WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch⏰ Resets Monday!
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Inside the cave of Ichigen Gorge.
The spectral dragon sucked away the last flicker of scarlet light into the Gedo Statue's maw. The colossal statue fell silent once more.
Gaara collapsed to the ground. As a jinchuriki who had lost his tailed beast, all signs of life had utterly vanished from him.
Kisame Hoshigaki let out a breath. "Whew. That really was a grand undertaking. But this way, our tailed beast hunting plan has finally gotten a proper start!"
RUMBLE…
Pain performed a hand seal, and the Gedo Statue sank into the earth.
"Next… is Kumogakure's Two-Tails."
His gaze shifted to the ring fingers on the statue's left and right hands. "Itachi. Kisame. You're up."
Itachi remained silent.
Kisame sighed. "Heh… no rest for the wicked, huh?"
"Then, we await your good news. Next, Zetsu will head to Ichigen Gorge to dispose of the jinchuriki's body. Suigetsu. Jugo. You will wait for Zetsu's arrival, then you may depart."
After the orders were given, the projected figures of the Akatsuki members faded one by one.
Suigetsu and Jugo stretched their stiff, weary limbs.
Suigetsu looked at Gaara's lifeless form and sighed. "Sorry, kid. You drew the short straw. But hey, this means we've finally earned our place in the Akatsuki!"
Outside Ichigen Gorge.
Sasuke's team of three and Baki's team of three were racing toward the location.
Karin confirmed with her sensory abilities. "Got them. Suigetsu and Jugo's chakra signatures are inside that cave."
Sasuke's back was tense. "Only… those two?"
"Yeah. The only living signatures… are theirs."
Baki's eyes darkened.
KankurĹŤ snapped. "Hey, redhead! What are you trying to say? Are you saying Gaara's already dead?! You'd better be sure about that!!!"
Karin glared. "I'm just reporting what I sense. If you don't like it, do it yourself."
"You—"
"Shut it. All of you."
The cold edge in Sasuke's voice cut through the air. Baki and his team froze.
Temari was stunned. Is he… angry because of Gaara's situation? How? They weren't close. If anything, they had a grudge…
CRACKLE!
They reached the cave entrance.
The six-pointed star ignited in Sasuke's eyes. The arm of a massive, dark-blue titan emerged from his side and swung a devastating fist.
BOOM!!!
The cave sealed by ten thousand tons of rock exploded under the blow.
Baki's team stared in shock. "What… what kind of technique is that?!"
SWOOSH!
Sasuke landed. The Susanoo vanished. He drew the Kusanagi sword.
A streak of black and blue lightning shot into the heart of the nest.
"Hey… that doesn't sound like Zetsu!!!"
Suigetsu heard the commotion and immediately drew his executioner's blade. Beside him, Jugo's Cursed Seal markings erupted across his skin.
SWISH—!!!
Something was coming. Fast.
"Too fast…!!!" Suigetsu tensed.
WHOOSH! Sasuke burst into the chamber. He saw them. Two familiar figures.
Tendrils of wood shot from his left arm without warning, lashing toward them. Both men leaped back.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "A Sharingan. Obito did something to you."
FWOOM! FWOOM! At the tips of the wooden vines, Susanoo chakra ignited, forming skeletal hands that clenched around Suigetsu and Jugo like iron vices.
Sasuke's gaze was a storm. "You two," he said, his voice low and seething. "You really don't know how to stay out of trouble, do you?!"
Inside the Susanoo's grip, Suigetsu struggled futilely. He tried to liquefy—but crackling arcs of lightning surged from the skeletal palm, shocking him rigid, preventing the transformation.
"What the hell is this guy's problem?! He's completely insane!!!"
"Since I'm here," Sasuke stated, "I won't let things spiral further out of control. For now, you two can take a nice, long nap."
His intense, penetrating gaze locked onto the 'Sharingan' in Suigetsu and Jugo's eyes.
They had no chance to resist. Their eyes rolled back. Both slumped into deep, unnatural sleep.
Baki, Temari, and KankurĹŤ rushed in. They saw Sasuke subdue the two Akatsuki members who had cornered Gaara with what seemed like a flick of his wrist. Their shock was absolute.
But a more urgent concern took precedence.
"Gaara!!"
Temari and KankurĹŤ rushed to their brother's side. They lifted him. His body was cold. Still. Karin's words were true.
Baki closed his eyes, a pained sigh escaping him. "Too late…"
"Those bastards… I'LL KILL THEM!!!"
KankurĹŤ's eyes burned with rage. He rose, ready to tear the unconscious Suigetsu and Jugo apart.
Sasuke spoke without turning. "Those two… have some connection to me. You can't touch them."
KankurĹŤ whirled on him. "Whose side are you on?! Ours or theirs?!"
"KankurĹŤ!" Baki's voice was a whip-crack. "Silence!"
"Baki-sensei…?!"
Baki's face was etched with grief and acceptance. "This… was Gaara's karma. A fate he was destined to bear. It is also the sin our Sunagakure must carry. If not for the village's indifference… those two could never have taken him from us in the first place. To reclaim his body… to let him return to the sands… is already… a small mercy within this tragedy."
Temari and KankurĹŤ's faces contorted with a pain they had never known. For the first time, they felt the bitter, helpless weight of reality.
As the group was shrouded in mourning, the White Zetsu clone tasked with disposing of Gaara's body poked its head from the cavern wall. It saw the gathered crowd around the Kazekage and froze.
"Crap…! How are they here?! Even Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke?! No, this is bad. Gotta report to Tobi, now!"
Just as it tried to pull back, Orochimaru's peripheral glance caught the movement. A faint, dangerous smile touched his lips.
FWOOP!
A serpent shot from his sleeve, wrapped around the clone, and yanked it from the stone.
The Zetsu flailed. "L-Let go! How did you even sense me?!"
Orochimaru chuckled. "My, my… the method to perceive you Infinite Tsukuyomi spawns is something I mastered ages ago. Of course…" His golden eyes glinted. "…including how to sever the 'psychic link' between your clones."
CHOMP!
The serpent's fangs sank into the Zetsu's neck.
—Secret Technique: Yin-Yang Severance Curse Mark!
The Zetsu's face paled in horror. "Damn it… I can't sense the others! The mental link is gone! Our connection is maintained by the Gedo Statue! How can he cut it off unilaterally?!"
The serpent dragged the struggling clone before him. Orochimaru looked solemnly at Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun… it seems this is the best we can do. We'll have to settle for second best. At least the opportunity remains for the future…"
Sasuke's back was rigid. "Yeah. Do it."
Orochimaru moved with practiced ease. He sketched the ritual array on the floor, placing the deceased Gaara and the captured Zetsu in their respective positions.
Baki's eyes widened in recognition and dread. "That technique…! Don't tell me it's the Second Hokage's forbidden jutsu… the Impure World Reincarnation?!"
Orochimaru began the hand seals. His long hair stirred in a non-existent wind.
Sasuke's fist tightened silently at his side. Naruto… I'm sorry. I did all I could for Gaara. If you blame me for this in the future… I'll accept it.
"Wait…"
SWIRL.
A black, spiraling vortex manifested in the center of the cave.
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