"We will meet sooner or later."
Jiraiya's departure from Uzushio Village brought a collective sigh of relief to many.
Among them were Naruto Uzumaki, the leader of the reborn Uzushio Village; Shisui Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan; and a squad of elite Uchiha shinobi who were acutely aware of Jiraiya's significance as one of Konoha's legendary Sannin.
As Shisui had warned, a ninja of Jiraiya's caliber—one of the three Sannin, trained by the Third Hokage, and a former student of the legendary Hiruzen Sarutobi—was an unpredictable variable. Even if he did nothing but linger in the village, his presence alone was a potential threat to their delicate political stability.
Only after Jiraiya left could Uzushio Village truly resume its normal operations.
Once outside the village, Jiraiya performed the summoning jutsu, calling forth a giant toad from Mount Myōboku. With a single leap, he entered its gullet and vanished into the vast sea.
His journey to Uzushio had been anything but fruitless. In addition to confirming Naruto's leadership and the resurgence of the Uchiha, he had encountered Orochimaru and witnessed the terrifying Third Kazekage puppet under the control of Sasori, the enigmatic master of the Red Sand.
This intelligence was too valuable to delay. Jiraiya needed to return to Konoha and deliver it to Hiruzen Sarutobi before any irreversible moves were made.
As the toad disappeared beneath the waves, two figures emerged from the shadows of the coastline—Orochimaru and Sasori. Shedding their disguises, they stepped onto the moonlit sand.
After being outmaneuvered by Naruto, they had not immediately abandoned the Land of Whirlpools. Instead, they had remained in hiding, waiting for the next opportunity to act. Jiraiya's departure, unharmed and unchallenged, had disrupted their expectations.
Exchanging glances, Orochimaru mused with a sly smirk, "What a shame… The Uchiha and Jiraiya didn't clash. It seems your revenge plot has crumbled."
Sasori's eyes gleamed with icy malice. "And who was it that fled when faced with an attack akin to a Tailed Beast Ball? Abandoning your precious skin collection so hastily… Quite embarrassing for a member of Konoha's Sannin."
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed. "Didn't you retreat just as quickly?"
After a brief pause, he recalled the Rasen Ringu—the terrifying spiral storm technique unleashed by Naruto. With a faint sigh, he admitted, "I underestimated the leader of Uzushio Village. Not only has he mastered Wind Release on par with the Kazekage, but his raw destructive power rivals that of a Tailed Beast. If not for recent rumors of a Jinchūriki escaping, I would have suspected him to be one himself."
Sasori frowned at the implication. "Are all Jinchūriki truly this strong?"
Akatsuki's ultimate goal was the collection of all nine Tailed Beasts. If every Jinchūriki possessed such devastating power, perhaps their strategy required reconsideration.
Orochimaru shook his head, addressing Sasori's concern. "Most are not. But if we speak of the Eight-Tails or Nine-Tails, their Jinchūriki should be at this level. However, the current Kyuubi host is just a child, and there's no reason for Kumogakure to establish a secret ninja village under Konoha's watchful eye. If I had to guess, this Naruto possesses raw chakra reserves akin to the Fourth Raikage—an anomaly, but not an outright Jinchūriki."
"Then for now, revenge is out of the question," Orochimaru concluded. "The two of us alone cannot take on Uzushio Village."
Sasori clicked his tongue in irritation but couldn't deny the truth. His arsenal of puppets had been nearly halved. Without sufficient replacements, a direct confrontation was suicide.
But surrendering this grudge so easily? That was unthinkable.
Sensing Sasori's inner turmoil, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed. "Forget about revenge. Let's report our findings instead. During the skirmish, I noticed Kirigakure shinobi lurking in the area. There's a high probability that Kiri has secretly allied with Uzushio Village. That's a problem best left for our dear leader, Pain, to handle."
Sasori nodded in agreement. While they lacked the resources to retaliate, Pain had far greater ambitions—and the means to pursue them.
---
That night, as Sasori meticulously crafted a new puppet from reinforced metal, his ring began to pulsate.
Nearby, Orochimaru glanced at his own ring, exchanging a knowing look with his comrade.
An Akatsuki meeting had been summoned.
Activating the Genryū Kyū Fūjin technique, their consciousnesses were instantly transported across vast distances.
Materializing atop the fingers of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the two observed their fellow Akatsuki members.
One absence immediately stood out—Kisame Hoshigaki's partner, Jūzō Biwa, was missing.
A glance toward Itachi Uchiha confirmed their suspicions. Jūzō was dead.
It wasn't surprising. Akatsuki had a high mortality rate for its recruits. Without the power to back their reputation, members were quickly disposed of.
Jūzō, though formidable with his Kubikiribōchō, had never been known for intelligence.
As the meeting commenced, Pain methodically gathered reports from each duo.
When Orochimaru and Itachi's turn arrived, they relayed their findings—intel on Kirigakure's internal turmoil, Uzushio Village's resurgence, and the unsettling power demonstrated by its leader.
The Akatsuki members fell silent, absorbing the revelations.
Even Orochimaru and Itachi exchanged subtle glances, both intent on extracting more information from each other.
At that moment, Kakuzu—who had remained silent—spoke. "I've never heard of an Uzumaki with such power. Where did he come from? A remnant of the destroyed clan?"
His words sparked further discussion. The bounty-hunting shinobi had lived since the Warring States era, tracking the strongest warriors across generations. If this Naruto had been of note, Kakuzu would have remembered.
Upon hearing the name "Uzumaki," Konan subtly shifted her gaze toward Nagato.
She knew better than anyone that her leader carried Uzumaki blood.
The thought unsettled her. The rise of a powerful Uzumaki clan could be an opportunity—or a direct challenge to Nagato's authority.
Nagato furrowed his brow, deep in contemplation.
If Naruto truly held such strength, why had he not surfaced earlier to prevent Uzushio's downfall? Why wait until now to reclaim the land?
Perhaps, like himself, this Naruto had only gained power too late.
The idea intrigued him.
For a fleeting moment, Nagato entertained the possibility of an alliance. If this Naruto shared his vision, they could join forces—unite to bring true peace to the shinobi world.
But the thought dissipated as quickly as it had formed.
He was no longer just Nagato.
He was Pain—the divine force that would reshape the world.
Naruto Uzumaki was not a wandering mercenary. He was a leader. A rival force.
Whether they stood on the same side or as enemies would be decided in due time.
There was no place for sentiment in Pain's heart.
Reinforcing his resolve, he turned his gaze to the Akatsuki members. "Is this all the information we have?"
A brief pause. Then, with finality, he continued, "At least we have something useful for once. But before we move forward—"
He gestured toward the empty spot once occupied by Jūzō Biwa.
"Let's welcome our newest recruit."
A swirl of spiraling space distorted the air.
The voice that followed was eerily playful.
"Hehe… You can call me Tobi. I'm a good boy."
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