To seal a Tailed Beast into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the Akatsuki required the participation of every single member, performing the Nine Phantom Dragon Sealing Technique. Even Itachi and Kisame could not depart until the sealing was complete. Only afterward would they move toward the Cloud Valley Gorge in the Land of Lightning to target Killer B, the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki.
In other words, Senju Haruto and his forces could exploit this window of time to secretly infiltrate the Land of Lightning and reach the gorge. Meanwhile, Captain Yamato would lead another team—Naruto, Temari, Zabuza, and Haku—to rescue Gaara.
Kankurō, however, was not included. With none of his puppets intact, a puppet master without tools was little more than dead weight. Bringing him along would only hinder the mission.
"No intelligence reports?" Yamato asked Temari directly.
Although they had accepted the mission, Yamato's squad had no idea where the Akatsuki were hiding.
"N-none…" Temari shook her head, her face clouded with guilt. Other than the fact that Gaara had been taken by Akatsuki, she had no further leads. Not even the direction in which they retreated was clear.
"That makes things much harder," Yamato muttered with a grim nod. He immediately pushed his sensory abilities to their limits.
Fortunately, Senju Haruto had already provided what he knew: the Akatsuki sealing ritual, the Nine Phantom Dragon Sealing Technique, could not be interrupted once started. It required days to complete. Which meant the Akatsuki would almost certainly choose an extremely secluded location—such as a cave hidden in the mountains—to avoid detection.
Armed with that knowledge, Yamato directed his squad to begin combing the mountain ranges.
Yet Temari walked with a look of torment etched across her face.
"Don't worry. We'll find Gaara," Naruto said quickly, catching sight of her expression. His tone carried both resolve and reassurance. "I may not be as skilled at sensing as Brother Haruto, but among us, I'm one of the stronger trackers."
Even as he spoke, Naruto was calculating carefully. To avoid slowing their pace, he had already left behind a shadow clone to gather natural energy.
A while later, he suddenly murmured, "That should be enough."
With a decisive hand sign, he released the clone. Instantly, the clone's chakra and gathered natural energy surged back into Naruto's body.
Sage Mode, activated!
"Sage Mode, is it?" Yamato glanced back as the vast swell of chakra condensed around Naruto. The difference in presence was staggering—he was no longer the same boy as moments before.
"Leave the sensing to me, Captain Yamato," Naruto said firmly, then darted forward to the head of the formation.
Though he had never encountered the Akatsuki members who abducted Gaara, Naruto knew Gaara's chakra. Its strange, raw nature was unmistakable.
Minutes passed as he combed the surroundings with his senses—until suddenly, Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"…Found him." His voice dropped low as he halted, balancing atop a sturdy branch.
"You found Gaara?!" Temari's eyes flared with hope so strong it nearly overwhelmed her. "Where is he? What condition is he in?"
"Gaara's chakra is faint—too faint. Things aren't good." Naruto's gaze turned northeast as his expression hardened. "But I also sense others there. If I had to guess, it's Akatsuki. They're not about to hand him back to us. A fight is inevitable."
"Follow me."
But even as Naruto locked onto Gaara's location, the Sage Mode fueled by his clone's energy reached its limit. The borrowed nature chakra ran dry.
"If I'm right, it should be here," Naruto said finally as they reached a stop. A massive boulder sealed the entrance to a cavern, its center plastered with strange paper talismans. Clearly deliberate.
"Gaara's behind that rock?" Temari's throat tightened as she asked, her nerves close to breaking.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, raising his hand to smash the boulder.
But Yamato stepped in front of him. To him, charging headlong into an Akatsuki hideout was suicide. Every Akatsuki operative was an S-class rogue ninja, and none could be underestimated.
"We should come up with a strategy first," Yamato cautioned.
"There's no time!" Naruto snapped. "Gaara's chakra is fading. If we wait, he'll die!"
His voice carried a rare edge. Without hesitation, Naruto's body flared golden as he shifted into Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. He was ready to tear through the front, brute force if necessary.
Beside him, Zabuza tightened his grip on the great Decapitating Blade, preparing for battle. Temari, though, froze in unease. Among them, she knew she was the weakest—her fan felt pitiful compared to the monsters she now stood with. If it came to a true clash, she might not even be able to help.
Inside the cavern, their enemies stirred.
"They're here." Pain's voice was low and steady. He had already sensed Yamato's squad gathering outside, braced to break in.
"Most likely Konoha shinobi," he added. Though he had seldom crossed paths with Leaf ninja, the vast well of chakra radiating from Naruto was undeniable.
"The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki."
At the mention of the Nine-Tails, Itachi's brow furrowed slightly. He had not expected Haruto to send the Nine-Tails himself to rescue Gaara—especially when Akatsuki's goal of capturing all Tailed Beasts had already been made clear.
"If I recall correctly, Kakuzu and Hidan died at the hands of Leaf shinobi," Kisame said with his usual sardonic drawl.
"Then their timing is perfect," Sasori interjected coldly. "If we secure the Nine-Tails here, only the Eight-Tails at Cloud Valley remains."
"You're right, Sasori-danna! Let me handle the Leaf's Nine-Tails. Yeah!" Deidara's voice rose with manic delight. The thought of harvesting two Tailed Beasts in a single day thrilled him.
"No," Pain said sharply. "First we complete the sealing of Shukaku. Someone only needs to stall them."
Because of Kakuzu and Hidan's deaths, the ritual would take longer. They could not afford distractions.
"We'll go," Itachi said quietly.
"You two still have to deal with the Eight-Tails. Wasting chakra here is unwise." Pain shook his head. He could not risk Itachi and Kisame exhausting themselves before confronting Killer B—the so-called perfect Jinchūriki.
"In that case, let Tobi and me handle it," Konan said suddenly, volunteering before Pain could move himself.