Inside the Akatsuki hideout, Itachi's astral projection suddenly coughed up blood.
"What happened?"
"I killed his clone," Kanon said simply, seated below him. She made no effort to hide it.
"You... sigh." Pain and Konan shared a helpless look. Whenever she encountered Itachi, the girl's only goal was to kill him.
In a distant, undisclosed location, the real Itachi opened his eyes, blood trickling from his mouth.
"I see it's over on your end as well."
"Yeah. I'm out of chakra." Itachi looked pale. The feedback from the Sage Art had caused a backlash, leaving him looking far worse than Kisame beside him.
"The chakra used for the sacrifices was about 30%," Kisame noted.
"It's a convenient jutsu for creating proxies, but the amount of chakra I could channel was limited. Accordingly, my strength and jutsu were restricted. Still, Itachi-san, your sister is quite capable," Kisame chuckled.
"Yes. She has bought us more than enough time." Itachi gazed toward the distant forest. "I need to find the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I have business with him."
Itachi manifested another Shadow Clone to head toward Naruto. This time, he carried Shisui's eye. Earlier, Kanon had interfered, forcing him to observe her growth. If he wanted his plan to stay on track, he might have to be the one to personally strike down his beloved sister.
…
At the location of the sealing, the multiple eyes of the Gedo Statue began to open one by one. The Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons was nearing completion.
"It seems both your techniques have been broken," Pain said, looking at the projections of Kisame and Itachi.
"But we've delayed them significantly," Kisame replied.
"That is enough. Well done, Kanon, Itachi, Kisame."
Sasori looked annoyed. "Easy for you to say. Those two 'sacrifices' used for your jutsu were my subordinates!"
Pain snorted indifferently. "They should be thanking me. Because of them, my Shapeshifting Jutsu allowed them to briefly function as members of the Akatsuki."
Pain glanced at Gaara's suspended form. "It is almost time."
…
On the road, Naruto encountered Itachi Uchiha once more. Before a word could be exchanged, Itachi vanished. Naruto felt a strange sensation, as if he had swallowed a crow.
Once Itachi was gone, the team pressed on. During the journey, Naruto heard the term "Jinchuriki" for the first time, finally realizing his own nature as the host of the Nine-Tails.
Chiyo sent intel back to the Sand Village as they moved. She looked at the grieving Naruto and Sakura, and even the somber Kakashi.
"That girl has joined the Akatsuki," Chiyo reminded them. "She is an enemy now. There is no turning back."
She continued, "If a Tailed Beast is removed from a Jinchuriki, the host will..."
"Don't tell me..." Sakura and Naruto's eyes widened.
"Yes. A Jinchuriki whose Tailed Beast is extracted... will die."
A breeze swept through the trees, leaving the three Konoha shinobi in a heavy silence. Realizing that Naruto would die if his beast were taken, and knowing the agony Gaara was currently enduring, tears fell from Sakura's eyes. The fact that Kanon was the one who captured him made it even harder to bear.
"You haven't changed at all, Sakura. Still a crybaby," Naruto said with a small smile, patting her shoulder. "I'm going to save Gaara."
"I... Naruto... I'm worried about you and Kanon..."
"Kanon joined them, sure, but she's never actually tried to kill me, has she?" Naruto laughed softly, then gestured for them to move. "Let's hurry. Kanon's gotten so strong; I have to catch up to her. Then I'll tell her how I really feel."
…
Akatsuki Hideout.
Pain looked at Zetsu. "Zetsu, go dispose of the two bodies used for the Shapeshifting Jutsu."
"Understood."
"Itachi, tell me their numbers and characteristics."
Itachi complied. "A four-man squad: Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, accompanied by Chiyo, the counsellor of the Sand."
"Hmm? That old hag Chiyo is here too?" Sasori sounded intrigued.
"Sasori-nii, is she family?" Kanon asked, sitting cross-legged on the finger of the 'Void' ring, tilting her head.
"Yeah. Something like that."
"Then let me handle her later," Kanon said casually.
"No. I will deal with her myself," Sasori laughed coldly. He, too, wanted to settle things with Chiyo.
"Silence," Pain's projection interrupted. "We are entering the final stage."
"How shall we handle those annoying flies?" Kisame asked.
"They're faster than expected," Zetsu noted, frowning.
"It's no matter. The delay tactics worked. They are irrelevant now." Pain's voice was calm. "Besides, we have two layers of insurance."
"In the end, it's up to us to clean up the mess," Deidara smirked, glancing at Kanon and Sasori.
"Hurry up and finish things here, Deidara," Sasori said. "We have guests to welcome, right, Kanon-chan?"
"Not guests, really," Kanon adjusted the mask on her forehead and toyed with her ring. "Just my old teacher and teammates."
"Whatever. Just don't interfere. Leave it to me and Deidara."
"Fine," Kanon nodded.
"In that case, I'd like a short nap," Hidan grumbled. "We finally find a Jinchuriki and I don't even get a turn..."
"Stop whining, Hidan," Pain commanded. "Go find your own targets. Once the One-Tailed is sealed, the Five-Tails is next."
"So Han is still alive?" Kanon asked, curious.
"Yes. He's not dead yet. We'll seal him and the Two-Tails after this. No more idle chatter. Focus." Pain looked at the twin-tailed girl. "Kanon, that includes you. Sit still."
"I know, I know, Boss-man!"
Kanon shrugged, leaning back with her hands behind her head. She stared at the entrance, seemingly savoring the lingering high of "killing" Itachi.
Finally, an hour passed.
"It is finished."
With a dull thud, Gaara's unconscious body hit the floor. The One-Tail, Shukaku, had been fully sealed within the Gedo Statue.
"It's over," Pain sneered.
Looking at Gaara's cooling body, the members felt nothing. Even Kanon remained silent. Strength was the only truth in this world. Had she lacked it, she would be the one on the floor. To her, Gaara was inconsequential.
"Finally..." Sasori chuckled, the tail of Hiruko twitching.
Deidara sighed. "Three days and three nights. It's the same every time. My shoulders are stiff."
Pain addressed the group. "Good work, everyone. You did well."
"Now for our preparations," Deidara said, just as a massive impact vibrated through the walls from outside.
"It's getting lively out there," Pain remarked, sensing the barrier being breached. "Reinforcements have arrived."
"From where?" Deidara asked.
"Might Guy, Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee," Kanon answered tonelessly.
"They're all here," Zetsu confirmed.
"Too late, though," Kakuzu said, arms crossed.
"I hear there's another Jinchuriki out there," Sasori laughed. "Don't blame me, Kanon."
"I definitely will, Sasori-nii," Kanon stuck her tongue out at him.
Pain gave his final orders. "Sasori, Deidara, take care of those outside. Kanon, provide support as needed. Our objective is complete; do as you wish with the rest."
"Typical," Deidara smirked.
"However, the Jinchuriki must be captured alive. Though, capturing this one might be difficult for you, so I will not make it a requirement. You may retreat if necessary."
Pain looked one last time at the girl in pigtails fiddling with her ninja boots, a ghost of a smile touching his lips before he vanished. "The rest of you, disperse."