Naruto: The Architect

Land of Iron, Early Morning

A group of cloaked figures sat around a massive stone table. Among them were Orochimaru and several Uchiha elders. In the corner, leaning casually against the wall, was a masked man—Obito Uchiha.

Outside, in the snow-covered garden, Shisui Uchiha stood motionless, his sharp eyes scanning the area, as if expecting an ambush. The elders had insisted he accompany them as their bodyguard, unaware of the gruesome fate that awaited him.

Orochimaru broke the silence. "Ah, my esteemed friends, I must thank you for indulging me. I assure you, the information I've uncovered will be… invaluable to your plans."

The elders exchanged wary glances before one of them, a gray-haired man with a stern expression, spoke up. "You've always had a flair for theatrics, Orochimaru. Get to the point. What have you discovered?"

Orochimaru chuckled, his golden eyes gleaming with an unsettling light. "Patience, my dear elder. Great discoveries require the proper stage." He reached into his robe and pulled out a small vial containing a crimson liquid. He held it up, letting the lantern light reflect off its surface.

"This," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "is a sample of blood I recently acquired. Shisui Uchiha's blood, to be precise."

The room fell silent. The mention of Shisui's name sent a ripple of unease through the elders.

One of them leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "And what exactly is so special about his blood?"

Orochimaru's smile widened, sending shivers down the spines of those present. "Oh, it's not just special. It's extraordinary. You see, his blood contains the latent potential for a very particular kind of Sharingan—one that surpasses the three-tomoe form."

The gray-haired elder's eyes widened. "You mean… Mangekyō?"

"Mangekyō," Orochimaru whispered.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan," another Uchiha elder explained, his tone reverent. "A power so rare and coveted that it can change the tide of history itself."

The elders murmured among themselves, their voices filled with a mix of excitement and suspicion.

In the corner, Obito finally spoke. His deep voice cut through the noise like a blade. "That's precisely why I called this meeting."

The room turned its attention to the masked man, their expressions a mixture of reverence and fear. Obito stepped forward.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan is the key to unlocking the full potential of the Uchiha clan," he said, his tone authoritative. "But its power comes at a cost—a cost that many are unwilling to pay. That's why I've been gathering resources… and allies."

He gestured toward Orochimaru, who nodded in acknowledgment before unfurling a scroll on the table. As its seals were undone, a puff of smoke filled the room. When it cleared, the elders gasped.

Before them were hundreds of jars, each containing a Sharingan suspended in a viscous liquid. The eyes seemed almost alive, their tomoe spinning faintly, as if aware of the attention they were receiving.

"This," Obito said, his voice heavy, "is my collection. Each of these Sharingan was obtained from fallen Uchiha—some from the battlefield, others from… less savory circumstances. And now, with Orochimaru's help, we can take the next step."

A younger elder, his face pale, stammered, "What… what do you mean by 'next step'?"

Orochimaru leaned forward, his grin predatory. "It's quite simple. We'll use Shisui as an incubator—a vessel to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in all of these eyes. His blood will serve as the catalyst, and with the 'right procedure,' every Sharingan in this room will reach its ultimate form."

The room erupted into chaos. Some elders were thrilled by the prospect, blinded by ambition. Others were visibly horrified, imagining the unspeakable torture Shisui would endure to awaken over a hundred Sharingan.

"We can't do this!" one elder shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "Shisui is one of our own! To use him in such a way is…"

"Necessary," Obito interrupted. "The Uchiha clan has been stagnant for far too long. If we're to reclaim our rightful place, sacrifices must be made."

Outside, Shisui remained unaware of the full extent of the conversation, his focus on the snowy landscape. But a sense of unease gnawed at him. His instincts screamed for him to intervene, yet his loyalty to the elders kept him rooted in place.

As the argument inside continued, Orochimaru's patience wore thin. He raised a hand, silencing the room with a gesture.

"Enough," he said, his voice firm. "This is not a debate."

He turned to Obito, his expression expectant. "Shall we proceed?"

Obito nodded. "Yes. Let's begin."

…

Hidden Leaf,

Jiraiya and Kakashi entered the Hokage's office, escorting Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails' jinchūriki. She was bound securely with ropes and looked visibly displeased.

Minato glanced up from his desk, his expression serious. "Is she…?"

"Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails' jinchūriki," Jiraiya confirmed. "She and the Five-Tails' jinchūriki were there, but Han managed to escape. We captured Yugito after an intense battle."

Minato's gaze shifted to Yugito. "Thank you for your report, Jiraiya." He then addressed her, his tone softening. "Yugito Nii, you're a guest in our village for now. I assure you, we don't intend to harm you."

Yugito narrowed her eyes. "That's easy to say when I'm tied up."

"Untie her," Minato ordered calmly.

Kakashi stepped forward and sliced through the ropes with a kunai.

Danzo scoffed. "This is a mistake, Minato. We should extract the Two-Tails immediately. A tailed beast is far too valuable to return to the Hidden Cloud."

Hiruzen nodded gravely. "Danzo has a point. Tailed beasts are powerful assets. If the Cloud plans to attack, we'd be handing them a significant advantage."

Minato shook his head firmly. "I won't stoop to that level. We are not barbarians, and I won't tarnish Konoha's reputation with inhumane acts."

Danzo frowned. "You're being naïve. The Cloud won't hesitate to use her against us. If you want to protect this village, you must be willing to make sacrifices."

Jiraiya stepped forward, his tone sharp. "Enough, Danzo. Minato is Hokage, not you!"

A small smirk appeared on N09's face but before anyone could notice it, it vanished.

Minato stood, his commanding presence silencing further argument. "We'll send a message to the Raikage. I'll propose a peace treaty in exchange for Yugito's safe return. This war is already looming—we don't need to escalate it further."

…

Hidden Cloud Village,

"Damn it!" Raikage A muttered, slamming his fist against his desk. "Yugito… captured. How could she let this happen?"

Mabui, standing at his side, handed him a scroll with a calm expression. "Raikage-sama, this just arrived from Konoha."

The Raikage snatched the scroll and quickly broke its seal. His eyes scanned the parchment:

To the Honorable Raikage,

Yugito Nii is safe and unharmed… We propose a peaceful resolution to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. If you agree to our terms, we will return Yugito to you immediately.

Raikage A frowned. "Minato Namikaze… always the idealist. But can we trust him?"

Mabui tilted her head slightly. "Do you believe him, Raikage-sama?"

A hesitated. "Minato doesn't lie outright. If he says she's safe, she probably is."

He was about to draft a response when Mabui stepped closer, her hand lightly brushing against his.

The Raikage froze. Mabui's touch was subtle, yet it sent a strange, tingling sensation up his arm. He looked at her, puzzled.

"Are you certain they're telling the truth?" Mabui asked, her tone smooth and almost hypnotic. "Think about it. What if they've already extracted the Two-Tails? What if… this is all a ploy?"

A's eyes widened. "Extracted… the Two-Tails?"

Mabui nodded. "It would explain why they're eager to return her remains! They don't need her anymore.

If Minato has done this… it's an act of war."

The Raikage's grip tightened on the scroll, his anger flaring.

"That bastard!" he roared, slamming his fists on the desk, cracking it. "If they've killed Yugito and stolen the Two-Tails… they'll pay!"

Mabui inclined her head. "What will you do, Raikage-sama?"

"We'll retaliate," A growled. "Prepare our forces. Konoha will regret crossing us!"

…

Once out of sight, Mabui's calm expression twisted into something sinister. The real Mabui was long gone—replaced by Black Zetsu, his mimicry flawless.

'Foolish Raikage,' Zetsu thought. 'Compared to Indra and Madara, he's laughably easy to manipulate.'

As he strode down the corridor, "Mabui" barked orders to nearby shinobi, relishing the mounting tension in the Hidden Cloud.

'War will begin soon,' Zetsu mused. 'And with it, my plans hehe~'