October, Year 39 of the Konoha Calendar. After six months of delays and a series of chaotic events, Aburame Tetsumaru finally stepped onto his Broodmother Island. He let out a long, weary breath and decided to celebrate with a massive "skyrocket."
At his command, the giant carapace on the back of the Broodmother split into twelve sections, slowly unfurling to reveal a soft, bulging mass of insects inside.
The flaccid organisms began to writhe as helium was pumped into their internal air sacs. Their forms expanded, gradually swelling into spheres.
As the helium continued to pour in, the sacs grew from fifty meters to a hundred, then two hundred. When the diameter reached two hundred and forty meters, the organisms finally began to drift upward.
Forty tentacles per insect lashed out, anchoring themselves to fixed points within the Creep to prevent themselves from floating away.
From Tetsumaru's perspective, these looked like gargantuan floating balloons. This was the first completed product of his Katsuyu cell research: the Overlord Bug.
The Overlord's primary functions were reconnaissance and transport. Beneath its air sac sat a primary eye surrounded by over a hundred secondary eyes. Distributed around the main eye were the forty tentacles, most of which concealed a multitude of hooks and suckers capable of carrying heavy loads—or hundreds of Mantis bugs.
Unlike the version in the games he remembered, these Overlords did not affect the "population cap" of his swarm, nor could they be birthed from standard larvae yet. Katsuyu's genetic material was aggressively exclusionary; larvae exposed to it usually died of genetic collapse, while a few were simply assimilated into blue-and-white slugs. Only by adding other insect genes and carefully modulating the resulting slug-like base could an Overlord be produced.
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On the ground, countless Worker Bugs hauled out a massive Rocket Bug. It was another behemoth: cylindrical, four meters in diameter and twenty-two meters long. This was a two-ton class near-Earth orbit launch vehicle—and one of the pillars of Tetsumaru's independent deterrence.
After all, "launch vehicle" was just a polite name for something far more intimidating.
The swarm didn't need a gantry tower to launch, nor did they need a ten-second countdown.
An Overlord drifted over, wrapping twenty tentacles around the Rocket Bug, its suckers clamping tightly onto the shell. Helium continued to flow into the Overlord's sac until its diameter reached three hundred meters. Simultaneously, workers began the process of fueling the Rocket Bug with light oil and liquid oxygen.
After an hour and ten minutes of preparation, the Overlord's air sac reached a diameter of three hundred and forty meters, its walls stretched so thin they were nearly transparent. Finally, it took flight, carrying the three-hundred-and-fifty-ton Rocket Bug with it.
The Overlord ascended with a speed that belied its sluggish appearance. In just two minutes, it breached the cloud layer and continued upward, finally leveling off at an altitude of eleven thousand meters. There, it released its cargo.
The sensation of freefall triggered the Rocket Bug's ignition sequence. With a deafening roar, a massive plume of tail-flame pushed the rocket upward, arresting its fall. Moments later, it accelerated at 30G, streaking past the Overlord and piercing the heavens.
From the ground, it looked like a hand-sized balloon dropping a needle, but through the linked perspectives of the Overlord and the Rocket Bug, Tetsumaru witnessed a breathtaking cinematic display.
The two hundred tons of fuel and liquid oxygen were enough to propel the Rocket Bug to an altitude of forty kilometers. There, it would release the Celestial Eye Bug before falling back into the atmosphere to be cremated into ash.
Tetsumaru watched the entire process. Once the Overlord confirmed that the Celestial Eye Bug had successfully entered orbit, the experiment was declared a complete success. Yet, Tetsumaru still felt a tiny bit unsatisfied.
A pity. This wasn't an explosive test. It feels like something's missing.
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One thousand one hundred kilometers south-southeast of the Broodmother Island lay a small islet consisting of nothing but a sandy beach. In ten days, Tetsumaru planned to plant a "mushroom" there.
Those who knew, knew.
Once that mushroom successfully sprouted, Tetsumaru's foundation would be truly unshakable. Hokages, conspiracies, shadow games—he would fear none of them.
His shift in status had brought him into direct contact with the "Konoha F4." This was a stark departure from his previous indirect observations. Experiencing their endless calculations and petty schemes up close had left Tetsumaru utterly disgusted.
They were bottomless. They were sordid.
Had it not been for his family and the fact that his own strength wasn't quite "invincible" yet, Tetsumaru might not have lasted until today without defecting. He also wouldn't have had to witness the slow death of Sakumo Hatake.
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Although the deal had been struck with the Hokage back in April, Hiruzen had failed to convince Shimura Danzo. Due to Danzo's fierce opposition, Tetsumaru was blocked from going to the Land of Tea. However, the Hokage didn't want him returning to the front lines to rack up more prestige, so Tetsumaru was forced to remain idle in the village.
By June, his injuries had fully healed. Bored out of his mind, he applied for a travel permit to "clear his head." He took the opportunity to scatter dozens of Shadow Clones outside the village, sending them to the Land of Tea and the Land of Wind to resume his mothballed research and capture more Giant Scorpions.
Upon returning to the village, Tetsumaru noticed a significant number of strange bees. Most people ignored them, but to an Aburame intimately familiar with the local insect life, they were a glaring anomaly.
These bees were an invasive species, not a local mutation. He captured a few and brought them to Elder Shiki, intending to ask who had been so reckless as to introduce them. Not all bees were simple honey-gatherers; some were predatory "robber" species that posed a significant threat to his Sugar Ants.
Elder Shiki, however, recognized them immediately as Ninja Insects—specifically, the signature breed of the Kamizuru Clan. They were the Aburame's ancestral rivals.
More importantly, the Kamizuru were nobles of the Land of Earth and a pillar of the Hidden Rock Village. This was a major incident.
The Clan Head was alerted, as was the Hokage. Soon, an elite force of over two thousand Rock Ninja, led by the Kamizuru, was discovered. For the first time since the Sky Ninja raid a year prior, Konoha underwent a full mobilization to counter an invasion.
In the end, it was a lot of excitement over very little. Two thousand Rock Ninja deep in the Land of Fire without a Jinchuriki or substantial supply lines? What were they thinking?
Regardless of their intent, their proximity to the village was intolerable. An elite squad led by Aburame Shibi, supported by other Aburame and Konoha ninja, annihilated the fragile army in a single engagement.
In that battle, Shibi finally solidified his reputation. Elites like Aburame Shige, Tetsumaru, and Aoyama Gosho didn't even get a chance to throw a punch.
However, the battle was too one-sided and lacked high-profile kills. Its thunder was completely stolen by the actions of Sakumo Hatake.
After Tetsumaru's injury, Mito Homura had repeatedly petitioned for Sakumo's deployment. As the northeastern front began to crumble, the Hokage finally sent the White Fang to face the Cloud.
The Cloud soon experienced the savagery of the White Fang for the second time. Whatever the Raikage did to Konoha ninja, Sakumo did to the Cloud.
If the Raikage killed one Konoha Jonin, the White Fang killed two from the Cloud.
As for the Raikage himself? The man was an anvil. Sakumo had experienced it before; the Kage was simply too hard to cut. Fearing for the edge of his blade, Sakumo simply stopped engaging him directly.
If I kill every other Cloud ninja, what can one Raikage do on his own?
Konoha's reinforcements also included a specialized Sealing Team. Their mission was to suppress the Raikage, and their proficiency with the Nine-Mountain Seal was far superior to the previous improvised attempt.
With that Sealing Team acting as a deterrent, Sakumo Hatake was free to unleash a massacre.
In just one month, the White Fang carved a path of blood from the Land of Steam through the Land of Rice and into the Land of Moon, even making several incursions into the Land of Lightning itself. Wherever he went, Cloud Jonin fell like wheat before a scythe.
Genji of the Storm Release died. The Raikage's partner died. Even the newly stabilized Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was assassinated before he could even enter his Tailed Beast state.
To leave the Raikage's side was to step into the Pure Land. The war had become unsustainable. The Raikage was forced to withdraw, concentrating his remaining forces in the Land of Moon to deny Sakumo any further openings. Only then did the killing spree end.
The Land of Lightning voluntarily abandoned all occupied territories and effectively ceased hostilities. In doing so, the Third Raikage bowed his head in defeat.
The Raikage was a decisive leader—one who knew when to push and when to fold. He treated "face" as if it were worthless, making him arguably the most capable of the five current Kages.
The Third Tsuchikage was too slow—slow to decide, slow to act, always a step behind. The Third Kazekage was too impulsive—manipulated by nobles and pushed by clans, he lacked a core vision. The Third Hokage was too "soft"—obsessed with balance and public image, both of which are fatal flaws in war. The Third Mizukage was a failure who couldn't even control his own village.
As the Cloud retreated, Sakumo Hatake's fame reached the heavens, even eclipsing the Hokage's own. Under immense public pressure, the Hokage was forced to appoint Sakumo as the Jonin Commander, even gifting him a "Hokage Half-Sleeve" to signify his unique status.
The Konoha Jonin weren't jealous; they were ecstatic. They formally recognized Sakumo's status as being above all other Jonin.
The Hokage questioned many, including his own eldest son, and finally realized the truth: over the years, as the village's "Firefighter," Sakumo had fought alongside almost every Jonin in Konoha. He had performed miracles before their very eyes, turning the tide of battle single-handedly time and again.
He was the perfect idol. And in the face of an idol, logic dies. Even the Hokage had to take a backseat.
That was the cause of Sakumo Hatake's death.
Then came the "special mission." Then came the rumors. The blade of the White Fang was snapped.
Tetsumaru's Secret Technique: Domain Field Barrier covered a three-kilometer radius, encompassing most of Konoha. Aside from things said in lead-lined bunkers, very little escaped him.
He saw the Root ninja in disguise spreading the venom. He saw the mission failure. He saw the ninja who blamed Sakumo—and then saw that same ninja "commit suicide." He saw Sakumo save a comrade, only for that comrade to point a finger at his savior.
Tetsumaru watched it all. He wasn't a judge; he was a witness. He didn't need a legal burden of proof to know this was a conspiracy orchestrated by Root. And since Root was controlled by Danzo, and Danzo was held on a short leash by the Hokage... the conclusion was obvious. The director of the play was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Hokage's public speeches always maintained that Sakumo was "not in the wrong," yet he "hoped Sakumo would take responsibility." The subtext was clear: surrender the half-sleeve and resign as Jonin Commander.
It was supposed to be a minor punishment. But the White Fang committed suicide. The balance shattered.
The Raikage immediately moved back into the Land of Moon, eyeing the Land of Steam like a hawk. Onoki left the Rock Village for the Land of Rain, boasting that he would teach Orochimaru a lesson.
But Tetsumaru no longer cared about any of that.
Based on his long-term observations of Sakumo's emotional data, he finally located a light sphere in the Sea of Souls with a perfectly matching frequency. He confirmed it: that was Sakumo's soul.
On the night of the suicide, Tetsumaru used Sealing Jutsu to catch the falling light of Sakumo Hatake as it plummeted toward the abyss.
It was an unprecedented success that left Tetsumaru utterly terrified.
He hadn't really had a plan. He had simply noticed Sakumo's light dimming and falling, and on a whim, he tried. The chains of his sealing jutsu snared the sphere and hauled it back.
Now what?
He had no idea. Tetsumaru panicked because the captured soul was now tethered to him. He couldn't release it, he couldn't drop it, and he could feel a heavy, dragging force—the pull of the Pure Land on the dead.
Fortunately, the pull was weak enough that it didn't destabilize him. He hadn't completely ruined himself.
But the risk was astronomical. Would the Sage of Six Paths, lurking in the Pure Land, notice the anomaly? Would Orochimaru, who would eventually play with souls, notice the absence? Would the pull of the Pure Land increase one day and drag Tetsumaru down with it?
He could only wait for time to provide the answers. It was a high-stakes gamble with his own soul, a bet where he didn't even know what the winning conditions or the rewards were.
In his state of anxiety, Tetsumaru completely ignored the chaos in the village. He threw himself into a tug-of-war with Sakumo's soul.
By late September, he finally managed to set the light sphere into motion. He turned the White Fang's soul into his own "satellite." Once it began its stable orbit, the downward pull vanished. One problem solved.
Only then did Tetsumaru look back at reality. The "White Fang Incident" had been suppressed, but Konoha's morale was in the dirt. The atmosphere was stifling.
Amidst this gloom, certain rumors about Tetsumaru began to circulate, but they were cut short when his long-awaited transfer order finally arrived.
After Tetsumaru left Konoha, Shimura Danzo was stripped of his position in Root.
It seemed the Hokage was afraid. He was afraid that Danzo's "initiative" would backfire again. If Aburame Tetsumaru also decided to "take responsibility" and end his own life, Konoha might truly cease to exist.