"Alright, let's start sealing the Tailed Beast now. We'll deal with other matters later!"
Nagato spoke.
Kakuzu, who had intended to speak, said no more.
He just silently glanced at Yuichi.
He turned his head to look at Gaara lying on the ground, his thoughts unknown.
Yuichi didn't care right now if that guy Kakuzu had a problem with him.
Right now, Yuichi was thinking about Konoha.
By this time, Sunagakure should have requested aid from Konoha.
Before long, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and the others would be coming to rescue Gaara.
At this moment in Konoha.
In the Hokage's office.
Tsunade had indeed received the request for aid from Sunagakure.
This matter surprised Tsunade.
Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchuriki, who was also the Kazekage, Gaara of the Sand, had been captured.
Looking at the information sent by the Suna ninja.
The Akatsuki!
A member of the Akatsuki had openly entered Sunagakure.
And amidst heavy encirclement, defeated Gaara, captured him, and then, after causing massive destruction to Sunagakure.
After killing many of Sunagakure's ninja, he left with ease.
The great village of Sunagakure not only had their Kazekage captured right under their noses.
But a large number of their ninja were also killed by the intruder.
And then the opponent retreated easily.
After reading the information, Tsunade sighed softly.
"The dignified village of Sunagakure, one of the five great ninja villages, had their own Kazekage captured in their own village!"
"To be rendered helpless by a mere rogue ninja from Kirigakure... what a joke."
Tsunade couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Had Sunagakure fallen so far?!
The entire village's ninja force couldn't even stop a single intruder.
In the Hokage's office, Kakashi and Might Guy, who had been summoned earlier, looked at each other.
Might Guy found the intelligence report in his hands a bit hard to believe and said.
"Lady Hokage, could this be false intelligence?"
"Sunagakure is also one of the five great ninja villages. It's impossible for a rogue ninja kid from Kirigakure to easily break into the village."
"Not only was the Kazekage, Gaara, captured, but Sunagakure was destroyed, and a large number of ninja were killed. This intelligence report doesn't look real at all."
Kakashi also nodded. Especially since this intelligence came from Sunagakure.
Previously, Sunagakure had launched a surprise attack on Konoha.
What if they were planning something similar now?
"We should indeed confirm the truth of this matter."
"If the intruder were another ninja, it would be one thing, but this rogue ninja kid from Kirigakure was just a genin three years ago."
Tsunade looked up at Kakashi and Might Guy before her.
"The intelligence should be true. Sunagakure wouldn't dare to lie about such a thing now."
"We must assist Sunagakure in rescuing Gaara!"
Kakashi and Might Guy nodded.
Both of their expressions were serious.
Regarding the Yuichi mentioned in the report, this rogue ninja kid from Kirigakure, the two of them didn't fully believe the information.
They had some understanding of Gaara's strength.
And now that Gaara was the Kazekage, it was impossible for him to be so easily defeated by an unknown kid.
Either there was something strange going on, or this guy's strength was truly astonishing.
But the possibility of the former was greater than the latter.
With this urgent matter, there wasn't much time to waste.
After accepting the mission, the two immediately began to prepare for action.
After they left.
Jiraiya appeared.
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, who had jumped in through the window.
Jiraiya entered with a serious expression and looked at Tsunade. "It seems I'll have to leave the village for a while too."
Tsunade knew what Jiraiya was going to do. "Be careful!"
"From the intelligence, the matter of the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara, being captured is unusual in itself. Their target is the Tailed Beasts."
Being cared for by Tsunade, Jiraiya smiled.
"Don't worry! I'm one of the Sannin, the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku. I won't be defeated so easily."
"I will also thoroughly investigate what the Akatsuki is planning."
Watching Jiraiya's departing figure, Tsunade had a feeling that something big was about to happen.
She looked down at the photo on her desk, a picture of Yuichi taken three years ago when he was a genin in Kirigakure.
Tsunade found it incredible. "A normal genin kid from three years ago can now wreak havoc in Sunagakure all by himself. If I get the chance, I'd really like to meet this kid."
With Gaara captured, both Sunagakure and Konoha were taking action.
...
In the cave where the One-Tail was being sealed.
Yuichi didn't use much chakra for the sealing.
He basically maintained the same chakra output as the others.
Now with the addition of Yuichi, the time to seal the One-Tail would probably be half a day shorter than the original.
The sealing could be completed in about two and a half days.
Two days had passed, and in another half a day, the One-Tail would be completely sealed.
During the sealing process, Kakuzu had been paying attention to Yuichi.
But Yuichi seemed absent-minded, his attention not at all focused on the work of sealing the Tailed Beast.
However, his chakra output didn't stop at all.
While everyone was silently sealing the Tailed Beast.
Sasori suddenly spoke.
"Zero!"
"Next time I have a mission, I want a new partner."
To bring up the issue of changing partners at a time like this.
Nagato was a bit surprised. The speed at which Sasori and Yuichi had completed the mission this time had completely exceeded everyone's expectations.
Why would Sasori not want to continue partnering with Yuichi at a time like this? What was going on?
"Why?"
Nagato asked.
Sasori glanced at Yuichi. At the same time, Yuichi was also curious why Sasori would make such a request.
Does this guy think I'm too weak?
Sasori didn't say the reason for changing partners.
He had witnessed Yuichi's madness. If he continued to partner with Yuichi, he would probably die sooner or later.
"In any case, I will not continue to act with him."
Hearing Sasori's decisive tone, Nagato was speechless.
But if they were to change partners, then who would be a good partner for Yuichi?
"In that case, why don't you let me act with him?"
Kakuzu suddenly spoke up.
Beside him, Hidan was stunned. "Hey, hey! Kakuzu, are you looking down on my strength?"
Kakuzu said, "I just want to see how strong this newcomer kid is, and whether he's qualified to stay in the Akatsuki."
"Hmph! I've long wanted to not be on the same team as you." Hidan was angry.
Nagato thought about it carefully. It wasn't impossible for Kakuzu and Yuichi to be on the same team, but it was clear that Kakuzu had other intentions.
But it didn't matter. If Yuichi was killed by Kakuzu, it would just prove that his strength was only so-so.
"Then, does Yuichi agree? To partner with Kakuzu?"
Nagato turned to ask Yuichi.
At this moment, Yuichi wasn't paying any attention to the conversation in front of him.
He was staring intently at the screen before his eyes.
At the same time.
Zetsu, who hadn't spoken all this time, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Enemies are approaching our gathering point."
"Enemies?" Hidan glanced sideways at Zetsu.
"A master of considerable skill."
"His name is Might Guy." Hearing Zetsu say this name.
Nagato looked at Itachi. "Who is he?"
Itachi said, "A Konoha jonin. His taijutsu is strong. It's best not to underestimate him."
"Then leave this one to me!" Hidan said.
At this time, Kisame Hoshigaki also spoke, but he was preempted by Yuichi.
Yuichi smiled and said, "Leave it to me! As a newcomer, I need to prove myself too!"