After awakening the Rinnegan, Richard had mastered virtually all its techniques, except for specialized ocular abilities like Heavenly Hand Power and Limbo: Border Jail.
Among the techniques he'd mastered was the Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons.
Though he understood this jutsu, he'd never employed it.
The reason was straightforward: the Nine Phantom Dragons required multiple users to activate the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and seal a Tailed Beast from its Jinchūriki into the statue.
As a solitary operator, Richard couldn't utilize this technique despite knowing it.
When Pakkun returned with intelligence about Sasori's location in the Land of Rivers, Richard and the others prepared to depart.
Seeking to both rescue Gaara and reunite with her grandson, Chiyo—as in the original timeline—joined their expedition.
Kakashi, Guy, and the others welcomed Chiyo's participation.
Though they'd never engaged her in combat, they recognized her reputation as Sunagakure's former premier puppeteer.
While a puppeteer's control abilities typically deteriorated with age, this decline affected them less than close-combat specialists.
Moreover, with advancing years, a puppeteer's experience deepened.
In other words, elderly puppeteers often proved more formidable than their younger counterparts.
Chiyo and Kankuro exemplified this principle.
Like Temari, Chiyo temporarily attached herself to Team 7, operating alongside Kakashi, Sai, and Sakura.
Richard, meanwhile, continued his independent approach.
After leaving Sunagakure, they proceeded directly toward the Akatsuki hideout Pakkun had discovered.
Since Gaara had been captive for three days, everyone except Richard pushed their travel pace to maximum speed.
As they neared the Akatsuki base, the extraction of Shukaku reached its final stage.
The Land of Rivers lay between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, less than half a day's journey from Sunagakure.
While Kakashi and the others maintained high alert, Richard—flying overhead—preserved his composure.
Even without his intervention, Kakashi and Guy possessed sufficient strength to defeat Sasori and Deidara.
Though both Akatsuki members qualified as powerful S-rank ninja, neither particularly intrigued Richard.
His interest focused solely on Obito, disguised as Tobi.
In the original timeline, Obito hadn't participated in Shukaku's capture, nor had he confronted Kakashi's team during Gaara's rescue.
Now, however, Obito had not only joined in capturing the One-Tail but would likely engage Kakashi's forces.
Barring further deviations, Obito presumably waited at the Land of Rivers hideout.
Though Richard couldn't discern why Obito, masquerading as Tobi, had involved himself in Shukaku's capture, his intuition suggested Obito had concealed motives.
Nothing else would have prompted Obito's participation.
Land of Rivers. Akatsuki Hideout.
"Ten individuals approach our location at high velocity," White Zetsu reported to Pain, Konan, and the others. "Richard leads them, accompanied by seven Konoha shinobi and two Suna ninja."
Upon hearing this intelligence, Pain, Konan, and the other members performing the Nine Phantom Dragons sealing technique frowned in concern.
Excluding Orochimaru, who had abandoned the organization, only Nagato and Konan had personally encountered Richard among the current Akatsuki members.
The others had merely heard his name over the past three years without facing him directly.
To be precise, they'd never even seen him.
"Richard isn't affiliated with Konoha. Why would he participate in the One-Tail Jinchūriki's rescue?" Nagato asked through Pain's body.
"From my understanding, he maintains good relations with the Fifth Hokage. She likely requested his assistance," Itachi promptly replied.
Though he'd defected from Konoha and joined Akatsuki, Itachi regularly monitored developments in his former village.
"I've heard he established a private firm in Konoha accepting outside commissions. Perhaps the Fifth Hokage contracted his services," Kisame added immediately after Itachi concluded.
As Itachi's partner, Kisame held a unique trust and respect for him.
Though their initial relationship upon joining Akatsuki had been strained—nearly erupting into conflict over disagreements—their partnership had steadily improved over time.
"Which shinobi has Konoha deployed?" Nagato inquired through Pain.
"Kakashi and Might Guy lead their respective teams," Black Zetsu answered. "I don't recognize the newest member of Team 7 and can't confirm their identity."
Though Neji and Rock Lee lacked widespread fame, Zetsu still identified them.
Within Akatsuki, Zetsu primarily handled reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Whether regarding Neji and Rock Lee or rookies from the other Hidden Villages, his knowledge remained comprehensive.
As for Sai, Zetsu failed to recognize him simply because Sai had previously operated exclusively within Root, rarely appearing publicly under his true identity.
"Sealing the One-Tail requires additional time. Who will intercept them?" Pain's voice emerged again.
Though they currently employed the Nine Phantom Dragons to seal Shukaku, only Sasori and Deidara physically occupied the Land of Rivers hideout among their members.
Obito, disguised as Tobi, had been expelled from the base by Sasori and Deidara due to his unofficial status within Akatsuki.
Superficially, they had driven out the chattering, unofficial Tobi.
In reality, even without their prompting, Obito would have manufactured a reason to depart.
He had no interest in idly observing Sasori and Deidara seal Shukaku for three days.
Though he could have participated, he had declined.
His current persona was Tobi—an aspiring Akatsuki recruit—not Madara Uchiha.
"Since they represent Konoha, Kisame and I will handle this," Itachi volunteered.
Though he'd never met Richard, Itachi harbored significant antipathy toward him.
More precisely, upon learning that Richard had directed Sasuke to Orochimaru as a student, Itachi—obsessively protective of his younger brother—had developed intense resentment toward Richard.
Had Sasuke independently sought Orochimaru's tutelage, Itachi would have accepted it as Sasuke's personal choice.
However, Sasuke had approached Orochimaru because of Richard's influence.
From Itachi's perspective, Richard had effectively delivered Sasuke to Orochimaru—who had long coveted the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.
"Very well. You two will manage this situation," Nagato confirmed through Pain.
Though he recognized that even Itachi and Kisame together couldn't defeat Richard, they needn't achieve victory—merely delay Richard's team temporarily.
After instructing Sasori to prepare two sacrifices, Nagato immediately performed the Shapeshifting Technique, transferring portions of Itachi and Kisame's chakra into the sacrifices.
As the Shapeshifting Technique activated, Sasori's subordinates transformed into perfect replicas of Itachi and Kisame.
Beyond identical appearances, they also replicated Itachi and Kisame's abilities.
Whether Itachi's Sharingan or Kisame's massive sword Samehada, the Shapeshifting Technique perfectly simulated these features.
Moreover, Itachi and Kisame directly controlled these duplicates with their consciousness.
Once Pain completed the Shapeshifting Technique, creating puppets under their complete control, Itachi and Kisame directed these vessels from the hideout.
In the forest several kilometers from the Akatsuki hideout, "Itachi" and "Kisame" materialized before Richard's team.
Upon spotting them, Kakashi immediately heightened his vigilance, restraining Guy and the others from impulsive action.
When Itachi and Kisame had previously infiltrated Konoha, they hadn't directly engaged Kakashi or Guy's forces.
Though no such confrontation had occurred in the original timeline, seeing "Itachi" now, Kakashi recognized the impending battle's gravity.
Before Itachi's "defection," he and Kakashi had served together in Anbu.
Not only had they jointly protected the Third Hokage, but they had also collaborated on missions safeguarding Guy.
Compared to Guy and the others, Kakashi possessed superior insight into Itachi's capabilities.
During their Anbu service, Itachi—nine years his junior—had demonstrated strength rivaling Kakashi's own.
And during the Uchiha clan massacre, Itachi had revealed power far exceeding Kakashi's.
Though Kakashi remained vigilant and earnestly cautioned Guy and the others, he still underestimated Itachi in this moment.
Kakashi remained unaware that Itachi commanded the devastating genjutsu Tsukuyomi, and had no knowledge of Itachi's Susanoo.
After warning Guy and the team, Kakashi raised his headband to reveal his Sharingan.
He then initiated the attack, channeling Lightning Blade as he charged Itachi directly.
Richard understood Kakashi's strategy—end the confrontation swiftly to protect Sakura and Neji from injury.
However, Itachi's current abilities exceeded all expectations.
Before reaching Itachi, Kakashi fell victim to Tsukuyomi.
Despite his vigilance against Itachi's genjutsu, Tsukuyomi transcended ordinary illusions.
Without any resistance, Kakashi found himself immediately dragged into Tsukuyomi's domain.
Itachi showed no mercy, subjecting Kakashi to severe torture within Tsukuyomi's realm for three days and nights.
For Kakashi, these three days would remain eternally scarred into his memory.
From Richard's external perspective, Kakashi—mid-Lightning Blade—suddenly collapsed before even reaching Itachi, his legs failing beneath him.
Only Richard, Itachi, and Kisame comprehended what Itachi had inflicted upon Kakashi.
Witnessing his "eternal rival" Kakashi defeated through inexplicable means, Guy unhesitatingly activated the Eight Gates.
Itachi and Kisame didn't passively observe Guy's power-up.
As Guy accessed the Eight Gates, they launched simultaneous assaults.
Numerically, Guy's team possessed overwhelming advantage.
Yet the battlefield reality proved one-sided.
Except for the veteran Chiyo and formidable Guy, everyone—Sakura, Sai, Temari, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten—found themselves outmatched by Itachi and Kisame's attacks.
Shortly thereafter, Sakura, Tenten, and the others either succumbed to Itachi's genjutsu or suffered from Kisame's water-style techniques.
"The gap is too vast," Richard sighed, hovering above.
Though these Itachi and Kisame were merely puppets created through the Shapeshifting Technique, possessing only 30% of their original chakra, they still overwhelmed Sakura and the others.
Even Guy and Chiyo, forced to protect their teammates, couldn't employ their full capabilities.
After observing from above briefly, Richard descended onto the lake Kisame had created with his water jutsu.
"Bullying children doesn't befit adults. Allow me to entertain you two instead," Richard declared, standing atop the water.
Upon making eye contact, Itachi immediately deployed Tsukuyomi, attempting to draw Richard's consciousness into its domain.
An instant later, disbelief overtook Itachi's expression.
Tsukuyomi had failed!
Itachi stared at Richard incredulously.
"Don't seem so shocked. Tsukuyomi is merely genjutsu, after all," Richard remarked calmly.
"You excel at illusions. You should understand their fundamental limitation—genjutsu cannot affect those whose spiritual fortitude far exceeds the caster's."
"And my spirit and will vastly surpass what you imagine."
In the original timeline, Tsukuyomi's effectiveness bordered on absolute.
Yet Tsukuyomi wasn't truly invincible.
More accurately, the Naruto world's inhabitants simply lacked sufficient spiritual resistance, granting Tsukuyomi near-perfect effectiveness.
Recognizing Tsukuyomi's failure, Itachi deduced that Richard's spiritual fortitude exceeded Tsukuyomi's threshold.
Though perplexed by Richard's extraordinary mental resilience, Itachi wasted no time, immediately activating his Mangekyō Sharingan's second technique—Amaterasu.
As Amaterasu manifested, black flames materialized from nothing.
Before they could reach Richard, however, he vanished from Itachi's sight.
"I predicted correctly. After Tsukuyomi's failure, Amaterasu would follow," Richard's voice emerged behind Itachi.
"My assessment was accurate."
Hearing Richard's voice, Itachi whirled around, attempting to create distance.
In that moment, Richard activated his Rinnegan, raising his right hand toward both Itachi and Kisame.
Almighty Push!
Without hesitation, he unleashed Almighty Push.
The devastating repulsive force instantly propelled Itachi and Kisame dozens of meters backward.
Richard had deliberately restrained his power.
Otherwise, they would have suffered far worse than mere displacement.
"Did Pain inform you of our confrontation three years ago?" Richard asked Itachi and Kisame.