"Fate's Crossing

*Chapter 10: The Night of Reckoning*.

*Chapter 10: The Night of Reckoning*.

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The Rain Village was shrouded in a thick fog, the air damp and heavy with the threat of an oncoming storm. Hidden in the shadows of a massive warehouse, Nago sat at the head of a large wooden table, his hands clasped together, deep in thought. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the faces of his men who sat around him, each one smirking with overconfidence.

The atmosphere in the room was tense, but not because of the danger that loomed outside. No, these men were used to danger. They thrived on it. But their leader, Nago, had an air of quiet menace, and the weight of his silence pressed down on the room like a suffocating fog.

His right-hand woman, Konan, stood by the window, her blue hair flowing down her back as she looked out into the distance. She was always the voice of caution, the one who reminded Nago of the threats that lurked in the shadows. And tonight, her instincts were on high alert.

"Nago," Konan said, her voice soft but firm, "we shouldn't underestimate them. We've seen what happens when people let their guard down."

Nago glanced up at her, his expression unreadable. His men, however, laughed—sharp, cruel laughs that echoed through the dimly lit room.

"No one has stood in our way so far," one of his men scoffed. "What's different about tonight?"

Nago raised a hand, silencing the room instantly. His eyes, dark and predatory, fixed on the man who had spoken. "What's different," he said slowly, his voice a low growl, "is that tonight, we're making the biggest sale of our lives."

He leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over the room, making sure his words sunk in. "We're selling them to the highest bidder. They'll be shipped out of the Rain Village and scattered across the world. No one will ever find them again. And no one—no one—will stand in our way."

Konan, still watching the streets from the window, crossed her arms. "I understand that, Nago. But don't be overconfident. The moment we start underestimating our enemies is the moment we lose."

Nago leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a cold, thin smile. "Relax, Konan. I've planned everything. I've stationed men around the perimeter. No one will get close without us knowing."

Konan's eyes narrowed, but she didn't argue. She knew Nago too well. He thrived on control, on power. He had orchestrated this operation with precision, and while she trusted his tactical mind, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.

*Elsewhere: The Dawn Before the Storm*

Naruto woke up early that morning, his heart heavy with the weight of the mission ahead. The soft light of the rising sun filtered through the window of the temporary shelter the team had set up. He lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.

Tonight's the night* he thought, clenching his fists. *We either succeed or fail—and failure isn't an option.*

The mission had been meticulously planned by Shikamaru, but that didn't make it any less dangerous. There were lives at stake—innocent women who were being treated like commodities. Naruto's jaw tightened at the thought of it, anger bubbling beneath the surface. He would do whatever it took to stop Nago and his men. No one should have to live through that kind of horror.

A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Shikamaru stepped into the room, his usually relaxed face set in a serious expression. He was already dressed for the mission, his tactical gear in place, and he carried an extra handgun in his hand.