After some time, they decided to get some rest for the night. The forest around them had grown darker, the moonlight barely slipping through the thick canopy overhead.
They set up a small camp in a clearing, the crackling fire casting warm, flickering light across their faces. Crickets chirped, an owl hooted somewhere in the distance, and the cold night air carried the faint scent of pine.
Granny Chiyo was already fast asleep, curled slightly to the side with her arms folded, her breathing soft and steady. The long journey had clearly worn her down.
Naruto and Sakura, not quite tired yet, stood up and wandered away from the camp for a short walk. Their footsteps were quiet, brushing against the fallen leaves as they made their way along a narrow forest path lit only by the moon.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Only the whisper of the wind filled the silence.
Then Sakura inhaled deeply and suddenly broke the quiet.
"I'm… sorry about before," she said, her voice gentle but sincere.
Naruto blinked, turning his head toward her.
"Oh, no problem. I wasn't trying to be mean or anything, by the way," he replied casually, waving a hand as if brushing the tension away.
"No, I understand perfectly," she said softly. "I never really tried to put myself in your shoes. So… I am at fault."
Naruto scratched his cheek and gave a lopsided grin.
"Well, let's put it behind us," he said.
They exchanged a warm look, and soon both of them laughed lightly—awkward tension melting into something familiar and comfortable.
After that, their conversation drifted to lighter topics: random stories from the Road of the Ninja, silly memories from the Academy, and small things that didn't matter but somehow made the night feel peaceful.
Eventually, Sakura yawned and stretched her arms.
"I should get some rest," she said.
"Yeah. Night, Sakura," Naruto replied, waving as she headed back to camp.
Once she was gone, Naruto stayed behind. He stepped a few paces away and sat cross-legged on the cool ground. Closing his eyes, he began focusing on his chakra. Slowly, steadily, he pushed it through his coils, testing his limits, drawing it in, refining it in the quiet embrace of the moonlit forest.
….
By morning, the atmosphere had changed completely.
The air was thick with tension as Gai and his team stood outside the Akatsuki's hideout. A cold breeze swept through the rocky clearing, rustling their flak jackets. The hideout loomed before them—dark, silent, and foreboding. Their stances were firm, eyes sharp, the weight of the mission settling over them like a heavy cloak.
They had arrived early, eager and ready.
A few minutes later, Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Chiyo landed nearby. The moment their feet touched the ground, Gai immediately turned toward Kakashi, arms crossed dramatically.
"You're late, Ka…kashi," he declared, stretching out the nickname with theatrical disappointment.
Kakashi let out a long sigh and scratched the back of his head.
"Ah, well… we ran into a bit of trouble on the way here," he said, sounding almost apologetic.
Lee, who had been vibrating with energy since spotting them, suddenly burst forward.
"Naruto! Sakura!" he shouted, striking his signature pose with a bright grin and an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Naruto grinned back and held out a hand.
" Lee, you grew even taller, huh?" he laughed as they dapped each other up.
Then Naruto turned to Neji. "Yo, Neji. You haven't changed a bit."
Neji's brows furrowed at first, but then he allowed a small, calm smile.
"It's nice to see you as well, Naruto."
Naruto raised an eyebrow internally.
' Woah… didn't expect him to be nice. Mr. Fate acting friendly now, huh?'
Then his eyes slid to Tenten. She stood with her arms folded, looking sharp and focused as always. Naruto smirked at her, but didn't bother saying anything.
Tenten blinked and tilted her head slightly as if wondering what he was planning this time.
The wind blew past them again—cold and sharp.
Meanwhile, inside the cave, the atmosphere was unsettlingly still. Cold air clung to the stone walls, and the faint drip of water echoed through the hollow space. In the center of the cavern, the massive Gedō Statue loomed like a nightmarish titan, its empty eyes staring into nothingness as chakra chains pulsed faintly around it.
One by one, dark silhouettes flickered to life around the statue.
The Akatsuki members appeared in their eerie holographic forms—translucent bodies projected through the long-distance jutsu. Their figures buzzed with static light, glowing faintly in the gloom. The arrangement almost resembled a sinister version of a modern-day Zoom meeting, except every participant looked like they would commit a crime between sentences.
Pain stood at the head of the group, his tall form still and composed. Even as a projection, his presence dominated the room. The Rinnegan's ripple-patterned gaze scanned over the gathered figures.
"They've arrived," Pain announced, voice calm but cold enough to freeze the cave's air. "And they brought the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki with them."
A low chuckle echoed through the cavern as Deidara leaned forward, his smirk wide with anticipation.
"Heh… perfect. I've been wanting a closer look at that brat anyway."
Across from him, Sasori's puppet-like body remained motionless, only the tail end of his cloak swaying slightly. He gave a curt nod, but the subtle shift in his posture showed interest.
Pain shifted his eyes toward him.
"Sasori. You and Deidara will deal with them. Capture the Jinchūriki alive."
"Understood," Sasori replied, his voice smooth and controlled.
Then he turned slightly, addressing the silent figure beside him. "Itachi," he said, "since you've faced him before… what should we be careful about?"
Itachi's expression did not change. He stood with perfect stillness, Sharingan glowing faintly in the projection. His voice came out calm, flat, and utterly dismissive.
"He's reck—" Itachi paused… then sighed very softly.
"You know what… find out yourself."
Before Sasori could respond, Itachi's hologram simply blinked out of existence. Gone. No farewell. No elaboration.
Only empty air remained.
"Tch. How typical," Deidara muttered, clicking his tongue. "That guy's ego is bigger than his chakra reserves, yeah."
Sasori said nothing, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly behind his mask.
Pain closed his eyes briefly, as if ignoring the bickering altogether.
"Proceed with the mission. Do not fail."
One by one, the holograms faded out—Kisame's shark-like grin vanishing into darkness, Hidan's annoyed scowl dissolving, Kakuzu's blank stare blinking away—until only the empty cave remained.
At last, the massive Gedō Statue sank back into the ground with a low rumbling groan, disappearing into a swirl of smoke and dissipating chakra. The chains of energy snapped away, leaving behind only the dim flicker of torchlight and the oppressive silence of the cave.
TO BE CONTINUED