Chapter Eight: Dark Shadows

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In the tower of the Hidden Stone Village, the atmosphere was tense as a lone spy approached the imposing figure of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. The old yet formidable leader sat at his desk, buried in reports and strategic plans. His eyes flicked up as the spy entered, bowing deeply.

"Lord Tsuchikage," the spy began, his voice wavering slightly. "I have a message."

Onoki's eyes narrowed, curiosity and annoyance mingling in his expression. "What message?" he demanded, his tone sharp.

The spy took a deep breath, steadying himself. "The Kannabi Bridge trap to kill Rin Nohara."

"Huh?" Onoki's frown deepened. "What about it?"

The spy gulped, the weight of the message evident in his posture. "523 shinobis were assigned for the task. Out of them, 390 have multiple broken bones with significant internal organ damage. 97 are severely bruised and will need at least a week to recover fully. 35 are in a coma due to extreme brain damage, and one is dead."

Silence fell over the room as Onoki's expression darkened further. "All this… and she survived?"

The spy nodded, trembling. "The girl, alone, fought against them and defeated them."

Onoki's face hardened into a mask of fury. "Continue."

The spy swallowed hard. "She had a lot if odd techniques, all of them were strong, very strong. She had used a… peculiar technique. They said she had nature responding to her chakra. She had nine pitch-black orbs behind her back. Her speed was unmatched, even faster than the Yellow Flash of the Leaf. She severed the head of an Iwa-nin in a flash."

Onoki's eyes blazed with anger and something akin to fear. "You mentioned she used a peculiar jutsu… what was it?"

The spy hesitated before speaking. "A jutsu called 'Harem-no-Jutsu'. lt incapacitated a significant number of our men. She also poked... a man's... behind with a technique called 'A Thousand Years of Death'."

For a moment, the Tsuchikage's fury was replaced with incredulity. "Harem-no-Jutsu? Are you telling me our elite ninjas were taken down by such a ridiculous technique? And are you telling me that she poked a man's ass?!"

The spy nodded, flinching at the killing intent radiating from Onoki. "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage. Both techniques were extremely dangerous.."

Onoki slammed his fist on the desk, the wood creaking under the pressure. "I never issued such a mission! Who dared to authorise this?"

The spy's panic was palpable. "W-we don't know, my lord. But the orders came through official channels."

Onoki's voice was a low growl. "Find out who did this. Immediately. And bring them to me."

The spy nodded vigorously, practically fleeing the room to escape Onoki's wrath.

As the spy hurried through the streets of the Hidden Stone Village, the weight of his mission hung heavily on his shoulders. Finding the one who issued the unauthorized mission was paramount, and failure was not an option. The killing intent from the Tsuchikage still lingered, pushing him to move faster.

As the door closed behind him, Onoki took a deep breath, trying to quell his rage. He turned and called out, "Aurotsuchi, come here."

His daughter, who also served as his assistant, entered the room swiftly. "Yes, Father?"

Onoki's expression was grim. "We're at a huge disadvantage. Losing 500 shinobi in one mission is a severe blow. We need to decide our next move carefully."

Aurotsuchi frowned, understanding the gravity of the situation. "What do you propose?"

Onoki's eyes hardened with resolve. "We have to consider our options. Either we give up and lose everything or we die striving."

Aurotsuchi placed a hand on her father's shoulder. "Do the right thing for the village, Father. That's what matters most."

Onoki nodded slowly. "The Hardest Rock in the World… I will give my life if it means our village will continue to thrive."

He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Update the bingo book. Rin Nohara is to be considered an SS-rank threat. A flee on sight order is in effect. The bounty on her head will be tripled. Be vigilant, interrogate people if necessary. Find out who passed the order for the mission."

Aurotsuchi nodded, understanding the weight of the decision. "I'll handle it."

Onoki watched her leave, his mind heavy with the responsibility of leadership in such trying times. As the door closed behind her, he allowed himself a moment of reflection. The world of shinobi was ruthless, and today, they had faced a devastating loss. But the Stone would endure, no matter the cost.

Meanwhile, Aurotsuchi was already at work. The bingo book was a record of the most dangerous shinobi from other villages, and updating it was no small task. She took a deep breath, knowing that this entry would shake the shinobi world. Rin Nohara, a young kunoichi from the Hidden Leaf, had proven to be an unprecedented threat.

As she wrote, her mind wandered to the implications. How had a single girl managed to defeat such a large force? The details were staggering—nature responding to her chakra, the speed surpassing even Minato Namikaze, and the strange but effective Harem-no-Jutsu. It was almost unbelievable. But poking someone's behind

..? Unbelievable.

Aurotsuchi finished the entry with a sense of finality. The order was clear: flee on sight. Any encounter with Rin Nohara would be fatal, and the village could not afford further losses.

Back in his office, Onoki sat in silence, contemplating their next move. The Hidden Stone Village had always prided itself on its resilience and strength. This defeat was a harsh blow, but it also served as a wake-up call. The world was changing, and they needed to adapt.

The door opened, and Aurotsuchi returned. "It's done," she said, placing the updated bingo book on his desk.

Onoki nodded, his face set in determination. "Good. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next. The Will of Stone will guide us through these dark times."

~o~

The mission to destroy the Kannabi Bridge had been successful, but the cost was high. The team had returned, but Rin was deeply shaken.

Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, looked at his student with concern. "Rin, are you alright?"

Rin nodded, though tears still glistened in her eyes. "I… I'm fine, Sensei."

Obito and Kakashi stood nearby, their expressions a mix of concern and respect. Kakashi, his eye now healed thanks to Rin's mysterious power, placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did well, Rin. You saved us."

Obito nodded, though a flicker of envy passed through his eyes. "Yeah, you were amazing."

Rin forced a smile, but her heart was heavy. She had killed to protect her friends, to complete their mission. But the weight of that action was not something she could easily bear.

Minato sighed, his own heart aching for his student. "Let's get you all home. You need rest."

As they walked through the forest, Minato tried to lighten the mood. "You know, Rin, I always knew you had it in you. You're a true shinobi."

Rin managed a small laugh. "Thanks, Sensei. I just… I never thought it would be like this."

Minato nodded, understanding all too well the harsh realities of their world. "None of us do. But we endure, and we grow stronger because of it."

The girls they had rescued followed silently, their eyes wide with awe and confusion at the scene unfolding before them. They had witnessed a level of power and courage they could hardly comprehend.

As they approached the Hidden Leaf Village, Minato paused, turning to his team. "We've faced a great challenge today, and we've come out stronger. But remember, it's okay to feel the weight of what we do. We're human, after all."

Rin looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Sensei."

With a final nod, Minato led them home, the promise of a new day on the horizon.

~o~

In the dimly lit cave hideout, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and a sense of foreboding. The cavernous space echoed with the sound of dripping water, casting an eerie atmosphere. From the shadows, Zetsu emerged from the ground, his dual-toned face splitting into a playful grin. His eyes glinted with a mischievous spark as he approached his master.

"Madara-sama," Zetsu began, his voice a strange mix of light-heartedness and respect, "the mission was a success. Everything went according to your plan."

Madara Uchiha, seated on a stone throne at the far end of the cave, looked up with a slight smile playing on his lips. His ancient eyes, full of malice and wisdom, glinted in the dim light. Zetsu had always proven to be a useful tool for such clandestine tasks.

"Well done, Zetsu," Madara replied, his voice carrying a cold, calculated edge. "You never fail to deliver."

Zetsu's grin widened. "The Earth Country is wounded and cornered by a single girl. They will become more desperate with time."

Madara chuckled softly, a dark, sinister sound that reverberated through the cavern. "Yes, the desperation of a nation can lead to interesting developments. Though those were not my primary objectives, it does add an amusing twist."

Zetsu nodded, understanding the broader implications of their actions. "The destruction of so many shinobi at the hands of a mere girl will sow fear and uncertainty. It will destabilize them further."

Madara's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of satisfaction in them. "Indeed. But my true interest lies elsewhere. Obito Uchiha..."

Zetsu tilted his head. "What about him, Madara-sama?"

Madara's smile widened, his expression one of cold amusement. "He will see her in a different light now. The Uchiha are emotionally sensitive creatures. And jealousy, well, it's one of the most potent emotions one can exploit."

Zetsu's eyes gleamed with understanding. "So you plan to use his feelings for Rin to manipulate him further."

Madara nodded. "Precisely. The events at Kannabi Bridge have laid the groundwork. Obito's jealousy and his burgeoning feelings of inadequacy will fester, growing stronger. When the time comes, he will be more pliable, more susceptible to our cause."

Zetsu chuckled, a dark, mirthless sound. "Ingenious as always, Madara-sama."

Madara's gaze shifted to the dark depths of the cave, lost in thought. "Everything is proceeding according to plan. The world is on the brink of transformation, and the pieces are falling into place. All we need is the right push, and the boy will play their his perfectly."

Zetsu nodded, merging back into the shadows. "I will continue to monitor the situation and ensure everything unfolds as you've envisioned."

Madara leaned back, his eyes closing as he contemplated the future. "Yes, Zetsu. Do that. Soon, the world will know the true power of the Uchiha, and the dawn of a new era will begin."

As Zetsu disappeared into the ground, the cave fell silent once more. Madara's thoughts swirled with visions of the future, a future shaped by his will and the manipulated emotions of those who would become pawns in his grand design. The game was in motion, and every move brought him closer to his ultimate goal...

...Infinte Tsukuyomi.

TBC