"Good morning, my baby!"
Gritting his teeth, Killer Bee struggled to his feet and staggered deeper into the ruined mountain paths of Unyō Valley.
Thunder echoed across the heavens as a torrential downpour began, washing away the blood that covered the battlefield.
---
Samui's eyes suddenly snapped open.
"I... I'm still alive..."
With great difficulty, she pushed herself to her feet.
The sight before her resembled a living hell.
Corpses littered the battlefield, and the earth was soaked crimson with blood.
Even someone as calm and composed as Samui couldn't suppress her emotions.
Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the rain.
"Damn those bastards..."
"The Akatsuki Organization!"
She tried to take another step but immediately stumbled.
Both of her legs had been badly injured.
Looking around carefully, Samui realized the Akatsuki members were already gone.
So was Killer Bee.
It was obvious they had captured him.
"How... how is this possible?"
The rain continued pouring.
Pain filled Samui's heart.
Suddenly—
"Samui-sama..."
Her body trembled.
She quickly turned toward the voice.
"Cee?!"
"You're alive!"
"And... Atsui!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Samui burst into tears once again.
Atsui was her younger brother.
Breathing heavily, Cee explained,
"Fortunately, my injuries weren't too severe."
"I secretly used Medical Ninjutsu to treat Atsui's wounds, so the two of us survived."
The three of them were the only survivors left on the battlefield.
Looking at the mountain of corpses surrounding them, they fell into heavy silence.
After a long moment, Atsui finally spoke.
"Was Brother Bee really captured by the Akatsuki?"
Samui lowered her head.
"...Yes."
Cee's expression turned serious.
"We have to report this to the Fourth Raikage immediately."
"Besides, the Akatsuki members specifically said they needed to capture Brother Bee alive."
"That means he's still alive."
"If we move quickly enough, we may still be able to save him."
Supporting one another, the three survivors slowly left Unyō Valley beneath the relentless rain.
---
Before long...
They encountered the Fourth Raikage and his search party.
More accurately...
The Raikage found them first.
"Samui!"
Wrapped in crackling Lightning Release chakra, the Fourth Raikage appeared before them in the blink of an eye.
His anxious eyes searched behind them.
"Where's Bee?"
"How is my brother?"
Samui lowered her head silently.
Cee answered instead.
"Brother Bee... has been captured by the Akatsuki."
Although the Raikage had already anticipated this possibility, hearing it confirmed still hit him like a thunderbolt.
"Bastards!"
With a furious roar, he slammed his fist into the nearby cliff.
BOOM!
The mountain shook violently as countless rocks crashed to the ground.
"I'll make the Akatsuki pay for this!"
Cee stepped forward immediately.
"Raikage-sama, Brother Bee should still be alive."
He quickly explained everything the Akatsuki members had said during the battle.
The Raikage's eyes lit up.
"Good!"
"Then we'll chase them immediately!"
Cee nodded.
"I managed to determine the direction they fled."
"They headed west."
"Please follow me."
Although still young, Cee was one of Kumogakure's finest ninja.
He excelled in sensory techniques, genjutsu, and medical ninjutsu, making him one of the rarest talents in the entire ninja world.
The Fourth Raikage, Dodai, and Darui looked over the devastated battlefield one final time.
Their fists clenched tightly.
Their hearts burned with rage.
---
Meanwhile...
Naruto followed Tsunade and the other Kage toward Unyō Valley.
On the way, they crossed paths with the Fourth Raikage's group as they rushed west in pursuit of the Akatsuki.
When the Five Kage finally arrived at the battlefield...
Everyone froze.
The valley had become a living hell.
Naruto's expression changed instantly.
He had experienced countless life-and-death battles.
He had witnessed the destruction during Orochimaru's invasion of Konoha.
But nothing...
Nothing compared to the horrifying scene before him.
"Damn the Akatsuki!"
Naruto unconsciously clenched his fists until they trembled.
Tsunade frowned deeply.
"I never imagined the battle would end this tragically."
Ōnoki sighed.
"The entire Akatsuki organization mobilized."
"There was no way they would leave empty-handed."
"These were Kumogakure's elite ninja..."
"And yet this was their fate."
Mei Terumī and Baki remained silent.
After a moment, Mei spoke.
"Ao."
"Can you sense the Raikage?"
Ao had already activated his Byakugan.
After scanning the surrounding area, he shook his head.
"No."
"He's no longer nearby."
"He has either returned to Kumogakure or is already pursuing the Akatsuki."
Tsunade remained silent for a few moments before speaking.
"The Eight-Tails has fallen into the Akatsuki's hands."
"The Dawn Alliance can no longer delay its plans."
Turning toward Mei, she continued,
"Mizukage, return to Kirigakure immediately."
"Strengthen patrols and begin searching for any signs of the Three-Tails."
"As soon as I return to Konoha, I'll assign additional personnel to assist in the search."
"Understood."
Mei and Ao gave Naruto one last glance before quickly departing.
---
Tsunade then turned toward Baki.
"Kazekage..."
She hesitated slightly.
Baki nodded respectfully.
"Hokage-sama, please speak freely."
"I originally hoped Gaara could remain in Konoha a little longer."
"But you insisted he return immediately to stabilize Sunagakure."
"I understand."
"However..."
"The journey back with only the two of you is extremely dangerous."
Before Baki could answer, Ōnoki suddenly spoke.
"I'll escort them."
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"Tsuchikage..."
Ōnoki smiled faintly.
"You think this old fox suddenly changed his mind?"
He looked over the devastated battlefield.
"Seeing what happened here..."
"...even someone as stubborn as me understands."
"The ninja world can no longer afford internal conflicts."
"Iwagakure has already lost both of its Jinchūriki."
"It's too late for regrets."
"All we can do now is prevent the Akatsuki from capturing the rest."
Baki's emotions became complicated.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure had fought countless wars throughout history.
If possible...
He would never have wanted to rely on Iwagakure.
But Tsunade was right.
If he and Gaara encountered the Akatsuki alone, they would stand little chance of survival.
Among the Five Kage...
Ōnoki was likely the strongest.
With him escorting them, their journey would be much safer.
Taking a deep breath, Baki bowed respectfully.
"Thank you very much, Tsuchikage-sama."
Ōnoki chuckled.
"Kazekage."
"Times have changed."
"In this world, there are no eternal allies."
"And there are no eternal enemies."
"So don't feel indebted to me."
"Once the Akatsuki are defeated..."
"Our villages may become rivals again."
Baki was momentarily stunned by Ōnoki's blunt honesty.
Finally, he smiled.
"Tsuchikage-sama truly has remarkable foresight."
"Sunagakure will always remember this kindness."
Ōnoki simply nodded.
---
Gaara walked over to Naruto.
"Naruto..."
"Take care of yourself."
Naruto smiled, though worry remained in his eyes.
"You too."
"Be careful."
A rare smile appeared on Gaara's face.
"Don't worry."
"I'll be fine."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Soon afterward, the Shinobi of Sunagakure and Iwagakure departed together.
---
Only Tsunade and Naruto remained in Unyō Valley.
"Grandma Tsunade..."
"What should we do now?"
Tsunade looked toward the west.
"Even if the Raikage catches up..."
"I'm afraid rescuing the Eight-Tails won't be easy."
Naruto's heart sank.
"So now..."
"Only the One-Tails, Three-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails remain."
He clenched his fists tightly.
"Why don't we just launch a direct attack against the Akatsuki?"
Tsunade sighed.
"If only it were that simple."
"The Akatsuki possess countless hidden bases."
"We have no reliable way of locating their headquarters."
She paused before continuing.
"However..."
"If we can capture even one Akatsuki member alive..."
"Our Intelligence Division might be able to uncover everything."
Naruto's eyes blazed with determination.
"Then I'll make sure to capture one alive!"
"The next time I face the Akatsuki..."
"I won't let them escape."
Tsunade simply sighed.
She hoped that day would come before it was too late.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)