The masked man, Nagato, and the others were unaware that Uchiha Obito could use the Flying Thunder God Technique, so no one noticed the Flying Thunder God mark on Shuradao.
Tiandao took Gaara, who was seriously injured, and flew toward the border of the Land of Fire. His destination was the Land of Rain. Due to the presence of Uzumaki Raiden, Akatsuki did not dare to establish their base within the Land of Fire, fearing Raiden's attack.
Thus, the vessel required for the Tailed Beast—the Gedo Mazo—was secretly hidden in a concealed base within the Land of Rain. By the time Tiandao brought Gaara to the base, two days had passed.
"Let's begin quickly. Konoha has already noticed our movements and will likely send ninjas after us soon.
"If we get entangled with a troublesome opponent, we may not be able to escape."
Inside Akatsuki's base, the masked man jumped onto one of the Gedo Mazo's fingers and spoke.
"I have already summoned Konan and Yahiko. The four of us will seal it together."
Tiandao Payne carelessly threw the unconscious Gaara onto the ground and also jumped onto a finger of the Gedo Mazo, speaking in a low voice. At the same time, the other five Paths of Pain stepped out of the shadows and approached the cave entrance.
This base was built within a mountain in the Land of Rain and concealed by dense forest, making it difficult to discover. A protective barrier was placed at the cave entrance to prevent interruptions during the extraction of the Tailed Beast and to serve as a warning.
Before long, two individuals wearing Akatsuki's red-cloud cloaks entered the cave—Nagato's two partners, Konan and Yahiko. Upon entering, they wasted no time. They merely glanced at Gaara before leaping onto the fingertips of the Gedo Mazo.
"Everyone is here—let's begin."
Tiandao prepared to start the sealing process, but at that moment, the masked man questioned, "Nagato, why aren't the other five Paths participating? Wouldn't that speed things up?"
Under his mask, his scarlet Sharingan glowed as he fixed his gaze on Tiandao. He did not trust Nagato. If not for the cursed seal that controlled the lives of Yahiko and Konan, the Six Paths of Pain in the cave would have already attacked him at the first opportunity.
With the sealing process about to begin, he would be immobilized during the ritual. Leaving the other five Paths to oversee him at this moment was not a reassuring thought.
"The other five are on alert."
"Konoha is already aware that we have captured Shukaku and will surely send reinforcements."
"Although the barrier provides protection, it won't be enough to stop Konoha's forces."
"If an attack comes, my five Paths will keep them at bay."
Since Tiandao's consciousness was Nagato's, his reasoning sounded logical. However, the masked man was not willing to put himself in danger so easily.
"Hehehehe, on alert, huh?"
"Fine, I'll keep watch for any intruders. You should focus on speeding up the seal."
With a chuckle, the masked man disappeared into the ground before Tiandao could respond.
"Hmph!" Tiandao snorted at the scene but paid it no further mind. Human Path jumped out of formation, landed on the fingertips of the Gedo Mazo, and formed a hand seal.
"Let's begin," Tiandao murmured. Yahiko and Konan synchronized their seals, and in the next instant, the Gedo Mazo's eyes opened, releasing a red chakra that shot out like a rope, binding Gaara. The chakra of Shukaku began to peel away from his body, flowing into the Gedo Mazo.
At the same time that Akatsuki began extracting Shukaku's chakra, a group of Konoha ninjas assembled at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
This elite team comprised nine ninjas, each radiating a formidable presence. Leading them was a red-haired young man who narrowed his eyes slightly, as if sensing something.
"Lord Raiden, they've stopped moving," Uchiha Obito reported, kneeling on one knee behind Uzumaki Raiden.
This time, instead of acting alone, Raiden had mobilized a squad of Konoha's finest to hunt down Akatsuki. Alongside him were Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi, bringing the number of Uchiha members in the team to four. Additionally, he had enlisted Guy, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hatake Kakashi, and Hyuga Hizashi.
Raiden nodded at Obito's report, then addressed the group:
"Akatsuki has halted their movements. If nothing else, they are preparing to seal Shukaku."
"Now, I will outline the battle plan."
"I have placed Flying Thunder God marks on all of you, and my Flying Thunder God Kunai has been distributed among you as well."
"Once we breach their formation, your priority is to scatter and throw the Kunai. I will use them to construct a barrier and prevent any escape."
"The enemy is formidable. Do not allow them to pick us off one by one—join forces after positioning your Kunai."
"Engage the enemy immediately. Do not hold back."
"Fugaku, you will work with me. That Uchiha remnant's technique is troublesome, and I need your support."
"Understood?"
Raiden drew Sakegari no Tachi from his waist and raised his voice.
"Understood!" the squad responded in unison. At Raiden's signal, they gathered in formation. His golden chakra overflowed, enveloping them all.
"Obito, let's go."
With that, Raiden gave the command. Obito nodded and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting them away.
Boom!!!
Outside Akatsuki's cavern, Shurado and Chikushodo lay hidden in the woods, watching the entrance. Suddenly, a figure materialized beside Shurado. The moment it appeared, several more figures emerged from thin air.
Shurado barely had time to react before two streaks of lightning pierced through him—one through the head, the other through the chest. The terrifying lightning chakra flickered for an instant before vanishing. The newly arrived figures swiftly dispersed, embedding Flying Thunder God Kunai into the ground. Within seconds, the entire mountainside was covered with them.
In the next instant, a purple barrier rose, enclosing the entire mountain. The remaining Paths of Pain stationed around the cavern only realized what had happened when the barrier was already in place.
The masked man was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He attempted to phase through the barrier with Kamui but was met with an alarming discovery—his space-time jutsu could not penetrate the purple barrier.
"This can block space-time ninjutsu?!"
"It's Uzumaki Raiden!"
The masked man immediately deduced the culprit. In his mind, only one person in the entire ninja world was capable of such a feat. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the cave.
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Raiden activated Kagura's Mind Eye upon arrival, instantly pinpointing the locations of Chikushodo, Narakudo, and Gakido.
"Regroup at the cave entrance. I'll be there shortly."
With that command, Raiden vanished in a flash of light.
Nagato, having realized the severity of the situation, continued the Tailed Beast extraction while gathering his remaining Paths. As they regrouped, a beam of light suddenly shot across the sky, piercing through Raiden's barrier and sinking into the mountain.
"What was that?"
The mysterious phenomenon drew everyone's attention, even Raiden's. He scanned the area with Kagura's Mind Eye but found no trace of any intruder.
Before he could investigate further, a blade silently pierced through the barrier, aiming directly for his chest.
The long blade impaled Raiden effortlessly. As the weapon protruded from his back, a tall figure stepped forward.
Long black hair, one eye obscured by bangs, the other glowing with the Rinnegan. His red armor clanged with each step, and an overwhelming pressure filled the air.
"Long time no see, kid!"
The black-haired man stepped out of the barrier, raising his head slightly as he condescendingly scanned the ninjas standing behind Uzumaki Raiden. Then, he turned his gaze to Raiden, opened his mouth, and greeted him.
"You… you're Uchiha Madara!"
Uchiha Fugaku stared blankly at the man emerging from the barrier, his expression filled with disbelief. His words shocked everyone present. According to the intelligence they had received, the Uchiha Madara associated with Akatsuki was supposed to be an impostor. But if Fugaku's words were true, then Uchiha Madara was real?!
"Hah, my juniors still remember my name!"
"That's right, I am Uchiha Madara!"
Madara smiled, his expression filled with amusement. Without hesitation, he pulled the long blade from Uzumaki Raiden's chest, then strode forward toward Fugaku and the others without so much as a glance at Raiden. As Madara advanced, the overwhelming pressure radiating from his presence intensified, suffocating those around him. The sheer force of his aura rendered everyone speechless.
Clatter!
"Hey, old ghost, where do you think you're going?"
At that moment, Madara felt a hand gripping his shoulder, and the sound of Raiden's voice came from behind him.
"A dying man shouldn't be talking so—"
Madara's words abruptly stopped as he turned his head, his expression filled with astonishment. His gaze locked onto Uzumaki Raiden, who stood unharmed.
Madara knew without a doubt that his long blade had pierced straight through Raiden's heart. So why—why was this man still alive? More than that, how did he still have the strength to grab his shoulder?
"Your presence here has exceeded my expectations," Raiden said calmly. "But now, I think I understand what Nagato meant earlier."
"You were revived using Nagato's Rinne Rebirth Technique, weren't you?"
"That masked man was forced to accelerate your plan!"
Raiden took a step closer, standing directly beside Madara as he spoke in a low tone.
Madara, after a brief moment of surprise, quickly regained his composure. He raised a hand, covering half of his face, and let out a deep, guttural chuckle.
"Hehehehe…!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Interesting! Uzumaki Raiden, you brat, you're really interesting!"
"It's been so long since I've felt this way—the rush of excitement, the thrill of battle!"
"Little brat, let's start with you!"
Madara's laughter stopped abruptly. He locked eyes with Raiden, and in the same instant, an overwhelming surge of chakra erupted from his body. His long black hair whipped in the air without wind, and a sinister purple chakra enveloped him.
"Susanoo!"
Boom!!!
Madara wasted no time. His attack was instantaneous—his Susanoo had barely taken shape before it struck with explosive force.
A deafening roar shook the battlefield. When the dust settled, Uzumaki Raiden was nowhere to be seen. In the distance, a mountain bore the imprint of a massive crater, its center shaped exactly like a human figure.
"Hmph!"
"It's just gravel—not even half as good as me!"
(End of this chapter)