Inside the Akatsuki base, Pain's Rinnegan had already detected Naruto and his group's arrival.
But they were too late.
"With that, the sealing of the One-Tail is complete."
"Congratulations."
The figures of the Akatsuki members shimmered faintly with colored light. This was Pain's Surface Layer Concealment Technique, a Rinnegan ability that allowed the Akatsuki members to project their consciousness to a single location. Through it, they could communicate and even perform certain Ninjutsu together.
Since the Akatsuki members were scattered across different locations, this technique was the only way they could collectively use the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path: Nine Phantom Dragons Seal to extract and seal a Tailed Beast.
Pain's real body had never left the main hideout.
Kakuzu, Tobi, and Zetsu had gone to the Hidden Mist Village to lure out and capture the Three-Tails.
Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara, and later Konan had led the mission to capture the One-Tail in the Hidden Sand Village.
Only these few members were physically present.
Everyone else had merely projected their consciousness.
That was why Neji's Byakugan couldn't detect their true bodies.
Tobi stretched lazily.
"Ah... staying still for two or three days is exhausting."
"I'm glad it's finally over."
Pain nodded.
"There are a few troublesome people outside."
"I'll leave them to you."
As soon as he finished speaking, his projection disappeared.
Moments later, Tobi and Zetsu vanished as well.
The enormous Gedo Statue, whose terrifying chakra Neji had sensed, slowly opened another eye before disappearing in a cloud of white smoke.
The remaining Akatsuki members calmly walked past the bodies lying on the ground.
There lay Gaara.
The One-Tail had already been extracted from his body.
His life had ended, and his lifeless body had been discarded like trash.
Gaara was dead.
A strange gleam flashed through Kisame's eyes before he smiled wickedly.
"So, the Transformed Body Clone failed."
"It seems Iwagakure's Kitsuchi is quite talented."
Konan spoke coldly.
"My transformed clone was also destroyed by the Konoha shinobi."
"But the One-Tail has already been sealed."
"Nothing else matters."
"You may stay and fight... or retreat."
"The choice is yours."
Clearly, Konan had no interest in battle.
Paper wings unfolded behind her, transforming her into an angel of paper as she silently flew away.
Kisame looked toward Itachi.
"Mr. Itachi, your little brother is outside."
"How about another family reunion?"
Itachi calmly shook his head.
"I'm not interested."
He turned to leave as well.
Kisame shrugged.
"What a shame."
"I was looking forward to fighting Might Guy and Naruto."
"But if you're leaving, I'll come too."
Deidara looked at Sasori.
"Leaving already?"
Sasori nodded.
"I still have someone I intend to kill."
"You don't need to wait for me."
"I don't like waiting for others, nor do I like others waiting for me."
Deidara smiled.
"Fair enough."
"I'll have a little chat with those people outside."
Sasori walked away without looking back.
"Do as you please."
"But don't underestimate them."
"Otherwise..."
"You'll die."
Deidara laughed confidently.
"My art exists only for a fleeting moment."
"Death itself is the ultimate expression of art."
"Hmm."
---
As the Akatsuki completed the sealing ritual and prepared to retreat, Naruto burst into the base with Team Guy and Sasuke.
Filled with overwhelming rage and grief, he smashed through the entrance.
The first thing he saw...
...was Gaara's lifeless body lying on the ground.
It looked like a broken puppet that had been carelessly discarded.
"Gaara!!"
A storm of grief, fury, and despair swept through Naruto.
His entire body trembled violently.
Although he had promised not to rely on the Nine-Tails' power, the overwhelming emotions resonated with Kurama's chakra.
The Nine-Tails' chakra began leaking from Naruto's body.
Sasuke and the members of Team Guy were equally furious.
They had arrived...
One step too late.
Neji activated his Byakugan and quickly surveyed the area.
"Besides the person still here, everyone else has already dispersed."
"Strange..."
"One of those chakra signatures belongs to the Akatsuki member we fought earlier..."
"Sasori of the Red Sand."
"He's heading toward Hinata and Lady Chiyo."
Tenten immediately understood.
"So the one we fought before was only a clone."
"The real Sasori is going to continue his battle with Hinata and Lady Chiyo."
Neji nodded.
"There's another chakra moving away at incredible speed."
"We probably can't catch it."
"But two powerful chakra signatures are still nearby."
"If we leave now..."
Sasuke's expression changed instantly.
"Whose chakra?"
Neji hesitated before answering.
"One belongs to Kisame Hoshigaki."
"The other..."
"...is Itachi Uchiha."
The moment Sasuke heard Itachi's name, all reason vanished.
Without another word, he shot forward at full speed.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto clutched Gaara's body, his heart breaking.
But when he saw Sasuke recklessly chasing Itachi, he instinctively tried to follow.
Before he could move—
Deidara blocked his path.
"So..."
"You're the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki from Konoha."
"Perfect."
"I'll capture you too."
"Then the Akatsuki's mission will nearly be complete."
"Hmm."
Naruto stared after Sasuke's disappearing figure before turning back toward Deidara.
His fists clenched so tightly they trembled.
"Damn it..."
"Bushy Brows Sensei!"
"Please go help Sasuke!"
"He still can't defeat Itachi!"
"And Kisame is with him!"
Guy immediately nodded.
"Understood!"
Rock Lee hesitated.
"But Naruto..."
"Will you really be alright alone?"
Naruto's eyes burned with murderous fury.
"I'm fine."
"I'll kill this bastard..."
"...and avenge Gaara."
Neji spoke firmly.
"Naruto is stronger than any of us."
"Instead of worrying about him, we'd better catch up with Sasuke and return as quickly as possible."
Lee nodded.
"Naruto..."
"Be careful!"
"We'll return as soon as we've helped Sasuke!"
Naruto simply nodded.
Moments later, Team Guy rushed off after Sasuke.
Only Naruto and Deidara remained inside the Akatsuki base.
Watching everyone leave, Deidara smiled brightly.
"Well..."
"Nine-Tails brat."
"Are you really alright all by yourself?"
"Watching the One-Tail Jinchūriki die right in front of you..."
"Aren't you afraid you'll be next?"
Naruto's fists trembled.
His voice shook with rage.
"What..."
"...did you do to Gaara?"
Deidara smiled arrogantly.
"What did we do?"
"Nothing special."
"We simply extracted the Tailed Beast."
"Whether he lived or died afterward wasn't our concern."
"Hmm."
Naruto exploded with rage.
"Give Gaara back!"
Deidara burst into laughter.
"How naïve."
"The dead don't come back to life."
"What's the point of shouting?"
"But you won't be screaming for much longer."
"I'll capture you..."
"...and hand you over to the organization."
"Then no one will ever question my art again."
"Hmm."
Naruto slowly raised his head.
His eyes blazed with fury.
"Then let's see."
"Every one of you..."
"...will pay for this with your blood."
Although Deidara deliberately provoked Naruto, he wasn't careless.
He knew Naruto had already defeated Hidan and Kakuzu.
This wasn't an opponent he could underestimate.
Precisely because of that...
Driving Naruto into a blind rage was the smartest strategy.
Just as he expected, Naruto's emotions erupted.
His face twisted with fury as crimson Nine-Tails chakra slowly leaked from his body.
Deidara frowned.
"So..."
"This is the Nine-Tails' chakra."
"It's far more terrifying than I imagined..."
Yet despite everything...
Naruto still had no intention of relying on the Nine-Tails' power.
________________________________________
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