With Kankuro's condition finally stabilized, the Konoha and Sunagakure teams sat down together to discuss how to retrieve Gaara.
Inside the meeting room, Kakashi said,
"I've already released my ninken to track Gaara's scent. We should be getting information back soon."
However, not long after Kakashi spoke, his talking ninken, Pakkun, returned with news.
Kakashi's expression turned grim as he explained,
"Pakkun says the Akatsuki took Gaara to the Land of Rivers."
"But he hasn't pinpointed the exact location yet."
Might Guy immediately jumped to his feet, shouting excitedly,
"In that case, there's no time to waste! Let's move out right away!"
"I'm going with you! Sasori of the Red Sand is my grandson—I'm bringing him back to Sunagakure with my own hands!"
Chiyo stood up firmly.
"I'm coming too," Temari said, standing as well, worry clear in her voice.
On the other side, the Konoha shinobi exchanged glances with the Sunagakure higher-ups, who looked hesitant and conflicted...
...
One hour later.
Outside Sunagakure.
In the vast, endless desert, the shinobi heading out to rescue Gaara gathered together.
The team consisted of Konoha's Might Guy and Kakashi's squad, and from Sunagakure… only Chiyo.
Naruto frowned and muttered in frustration,
"Seriously? We're helping them get their Kazekage back, and they're only sending one old lady?"
Even Sai, usually quiet and indifferent, couldn't help but speak up,
"I really don't get what the Sunagakure elders are thinking."
"Temari clearly wanted to come with us, but they forced her to stay behind with some nonsense excuse about defending the borders…"
Kakashi sighed, looking troubled.
"Sunagakure probably doesn't have many available shinobi right now."
Chiyo glanced at the noisy Konoha group and explained calmly,
"Most likely, the village elders don't want to repeat the mistakes made during the Third Kazekage incident."
"Back then, when the Third Kazekage mysteriously disappeared, Sunagakure sent out a large number of elite squads to search for him. That left the village wide open and defenseless, and enemy shinobi took advantage of the gap to infiltrate."
Shinju touched his chin thoughtfully and spoke up, analyzing the situation.
"It might not just be that. Maybe Sunagakure doesn't actually value Gaara as their Kazekage at all…"
"Back in the day, Gaara couldn't control the tailed beast inside him. He was violent, unstable, and everyone in the village feared and avoided him."
"Even though he's changed a lot now, to Sunagakure, he's still a walking time bomb."
"His disappearance might not even be seen as a bad thing for the village…"
Chiyo remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, quietly acknowledging Shinju's point.
Suddenly, Tenten raised her hand and pointed at a massive sand mound outside Sunagakure's walls.
"Hey… what's that huge pile of sand for? (꒪⌓꒪)?"
Chiyo glanced over and explained,
"According to Temari, one of the Akatsuki used explosive clay during their attack."
"At the time, Gaara created a massive sand barrier to block a bomb powerful enough to destroy the entire village. That's when he exposed an opening and was captured."
"That pile of sand was part of the barrier Gaara formed and then moved out of the village's airspace…"
"They say Gaara was already badly wounded from the explosion when he moved the sand away… That child… he's truly grown into a responsible shinobi."
Chiyo let out a deep sigh at the end.
It wasn't just sorrow for Gaara…
it was also disappointment in Sunagakure's leadership.
Shinju frowned.
"Gaara risked everything to protect the village, yet Sunagakure won't even send a proper rescue squad? That's cold…"
Up ahead, Might Guy turned back and yelled,
"Why are you all dawdling back there?! Youth isn't meant to be wasted! Let's go!"
And so, the nine of them set off toward the Land of Rivers.
...
As the group neared the Land of Rivers, a strange plant shaped like a giant pitcher vine emerged silently from underground, its gaze fixed on them from afar…
...
Somewhere inside a hidden cave in the Land of Rivers.
Deep within the cave stood an eerie, grotesque stone statue with nine closed eyes.
Its mouth was open, drawing in streams of pure, refined tailed beast chakra…
Opposite the statue, Gaara's body floated helplessly in midair, his One-Tail slowly being extracted from within.
And once a jinchūriki loses their tailed beast… they die.
Elsewhere in the cave stood another enormous stone structure, this one shaped like a pair of massive hands.
The stone hands were raised upward, their nine fingers glowing faintly with black markings engraved upon them.
The words read:
Zero, Blue, White, Scarlet, Boar, Sphere, Three, South, North
At this moment, someone stood atop each glowing finger.
Of course, only the "Sphere" and "Blue" fingers were occupied physically by Deidara and Sasori.The rest were projections.
"It was supposed to be ten of us," Sasori said flatly.
"But because that traitor Orochimaru took the 'Sky' ring, we're one short."
"We'll kill that traitor eventually," the figure standing on the "Zero" finger said coldly.
Anyone paying attention would notice his strange, ripple-patterned eyes… like endless rings spreading outward.
The one on the "Boar" finger spoke up,
"Konoha's shinobi are already close to the Land of Rivers."
The man at "Zero" — seemingly the Akatsuki leader — responded,
"The extraction isn't complete yet. Who will go stall those troublesome shinobi?"
Kisame's projection stood on the "South" finger, Samehada slung casually over his shoulder.
"That 'Konoha Beast' is among them, right? Why don't I go? I've always wanted to see what he's capable of."
On the "Scarlet" finger, Uchiha Itachi said calmly,
"Kisame… it's not just Might Guy this time. That red-haired boy is with them too."
Kisame fell silent.
Three years ago, when he and Itachi infiltrated Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails, they encountered that kid who used Wood Release.
If they hadn't retreated fast enough, he'd probably be rotting in Konoha's prison right now.
The one standing on the "Three" finger spoke up excitedly,
"Oi, oi! That red-haired brat is really that strong? I don't buy it! I wanna see for myself!"
From the "North" finger, another voice — Hidan — scoffed,
"Hidan, the Impersonation Jutsu won't copy your immortality. Without that ability, how long do you think you can last?"
Hidan paused, clicking his tongue.
"Tch… damn it…"
"Zero" spoke again, his tone calm yet deliberate.
"That boy's strength… is he really as extraordinary as you claim? Shame it's not the right time yet. Otherwise, I'd want to test him personally."
The Akatsuki continued discussing their strategy for a while.
In the end, they decided to send four members using the Impersonation Jutsu to intercept.
Normally, Akatsuki always moved in pairs.
The fact that they were dispatching four members at once for a small skirmish said everything about how seriously they viewed Shinju's unpredictable presence.
...
At the border of the Land of Rivers.
Shinju's nine-person team stopped in their tracks.
Two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds stood ahead, blocking their path.
Shinju turned to Kakashi and asked,
"Kakashi-sensei… do you know who they are?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"No."
"But even if they're not as famous as Uchiha Itachi, every single member of Akatsuki is dangerous.Don't underestimate them for a second."