold."
"Shall I continue to monitor him?"
"Yes. See if he awakens the Sharingan soon. If not... we'll reconsider Shisui or Akira."
As the elder Uchiha drifted into thought, the pieces of the long game moved quietly into place. War, betrayal, sacrifice—all part of the grand design that would one day shatter the shinobi world.