After bidding farewell to the excited Deidara, Hyuga Gakuya returned to Otogakure, where he found Sasuke still diligently training in Wood Release techniques.
"Senpai, you were looking for me?" Sasuke walked up quickly upon seeing Gakuya's arrival.
Gakuya nodded. "Your strength has hit a bottleneck. The only way forward now is through real combat. I've decided to recommend you to the Akatsuki—to take Itachi's place."
Sasuke's eyes widened. His heart surged with emotion. Was this acknowledgment? Did it mean Gakuya truly recognized him now?
"That's... amazing."
But Gakuya's voice turned stern.
"Joining the Akatsuki means stepping into Itachi's shadow. Everyone there was once his comrade. From this moment on, you carry his legacy. You can't afford to let your emotions dictate your actions anymore."
Sasuke felt a rare warmth in his chest from Gakuya's words. He nodded seriously.
"I won't bring shame to Nii-san's name."
"Good. Remember those words." Gakuya took out Itachi's red Suzaku ring and handed it to him.
"This is... essentially a keepsake from him. I'm entrusting it to you now. Don't tarnish his reputation."
Sasuke accepted the Suzaku ring with both hands and slid it onto his finger. His gaze was resolute—burning with quiet determination.
Gakuya looked at him and gave a slight nod.
"The Akatsuki members are no pushovers. Be prepared for anything."
Sasuke clenched his jaw. "I know. I'll prove myself to them."
Gakuya brought Sasuke to one of the Akatsuki's secret hideouts. As the members noticed the new arrival, their expressions varied.
"This is Uchiha Sasuke, Itachi's younger brother. He'll be taking Itachi's place and joining you on missions."
Kisame was the first to approach. He looked Sasuke over and gave a mocking laugh.
"So you're Itachi's little brother? Hmph, not much to look at."
Kisame clearly bore no goodwill toward Sasuke—the one who had killed his old partner.
Sasuke's fists clenched tightly, but he remembered Gakuya's warning. He bit down his anger and held his tongue.
Deidara didn't seem to care much either way—he was still caught up in his latest artistic inspiration.
Pain, standing at the center, looked at Sasuke with cold detachment.
"Now that you're here, follow the rules. Do your part."
Sasuke took a deep breath. "I will."
Gakuya subtly exchanged a look with Pain, silently signaling that Sasuke was now in their care—but also warning that Sasuke was not to be harmed. Gakuya still had big plans for him.
...
In Konohagakure, the mood inside the Hokage's office was heavy with tension. Tsunade's brow was deeply furrowed, and Shizune had already set her paperwork aside.
It wasn't without reason. One bad report had followed another.
First, the Katsuragi Mountain's Tsuchigumo clan had been attacked. Then the Six-Tails Jinchuriki had appeared.
Soon after, Team Asuma encountered the Akatsuki. Asuma had died in battle—his body had just been returned.
According to Chōji and Ino's account, this enemy was far more dangerous and unpredictable than anything they had faced before.
If the Six-Tails and the Fury fell into the Akatsuki's hands... the consequences were unthinkable.
"Report!"
A member of the ANBU rushed into the Hokage's office, his tone urgent.
"Team Dusk has been spotted just outside the village. Among them is the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata—and the Tsuchigumo successor, Hotaru!"
"What? Say that again!" Tsunade stood up in shock, hardly able to believe her ears.
The ANBU repeated the report word-for-word.
Only then did Tsunade's heart finally ease. Both Utakata and Hotaru were safe—that meant the mission could be considered a success. As long as the three Jinchuriki were under Konoha's protection, they could begin counterattacking the Akatsuki step by step. Everything could still be salvaged.
"Bring them in immediately. I want to hear the full report."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Not long after, eighteen ninja arrived at the Hokage's office. But Tsunade immediately sensed something was off. There was no celebration. No sense of victory.
Even the usually noisy Naruto was following Kakashi in complete silence.
Tsunade quickly asked, "Kakashi, give me the mission report."
"Yes." Kakashi recounted everything in detail.
From first meeting Utakata and Hotaru, to persuading them to return to the village, to Shikamaru arriving and helping defeat the Immortal Duo, and finally—Pain and Hyuga Gakuya showing up and taking both the Six-Tails and the Fury away.
Tsunade's mood plummeted. What she had thought was a successful mission had actually ended in failure.
Her face darkened. "Damn that Akatsuki... They're getting bolder by the day!"
Shizune murmured nervously from the side, "Things have gotten even worse now. The Six-Tails is in their hands."
Tsunade slammed her fist down on the desk.
"We can't let them keep doing whatever they want. We have to respond."
Everyone in the room fell silent, their hearts heavy.
Realizing her own outburst had only added to their despair, Tsunade quickly tried to encourage them.
"You all did incredibly well. Taking down two Akatsuki members is no small feat—you've weakened their strength considerably."
"You've done your part. Go get some rest."
Just as everyone was preparing to leave, another ANBU burst in with a critical report.
There was no time for formalities.
"Lord Orochimaru is at the main gate. He requests an urgent meeting with the Hokage. He says... he has vital intel!"
Everyone froze. Orochimaru?
Wasn't he killed by the last Uchiha—Uchiha Sasuke?
Tsunade and Kakashi reacted immediately. They were there the day Orochimaru's death was confirmed. They also knew about Jiraiya's plan.
If Orochimaru had returned, and Jiraiya hadn't... that said a lot.
Tsunade's eyes widened, shaken by the implications of her own thoughts. Kakashi's expression was equally grim.
Naruto, on the other hand, was visibly agitated. Sasuke had gone missing after being lured away by Orochimaru. If Orochimaru was here—then maybe he had answers.
Still in the form of Naruko, Naruto stayed where he was, not following the others out.
With desperate eyes, he looked at Tsunade.
"Granny Tsunade... can I stay? I need to ask Orochimaru something."
Tsunade forced a tired smile. "Naruto, you should rest for now. If we learn anything about Sasuke, I'll tell you right away."
But Naruto pleaded again. "Granny Tsunade, please. Let me stay."
Kakashi sighed. "Lady Tsunade... let him stay. He deserves to hear what comes next."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Alright. But you stand behind me and don't speak unless I say so."
"Yes, ma'am!" Naruto still hadn't realized the gravity of the situation—he was simply excited at the thought of hearing news about Sasuke.
The rest of Team Dusk left the room to rest.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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