Grass Country, Akatsuki's new base.
Kiyosuke chose to act today because every member of the Akatsuki had gathered here — Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Deidara, Zetsu, Pain, and Konan.
"This is the place."
Obito released everyone in the forest. Below them lay a massive pit, and within it rested the enormous skeleton of some unknown creature — likely a former summoning beast.
Kiyosuke and Obito both knew this place well. It was where Obito had once recovered from his injuries. Though the hideout had long been destroyed, it seemed to have been rebuilt over the years — at least the cave had been excavated again.
Jiraiya and Naruto sat cross-legged on the ground.
"I'll be entering Sage Mode with Naruto," Jiraiya said. "Give us a little time — or you can start first. We'll join the fight later."
"No," Kiyosuke said. "You two are going after Nagato. Leave Pain and Konan to us."
Letting Naruto face Nagato was intentional — only his words could reach that man's deadlocked heart. If he didn't talk him down, Nagato would fight to the bitter end.
"Got it."
Naruto closed his eyes and entered Sage Mode.
"Obito, you stay here and cover us."
"No problem."
Obito remained behind as Kiyosuke led the two Uchiha brothers to the cliff's edge.
"Alright, cough!" Kiyosuke said suddenly, then leapt down.
Shisui and Sasuke followed right after him. Reaching the cave entrance, Kiyosuke cleared his throat, drew chakra into his diaphragm, and projected his voice with a burst of power.
"Listen up inside! You're surrounded! Surrender now, and we'll treat you as honored captives!"
Shisui gave him a look.
"Are you sure this will work?"
"Half the Akatsuki are my people now. Don't worry — just hit them head-on!"
The words had barely left his mouth when several missiles shot out from the cave.
"Watch out!"
Shisui and Sasuke instantly leapt aside, leaving Kiyosuke standing alone before the incoming barrage.
Boom!
Explosions filled the air, dust and smoke billowing everywhere.
Kiyosuke coughed through the haze. "Heh, that doesn't work on me at all. You really don't learn your lesson, Pain."
He firmly believed in the "smoke means no damage" law — at least for himself.
From inside the cave, the Six Paths of Pain emerged. The Deva Path stared at him coldly.
"So it's you again, Asakawa Kiyosuke."
"That's right, it's me again!" Kiyosuke said, hands on his hips. "And this time, I'm here for you!"
"Looks like this will be quite the fight, Itachi-san," Kisame said, resting Samehada on his shoulder with a grin full of sharp teeth.
Itachi's gaze locked on his younger brother. Seeing the Mangekyō Sharingan in Sasuke's eyes, he frowned slightly, then glanced at Shisui and Kiyosuke — and relaxed.
"You again!" Deidara stormed out, furious. "I'll blow you to pieces this time!"
"You?" Kiyosuke waved dismissively. "You should've just inherited the Tsuchikage title. Instead, you ran off to play rogue ninja. What if I tie you up and deliver you back to Ōnoki? Think he'd pay a ransom for you?"
"Hah?! That old man? Not a chance! And you won't catch me anyway!" Deidara leapt up, confident that with this many people on his side, he had the advantage.
"Really?" Kiyosuke's smile turned sly. He gave Itachi a subtle signal.
In the next instant, Itachi flickered behind Deidara and kicked him squarely in the back.
Shisui hurled a wired kunai, piercing through Deidara's limbs. With a sharp tug, he dragged the artist straight toward them.
Kiyosuke crouched down with a grin.
"Well? Looks like we caught you after all."
"Damn you, Uchiha Itachi! You're a spy?!" Deidara shouted, struggling in disbelief.
Itachi's face remained calm. Even as the Six Paths of Pain surrounded him, he didn't flinch.
"So it's true, Itachi," said the Deva Path coldly. "You really are Konoha's spy. It seems I must cleanse our ranks."
"Sorry, Leader," Itachi said quietly. "But yes — I am a spy."
"Universal Pull!"
The Deva Path reached out, pulling Deidara back toward him with a burst of gravitational force. But Kiyosuke wasn't about to let that happen.
He grabbed Deidara by the collar, knocked him unconscious with a swift blow, and hurled him into the forest.
Obito appeared just in time, snatching Deidara out of the air — then used Kamui to warp him away.
"Uchiha Obito!" Pain narrowed his eyes.
Ever since Obito's identity had been revealed, Pain had stopped trusting him. Though he hadn't expelled him outright, Obito had long been excluded from internal operations.
"That's me!" Obito laughed and vanished into thin air.
"Die, Uchiha Itachi!"
The Asura Path's head opened up, launching fists and missiles all at once. Chakra spheres formed, and a full volley shot toward Itachi.
BOOM!
Smoke and dust rose again — but when it cleared, a massive red hand shielded Itachi. Around him, ethereal ribs of chakra glowed crimson, burning like flame.
"Susanoo," Shisui said, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
The Deva Path didn't know exactly what that was, but he could tell it was powerful.
"So you've been hiding your true strength all this time, Uchiha Itachi."
He recognized the Mangekyō Sharingan — Itachi had always been holding back, only ever using his regular Sharingan for missions. His strength had been formidable even then, but compared to now, that was child's play.
"Itachi-san's been keeping quite a few secrets," Kisame chuckled, hefting Samehada, clearly itching for a fight.
Seeing that, Pain felt a bit of relief. At least Kisame was still on his side.
That, at least, was something.
As if reading his thoughts, Kiyosuke tossed a kunai. Attached to it was a sealed message — handwritten by Terumī Mei.
"Huh?" Kisame opened it, glanced over, and grinned. "Looks like we're fighting side by side again, Itachi-san."
"…" The Six Paths of Pain fell silent.
"…" So did Nagato.
His heart felt so, so tired.
Was Konan the only one he could still trust?
He'd thought he could count on Deidara too — but that idiot had been captured in seconds. Forget it.
"So," Kiyosuke said cheerfully, "you're surrounded. Give up. We'll treat you well as prisoners."
"Don't make me laugh! I am a god! Even if you all attack me together, I will not lose!"
Pain's voice echoed with that familiar old tone.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Beasts burst into existence — the multi-headed dog, the giant bird, the rhino, the ox, the lobster — all crowding the canyon.
"Shinra Tensei!!!"
A massive wave of repulsive force exploded outward, forcing everyone back. Pain alone stood guarding the cave entrance, protecting Nagato and Konan within.
"A god fears no challenge!" he declared. "Come, mortals — I will make you feel pain!"
Kiyosuke pulled a cigarette from his pocket — the kind he'd swiped from Asuma — and lit it.
"Everyone," he said softly, "move out."
In an instant—
They all charged forward.