217 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

Nagato nodded, turning his gaze to Uchiha Hikari.

"Hikari, I'll leave the Seven-Tails to you. I'll handle Shukaku personally."

"Chomei?" Hikari smirked, her voice laced with disdain. "A trivial nuisance."

"Even so, Hikari, make it swift. The later Konoha learns of this, the better," Nagato reminded her, his tone steady but commanding.

Hikari shrugged, a glint of confidence in her Sharingan.

"They're just tailed beasts. Under my eyes, they're nothing more than powerless creatures."

Satisfied, Nagato continued, "I'll need you to have Tobirama teleport me to Sunagakure. White Zetsu has already placed the Flying Thunder God seal there in advance."

"No problem," Hikari replied with a nod.

As their discussion concluded, Sasori, standing nearby, couldn't hide his irritation.

"Leader, what about us? Did we come all this way just to listen to you delegate tasks?"

"Patience, Sasori," Nagato replied, his voice carrying a hint of forethought. "Your time will come. Soon, all of you will have your roles to play."

Nagato's tone implied a greater plan. These core members of Akatsuki weren't just tools of the moment—they were essential pieces in the grand puzzle he envisioned.

When the Ten-Tails is reborn, the very foundation of the Shinobi world will crumble. The Five Great Shinobi Nations will fall, and with them, their villages. But the destruction of villages won't mean the eradication of all their shinobi.

When Akatsuki rises as the ruler of this new world, Sasori, Kakuzu, Orochimaru, and others will have their purpose—to hunt down and eliminate the remnants of those who refuse to submit.

A vision of this future already unfolded in Nagato's mind, clear and inevitable.

"Future roles? Fine by me," Sasori scoffed, indifferent. "After all, I've achieved eternity. Do as you please."

Orochimaru and Kakuzu exchanged glances, equally unconcerned. With their own forms of immortality secured, their involvement in Akatsuki's plans was merely a passing moment in their endless existence.

Shifting the conversation, Nagato turned to Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, how is the refinement of Edo Tensei progressing?"

The pale, snake-like man curled his lips into a sly smile.

"It will take a bit more time. While the technique itself isn't particularly difficult, perfecting it to restore the resurrected to their full strength is no simple task."

"Do your best, Orochimaru. We still have time," Nagato said with a calm nod.

The meeting concluded quickly. Under Hikari's control, Tobirama materialized, ready to teleport Nagato and herself to their respective destinations.

...

Land of Wind, Sunagakure's Secret Outpost

The outpost, nestled in the mountains, was one of Sunagakure's many large bases, housing over a hundred shinobi.

In a concealed corner of the outpost, Nagato and Tobirama appeared in a flash, their black robes adorned with red clouds strikingly contrasting the sandy backdrop.

Wasting no time, Tobirama vanished, leaving Nagato to his task.

Extending his sensory perception, Nagato immediately located Shukaku's Jinchuriki. The boy's chakra signature blazed like a beacon against the night sky—a clear mark of the tailed beast within him.

"A mere child," Nagato muttered. "Forgive me, but for the sake of peace, your sacrifice is necessary."

With a sharp motion, he clasped his hands together.

"Shinra Tensei!"

An invisible wave of repulsive force erupted from Nagato, obliterating the surrounding base in an instant. Buildings and shinobi alike were hurled into the air, crashing to the ground like broken dolls.

The sheer power of this Shinra Tensei dwarfed the devastation he had once unleashed on Konoha. In a single attack, Nagato had wiped out every enemy within the base.

As the dust settled, Nagato weaved another set of hand seals.

Crack!

A massive tree root broke through the ground, writhing like a serpent as it burrowed into the smoke-filled ruins. Moments later, it emerged, retracting with its prize: a small, red-haired boy bound within its grasp.

The boy, Gaara, the Fourth Kazekage's son, radiated Shukaku's chakra, the tailed beast struggling against the root's hold.

"Shukaku is truly feeble," Nagato mused. "Even this simple Wood Release is enough to restrain it."

With a flick of his wrist, golden chains shot from his body, wrapping around the boy tightly. This was the Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains, a technique with unparalleled control over tailed beasts.

Securing Gaara, Nagato vanished, leaving behind the wreckage of the Sunagakure outpost.

...

Meanwhile, Hikari's operation in Takigakure was far more discreet.

Tobirama transported her directly to Chomei's Jinchuriki, a young girl named Fuu. Hikari's Sharingan glinted as she cast her Genjutsu, instantly seizing control of the girl's mind.

Without a perfect bond with Chomei, Fuu stood no chance. The tailed beast couldn't shield her from the illusion.

In mere moments, Tobirama returned, teleporting Hikari and Fuu to Amegakure. The entire operation lasted less than a minute, leaving Takigakure completely unaware of their Jinchuriki's disappearance.

...

Back at Amegakure's Hidden Base

Deep within a dark cavern, Nagato and Hikari stood atop the Gedo Statue's massive hand. In unison, they performed the necessary seals. Below them, Gaara and Fuu's bodies convulsed as torrents of tailed beast chakra erupted from their forms, surging into the statue.

The process, once laborious, had become effortless as the statue's revival neared completion. Within two hours, Shukaku and Chomei were sealed.

"Finally…" Nagato whispered, his gaze fixed on the statue's eight glowing eyes.

With only one step remaining—the sealing of Kurama—Nagato could fulfill his ultimate dream: becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and bringing his vision of peace to the world through absolute power.