But regardless of the reason, Kagami saw this as good news.

If the Sage of Six Paths was afraid of him, it meant that in the Sage's own estimation, Kagami's strength was equal to, or perhaps even greater than, his own. Why else would he waste time gathering allies to deal with a weaker foe? And if the Sage was unable to act due to some external restriction, then Kagami no longer needed to fear him at all.

After all, besides the Sage, he didn't take any other ninja seriously, no matter how many they were. Even if Uchiha Madara were to be resurrected and ascend to the Six Paths level, Kagami was confident he could survive a fight with him. And once his children were born, he would have even less to fear. As for the possibility that the Sage was simply a "good person" who refrained from attacking him directly... Kagami dismissed the idea as absurd. If the Sage truly wished him no ill, he wouldn't be manipulating the Akatsuki and the four great nations into attacking his home.

So, no matter the reason, it was good news for him.

Kagami turned his gaze back to Nara Shikaku. "Pass the order," he commanded, his voice cold and clear. "Prepare for battle. Then, you will come with me. We will see what these fools have in store for us."

He planned to use this battle to firmly establish his authority, to let every ninja in Konoha witness his true power and extinguish any lingering embers of rebellion. By the way, their terror would spread his reputation across the lands, laying the groundwork for his family's eventual unification of the ninja world. He had shown the clan heads a glimpse of his power in an illusion, but how could a mere illusion compare to the awe-inspiring terror of seeing it with one's own eyes?

"Yes!" Shikaku nodded respectfully, his mind already racing. He was a smart man and understood Kagami's intent perfectly. This wasn't about sending Konoha's forces into battle; it was about a demonstration, a show of force to cow all of Konoha's potential dissidents into absolute submission. Having already chosen to submit, he would follow Kagami's orders without question.

After Shikaku left, Kagami settled back into his lounge chair, once again basking in the sun. Before, I sent a clone to the Land of Rain to contact Konan. I'll let that clone gather intelligence on Akatsuki first. He would wait. If the Sage was truly behind this, his clone would surely uncover something.

With that thought, he slowly closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Land of Fire...

Samui's younger brother, Atsui, tore through the dense forest like a lone wolf fleeing a pack of hounds. Dappled sunlight pierced the canopy, casting shifting shadows on his pale, resolute face. Sweat and blood mingled, sliding down his taut jawline and dripping onto the dark, damp soil.

His heart pounded against his ribs, each beat a frantic drum, but his eyes shone with the indomitable light of the brightest star in the night sky. The four great ninja villages are joining forces to attack Konoha, and there's a man named Pain who calls himself a god. I have to tell my sister and brother-in-law!

Though his sister had been taken by Kagami, that man was now his brother-in-law. For Samui's safety alone, he had to deliver this news. He knew that kagami would not let any harm come to her sister and that was enough for him to betray the village. For atsui his sister was above everyone.

The trees blurred into a rushing green tunnel around him. He was a sharp blade, piercing through every obstacle, his only goal to deliver this crucial information. The wind whistled in his ears, but he knew it wasn't just the wind. It was the sound of his pursuers, their rapid breathing and pounding footsteps drawing ever closer.

"Atsui, you traitor! Surrender now!"

The shinobi from the Hidden Cloud wore the familiar black uniforms of his village, their forehead protectors gleaming coldly in the dim light. Their eyes were filled with a righteous, furious anger. Konoha was their enemy. Kagami had killed their Raikage and brought humiliation upon their village. And now, when they finally had a chance for revenge, Atsui was trying to leak the information to the enemy. In their eyes, he was no longer a comrade but a traitor who deserved to be torn to pieces.

Atsui's face was a mask of bitter conflict. He didn't want to betray his village, but he had to do this for the sister who was his only family. He could not stand by and watch her fall into danger.

At that moment, the air behind him tore apart. The sharp whistle of shuriken, like the whispers of death, closed the distance in an instant. He reacted instinctively, his body moving with the agility of a fish, weaving through the narrow spaces, each dodge a razor's edge between life and death. The cold steel grazed his skin, strengthening his resolve. He did not look back. To do so would be to lose the only chance he had.

But his journey from the Hidden Cloud had already left him exhausted. What kept him moving was sheer willpower. The pursuers were too numerous. Their ninjutsu ripped through the air, a deadly web of light and shadow. Atsui struggled, dodging and weaving, but in the end, he could not escape his fate.

Several jutsu, shining with a faint blue light, pierced his body like the scythes of a death god, slamming him to the ground. His blood bloomed across the forest floor, a vibrant, tragic red spider lily.

"Sister..."

Atsui's voice was a weak, trembling whisper. He reached out a hand, his fingertips straining as if to touch Samui, who was now a world away. His eyes were filled with regret and an unspoken apology. Then, with a final, shuddering breath, he was gone.