At the southwestern front of the Land of Rivers—
inside the Konoha military camp—
night had settled.
Cold.
Heavy.
Silent.
At the center of the command tent stood Orochimaru.
Golden, snake-like eyes fixed on the sand table.
On one point—
Rōran.
Twenty days ago—
intelligence had arrived.
From the Uchiha.
Too precise.
Too detailed.
Too dangerous.
At first—
he didn't believe it.
But he still sent scouts.
Three elite teams.
Plus his snakes.
Now—
one returned.
Barely.
A blood-stained scroll.
Delivered by a dying snake.
Orochimaru opened it.
Read.
And understood.
Sunagakure—
mass forces in Rōran.
Over a thousand.
And worse—
Ōnoki was moving.
A pincer.
From sand and stone.
"…So it begins."
His voice was low.
Cold.
The scroll burned in candlelight.
Ash fell.
Outside—
snow began to fall.
The first snow of winter.
Soft.
Silent.
Covering blood.
Covering war.
Orochimaru watched.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Uchiha had warned him.
Which meant—
they wanted something.
Not kindness.
Never kindness.
Only—
balance.
"If I fall… they're next."
Simple logic.
And so—
a decision.
He sat.
Took a brush.
And wrote a name:
Uchiha Anlan.
"Let's see…"
"…what you choose."
The message was sealed.
A snake swallowed it.
Vanished into darkness.
Snow melted in his palm.
"You'll agree."
"…but at what price?"
Infinite City — Shogun's Office
Warm.
Bright.
Peaceful.
Mei Terumi stood beside the table.
Now dressed—
not as a commander.
But as an attendant.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
She poured tea.
Slow.
Precise.
Perfect.
Across from her—
sat Uchiha Anlan.
Reading.
Thinking.
Planning.
Outside—
snow fell endlessly.
Inside—
everything was calm.
Two worlds.
Separated by glass.
Anlan opened the scroll.
Snake-marked.
From Orochimaru.
He read.
Closed it.
Thought.
Help him?
Or let him fall?
A faint smile appeared.
"Call Shisui."
Moments later—
Shisui Uchiha arrived.
He read the message.
Frowned.
Anlan spoke—
calm.
Direct.
Absolute.
"You'll go."
"Alone."
"Two tasks."
"Hold the line."
"And—"
"Control key figures like Rasa if needed."
A pause.
Then—
even colder—
"Use everything."
"Even the Tailed Beasts."
Shisui didn't hesitate.
"Understood."
He left.
The room fell silent again.
Mei refilled the tea.
But this time—
she didn't stay silent.
"…I don't understand."
Her voice—
soft.
Careful.
Calculated.
"Helping Orochimaru… means helping Konoha."
"Why?"
She knelt slightly.
Eyes lifted.
Searching.
Anlan looked at her.
Long.
Deep.
Unhurried.
Then—
he gestured toward the window.
"Do you see the snow?"
She turned.
White.
Endless.
Falling everywhere.
"It falls on every land."
"Fire."
"Wind."
"Earth."
"Water."
"Lightning."
His voice remained calm.
But something—
vast—
was hidden inside it.
"Konoha… doesn't matter."
A pause.
"Neither does the Land of Fire."
Mei froze.
Anlan raised a finger.
"That—"
"is only the first step."
Then—
his gaze locked onto hers.
"Everything that snow touches—"
"is mine to take."
Not arrogance.
Not madness.
Certainty.
"…The entire ninja world."
Silence.
Mei couldn't speak.
Her ambition—
to save the Mist.
To restore her homeland—
Suddenly felt—
small.
Insignificant.
Yet—
a new thought appeared.
If he conquers everything…
Then maybe—
the Mist survives within that future.
Hope.
Fear.
Desire.
All mixed.
Anlan leaned back.
Watching her thoughts unfold.
Then spoke again—
quiet.
Final.
"If you don't understand…"
"Stay."
"Watch."
"See how this world—"
His eyes turned toward the snow again.
"…melts."
"Inch…"
"by inch."
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