"Alright, Naruto."
"What's done is done. Right now, we need to focus on the present and prepare for the future."
Tsunade looked at Naruto with a serious expression.
"Let's return to Konoha first."
"After everyone has had a chance to rest, I'll send a team to the Hidden Mist Village to search for the Three-Tails."
"You'll be part of that team."
She placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"You risked your life to make that promise."
"So this mission..."
"...must succeed."
"It cannot fail."
Naruto nodded firmly.
"Yes, Grandma Tsunade!"
---
Meanwhile...
The Fourth Raikage and his forces continued pursuing the Akatsuki for a long time.
Unfortunately...
The organization had vanished without leaving a single clue.
Every trail quickly went cold.
With no other choice, the Raikage reluctantly ordered his forces back to Kumogakure.
Losing the Eight-Tails wasn't merely a devastating strategic blow.
To the Fourth Raikage...
He had also lost the younger brother he loved more than anyone else.
Consumed by grief and rage, he officially declared war on the Akatsuki.
The entire Hidden Cloud Village immediately mobilized.
Every available resource was devoted to tracking down the organization's hidden bases.
Even so...
The Raikage still honored the agreement reached during the Five Kage Summit.
Following Tsunade's proposal, he dispatched another team to assist Kirigakure in searching for the Three-Tails before the Akatsuki could capture it.
---
While the Hidden Cloud Village prepared for war...
No one realized that Killer Bee was still alive.
Deep within Unyō Valley...
He had already recovered enough strength to travel.
The Eight-Tails, Gyūki, sighed helplessly.
"Bee..."
"This isn't the time to fool around."
"You need to report back to the Raikage immediately."
Killer Bee shrugged casually.
"Relax, little Hachi."
"It's not easy to enjoy freedom."
"I'm gonna have fun for a few more days, ya fool!"
"If my brother finds out I survived the Akatsuki attack..."
"He'll lock me inside the village forever."
"I'd rather die than spend my whole life under house arrest."
Gyūki groaned.
"The Hidden Cloud Village suffered enormous losses protecting you."
"Are you really going to remain this stubborn?"
Killer Bee grinned.
"Of course I won't let those Akatsuki bastards get away with it."
"I'm not planning to disappear forever."
"I'll play around for a few days..."
"Then I'll head back and tell my brother everything."
Gyūki asked in exasperation,
"And where exactly are you planning to spend these 'few days'?"
"Huh?"
Killer Bee looked surprised.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"I'm going to perform enka!"
"I'll find Teacher A and learn the greatest rap in the world!"
"Ya fool!"
"Ya bastard!"
"Yeah!"
Gyūki fell silent.
"..."
Even after everything that had happened...
Killer Bee still couldn't stop thinking about music.
As ridiculous as it seemed...
For someone who had spent most of his life trapped inside Unyō Valley as a Jinchūriki...
This brief freedom meant everything.
His personality had always been wild.
His fighting style even more so.
Otherwise...
He never would have sacrificed one of Gyūki's tentacles simply to fool the Akatsuki into believing he had been captured.
If the Fourth Raikage ever learned the truth...
He would probably skin Killer Bee alive.
But for now...
Bee simply wanted to enjoy his freedom.
As inappropriate as it was...
Such moments were incredibly rare for any Jinchūriki.
---
Back in Konoha...
A meeting was being held inside the Hokage's office.
Tsunade and Naruto reported everything that had happened during the Five Kage Summit and the battle at Unyō Valley.
Everyone praised Naruto for his contributions.
At the same time...
They were deeply shocked by the overwhelming strength displayed by the Akatsuki.
Nara Shikaku spoke first.
"Hokage-sama..."
"What are your plans from here?"
Tsunade answered immediately.
"The Hidden Cloud Village has divided its forces into two groups."
"One group will continue searching for the Akatsuki's headquarters."
"The other will assist Kirigakure in locating the Three-Tails."
"That decision was made during the Five Kage Summit."
"Konoha will do the same."
She pointed toward the map.
"In addition to searching for the Akatsuki..."
"We'll also cooperate with Sunagakure and Iwagakure to protect the One-Tails Jinchūriki, Gaara."
"Another team will work alongside Kirigakure and Kumogakure to search for the Three-Tails."
"In other words..."
"We'll divide our forces into three separate operations."
Jiraiya laughed.
"Leave the search for the Akatsuki to me."
"No one is more suited to this mission than I am."
Tsunade frowned.
"I agree."
"But you must be extremely careful."
"Even if you discover the Akatsuki..."
"Do not engage them alone."
"Report back immediately."
"We'll prepare a proper strategy before taking action."
Jiraiya waved dismissively.
"Relax."
"I'm not some reckless rookie."
"I know what I'm doing."
Naruto looked unconvinced.
"Perverted Sage..."
"Grandma Tsunade is right."
"Don't try to be a hero."
Jiraiya looked offended.
"Naruto..."
"Even you're lecturing me now?"
Naruto shook his head.
"I'm not lecturing you."
"I'm worried about you."
Jiraiya laughed loudly.
"I know."
"I know."
"I'm Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin."
"The White-Haired Sage of Mount Myōboku."
"The man who can stop crying children in the middle of the night."
"And yet somehow..."
"All of you think I'm unreliable."
Tsunade ignored the joke.
"Jiraiya."
"Who are you taking with you?"
"I can assign several elite ANBU to accompany you."
Jiraiya shook his head.
"I only need Kakashi."
"We've investigated Orochimaru's hideouts together before."
"We already understand each other's fighting styles."
"Our teamwork is the best."
Tsunade nodded.
"Very well."
Naruto finally relaxed.
With Kakashi accompanying Jiraiya...
He felt much more at ease.
---
Tsunade continued assigning missions.
"Asuma."
"Might Guy."
"You'll each lead your respective teams and head toward Sunagakure."
The two immediately nodded.
"Understood."
Guy flashed his trademark smile.
"Leave it to us, Hokage-sama!"
Tsunade then turned toward Naruto.
"As for the Hidden Mist Village..."
"Naruto, you'll definitely be going."
"Sasuke and Hinata will accompany you."
She looked toward Yamato.
"Captain Yamato."
"Team 11 will provide support."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Finally, she looked at Kurenai.
"Kurenai."
"You and Team 8 will remain behind to protect the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Fū."
"Understood."
After finishing every assignment, Tsunade took a deep breath.
"Naruto."
"Don't forget."
"Searching for the Three-Tails isn't only about protecting another Tailed Beast."
"It also concerns the promise you made to the Nine-Tails with your own life."
"Take this mission seriously."
Naruto's expression became determined.
"Yes!"
"I understand, Grandma Tsunade!"
He immediately turned toward Yamato.
"Captain Yamato!"
"Let's get moving!"
Yamato smiled.
"Let's go."
---
Soon afterward...
Naruto reunited with his new team.
Since Kakashi had departed with Jiraiya...
Naruto naturally became Team 7's acting leader.
His team consisted of:
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Hinata.
Together, they possessed tremendous combat power.
Yamato's Team 11 consisted of:
Yamato.
Karin.
Jūgo.
Sai.
Each possessed highly specialized abilities.
More importantly...
Both teams excelled at reconnaissance.
Naruto's Wind Sage abilities.
Hinata's Byakugan.
Sasuke's Sharingan.
Karin's Kagura Mind's Eye.
Jūgo's ability to communicate with animals.
Sai's aerial reconnaissance.
Together...
They formed an exceptionally powerful search force.
Naruto couldn't hide his excitement.
"Everyone!"
"Prepare to move out!"
Hinata blinked curiously.
"Naruto-kun..."
"Why are you so excited?"
Naruto grinned.
"As long as we protect the Three-Tails..."
"I'll finally make peace with the Nine-Tails."
"Then the Perverted Sage promised he'll teach me his strongest technique!"
"My strength will increase dramatically!"
"When that happens..."
"Helping Sasuke defeat Itachi won't be a problem anymore!"
"And becoming Hokage..."
"...will only be a matter of time!"
"Hahaha!"
Although Sasuke appreciated Naruto's sincerity...
His sharp tongue remained unchanged.
"Hmph."
"That's assuming you actually manage to protect the Three-Tails."
Hinata looked worried.
"But..."
"What if the Akatsuki attacks with all of its members?"
Naruto shook his head.
"I don't think they will."
"We can't possibly be that unlucky twice..."
Hearing that, Hinata looked even more worried.
"Naruto-kun..."
"The Akatsuki used to operate from the shadows."
"They always acted in small teams."
"But now..."
"Thanks to Jiraiya-sama's intelligence, the Five Great Nations are prepared."
"They only have two choices left."
"They either remain hidden and wait..."
"Or..."
"If they decide to move..."
"They'll attack with everything they have."
"I don't think they'll continue using only two-man teams."
Naruto nodded.
"You're right."
"But..."
"We don't have the luxury of retreating anymore."
"If the Akatsuki truly comes with everything they've got..."
"Then we'll simply fight to the very end."
Captain Yamato nodded thoughtfully.
"The situation is slightly different from the Eight-Tails."
"The location and timing of the Three-Tails' resurrection remain unknown."
"The Akatsuki certainly wants it..."
"But until they discover its exact location..."
"They're unlikely to commit all of their forces."
"They'll probably continue sending search teams first."
Sai spoke calmly.
"If every Akatsuki member is as dangerous as Orochimaru and Itachi..."
"Then we should prepare for the worst."
"We must also accept the possibility..."
"...that all of us may die."
Yamato frowned slightly.
Sai had once been Danzo Shimura's trusted subordinate.
Although Danzo had been stripped of his authority and placed under investigation...
Many Root operatives still remained loyal to him.
Even Yamato couldn't tell whether Sai had completely abandoned Danzo.
Besides...
Sai's words were simply too grim.
Karin immediately frowned.
"Sai."
"Can't you say something a little more encouraging?"
Sai remained expressionless.
"I'm only stating the facts."
His gaze shifted toward Naruto.
"Especially you."
Naruto simply laughed.
"Haha!"
"If I die..."
"Then I die."
"The Akatsuki has always been hunting me."
"I accepted that a long time ago."
"Besides..."
"If I can't save the Three-Tails..."
"My promise to the Nine-Tails will be meaningless."
"I've already decided."
"I'll bet everything."
"No matter what happens..."
"It's all or nothing!"
Sai's usually emotionless face changed slightly.
"...You're really not afraid of death?"
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