226-230

*Chapter 226: The New Team 7*

"Um, is there a problem?" Karin seemed to catch onto Naruto's gaze, her mouth twitching slightly. She still wore a gentle smile, but anyone who knew her would recognize this as the calm before the storm.

"No, nothing. I just feel like you’re not quite like before." Naruto scratched the back of his head, almost blurting out his thoughts without meaning to.

Before he could say "pretty," Sakura quickly covered his mouth.

Others might not know Karin's temper, but Sakura, who had been training in medical ninjutsu by her side, certainly did. If Naruto dared to say that, he was bound to get a good beating.

"What do you mean, 'not like before'?" Karin’s eyes narrowed, growing colder.

"It’s nothing, Karin. Naruto just meant that you’re not as shy as before and that you’ve gotten even prettier. Right, Naruto?" Sakura pressed Naruto’s head, making him nod, whispering in his ear, "If you don’t want to die, go with what I said."

Afterwards, she let go of him.

Naruto, not quite understanding but trusting Sakura, quickly agreed, "Yeah, what Sakura said!"

"Alright, then." Karin’s dangerous gaze disappeared, and her fists, which had been clenched in her sleeves, relaxed.

"So, Granny Tsunade, is Karin the opponent you mentioned?" Naruto pointed at Karin, looking to Tsunade for confirmation.

"I did say a man, didn’t I? No, it’s him." Tsunade glanced out the window.

Following her gaze, Naruto and Sakura looked outside and saw a silver-haired Jonin sitting on the balcony reading — it was Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto's eyes lit up with joy as he jumped out of the window, handing him Jiraiya’s latest book, just like in the original story.

After some idle chit-chat with Kakashi, they got back on topic.

"Granny Tsunade, is Kakashi-sensei the opponent for Sakura and me?" Naruto asked, surprised, with Sakura also looking puzzled.

Tsunade shook her head and made a surprising announcement, "No, to be precise, it’ll be you two and Karin. Starting today, you three will form the new Team 7."

Having two medical ninjas on one team puzzled everyone except Jiraiya, Chika, and Kakashi, who knew it was because Karin, as a member of the Uzumaki Clan, had mastered the Adamantine Sealing Chains, which could restrain tailed beasts if Naruto lost control.

"Alright, Kakashi, they’re all yours," Tsunade said dismissively.

Once everyone had left the Hokage’s office, only Tsunade, Aizen, and Jiraiya remained.

With Naruto and the others gone, Jiraiya’s pervy side emerged as he looked at Chika, who, despite being only seven, was growing into a beautiful young girl.

"Tsunade, it’s been a while. This must be Chika. She’s really grown up."

As he reached out to pat Chika head, she grabbed his wrist with a cracking sound, causing Jiraiya to yell, "Ouch, ouch!"

"Serves you right." Tsunade glanced at him disdainfully. "I’ve told you before: other than her father, Chika doesn’t let any man touch her. And by the way, her super strength is now on par with mine."

"Alright, alright, I get it. Let her go, please!" Jiraiya wailed, nearly tearing up from the pain.

"Chika, let go," Tsunade said calmly. Aizen huffed but released his hand.

"This little girl’s a genius. To have mastered superhuman strength so young… and her chakra control is already beyond Kakashi’s. Truly remarkable, just like her mother," Jiraiya remarked, rubbing his sore arm.

"None of that matters now. Tell me, has something happened?" Tsunade shifted the topic.

Jiraiya nodded gravely. "That organization has finally started to make its move."

Hearing this, Tsunade’s face grew serious, her gaze distant as she murmured, "The Akatsuki?"

---

*Land of Wind.*

In the Sand Village, Deidara was already in battle with Gaara.

Just as in the original story, Gaara’s sand displayed formidable and swift defenses, preventing Deidara’s explosive clay from hurting him. However, Gaara’s sand wasn’t fast enough to catch Deidara’s clay bird.

The two continued their intense battle in mid-air, testing each other without any clear victor as the sun set and the moon rose.

"It seems the Kazekage is still a bit too inexperienced. He’s focusing solely on powerful attacks, trying to capture Deidara with huge sandstorms but lacking the skill to use area attacks. If he fought like the deceased Third Kazekage with dense Sand Iron Rain, Deidara would be the one struggling."

Watching the spectacular battle, even Aizen, familiar with the original story, was awed by the sight.

Beside her, Sasori remarked, "Sand isn’t like Iron Sand — it’s lighter. To use Sand Iron Rain with such high density, you need much greater chakra control. That kid, the Kazekage, isn’t capable of that yet."

"True enough. But since we’re back in the Sand Village, aren’t you planning to visit any old friends?" Aizen asked Sasori, smiling.

"Pointless." Sasori paused before clicking his tongue, turning to walk away. "I’ll go set up traps to cover our retreat. If you’re confident enough to dodge, stay and keep watching."

"Go ahead." Aizen waved dismissively. The most exciting part, Deidara’s C3 bomb, was yet to come. He wasn’t about to leave now.

As they spoke, Gaara had already crushed Deidara’s left arm.

At that moment, Deidara released his trump card: the C3 Clay Bomb.

Mixing his highest-level chakra with explosive clay, he crafted a doll-shaped bomb and dropped it from high altitude.

Deidara used his remaining right hand to form a seal, and the doll-shaped clay rapidly expanded.

The explosive clay began to descend quickly.

"Art is an explosion! Hah!"

At about thirty meters above the ground, Deidara let out a fierce cry, and with a thunderous boom, the explosive clay detonated violently.

Chapter 227: Completion of the Tailed Beast Capture, Chika's Long Search for Her Father

A fiery mushroom cloud rose slowly into the sky, and in an instant, the intense flames nearly illuminated the entire village.

Immediately following this spectacle, an even more astonishing sight unfolded: the light of the flames faded, revealing a massive sand defense in the sky over Sunagakure, covering nearly half the village.

This barrier had been created by Gaara, who poured almost all of his chakra into protecting the village. Although he managed to shield Sunagakure, Deidara seized the opportunity, using his prepared Explosive Clay: Twin-Winged Bird to attack. Gaara was forced to defend himself using sand laced with explosive clay, meant to crush Deidara's arm.

The outcome was inevitable. With his chakra depleted, Gaara was struck; his Sand Armor couldn't fully defend against the explosion, leaving him gravely injured.

At this point, the Sunagakure shinobi, led by Baki, who had been watching from below, finally sprang into action. They provided support to Gaara in the air with massive crossbow bolts adorned with explosive tags. However, they only succeeded in causing Deidara a minor inconvenience.

Using his final ounce of strength, Gaara moved the sand shield he had created to block the C3: Nineteenth Clay Bomb out of the village. Deidara then managed to capture Gaara successfully, flying swiftly toward a location called Ittentian.

"What a spectacular visual display," Aizen remarked, observing Deidara, who was flying toward him on his clay owl. Opening his Purple Cloud Wings, Aizen flapped them and soared into the sky.

"Whoa, Brother Aizen!" Deidara was initially startled to see a shadow appear over bird but was relieved when he recognized Aizen.

The two hovered above bird.

Aizen didn't hold back his praise. "Nice work, Deidara. That massive clay bomb was truly artistic. But you got careless, losing an arm. Make sure to get Kakuzu to reattach it for you later."

Deidara's face flushed red with embarrassment. "Sorry to make you laugh, Brother Aizen. But those purple wings on your back?"

Aizen made a sound of understanding and, with a serious expression, replied, "Oh, those? Just a secret technique I developed out of boredom over the years."

"All right, time to go. If we wait any longer, the Sunagakure shinobi will catch up." With that, Aizen flew off with Deidara, heading beyond bird.

They eventually landed in front of Sasori. Sasori curiously eyed Aizen's Purple Cloud Wings but said nothing, turning instead to Deidara with his Scorpion puppet's tail swiping impatiently. "You're late. I told you not to keep me waiting."

Deidara barely dodged the attack and laughed. "Not my fault; the Kazekage kid is tough. Ask Brother Aizen if you don’t believe me."

Aizen confirmed, "Gaara is indeed much stronger compared to three years ago. He deserves the title of Kazekage."

Hearing Aizen's affirmation, Sasori reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Let's move. I've set up traps to handle any pursuit. The Leader won't want to wait much longer."

The three of them donned their wind-chime hats and began walking toward their hideout in the Land of Rivers. Moments after they left, a loud explosion came from the direction of Sunagakure.

Aizen sensed a messenger hawk flying out from Sunagakure, heading toward Konoha. Kankuro had also left Sunagakure, splitting off from the tracking squad to pursue them alone.

Aizen paused, gazing back toward Sunagakure.

"What's wrong, Brother Aizen?" Deidara and Sasori stopped and looked back at him.

Aizen shook his head. "Nothing, just sensing an interesting person following us."

Deidara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting? Someone daring enough to follow us must be suicidal. Who is it?" Sasori asked.

"One of your juniors, elder brother of the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Kankuro. It seems he inherited your three puppets," Aizen replied with a chuckle.

Sasori's interest piqued. "Well, this should be entertaining. I didn't expect to encounter such a cute junior. Aizen, Deidara, go ahead. I'll have some fun with him."

Aizen wished him well. "Enjoy." With a flap of his wings, Aizen sped off toward the Land of Rivers, disappearing from sight.

Deidara watched in awe as Aizen vanished. "Brother Aizen's secret technique is incredible. Even a casual development outpaces my clay birds. Hmph."

"Catch up soon, Sasori," Deidara said, jumping onto his clay bird and flying quickly after Aizen.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Kakashi received a summons from Tsunade and arrived at the Hokage's office.

"That's the situation," Tsunade said, frowning. "Sunagakure was attacked by mysterious individuals believed to be members of the Akatsuki, and the Kazekage was abducted. They officially requested our aid because we have more intel on the Akatsuki. What do you think?"

Kakashi scratched his head thoughtfully. "Three years ago, Sunagakure and Konoha signed an alliance. They even helped us when Sasuke defected. We can't just sit by. Besides, if Naruto finds out…"

"That's exactly why I only summoned you," Tsunade said, feeling a headache coming on. "As fellow Jinchūriki, Naruto would understand Gaara’s struggles. But the Akatsuki aren't ordinary enemies, and I can't sacrifice our ninja for Sunagakure's sake."

"I'll go myself," Kakashi offered firmly.

"You're the best choice right now," Tsunade sighed. "But you've faced the Akatsuki before. You know their power. Based on the traces left at the scene, there were two additional members aiding Gaara's abduction."

"In other words, Team 7 might have to face three Akatsuki members simultaneously. Can you handle it?" She massaged her temples, thinking how much she wished her "special someone" were back. It would've made the situation less chaotic.

Kakashi fell silent. He wanted to help Gaara but knew he had little chance against even one Akatsuki member, let alone three unknowns. Rushing in could get them all killed. Worst case, if they encountered Aizen Fujiwara, complete annihilation wasn’t out of the question.

Just as they struggled to figure out a plan, a young voice chimed in. Chika burst into the office. "If you’re unsure, let me join the support team!"

---

*Chapter 228: Meeting Tsunade Again*

"Chika?" Kakashi and Tsunade were both surprised when they saw Chika.

"Mom, I want to go with Kakashi and Sister Karin too," Chika said, her innocent smile lighting up her cute face. She walked over to Tsunade, massaging her mother’s shoulders while pouting.

"No way," Tsunade replied firmly, closing her eyes in frustration.

"I'm really strong! Even Kakashi isn’t a match for me!" Chika insisted eagerly.

Hearing this, Tsunade lifted her eyelids slightly and saw Kakashi rubbing the back of his head with an awkward smile. "Well, Lady Tsunade, that seems to be true."

Yesterday, after testing Naruto, Sakura, and Karin, Kakashi was dragged into a spar by Chika, who even managed to take the bells from him. Although he hadn’t gone all out, Chika’s strength still surprised him.

For a moment, it felt like he was up against Fujiwara Aizen.

If they’d fought for real, the outcome might’ve been unpredictable.

Seeing Kakashi admitting he wasn't as strong as Chika, Tsunade showed a hint of surprise but still refused, "No, you’re too young."

"How can that be…" Chika protested, playfully nudging her mother’s shoulder.

"It won’t work, no matter how much you whine," Tsunade was about to refuse again when she heard Aizen's voice by her ear. "Let her go."

Tsunade froze briefly before changing her tone. "Kakashi, do you think Chika can go?"

Caught off guard, Kakashi hesitated before giving a fair answer. "In terms of ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and timing control, Chika is exceptional. She also has sensory abilities comparable to Fujiwara Aizen, which can be more useful than combat experience. If age weren’t a factor, I’d say she’s fit for this mission."

"I see…" Tsunade thought for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. This mission will be entrusted to Team Seven and Chika. Considering the opponents are three Akatsuki members, I’ll also arrange for Guy’s team to support you nearby."

"In that case, all the better," Kakashi sighed in relief upon hearing that Guy’s team would assist.

"Thank you, Mom!" Chika happily hugged Tsunade.

"Don’t celebrate too soon. When you’re there, you must follow all of Kakashi’s orders. If you act up, don’t think about going on missions again," Tsunade warned.

"Got it," Chika replied cheerfully, ready to join Kakashi and leave the Hokage’s office.

"Wait," Tsunade called them back.

They turned around, and Kakashi asked hesitantly, "Lady Tsunade, is there something else?"

Tsunade paused before speaking seriously, "I’ve said it before. These enemies are no joke, and as Hokage, I can’t risk the lives of Konoha's ninja just to aid the Sand Village. Though we’re allies with them, your lives are more important. If you encounter an unsolvable crisis, you’re permitted to abandon the mission."

"Especially Naruto; he tends to be impulsive. Keep an eye on him."

"I understand," Kakashi nodded solemnly.

"Alright, go on then," Tsunade waved them off.

After they left, Shizune, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Lady Tsunade, are you really going to let her go?"

"It wasn’t me who let her go—someone else did. Come out," Tsunade said, and from the shadows, Aizen appeared in his red clouded black robe.

Shizune gasped, "Lord Aizen."

"Yo, Shizune! Long time no see. Still as flat as ever," Aizen teased, eyeing her up and down.

"Lord Aizen, that’s enough!" Shizune’s face flushed. Then Aizen said, "Mind stepping out for a moment? I have something to discuss with Tsunade."

"I understand." Shizune gave Tsunade a concerned look before leaving the office.

"When did you get back?" Tsunade asked casually.

"Just now," Aizen replied with a straight face, lying without a trace of guilt.

Actually, he had returned the night before, spending the night with Kurenai Yuhi and checking on Hinata in the morning to see how she was developing. Only after all that did he come to the Hokage’s office.

But he wouldn’t dare tell Tsunade any of this.

Otherwise, all hell would break loose.

"So, what’s going on?" Tsunade stood up and let him sit in the office chair before taking a seat on his lap.

Aizen’s hand slipped inside her collar, earning a playful scold as she laughed lightly. "As you guessed, I was involved when the Akatsuki captured the Kazekage. Not only that, but I also captured the Five-Tails Jinchuuriki on my own before that."

"Why are you helping Akatsuki with something like this?" Tsunade asked, slapping his hand away and wrapping her arms around his neck in confusion.

"No reason; I just found it interesting," Aizen chuckled.

"Interesting?" Tsunade frowned.

"Yes, interesting." Aizen leaned in and kissed her. "If it weren’t for you and Chika, any Konoha ninja who’d fought me would already be dead."

"What’s going on in your mind? Do you treat lives as nothing?" Tsunade pushed him away, standing up with a mix of disappointment, unfamiliarity, and heartbreak.

"I told you, if it weren’t for you and Chika, I wouldn’t have held back." Aizen patted his thigh, gesturing for her to sit again.

"No way. If you don’t explain yourself clearly, don’t expect to touch me," Tsunade said, anxiety filling her heart. Until now, the Akatsuki hadn’t done anything big, so she could lie to herself, but now, even the Kazekage had been taken. She feared that Konoha might be next.

When that time came, and if she had to face Aizen as an enemy, what would she do?

After thinking for a moment, Aizen gave a vague answer. "Maybe just to witness the future of the ninja world."

Tsunade froze. "What do you mean?"

"Let me ask you something: What’s the most effective factor in uniting a group?" Aizen asked with a smirk.

"The bonds and mutual trust between comrades?" Tsunade instinctively answered with the Will of Fire, though even she didn’t believe it.

Aizen shook his head slowly.

"An insightful leader?" Tsunade tried again.

"Your eyes say otherwise," Aizen shook his head again, his smile vanishing as he said seriously, "Of course not. It’s the presence of an enemy."

*Chapter 229: Aizen’s Intentions*

Aizen confidently spoke to Tsunade, spinning a convincing tale. "Ever since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, after years of recuperation, the Five Great Nations have basically recovered their vitality."

"Do you know what restoring that vitality means? It means war. If the Akatsuki hadn’t shown up at this point, it wouldn’t be long before the Fourth Great Ninja War would break out."

"By then, it wouldn't just be a few Jinchuriki who die, but tens of thousands of ninja, and countless civilians."

"How can that be?" Tsunade exclaimed, her face showing disbelief.

Aizen waved her off. "Don’t rush to refute me. Whether you admit it or not, that's just how this world is."

"Though your grandfather, the First Hokage, founded Konoha with good intentions, he overlooked human nature."

"The so-called mutual understanding? It’s just a fool’s dream. Even if it exists, it’s only temporary. People only understand each other because they share common interests."

"Wherever there are people, there is conflict; where there is conflict, there is war. It’s unavoidable."

"Just like in the first three Great Ninja Wars—each was said to be for the villages, but in reality, it was the work of politicians balancing the Five Great Nations’ interests. It was just mutual encroachment. There’s no such thing as real justice or injustice."

"But if there’s a common enemy, it’s different. They’ll unite to fight, and after defeating the enemy, at least in Naruto’s generation, it’s unlikely that there will be another war in the ninja world."

Hearing this, Tsunade frowned and then settled back into Aizen’s embrace, her heart aching. "So, you plan to be that enemy?"

"Of course not. What do I care about peace in the ninja world, its systems, or whether ninja live or die? I only care about the people I care about." Aizen held Tsunade princess-style, lying her down on the office desk, loosening her kimono and Akatsuki cloak.

"So, what do you want to do?" Tsunade’s cheeks turned red, and her gaze shifted, knowing what was about to happen.

Aizen gently stroked her silky hair. "In this world, there’s never a shortage of self-righteous people who want to achieve peace by extreme means. I just have to sit back and watch the show, maybe keep an eye on your subordinates so they don’t get killed. Of course, the Sarutobi clan is an exception."

"Really?" Tsunade’s face lit up with relief, fearing that Aizen might resort to extreme measures.

"Of course." Aizen grinned mischievously and leaned in.

Not long after, joyful yet painful sounds filled the Hokage’s office. Outside the door, Shizune, her face flushed, was the only one able to hear it, her expression one of accustomed embarrassment.

On the Wind Country border, yellow sand raged, leaving devastation in its wake, with bodies of the Sand Hidden tracking unit strewn across the land.

Deidara sat in a carved-out cave in a rocky cliff, looking down at Sasori as he caught up. "You’re really slow, Sasori-san. I thought you didn’t like keeping people waiting."

"Well, I had a good time." Sasori’s mood was pleasant; in an era where skilled puppet masters were rare, he’d found a capable young opponent.

"What do you mean by that?" Deidara muttered, disgruntled.

"Fine, fine. Don’t be mad. I was just ensuring that you completed the One-Tail mission without fail." Sasori avoided further explanation, changing the subject. "By the way, where is Aizen?"

"He said you’d probably reach here by dawn, then went alone to a small town in the River Country to grab a late-night snack. He really is heartless—didn’t even bring me anything." Deidara complained, pulling a soldier pill from his ninja pouch and popping it in his mouth.

"Sounds just like him. He never compromises his own comfort." Sasori didn’t doubt him and the two continued on their journey.

Around noon, they finally arrived at the base in the River Country.

By then, Aizen had been waiting for a while.

The three entered the cave.

There was some bickering between Deidara and Pain; Pain accused Deidara of being slow, while Deidara argued that the Jinchuriki was too powerful.

Finally, Pain formed seals and summoned the Gedo Statue. The sealing began.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, a support team led by Kakashi had arrived in the Sand Village.

Baki, a senior Sand Village official, greeted them.

At the village entrance:

Seeing Kakashi and his team arrive, Baki welcomed them warmly. "Friends from Konoha, we’ve been expecting you. Welcome to the Sand Village."

"Captain Baki, it’s been a while," Kakashi greeted warmly. "Last time we met was during the Chunin Exams. It’s hard to believe it’s been three years."

"Yes, indeed. I owe you my thanks. Without your warning, our village might’ve been exploited by Orochimaru," Baki sighed, glancing over the group behind Kakashi.

Seeing Naruto and the others didn’t surprise him; Naruto and Sakura were Kakashi’s students, after all.

But when he noticed the young girl, Chika, wearing a Konoha forehead protector around her neck, he looked puzzled and hesitantly asked, "And who might this be?"

"Oh!" Kakashi quickly explained, "This is Lady Tsunade’s daughter, Chika. She’s probably the most talented genius Konoha has ever seen. Don’t be fooled by her age—she’s stronger than I am."

"Is… that so?" Maki’s expression turned awkward. He didn’t take Kakashi’s words seriously.

Graduating from the ninja academy at her age was indeed impressive, but no matter how gifted, genius still required time to mature.

Even prodigies like Fujiwara Aizen and Uchiha Itachi only started showing real strength at thirteen.

What could a seven-year-old fresh out of the academy really do?

Just then, Naruto stepped forward, his eyes filled with worry. "I heard Gaara was captured. Where is he? We need to rescue him right away!"

Smack!  

Sakura smacked Naruto hard on the head, creating a bump. She scolded, "Idiot! It’s not ‘Gaara’; he’s the Kazekage now! Show some respect and call him Lord Kazekage. You’re so rude!"

"It’s fine," Baki said, waving his hand dismissively. "You’re all friends of the Kazekage. Calling him by his name is no problem. This way, please. I’ll take you to the Kazekage Tower for a full briefing."

With that, Baki led the way.

To enter the Sand Village, they first had to pass through the Heavenly Line Gorge, a canyon heavily fortified with Sand Village ambushes and traps, including terrifying explosive devices.

end

*Chapter 230: Aizen Arrives*

A regular ninja, even one as skilled as Kakashi, would likely face disaster if they entered.

Karin, originally from the Village Hidden in the Grass, looked around as she walked, like an old lady visiting the city for the first time. "First time in the Sand Village, and even the entrance alone is terrifying. No wonder it’s one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages."

Baki, leading them, gave an embarrassed chuckle. "This is the Sand Village's only natural barrier. It looks well-guarded, but once you break through this line, you’re in. It’s not nearly as fortified as your Leaf Village's barrier."

"So, did the invader who kidnapped the Kazekage attack through this canyon?" Sakura asked in surprise.

"No." Baki shook his head, looking grim as he uttered two words: "From above."

"From above?" The group was stunned.

Baki explained as they walked, "Based on the tracks left and eyewitness accounts, there were three invaders. Two of them killed all the guards at the passage, and the one who took the Kazekage used a giant bird to fly high above, catching us completely off guard."

"Breaking through the canyon and kidnapping the Kazekage isn’t something just any ninja could do. It seems they came prepared." Cold sweat appeared on Kakashi’s forehead as a sense of unease crept into his heart.

While they were talking, they exited the canyon. Chika noticed something unusual and asked, "Why are there rocking chairs and sun umbrellas over there?"

Baki nodded. "Those were left by the invaders. We kept them in place in case they had clues that might lead us to them."

"Seems like this invader knows how to enjoy themselves."

The group was speechless, though with these items, finding the invaders might be easier.

Only Chika seemed to be lost in thought. The only person she could think of who would relax in a rocking chair under such circumstances was her father.

Thinking of this, an excited smile appeared on her face, and she thought to herself, Looks like this trip wasn't a waste after all.

After passing through the canyon, they entered the Sand Village. Since the Sand and Leaf Villages were allies, Kakashi’s group of five received a warm welcome.

They walked down the main street to the central area.

As soon as they entered the Kazekage building, they heard a scream from Kankuro. A medic ninja quickly approached, reporting, "Captain Baki, Lord Kankuro is in critical condition."

Baki turned to the group, hope in his eyes.

Karin and Sakura exchanged a glance. Karin nodded and said, "Leave it to me. Sakura, come help me."

"Understood," Sakura replied respectfully, and the two ran toward Kankuro's hospital room, with Kakashi and the others following.

Before they reached the door, an old lady with a hunchback charged at Kakashi, shouting, "I'll kill you, White Fang!"

After a brief commotion, Karin and Sakura finally began the rescue work.

Half a day later…

*Land of Rivers*

In an Akatsuki hideout, the sealing of the tailed beast was still ongoing. Among those present, including Aizen’s clone, members of the Akatsuki or their projected clones stood on the fingers of the Gedo Statue.

Gaara, whose chakra had been drained by the tailed beast extraction, was covered in cracks, on the verge of death.

"Just half a day more, and the sealing will be complete," said Pain's projection. "Hang in there, everyone."

"This sealing ritual is so boring," Deidara yawned and glanced at Aizen’s clone, who remained silent. "Hey, Big Brother Aizen, you’re unusually quiet today."

"Of course," Konan commented. "That’s not the real him. It's a shadow clone. After he split up with you all, the real one returned to the Rain Village to be with his wife and kids."

"What?" Deidara looked shocked.

"Yes," Aizen replied coldly. The truth was that he’d made a shadow clone return to Rain Village so that Pain wouldn't try to force him into hunting the Nine-Tails himself.

Kisame, who had the second-largest chakra reserves in the Akatsuki after Aizen, looked envious. "This is the perk of having vast chakra reserves. Unfortunately, my water clones aren’t as durable as shadow clones; otherwise, I’d do the same."

He turned to Itachi and said, "Maybe you could teach me the shadow clone technique? I’d love to take it easy like Aizen."

Before Itachi could respond, Pain interjected, crushing the idea. "I’ll remind Aizen that this is a one-time exception." He turned to Zetsu, "Any updates on the Sand and Leaf Villages?"

"I was just about to report." White Zetsu chuckled. "The Leaf’s backup has arrived at the Sand Village and is heading our way. If they keep going, they might actually reach us before we finish the sealing."

"Who’s coming?" asked Tobi.

Black Zetsu listed the names, "Elder Chiyo from Sand, the Leaf's Copy Ninja Kakashi, Lady Tsunade’s students Karin Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno… oh, and Tsunade’s seven-year-old daughter, fresh out of the academy, has come along."

"What, seven years old?" Most of the Akatsuki members felt a twinge of disdain.

Was the Leaf producing prodigies or just running out of talent? A seven-year-old graduating was impressive, but it wasn’t wartime. Sending a child into a mission like this was baffling.

Black Zetsu snickered, adding, "Also, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Naruto Uzumaki is here. The Leaf’s Might Guy unit is also en route on Tsunade’s orders."

"Oh, even the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has come. Talk about killing two birds with one stone." Kisame looked at Aizen, amused. "Too bad your real self isn’t here. We could capture the Nine-Tails early."

"As long as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki stays in the Leaf, it’s fine," Pain said calmly. "The priority is to seal the One-Tail. We'll have to use the Elephant Transfer Technique. Kisame, besides Aizen, you have the most chakra. You’ll intercept Might Guy. Kakashi will be handled by Itachi."

"As for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, after we seal the One-Tail, we’ll send Sasori and Deidara to capture him."

Meanwhile…

Kakashi, Aizen, Karin, Sakura, Naruto, and Elder Chiyo, led by the ninja dog Pakkun, were jumping through the forest.

They were getting closer to the Akatsuki hideout.

end