Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This story is set in the world of Escape & Evade, a world in which the village was formed quite differently to cannon.

There are reasons for the differences from cannon in this story and many of them are contained in The World Building of Courting Culture Confusion.

The story begins right after the end of Escape, Evade, and Ensnare, and is a direct continuation of it. It also occurs concurrently with events after chapter 188 of To Tempt a Target, the love story of Hikaku, Seto, Izuna, and Tōka.

You do not need to have read To Tempt a Target to understand Zealous Zetsu Zooms towards the Zenith, not unless you are interested in the relationships within that quartet or the personal relationships they have with the rest of the founders generation, but you will need to have read Escape, Evade, and Ensnare as this story will make no sense otherwise.

If you are reading both To Tempt a Target and Zealous Zetsu Zooms towards the Zenith, then this is the chronological order of events:

Chapter 188 of To Tempt a Target
Escape, Evade, and Ensnare
Chapter 2 of Zealous Zetsu Zooms towards the Zenith
Chapter 189 of To Tempt a Target
Chapters 3 to 6 of Zealous Zetsu Zooms towards the Zenith.
Chapter 190 to the end of To Tempt a Target
Chapter 7 of Zealous Zetsu Zooms towards the Zenith

Warnings:

There will be scenes of violence typical to cannon.

There will be frank discussions of politics, including some of the more fraught decisions made by all parties.

There will be swearing and a lot of it.

There will also be original characters, and a lot of them.

Most of the Shodai Kage, apart from Hashirama, have relatively minimal appearances in cannon and the Raikage in particular is going to feature heavily in this story. As such, he is going to be portrayed in a way I feel works with his actions, which may not match up with impressions of him from cannon. In addition, Zetsu here will be quite different to the Zetsu we see in the Fourth Shinobi War. It’s less experienced with humans, and has never lived with them on a long term basis as it did with Madara, Obito, and the Akatsuki. As such, its actions and responses may not be what you’re expecting.

Finally, this story is crack. Most of the stories in this universe are tagged as ‘Crack Treated Seriously’, and you may have noticed that this story is not. Instead it is tagged as ‘Crack NOT treated seriously’, ‘Because I can’t take Zetsu seriously’.

Be warned. Those tags are accurate to my intentions.

In that vein, all the chapter titles and summaries are from the Thirty-Six Stratagems, on which I do not consider myself an expert.

Please, read with care for yourself and skip the story if any of this is not for you.

Chapter Text

Hikaku: … So it has been confirmed, Hokage-sama. All the interviews with the members of the Kinkaku Force confirm it. They planned the rebellion against the Raikage, but it was the idea of Dokuzetsu to follow Senju-sama and attack him in order to draw both you and Hashirama-sama out of the village and make you vulnerable.

Madara: *standing up* It may not be crazy, but it is a threat. Let’s kill it and be done with it, and the Kinkaku Force along with it.

Izuna and Tobirama: *together* No!

Tobirama: We need the information that it holds. The Raikage needs to hear of this, he needs to understand how events among his shinobi have been manipulated to draw us out of the village.

Madara: *throwing up his hands* Well, how are you going to do that!

Izuna: We have something that it wants.

Dokuzetsu: *hissing* All I want is the Rinnegan!

Izuna: *crouching down just outside the reach of Dokuzetsu* And for that you need nii-san to fight with Hashirama-sama, right?

Dokuzetsu: Yes! If I can get them to merge their chakra, then the Rinnegan will awaken! And then the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path can be summoned and the seal placed upon it can be broken. And then I will see kaa-san again…

Izuna: You miss your mother, huh?

Dokuzetsu: *simply* She is everything to me.

Izuna: I understand. Who wouldn’t miss their mother. But nii-san is not really convinced that this is a good idea, as I’m sure you can tell.

Dokuzetsu: Once I speak to him, he will be. Indra was.

Izuna: But for that you have to stay close. Be convincing. Persuasive.

Dokuzetsu: I can be all of those things.

Izuna: *admiringly* I’m sure you can. But, rather than manipulating us, wouldn’t it be better to work with us?

Dokuzetsu: Work with you? You are less than insects beneath her feet! I am her will upon this measly planet!

Izuna: But we have something you want - the two people who can work together to create the Rinnegan. And you have something we want - proof of how you manipulated events in Kumogakure no Sato. And, speaking personally here, I’d love to hear more about the history of my clan, you know? I never knew any of this stuff.

Dokuzetsu: About Indra?

Izuna: Yeah. We knew he was the founder of the Uchiha, but no one knew about you. And that’s kind of a pity don’t you think? You were important! You were right there! And you know all of these things… wouldn’t you like every one to know about Kaguya-hime?

Dokuzetsu: *growls* Yes! The way she has been forgotten is not right!

Izuna: Exactly! Everyone knows about her son, the Sage of the Six Paths, but no one knows about her. Shouldn’t you rectify that?

Dokuzetsu: And then everyone will worship her as they used to!

Tōka: *derisively* Well, I don’t know about that. But no one will worship someone they know nothing about.

Dokuzetsu: You’re right. I must tell everyone.

Izuna: *smiling cheerfully at Dokuzetsu* And I support you in your efforts.

Chapter Text

C: *faintly from outside* Sir, you cannot go in there! Sir!

*doors slam open, Madara marches into the Raikage’s bedroom*

A: *waking up* What?

Madara: Sit up and shut up. Your rebels tried to kill my husband.

A: *offended* They almost killed me!

Madara: And that is none of my concern. You chose to found a shinobi village and how you run it is the choice of you and your daimyo. But I won’t have your shit spilling over into my village.

Tobirama: *lets the Kinkaku Force, including the Kingin Kyōdai, into the bedroom and closes the door* Your rebels, Raikage-sama.

A: Well… thank you, Senju-san.

Tobirama: I also bring information. They planned the rebellion, but there was a shadow player moving behind them, working towards a different purpose.

Madara: If you want to find out how your death was an interesting side project, I suggest you call a meeting so that everyone can hear this. I have no intention of repeating myself twice.

Tobirama: *opening the doors for Madara to exit* We are happy to share information as it concerns us all.

Madara: *beckoning Tobirama to join him* Or you could sit and stew in a snit because you almost got killed by a bunch of idiots that my yome and and his students so kindly captured for you.

Madara: *slams the door behind him* WE’LL SEND YOU THE BILL!

A: … C!

C: *pokes his head through the door* Sir?

A: *points at the Kinkaku Force* Find out what these people know, what they did, why they did it, and what they were thinking while their did it. Then find out what the Hokage was talking about. I’m not giving him a platform until I know more.

C: Yes, sir.

A: *struggling out of the futon* And send someone to help me dress!

Chapter Text

Madara: … So that’s it. That’s all the information that we have.

Hyūga Ambassador: This is absurd. You want us to believe that a rabbit goddess from the moon is threatening us?

Tsuchi no Kuni Ambassador: I certainly understand that you have been given this information, but how can you know that your witness is not lying?

Madara: *leans back on his zabuton, Sharingan spinning to life* You want to try and test me? Go ahead. Lie.

Madara: *barring his teeth at the Tsuchi no Kuni Ambassador* We’ll see how far you get.

A: *ruefully* It must be said that the rebels from my village have confirmed their part in this, though I must also express skepticism about the moon goddess.

Madara: *spreads his hands wide* You think I didn’t? Of course I did. But this thing said it’d manipulated my ancestor. We checked our clan histories, and it’s traces are all over them. Frankly, I don’t care if it really is the child of a moon goddess or not. What I care about is not being manipulated any more.

Kaze no Kuni Ambassador: *quietly* None of us want that.

Shimura Ambassador: But how can we accept the word of a being that we have never seen?

Madara: You want to see it? It’s right here. Izuna!

Izuna: *pokes his head into the room* Nii-san?

Madara: Bring our black friend in.

Izuna: Sure. Right this way, Dokuzetsu-san.

Dokuzetsu: *whispering* Are you sure I should be speaking to so many people?

Tōka: What, don’t want to tell them all about your mother?

Dokuzetsu: Of course I do!

Tōka: Then this is your chance to prove yourself.

Dokuzetsu: *comes into the room, sits down on a zabuton* Good afternoon, shinobi. Let me tell you about my mother, the Princess Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and how she gave you all chakra…

Tōka: *shaking her head* Fuck me if this actually works.

Izuna: *smirking* As you wish.

Chapter Text

Hyūga Ambassador: *reluctantly* It is most certainly not a human. The chakra flows are unlike anything that I have ever seen before.

Aburame Ambassador: I concur. The taste of its chakra is distinctly inhuman.

Tsuchi no Kuni Ambassador: But the story it tells! It must be deluded! Crazy!

Madara: Do you want to chance your safety on that?

Tsuchi no Kuni Ambassador: Of course not!

Madara: Then go home and figure out if it has got its sticky fingers in your clans. See if you can find any traces of it.

Tobirama: *putting a hand on Madara’s shoulder* None of us can solve this mystery alone. It will take all of us, working together, to make sure that we have not missed any crucial information.

Kaze no Kuni Ambassador: *standing up, speaking quietly* He’s right. I will go home and begin an investigation.

Kaze no Kuni Ambassador: *bowing to the Raikage* By your leave, Raikage-sama.

A: *waves a hand dismissively* Sure.

Tobirama: *stands up, bows* Please, allow me to escort you. We may be able to share some ideas about where to begin.

Kaze no Kuni Ambassador: *bowing to Tobirama, then Madara* Thank you, Senju-sama, Uchiha-sama. I would be grateful for that.

Tobirama and Kaze no Kuni Ambassador: *exit the room*

A: *stares hard at Madara* As for you, I won’t have you coming here and telling me what to do.

Madara: I’m telling you what I’m going to do. If you don’t think it’s a smart idea then don’t do it. But don’t come to me for help when things fall apart. I’ve already done you one favour by bringing your rebels back to you and telling you about this mess. I’m not going to do another. I’m a shinobi, as are we all. We don’t do anything for free.

Mizu no Kuni Ambassador: You’re right. We don’t. So I propose a trade. Information for information. The clans in my country will share what we learn, if you will too.

Madara: I’ll agree to that.

Tsuchi no Kuni Ambassador: As will I.

Shimura Ambassador: My clan has always traded fairly. We will do so here as well.

Hyūga Ambassador: We will share information, though I doubt this being has been able to do much against us. Our Byakugan means that it would never be able to approach one of us unnoticed.

Dokuzetsu: *pulls itself out of the floor* No! You were supposed to worship kaa-san! Believe in her!

Dokuzetsu: *stabs at Madara* I’ll hurt you until Ashura heals you if I must!

Madara: *defends himself with a fireball* Hashirama isn’t even here, you idiot! He’s back in the village!

Dokuzetsu: Then I’ll get him first! *merges back into the floor and disappears*

Tobirama: *uses the Hiraishin to appear in a flash of light, lands poised to fight a war* WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Madara: Dokuzetsu escaped and the Hyūga Ambassador has just been proven wrong.

Madara: *smiles sardonically at the Hyūga Ambassador* Unless you’re going to tell me that you knew it was there all along and waiting to make an attempt on my life?

Hyūga Ambassador: *embarrassed* Of course not! I had no idea it was there and listening to us!

Madara: Then go home and investigate. You were so sure that your Byakugan would protect you. Instead it may have made you a target, just as the Sharingan has made us. Both of our clans share the blood of the Ōtsutsuki, yours through the brother of the Sage, mine through the son of the Sage. This thing seems obsessed with dōjutsu. Be careful.

Tobirama: *bows* We would be happy to travel home with you, Hyūga-san, Shimura-san, Aburame-san.

Shimura Ambassador: *bows back* I would be glad for the company.

Hyūga Ambassador: *shaken* As would I.

Aburame Ambassador: *bows silently*

Tobirama: *escorts the three ambassadors from the room, door closes behind them*

A: *rubs his hand over his face* Fine. I’ll share the results of my investigation.

Madara: As will we. In the meantime, I’ve got to get home. That thing is heading Hashirama’s way and I want to cut it off if I can.

Madara: *strides out of the room*

A: *stares at the tatami that is still on fire* Asshole.

Tsuchi no Kuni Ambassador and Mizu no Kuni Ambassador: *look at the Raikage*

A: What! He is!

Chapter Text

Izuna: *running through the tree branches* I will be so glad when we get home. Kiss my husbands, cuddle my kids, take a hot bath…

Tōka: *running next to him* You know that we could be walking into a fight.

Izuna: I know that we’re not. The message Hikaku sent us this morning said that everything was going fine and Tobi’s kneading chakra to use his sensory abilities right now. What are you actually worried about?

Tōka: *clenching her fists* I don’t know. I’m all jumpy at the thought that Dokuzetsu’s out there planning something.

Izuna: But we know about it now, and that’s one of its best weapons neutralised.

Tobirama: *running on Tōka’s other side* True. But that does not mean that it does not have other weapons.

Tōka: *points at Tobirama* Exactly!

Izuna: Ugh. I know. But there’s nothing we can do about that.

Madara: *running behind the others, grimly* Except get back to the village as fast as we can and help them to prepare.

Izuna: *accelerating* Then race you!

Madara: *chasing after him* Oh no, you don’t!

Tōka: *shaking her head* Why are we the only sane Uchiha?

Tobirama: *very seriously* Because we were born Senju.

Chapter Text

A: *grumbling* I hope that this new information that you have is worth dragging us all the way out to Tetsu no Kuni in the middle of summer.

Madara: Considering that it says that Dokuzetsu is in Tetsu no Kuni, I’d say that it is.

Taichō of Tetsu no Kuni: What!!

A: So that’s why we’re here!

Ishikawa, Tsuchikage: And the shinobi of Iwagakure no Sato stand ready to fight it. I have no intention of allowing us to be manipulated into a war with the other Elemental Nations. We are happy to be left alone. We can provide for ourselves.

Reto, Kazekage: I would see it gone as well. This thing tried to trick us into attacking a bijū and sealing it into a baby. It was only the warning carried home by my ambassador that led us to take a closer look at the seal that we were planning to use and find issues with it.

A: Oh? And what was wrong with it?

Reto: *throws a scroll on the tatami between them, it falls open, unrolling* See for yourself.

Namika, leader of Uzushio: *leans forward, tracing the lines with a finger* This seal is imperfect. Like a container with leaks, it would have allowed the bijū to access the mind of its jailer. The two would have bled into each other.

Reto: *nodding at Shamon* After much research, that is the conclusion of my best seal master as well. That would have driven whoever it was sealed into insane, unless they were of extremely strong will. Considering that the plan was to seal it into a baby, the chances of that would have been small.

Madara: Thus leaving you with a bijū in an insane person, and all the attendant problems of such a combination.

Reto: Exactly. It’s not worth it, not when the bijū who makes its home in Kaze no Kuni seems content with its temple.

A: It never leaves? Demands no worshipers?

Reto: Never. It doesn’t welcome petitioners either.

A: A pity.

Reto: *bristling slightly* We have no intention of letting anyone attack it. If it was possible to seal it, that would have been one thing, but this way, I won’t take that chance. Who knows what it would do if provoked? As I recall, your effort to capture a bijū did not go well either.

A: *wry twist of his mouth* No. The destruction was… considerable. We had hoped, like you, to seal it but it didn’t work.

Byakuren, Mizukage: What seal would you have used?

A: C! Show them.

C: Sir. *places a rolled up scroll on the tatami*

Namika: *touching it* May I?

A: I wouldn’t dream of denying a beautiful lady.

Namika: *sweet smile at him* Thank you.

Namika: *picking up the scroll* Tobi? Take the other side will you?

Tobirama: *holding the other end* Certainly, Uzumaki-sama.

Namika and Tobirama: *unroll the scroll together*

Namika: *looking at the scroll which is considerably bigger than the Kazekage’s* This one is a little better.

Tobirama: *points* See here.

Namika: *nodding, pointing at another part* And this.

Tobirama: But this part.

Namika: *grimacing* Yes.

A: *impatiently* Does anyone want to explain to those of us who aren’t seal masters?

Shamon: There is an open path of communication between the bijū and the person whom it is sealed into. All doors open both ways.

Namika: *respectfully* I could not have put it better myself. Any seal that allows the person bound to the bijū to access its power, also allows the bijū to take over. It becomes a matter of willpower and strength of mind. Additionally, removal of the bijū would cause death to the person bound to it.

A: What!

Madara: This is why you don’t mess with the bijū.

A: *sighing* Fine, you’ve made your point. I won’t be trying it again in any case. I’m not enough of a gambler to throw good money after bad, unlike some people.

Hashirama: *standing behind Madara, smiles sunnily*

Tobirama: *rolls up the scroll, hands it back to the Raikage* Raikage-sama.

A: *taking the scroll* At least you’re polite, unlike your husband.

Madara: *wraps a hand around Tobirama’s wrist, drawing him away from the Raikage* Stop flirting with my yome.

Byakuren: This is wasting time. We have agreed that Dokuzetsu is a threat. It has attempted to manipulate all of us in different ways. We are all willing to band together to kill it. Let us do so.

Reto: I agree. Where is it?

Madara: in the caves under Shirane volcano.

Taichō of Tetsu no Kuni: But we have never seen it.

Madara: Deep under. Along with many other things that Tobirama says feel just like it.

Reto: Bunshin?

Madara: I have no idea.

Byakuren: I dislike going into a fight with so little information.

Ishikawa: As do we all. But we do what we must.

A: Unless we can trick someone else into doing it for us.

Everybody: *looks at him*

A: What! It’s true!

Chapter Text

Madara: *under his breath to Izuna* This had better work.

Izuna: Nii-san! Don’t you trust me?

Madara: *flat stare* No.

Tobirama: I do.

Hashirama: *draping himself over Madara’s shoulders in a hug* I do too! You’re very clever, Izuna-kun!

Madara: *face palm* Fine. Take Tobirama and go.

Izuna: *grabs Tobirama’s hand* Thanks, nii-san!

Madara: *grabs the back of Tobirama’s neck, pulls him in for a kiss* Don’t let my brother do anything stupid.

Tobirama: I never do.

Izuna: *mock pouting* Yeah, Tobi never lets me have any fun.

Tobirama: Not stupid fun, at least.

Chapter Text

Iwa-nin: *shouting* For Iwagakure no Sato!

Kumo-nin: *shouting* For Kumogakure no Sato!

Kaze-nin: *shouting* For Sunagakure no Sato!

Mizu-nin: *shouting* For Kirigakure no Sato!

Madara: *roaring* FOR THE USEATC!

Hashirama, the Senju, and the Uchiha nin: FOR THE VILLAGE!

*silence*

Hiashi’s Great-Grandfather: *face palm, whispering* They’re all crazy…

Hiashi’s Great-Grandfather: *deep breath, shouting* For the daimyo of Hi no Kuni!

Shimura and Hyūga nin: * shouting* For the daimyo of Hi no Kuni!

Samurai of Tetsu no Kuni: *shouting* For the Emperor! Attack!

White Zetsu: *boil up out of the caves, led by Dokuzetsu*

Namika: *pointing at the Zetsu, screaming* FUCK THEM UP!!!

Uzushio nin: *charge the white Zetsu* YAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Hashirama: *dreamily* I wish Mito was here.

Madara: *shaking his head in amazement at Namika* How you convinced one of them to marry you, I’ll never know.

Hashirama: If you must know, it was my…

Madara: *claps hand over Hashirama’s mouth* SHUT UP AND FIGHT.

Chapter Text

Hikaku: *shouting* Shujin! Get everyone back! We’re too close!

Seto: *yelling back* Understood!

Seto: *projecting his voice* FALL BACK TO IZUNA-SAMA!

Hikaku: I’ll cover the retreat! Go!

Hikaku’s team: *skirmishes as they retreat towards Izuna*

Tobirama: *fighting back to back with Izuna* Hikaku-san! They are all out of the caves! The caves are empty! I cannot sense anyone down there anymore!

Hikaku: Yome! I need you!

Tōka: *jumps in, clearing white Zetsu from around Hikaku with a sweep of her naginata* Got you! ON THREE! TWO!

Hikaku and Tōka: *collapse the caves with doton*

Hikaku and Tōka: *sag, exhausted*

Seto: *catches both of them* I have you.

Seto: *drags them both back past Izuna* It’s time!

Izuna: *nods, screams* NII-SAN!!!

Madara: *on the opposite side of the battlefield, roaring* HASHIRAMAAAAA!!! FALL BACK!

Hashirama: *leaps out of the mass of white Zetsu, cheerfully* COMING MADARA!

Commanders of the armies: *shouting* FALL BACK! FALL BACK!

Madara: *runs up next to Hashirama* Is the area clear enough?

Namika: *creates a massive wave of water that washes the Zetsu away from the armies*

Hashirama: Now it is.

Hashirama: *slams hands together, a massive wooden wall shoots out of the ground and surrounds the Zetsu* MADARA!

Madara: *leaps on top of the wall, breathing out flames* IZUNA!

Izuna: *leaps on top of the wall on the opposite side of the battlefield* READY!

Madara and Izuna: *use Amaterasu on the trapped white Zetsu, there’s screaming and flames everywhere*

The rest of the Uchiha: *climb onto the wall, start breathing flames on everything*

Madara and Izuna: *walk through the fire, burning everything they look at*

Rest of the Uchiha: *follow them, scorching the ground with katon*

Madara and Izuna: *meet in the middle*

Dokuzetsu: *fighting to get past the flames* No! It wasn’t supposed to end like this! Kaa-san!

Madara: *uses Amaterasu on Dokuzetsu* You can see her in hell.

Madara and Izuna: *watch as Dokuzetsu burns to ash*

Izuna: *releases Amaterasu, crying tears of blood* I think it’s dead, nii-san. You can let it go now.

Madara: *releases Amaterasu, staring suspiciously at the pile of ash* You hope it is, you mean.

Izuna: *wiping away the bloody tears with his fingers* It’s ash. How the hell can it still be alive?

Madara: *decisively* Pee on it.

Izuna: *flatly* You want me to what.

Madara: *flailing a little* Pee on it!

Izuna: *aghast* Nii-san!

Madara: What! If it doesn’t come back to life after we disrespect its remains, I’ll believe it’s dead.

Izuna: Why don’t you do it!

Madara: *uncomfortably* You know I can’t pee if there’s someone behind me.

Izuna: *dragging a hand over his face* Nii-san…

Madara: *gritting his teeth* Please.

Izuna: *undoing his pants* Fine! I’m going to pee on it.

Izuna: *muttering* I can't believe I’m doing this.

Izuna: *pees on Zetsu*

All the Uchiha: *watch him*

Izuna: *doing up his pants* Happy now?

Madara: *staring at Zetsu* Okay, I’m done. It’s dead.

Izuna: *sarcastically* Thank you!

Hashirama: *yelling on the other side of the wall* MADARAAAA! CAN I DROP THE WALL YET???

Madara: *yelling back* YES!!!!

Izuna: *shouting orders* FALL BACK PAST THE WALL!

All the Uchiha: *retreat past the wall as it comes down*

Madara: *comes to stand next to Hashirama, watching the battlefield*

Izuna: *runs up to Tobirama on the opposite side of the battlefield* I think we’re ready!

Tobirama: *nods, cleans blood off Izuna’s face with a water coated hand* All right. Seto-san?

Seto: *comes to lean on Izuna, scans the battlefield with his Sharingan* I see nothing.

Tobirama: *looks at Hikaku* I sense nothing.

Hikaku: *nodding, shouting* Doton, please!

Senju and Iwa-nin: *use doton to collapse the battlefield, following the line left by Hashirama’s wall*

Tobirama: *steps up to the edge of the crater, forms hand signs*

*water table begins to rise, crater rapidly fills, becomes a lake*

Izuna: *steps up to stand next to Tobirama* Nice.

Tobirama: Thank you. Now it is Anija’s turn.

Hashirama: *cracks his knuckles* Okay.

All the Senju: *shake out bags of seeds onto the ground, all around the edges of the lake*

Hashirama: *crouches down, touches the ground with a hand*

*grass grows under Hashirama’s hand, spreads around the edges of the lake, trees and bushes sprout and grow to full height*

Hashirama: *stands up*

Madara: You had to grow oak trees, didn’t you.

Hashirama: *shrugging* You know they come naturally to me.

Madara: *sarcastically* Anything else that you’d like to add?

Hashirama: *happily* Ooh! Thank you for reminding me!

*all the plants begin to flower*

Madara: Hashirama…

Hashirama: *confused* What?

Madara: *hugs him* Never mind.

Chapter Text

And that’s it!

That is the story of how the First Shinobi World War became the last shinobi world war.

But it is not the last story in this AU.

I have many other stories to tell, including - but not limited to - Setsuna and Ichika’s story, To Leave a Legacy (Kikiyo’s story), Know your Karma (Kagami’s story), the stories of EVERYONE’S kids, Asuma and Kurenai’s romance, Slither and Stalk (featuring Sakumo, his wife Chiasa, Orochimaru, and baby Kakashi), Orienting an Orbit (Obito’s story), The Akatsuki Annals, and Rock the Revolution, the story of how Rock Lee becomes the star of Recon and crucial to Hinata’s radical revolution within the Hyūga.

Thank you for reading my stories, and I hope that they will continue to entertain you into the future.

— Phlebas

P.S. Tomorrow I begin posting Tajima’s Tykes, the story of Madara and Izuna’s siblings and how they raised each other.