Yahiko had gone out to gather reinforcements and hadn't returned yet.
They were waiting for Black Cat to arrive.
After waiting for a long time, a faint ripple of Chakra suddenly stirred the air, and a rat materialized on Konan's shoulder.
"Last time it was a cockroach, this time a rat... What's next?"
Konan couldn't help but grumble.
She was utterly exasperated by Black Cat's twisted sense of humor.
Back when she was scavenging in junkyards, punching stray cats and stomping on rats and cockroaches, that damned Black Cat hadn't even been born yet.
'Who could possibly be frightened by such pathetic creatures?'
In a deserted border region northwest of the Land of Fire, near the Rain Country, Danzo and Orochimaru stood alone, with no one else in sight.
"I know you've studied some of the Cat Clan's unique traits. Recently, that cat has mastered superhuman strength, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Ice Release. Aren't you curious about how it achieved such feats?"
"If I had experimental subjects, I'd certainly be willing to invest the effort in research. But without them, it's not worth the trouble. After all, that cat has close ties to Tsunade and Jiraiya, and I am one of the Three Great Sages," Orochimaru replied noncommittally.
"Oh? So you still care about your comrades' feelings? I never knew you were the sentimental type," Danzo sneered mockingly.
As if either of us doesn't know the other's true nature.
Neither of them were saints, and neither could feign innocence before the other.
Faced with Danzo's veiled threats, Orochimaru showed little emotion, only a slight upturn of his lips.
"Orochimaru, I admire your talents even more than Hiruzen Sarutobi did. I hope our collaboration can continue indefinitely, so don't disappoint me."
Danzo's words carried a heavy implication.
With that, he strode off toward the Rain Country.
"Of course, Lord. If there are research materials available, I would be more than willing to serve you."
Orochimaru's face wore a sincere smile.
But the moment Danzo was gone, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he let out a cold laugh as his figure shattered into nothingness.
'Collaboration? Hmph, Danzo and I are merely using each other for our own purposes. The moment it suits him, that old dog will betray me without hesitation - either to silence me or to trade me for some benefit. To believe otherwise would be my downfall.'
Still, Orochimaru pondered whether he should seize an opportunity to double-cross Danzo.
'Why should Danzo be the only one allowed to threaten me? I should be able to retaliate.'
After arriving in Amegakure, Raj communicated with Nagato and Konan, reaching a general consensus on several key points.
First and foremost, they needed to secure a fallback plan.
Hanzo couldn't fall yet.
His downfall would shatter the balance of the Ninja World, leaving the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth free to annex smaller ninja villages and nations without restraint.
This outcome contradicted Nagato and Konan's aspirations, and it also threatened Raj's interests.
His Ninja Cat Castle occupied neutral territory.
If a full-scale war of annexation erupted across the Ninja World, the castle's position would become precarious.
Raj explained the situation in the Land of Snow, highlighting it as a viable fallback option.
The Land of Snow's remote location meant that unless Nagato and Konan demonstrated a significant threat, no one would risk a costly invasion of that isolated corner of the world.
Therefore, Nagato couldn't act directly.
With the broad strategy agreed upon, only the details remained to be resolved.
For example, how to handle Danzo.
This required Yahiko's return.
Konan and Nagato, as mere followers, didn't concern themselves with such matters; these decisions were typically Yahiko's responsibility.
During his downtime, Raj entered Sage Mode, extending his senses to survey the surroundings.
He found no trace of Zetsu.
Zetsu was notoriously difficult to detect, so Raj hadn't expected to find him immediately.
Still, he needed to account for Zetsu in his plans.
The solution was simple: he absolutely couldn't operate alongside Nagato, that walking disaster.
Having made up his mind, Raj decided to adjust their battle plan when he discussed it with Yahiko later.
Yahiko didn't return until much later.
As the leader and strategist of Dawn, he was burdened with daily responsibilities that prevented him from enjoying Raj's leisure.
"You're here. The plan..."
"We can start anytime, meow. But I can't strike first, so you'll need to draw Danzo and Hanzo away. Then I'll assassinate Danzo," Raj explained his idea succinctly.
"What about Hanzo?" Yahiko immediately asked.
Luring Danzo away wouldn't be difficult, but dealing with Hanzo was the real problem.
As the "Demigod," Hanzo's power was terrifying.
Even past his prime, he remained far beyond Yahiko's group's capabilities, and numbers meant nothing against him.
Even the legendary sannin had been defeated by Hanzo in their prime.
Though they earned the title, it was hardly a point of pride for true powerhouses.
Yahiko didn't believe he, Konan, and Nagato could match the Three Great Sages of that era.
"You and Nagato just need to stall Hanzo," Raj explained.
"Don't try to defeat him-just fight and retreat. I'll move Danzo further away. When the commotion starts, Hanzo will have to make a choice."
Yahiko's eyes flickered with worry.
Danzo was, after all, the "Darkness of the Ninja World."
Though he hadn't been active in years, his strength couldn't be underestimated.
Could Raj really handle him?
"Meow~ Don't worry, I've got this," Raj assured him, waving a paw dismissively.
If he was going to assassinate Danzo, he had to be absolutely certain of success.
Right now, Danzo hadn't yet acquired the Sharingan, Izanagi, or Hashirama Cells.
Without these, he was merely a ninja slightly stronger than an Elite Jonin.
Without absolute defense or rapid regeneration, Black Cat was confident he could kill Danzo swiftly.
A cat's explosive power far surpassed that of humans.
"Be careful. If things get too tough, there's no shame in retreating. We can always regroup and try again later," Yahiko said.
Yahiko had already come to see Raj as a kindred spirit.
Although Raj's sole purpose was to kill Danzo, the cat had meticulously planned their escape routes and offered invaluable insights.
It was just a pity...
Going to the Land of Snow meant leaving their homeland behind.
A shadow of melancholy darkened Yahiko's heart.
"Meow~ Don't worry," Raj said, waving a paw dismissively, refusing to elaborate further.
'If I can't even take down Danzo, this Cat Sage will commit suicide on the spot!'
The next morning, the first rays of dawn were accompanied by the rustling sounds of activity outside.
Awakened by the commotion, Raj stepped out to find the Dawn members already assembled, with Yahiko assigning tasks.
Their plan was the same one they had discussed the previous day: prioritize retreat, then eliminate Danzo.