"Naruto, I understand your desire to avenge Jiraiya," Tsunade said softly, "but what will you gain after taking revenge?"
She was trying to pull him back from a reckless path.
But Naruto lifted his head, eyes burning.
"So I'm supposed to sit here and do nothing?"
Tsunade faltered. For once, she had no immediate answer.
At that moment, Sakura stepped inside. She glanced at Tsunade, then at Naruto.
"Lady Tsunade," Sakura said firmly, "let Naruto go. I'll go with him. Team 7 will handle this together—just like an investigation mission."
Tsunade stared at her. Even Sakura was getting pulled into this madness?
Sakura added, "Don't worry. If things get out of control, I'll stop Naruto."
Tsunade paused—then exhaled deeply and nodded.
"…Very well. Then I leave Naruto in your care."
Naruto said nothing. He simply walked out.
Sakura followed immediately, with Sai trailing behind them.
Kakashi stared at their retreating figures and sighed.
"They're all refusing to listen."
He rubbed his temples helplessly. At a time like this, no lecture would reach Naruto.
Maybe—maybe—if Sasuke or Shigure were here…
But both of them were far away.
Hidden Cloud Village
The Fourth Raikage led a compact strike force: Darui, C, and the Samui squad.
To go after the Akatsuki, they couldn't move with a massive army.
A large formation would alert every nation along the way.
Only an elite, mobile team could operate effectively.
Guided by Shigure's messenger pigeon, the Cloud squad moved swiftly toward the Land of Rain—the rumored location of the Akatsuki base.
Land of Rain — Akatsuki Base
Inside the cavernous hideout, Nagato, Obito, and Konan stood before the Gedo Statue, its massive form glowing with ominous chakra.
They were absorbing the power of the Tailed Beasts extracted earlier.
Nagato had taken in the strongest—the Eight-Tails.
Obito fused with the Two-Tails, whose chakra amplified the abilities he relied on most.
Konan had received the One-Tail's chakra, the Ichibi.
All three had completed their tailed beast integration.
They were effectively new jinchūriki.
Zetsu observed them, smiling faintly.
"Congratulations. Everything seems to be progressing smoothly."
Konan exhaled.
"Even with this power… I doubt we can stand against the Hidden Mist Village now."
She wasn't wrong.
Zetsu chuckled lightly.
"Indeed. And unfortunately, even if we don't seek them out… they're already on their way here."
Obito's expression darkened.
"What? The Mist Village is coming now? We barely finished merging the chakra!"
This could quickly spiral into disaster.
"The Mizukage himself is leading the advance," Zetsu continued.
Obito froze.
Shigure was personally coming.
He clearly intended to annihilate the Akatsuki.
"And," Zetsu added lightly, "he has mobilized the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
Obito felt his scalp tighten.
The Mizukage plus the entire Seven Swordsmen…
That was not a pursuit—it was an execution order.
"It seems we'll have to hide for a while," Obito admitted bitterly.
Nagato said nothing. His silence was heavier than his words ever could be.
But one change was undeniable.
The once-emaciated Nagato now stood tall. Without the Six Paths of Pain to control, the black receivers had been removed from his body.
The immense chakra of the Eight-Tails surged inside him, revitalizing him.
He could walk freely again.
His body was nearly restored.
And, strangely, his Rinnegan seemed to resonate with perfect stability—no longer overtaxing him.
Nagato was evolving.
"Now isn't the time to act," Obito said firmly.
"Our current strength is still far too low to face the Mist Village. Rebuilding the Akatsuki is our priority."
Zetsu suddenly smiled in a strange way.
"So, should we start recruiting new members?"
Obito narrowed his eyes.
"What are you getting at?"
Zetsu's smile widened just a little.
"I mean… someone has already arrived at the Akatsuki base."
"I do have a suitable new member," Zetsu said calmly.
He turned toward the entrance just as a figure staggered inside.
The man looked like he could collapse at any moment—pale skin, weakened breathing, every step strained.
But he was unmistakable.
"Orochimaru," Nagato muttered.
Orochimaru's condition was abysmal—his body looked as if it had been hollowed out, barely held together.
Orochimaru chuckled weakly. "Heh… I didn't expect we'd meet again."
Konan's expression hardened.
"Zetsu, why bring him? He betrayed the Akatsuki once already."
Zetsu shrugged lightly.
"We're short on manpower. And this one… is quite suitable."
Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered.
"Indeed. Am I not worthy of rejoining the Akatsuki?"
Konan frowned.
"You would just betray us a second time."
"Oh? Then perhaps you should take a look at the gift I brought."
As he spoke, Kabuto stepped out from behind him—but the Kabuto standing there was nothing like his former self.
His eyes were empty, his aura nonexistent. A thin tube extended from his body into Orochimaru's, merging their chakra.
Kabuto silently formed hand seals.
Boom—!
Two wooden coffins burst from the ground in a cloud of white smoke.
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"What do you think of my offering?"
When Nagato saw the figures lying inside, his pupils constricted sharply.
"You… bastard—!"
Hidden Mist Forces — En Route
The Mist squad cut rapidly through the dense forest, moving in near silence.
Sasuke glanced at Shigure.
"Why aren't we using your Water Dragon Bullet travel technique?"
Shigure gave him a calm look.
"Too many people. Not enough space."
Sasuke stared at him. "That's your reason?"
Traveling atop a Water Dragon would be fast, yes—but also flashy.
With the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist accompanying them, stealth was far more valuable.
Besides, they would need to cross the Land of Fire.
Drawing attention there would only cause complications.
Shigure added casually, "We need to stay unnoticed while tracking the Akatsuki."
Sasuke clicked his tongue.
"Fine. If you say so…"
But Shigure had another reason.
He was waiting for Kumogakure to arrive first.
Hidden Cloud Advance
The Raikage's elite squad advanced with blistering speed.
At this pace, they would reach the Land of Rain before nightfall.
Shigure estimated his own group would arrive around midnight.
"Let Cloud go first," he murmured inwardly.
Nagato, Obito, Konan, and Zetsu would not fall so easily.
There was no need to rush.
Konoha — Naruto's Departure
Naruto headed straight toward the Land of Rain after leaving Konoha.
Sakura hurried beside him, worried and confused.
"Naruto, do you even know where the enemy is hiding?"
Naruto sighed.
"The Pervy Sage said he found clues about the Akatsuki in the Land of Rain. So I'm going there first. Maybe… I'll find something he couldn't."
His voice was steady, but a deep sadness lingered behind it—the weight of Jiraiya's final message guiding every step he took.