Before the others could react, Naruto created a Shadow Clone using his Sharingan.
"What is it, Boss? I'm ready to go," said the clone with an even brighter grin.
Naruto chuckled. "Can you turn off the Sharingan to save chakra?" The clone obeyed.
Pumping his fist in victory, Naruto turned to the others. "We need to head to the mainland of the Land of Fire now. Once we arrive, I'll make another clone and send it back to Konoha, heading straight for the Naka Shrine Pass Technique. There, it will use its Sharingan to scan everything it sees before vanishing. Hopefully, it finds something useful for us. It'll have half my chakra and complete its mission quickly before disappearing. If it makes it there, it should last long enough for me to get what I need."
"What if it gets injured and disappears on the way?" Maki asked anxiously.
Naruto replied firmly, "That's a risk I have to take. Besides, if I really can't hold on anymore, I trust both of you to get me to Kumogakure before I pass out. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, and my clone holds out until I arrive. I don't have time to hesitate between going to Kumogakure or Konoha—I have to handle both."
He took another step forward, determination sharpening in his eyes. "Alright then, let's move out toward Kumogakure. We've still got plenty to do. This isn't over—not by any stretch."
Sai and Maki exchanged glances and silently fell into step behind him.
******
As soon as Itachi could move, he left immediately.
Kisame had been sent by Madara to pick him up. But seeing tears silently streaming down Itachi's cheeks as he followed quietly behind, Kisame didn't say a word.
They left, but three people remained behind—those who had once been Sasuke's teammates.
Suigetsu seethed with rage. He had finally gotten his hands on the Fangs of Lightning, bringing him closer than ever to achieving his dream of collecting all seven legendary ninja swords.
He didn't even know where the others were now—and neither did anyone else.
Just when his dream was within reach, Team Naruto had taken the Cleaver Sword from him, just as Madara had predicted. Now, reaching his goal of defeating Kisame and seizing the few remaining blades he knew the location of felt even more distant.
Suigetsu would never forgive them, nor himself—for being such cowards.
Jugo grew more unstable. First, years ago, Naruto killed the only close friend he had ever had—Kimimaro. And now, Naruto had taken away the only person Jugo truly trusted—Sasuke, the continuation of Kimimaro's spirit.
Now, no one could contain him anymore. He didn't know how much longer his willpower could hold. If he truly lost control, he would comfort himself with this thought—he'd try as hard as Sasuke had once done for him, to suppress the urge.
He would endure, for as long as it took to find Naruto…
And then, he would unleash every ounce of his murderous intent, pouring all that mindless killing intent directly onto Naruto—the very curse he had fought so hard to escape.
If there's anyone in this world who deserves such a fate, it's Naruto. He will make it happen.
Since learning about Sasuke's fate, Karin had been grieving uncontrollably.
Ever since Madara told her what happened to Sasuke, she hadn't stopped crying.
He claimed she wouldn't want to see what Naruto had done to Sasuke, but in reality, he simply wanted to prevent her from discovering that Itachi now possessed Sasuke's eyes. He couldn't let this girl go searching for Itachi and try to rip Sasuke's eyes from his head.
To Karin, Naruto must die. Everyone close to Naruto must die. When she finally confronted him, she would gouge out his eyes—the way she'd heard from Madara, just as Naruto had done to Sasuke.
At the very least, this was the one thing she could do for her departed lover.
Now, they stood before Madara Uchiha.
They all wore black cloaks adorned with red cloud patterns—the signature garb of Akatsuki members.
"You all have chances to make Naruto suffer… but none of you are ready yet."
As he saw all three brimming with rage, Madara activated his lone visible Sharingan and cast a calming genjutsu on Jugo to soothe him. Then suddenly, he continued,
"But you will be ready. In the meantime, I have a mission for you. Do you want to know who granted Naruto the power rivaling Sasuke's dojutsu, allowing him to kill him?"
"Who?" Karin snarled. "I'll rip their heart out myself!"
Madara felt satisfied with how things were unfolding, despite Sasuke's death.
Now, he had gained three more members for the Akatsuki.
"Find Kabuto Yakushi. You should all be familiar with that man, right?" He noticed Suigetsu's expression mirroring Karin's anger before they followed Jugo out.
Yes, now he had three more pawns to manipulate as he pleased.
He should make time to thank Naruto the next time they met… right before extracting the Nine-Tails from him.
******
Since hearing of Sasuke's death, Itachi hadn't stopped crying, his eyes still swathed in bandages.
He was far from regaining his peak condition, though his body moved as if nothing were wrong.
Kisame decided not to disturb him until Itachi spoke first.
"Kisame," Itachi suddenly said, "even if you know my goal, will you still remain loyal to me?"
Kisame let out a mocking chuckle, although Itachi couldn't see it.
"You've always been honest with me, Mr. Itachi. And you're someone who can see through lies—likely because your eyes are that sharp."
Itachi ignored Kisame's remark and continued walking silently.
"You're wrong, Kisame," he finally spoke. "I only see what I wish to see—merely more than others perceive. And the only light I ever wished to see was Sasuke. Now, that light has gone out."
He touched the tightly wrapped bandages covering his eyes. "I'm trapped in the darkness I created myself, led around by its creator."
He knew there was no escape—he'd been backed into a corner by Madara.
He would never have the chance to carry out his former threat—to expose Konoha's secrets to all the ninja villages, the alliances built on falsehoods, and the meticulously orchestrated plans behind every major event from the past three years involving Naruto, bound together with unbreakable methods.
For Itachi, the only reason to keep living was to achieve his ultimate goal.
He didn't care about Konoha; in the grand scheme, Konoha itself was not entirely at fault. But there was one man who had to die.
"Danzo will fall by my hand. I will avenge my clan..." He mused, his eyes shifting toward another person who must vanish—only then would peace become possible.
"And Naruto... you will come to know true pain. Now I will forever carry the curse of slaughtering my clan, and the unbearable guilt of failing to protect my younger brother, as he died before my eyes. I will make you suffer, Naruto."
"Kisame," Itachi said to his partner, "We are heading to Sunagakure. It is time we moved out."
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