Itachi's sudden attack didn't surprise Nagato.
Asking Itachi, the super-protective older brother, to just stand by and watch his younger brother get killed by Ōnoki was clearly impossible.
Besides, before they left, Nagato had already promised Itachi, allowing him to save Sasuke when he was in danger.
In any case, Nagato didn't really care about Sasuke's life or death.
The important thing was that until now, Black Zetsu still hadn't appeared?
Wasn't Sasuke Zetsu's last hope to realize the Eye of the Moon Plan?
Would that cunning being willingly watch Sasuke get killed by Ōnoki?
Wait... It wasn't that he wanted to see Sasuke die, but he was forced to watch Sasuke get killed by Ōnoki!
Nagato had been overestimating this millennia-old cunning being all along!
Black Zetsu didn't not want to save him, but he didn't dare to appear!
Now he was all alone, with a few Zetsu and Kisame's spy.
Where would he get the extra strength to save Sasuke?
Especially with the Raikage and Tsuchikage still intact.
If Zetsu dared to appear now; not only would he fail to save Sasuke, he himself could also be killed!
No wonder even though Sasuke was almost dead, he didn't dare to appear...
"Alright... In that case, let's change the plan."
"Itachi, you take Sasuke and Naruto away."
"Sasori, Deidara, prepare to act!"
Nagato quickly gave orders, preparing to execute a new plan, simultaneously marking the official debut of Akatsuki "underworld."
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"Who?!?"
Ōnoki carried Kurotsuchi, hovering in the air, looking towards the dry forest, but found no enemy.
"Chakra concealed? Hiding behind a seal?"
"Reinforcements from Akatsuki? Are there still other Uchiha ninjas in the world?"
Ōnoki was confused, unable to imagine who else could use Susano'o.
But as he hesitated...
*SWOOSH!*
Three Susano'o arrows and two Yasaka no Magatama shot from the forest, again heading towards Ōnoki!
"Again?!?"
Ōnoki dodged clumsily, but Itachi's attacks were clearly more experienced and tinged with revenge for his younger brother;
Five consecutive attacks almost closed off all of Ōnoki's escape routes, forcing him to use Earth Release to create a defensive stone golem.
*BOOM!*
The more powerful Yasaka no Magatama exploded, shattering the stone golem and sending Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi flying...
Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi fell to the ground, rolling several times, extremely embarrassing. But as soon as he landed, Ōnoki immediately used Earth Release to create a defensive trench, hiding with Kurotsuchi to prevent further attacks.
After that lesson, Itachi's attacks stopped; he didn't attack Ōnoki again.
Hitting the Tsuchikage once was enough; killing him with long-range attacks wasn't that easy.
This sudden attack also stopped the fight between Sasuke and the others.
Sensing Itachi's familiar chakra, Sasuke immediately stopped fighting the Raikage; activated his Susano'o and ran towards the forest, trying to find the "savior" he suspected was Itachi.
The Raikage wouldn't let him. He didn't care about the other Kage. He only wanted to know the whereabouts of his younger brother Killer B, and Sasuke was the only one who knew.
He wouldn't let him go!
Raikage A immediately gave chase.
Sasuke saw the Raikage still chasing him, immediately drew his Susano'o bow, aimed at the Raikage's two bodyguards, and fired an arrow.
Without Gaara's sand for wide-area defense, almost everyone was vulnerable to Susano'o's arrow attacks.
"Bastard!"
The Raikage growled; he could ignore others, but there was no way he wouldn't save his two men.
Darui and C couldn't avoid the full-power Susano'o arrow, and Sasuke deliberately didn't use Enton: Kagutsuchi no Ya, just a regular arrow.
His goal was to force the Raikage to retreat to defend.
Just as expected.
To save Darui and C, Raikage A was forced to use his speed, standing in front of them and blocking the arrow with his Lightning Armor.
This arrow wouldn't kill the Raikage, but it was enough to stop him.
After restraining the Raikage, Sasuke became even more impatient to reach the forest, his mind filled only with his beloved "Big Brother."
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"Sasuke!"
Seeing Sasuke leave, Naruto also shouted.
Unfortunately, with Susano'o and Amaterasu, Naruto couldn't stop him, only able to watch Sasuke enter the forest. But Naruto wouldn't give up and immediately chased after him.
Before leaving, Naruto made two clones, heading towards Gaara.
Although his mind was filled with Sasuke, his friendship with Gaara still existed, so he had to check on him.
Naruto's clones arrived beside the scorched Gaara.
Kankurō and Temari, who were guarding Gaara, were clearly unhappy to see Naruto.
If it weren't for Naruto constantly protecting Sasuke, Gaara wouldn't be dying like this!
That Kirin attack earlier, if not for Gaara's double defense, the others would have been dead.
Sasuke showed no mercy at all!
"Gaara, he...?"
"Not dead yet! No need to pretend to care..."
"I'm sorry, but Sakura can use medical ninjutsu! I'm bringing him for treatment!"
Naruto's clone pushed past Kankurō, picked up the dying Gaara, and immediately returned to the fortress to find Sakura.
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Meanwhile, inside the fortress, the battle was over.
Karin had been captured by Sai and Yamato;
Suigetsu, who escaped Kamui with Suika no Jutsu, secretly turned into liquid and fled through a crack in the ground.
Juugo, with the power of his curse mark, defeated Hokage bodyguard Aburame Torune; but his arm was damaged by nano-insects, forcing him to cut it off himself and try to escape.
Seeing this, Danzo, who had only been observing, finally acted.
He couldn't fight Susano'o, but at least he could defeat Juugo, right?
If he let an enemy who had defeated his bodyguard escape, where would his authority as the new Hokage be?
And the severely injured Juugo was clearly no match for Danzo!
Two Wind Release techniques later, Juugo died on the spot!
"Hmph! Self-unaware."
Danzo, who hadn't participated in the high-level battle, after killing Juugo, arrogantly spat. Then he turned to Sakura:
"Haruno Sakura, right? Treat Torune. You must know the Aburame clan's secret techniques; don't touch his body."
"Yes, I will treat him..."
Sakura replied confusedly.
Although very worried about Sasuke and Naruto outside, the Hokage's orders couldn't be refused; she began to treat Torune.
"Hokage-sama, this is the last prisoner."
Yamato and Sai brought Karin, bound by Wood Release, before Danzo.
"Good, one living prisoner is enough."
"There are no other enemies around. Hokage-sama, I want to help Kakashi..."
Yamato requested permission again.
But Danzo immediately refused: "You two stay by my side; the battle outside is not your concern."
"The Raikage, Kazekage, Mizukage are all fighting; Konoha must not become enemies with all of them."
"Prioritize the village's interests, understand?"
Danzo spoke grandly, knowing the situation was already beyond his control.
Sasuke was important, but he wouldn't become enemies with Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure just for Sasuke.
Besides, with Torune injured, he needed bodyguards—or sacrifices—by his side.
As for matters outside, leave it to Fuu.
Even if Sasuke was killed, he could take his Mangekyou Sharingan later...