While Enkai was consumed by his quest for the scroll of seals in the Hokage's office, in a different part of the village, another event was unfolding.
Inside of the ruined arena, a giant ox headed octopus had his hands up in the air in a rockstar's position.
"In my transformation, beast mode ignition, No need to breathe, no need for permission, Enemies can't touch, can't break my stride, I'm unstoppable, in this power I confide,"
The giant eight-tailed beast roared, its voice echoing powerfully in the ruined arena. Its massive form moved with an eerie grace, hands making strange, mesmerizing gestures as it pointed directly at Deidara.
"No air, no fear, I'm a force they can't see, In my beast mode, I set my own decree."
The giant eight-tailed beast bellowed, its voice echoing through the ruined arena. Its ox-headed octopus form moved with strange fluidity, hands raised in a triumphant pose.
In a swift and calculated move, the eight tails unleashed its powerful onslaught. One of its massive tails lashed out, aimed directly at the airborne Deidara, while three others struck out towards the remaining Akatsuki members.
Sasori and Itachi deftly dodged the colossal yet sluggish attacks, evading the onslaught with practiced ease. Kisame, however, countered the incoming tail swipe with fierce determination. Channeling his strength into Samehada, he swung the sword in an upward arc, clashing with the chakra-filled tail. Samehada's sharp blade tore through a substantial portion of the tail's flesh, but it wasn't enough to fully halt the hachibi's assault.
The tail crashed down onto Kisame, slamming him forcefully into the ground. Although Kisame sustained substantial injuries, Samehada's chakra-absorbing and healing abilities aided in his swift recovery, ensuring that he could continue the fight despite the ordeal.
Meanwhile, a safe distance away from the fight, the Hokage, flanked by his ANBU division, devised a strategic plan to counter the Akatsuki threat. The Kazekage stood vigilant, keeping guard and absorbing every detail of their conversation.
"Men, listen. While Deidara is occupied, we must eliminate the remaining Akatsuki members. The Kazekage and I will engage Kisame and Itachi to buy some time. Meanwhile, you will overwhelm and take down Sasori of the Red Sand and then reinforce our position," the Hokage commanded, his voice unwavering as he summoned the mighty forest king, Enma, who transformed into an unyielding adamantine staff.
"Yes, Lord Third," the ANBU operatives affirmed in unison, their determination mirrored in their eyes.
"Scatter!" Hokage's order resounded, and instantly, the ANBU operatives dispersed, swiftly and strategically positioning themselves for the impending battle.
Following the ANBU operatives, the kages flickered away, each heading towards their designated targets. However, what they encountered upon arrival was beyond their expectations.
The battlefield had morphed into a desolate wasteland, scarred by craters and engulfed in hellish black flames.
The once vibrant arena, where unexpected alliances had formed and fierce battles had raged, was now unrecognizable. The very essence of the place had been consumed by the relentless onslaught of Hachibi.
Under the weight of the Hachibi, or Killer B to be precise, the terrain had flattened, obliterated by the barrage of tailed strikes and movements.
Despite the immense power of the Eight Tails however, Killer B found himself locked in a losing battle against the cunning Deidara, whose flight, size, and strategic prowess gave him a significant advantage in the confrontation.
Killer B, in his Hachibi form, wasn't weak, far from it. However, this wasn't a matter of weakness; rather, Deidara's advantage lay in his minuscule size compared to the massive Hachibi. This contrast allowed Deidara to swiftly manoeuvre, dodging every attack with remarkable agility.
Due to the Eight Tails' immense size, every movement he made was visible from miles away, giving Deidara ample time to outmanoeuvre any attacks directed at him.
In contrast, Deidara's explosives were deceptively small yet had lethal potency—Each detonation packed enough punch to inflict serious injuries on Hachibi if he were to be careless and fall victim to their devastating force.
This asymmetry in their attack styles played a pivotal role in the ongoing battle, showcasing the significance of strategy and precision in their confrontation; the confrontation between a Bijuu and a Bijuu hunter.
Amid the battle's frenzy mid-air, on the ground, Itachi and Sasori stood face to face, locked in a serious discussion. Kisame, vigilant and resolute, diligently guarded them against any potential threats.
In the midst of the raging battle, strategic decisions were being made, decisions that would undoubtedly shape the course of the battle. Finally, it appeared to have reached a resolution; Sasori ceased his challenging gaze at Itachi, looking downward and releasing a defeated sigh.
"Then, I suppose your team will handle the Nine Tails?" Sasori inquired, his eyebrows furrowing. He was reluctant to engage with Konoha's ANBU operatives, knowing it might force him to use his trump card.
"Yes, as planned. One team takes on one beast; when they show up, we split up," Itachi affirmed. "Considering your teammate has already engaged with Hachibi, that leaves us to handle the Nine Tails."
"Can you even find Kyuubi? Kyuubi's jinchuuriki hasn't shown himself in Konoha for years," Sasori asked, his expression annoyed.
"I am not sure, but we will manage," Itachi replied calmly, pointing at his Sharingan, silently reminding of his ability to read memories.
Itachi surveyed his surroundings, his Sharingan detecting subtle movements imperceptible to others. He turned to Sasori, his tone serious. "Get ready; trouble is approaching."
"Tch," Sasori clicked his tongue, scanning the area.
Soon, rapid movements caught his attention, not from one or two, but from hundreds of ANBU shinobi gradually encircling him. Among the flickering shadows, two figures emerged – the Hokage and the Kazekage.
Itachi glanced at them briefly before nodding to himself. Then, he addressed Sasori, "I hope you got this in the bag," before vanishing along with Kisame.
"Curse you, Itachi Uchiha," Sasori seethed, glaring at the empty space where the Itachi-Kisame duo once stood. He swiftly created a chakra string from his finger, which latched onto a scroll on his back. With a swift pull, he unfurled the scroll.
"Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets."
At Sasori's command, his chest cavity opened, and a hundred strings shot out, connecting to the puppets that emerged from the scroll he held.
"Without any further ado, let us commence the puppet show, shall we, Konoha?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
______
"Did you get rid of everyone tailing us?" Itachi inquired, not bothering to turn around as he sensed Kisame flickering beside him.
"Yes, it was fun," Kisame replied, his grin audible in his voice.
It had been half an hour since Itachi and Kisame had separated from Sasori and Deidara's group. As they left, some ANBU operatives had chased after them. Kisame had previously gone out to deal with them, and now he had regrouped with his partner.
"What's the plan now, Itachi? How will we hunt down Kyuubi?" Kisame's confidence in Itachi's abilities was unwavering. He believed Itachi could easily locate the Nine Tails.
"For now, the plan is to wait and recover our energies," Itachi stated nonchalantly, causing Kisame to nearly choke in surprise.
Kisame had anticipated an epic battle against the Nine Tails and had secretly urged Itachi to ensure they were the ones to capture it when he became the temporary leader of Akatsuki. He had already waited long enough, and impatience had finally gripped him, leading him to question, "Why? Why not now?"
Itachi side-glanced at Kisame for a moment before calmly replying, "Don't be impatient, Kisame. I've used up my Mangekyō charge for the day. I can only use Tsukuyomi at the moment. I'm also tired from our previous battle, and we need to locate the Nine Tails first."
With that, Itachi continued walking forward, his pace deliberate and unhurried as if he was intentionally delaying his actions.
Despite the apparent opportunities, Itachi was well aware that seeking the Nine Tails in Konohagakure would be in vain. His brother had long fled from the village, rendering their search futile.
A subtle smile, tinged with nostalgia, graced Itachi's lips, a sentiment that remained unnoticed by Kisame.
"Now I just have to bide my time and leave; that should suffice," Itachi pondered, his mind working swiftly.
From the moment Zetsu had relayed the information about the three-tailed beasts gathering in Konoha, Itachi started planning his next moves.
He composed a letter to Jiraiya, and skillfully weaved his words to convince Pain to appoint him as the temporary leader of Akatsuki for this mission. His excuse? His past service as a Konoha ANBU captain, giving him intimate knowledge of the secret routes within the village.
Convincing Pain was surprisingly easy. Beyond his familiarity with the village's hidden pathways, Itachi's reputation as the strongest and most astute member of Akatsuki bolstered his case. His ascent to leadership was swift and unchallenged.
When the battle commenced, Itachi initially contemplated sending Deidara and Sasori out of the arena because he couldn't trust Deidara's erratic nature to not wreak havoc in the heart of Konoha with his explosives. However, he reconsidered and chose a different strategy—isolation of Kakuzu and Hidan instead of Deidara and Sasori.
This decision stemmed from the understanding that, as dangerous as Deidara might be, he was straightforward and lacked the strategic depth possessed by Kakuzu.
Itachi feared that if Kakuzu and Hidan engaged the Hokage directly, they might succeed in killing him. This concern was amplified by Kakuzu's extensive experience in dealing with humans, surpassing that of both Sasori and Deidara combined.
Itachi worried that Kakuzu wouldn't stop at just killing the Hokage; he might escalate the violence, targeting other renowned Konoha ninjas in pursuit of their bounties. Such a scenario was the last thing Itachi desired, as it would undoubtedly weaken Konoha beyond what it can recover, potentially triggering the fourth great ninja war.
Therefore, he chose to isolate Kakuzu and Hidan, preventing them from causing further chaos in the village.
With Kakuzu and Hidan out of the picture, Itachi's attention shifted to the imminent threat posed by Deidara and Sasori. The heart of Konoha, with its vibrant streets and cherished homes, stood vulnerable their wrath, a beacon of hope he was determined to protect.
Fortunately, the emergence of Hachibi, the Eight-Tails, on the battlefield played into Itachi's hands. Deidara's impulsive desire to confront the formidable creature provided Itachi with an opening. Seizing this opportunity, Itachi skillfully shifted the responsibility of dealing with Hachibi onto Sasori, who, despite his prowess, now faced a daunting task.
Itachi remained confident that Deidara and Sasori stood no chance against the united forces of Hachibi, the Hokage, the Kazekage, and Konoha's elite ANBU division. Their combined strength formed an impenetrable shield, ensuring that any assault from the rogue Akatsuki members would end in futile retreat.
The fate of the Eight-Tails, while significant to others, held little consequence for Itachi. His unwavering focus remained on protecting Konoha's core, ensuring its legacy endured unscathed. In this intricate dance of strategy and power, Itachi orchestrated moves that would ultimately preserve the village he once called home.
With his brother safe and the village seemingly secure, Itachi can now relax and pretend they were looking for the Kyuubi. And Itachi did just that; he strolled through the garden forests of Konoha with Kisame, feigning a search for the elusive Kyuubi's jinchuuriki.
Snap!!
The tranquillity of the moment, however, was shattered by a sharp snap, causing Itachi to whip around in alarm. Before him, a black poncho-clad teenager sat atop Kisame's shoulders, casually holding Kisame's head turned to the side.
"He isn't dead?" Enkai's voice echoed with surprise. "Just how strong are his neck muscles?"
Itachi activated his Sharingan, his eyes widening at the surreal sight. The entire forest pulsated with chakra, emanating from Enkai's body in waves. Speechless, Itachi tried to grasp the reality before him.
"Well, as long as I take this sword away from him, it should be fine~" Enkai's nonchalant tone filled the air as he effortlessly lifted Samehada with one hand, a feat even Kisame struggled with.
"Oops," Enkai's hand was suddenly pierced as spikes erupted from Samehada's hilt, though his grip still stayed strong.
For the first time, Enkai turned his gaze towards Itachi, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "What's up, Pathetic brother?"
A bottle of sake materialized in Enkai's hand, held out as an offer. "Care to share a shot together?" Enkai's words caused Itachi to narrow his eyes dangerously.
"You don't drink? Thought so." The sake disappeared, replaced by a pair of dango sticks, "Not the best ice breakers or reunion treats, but how about some dango sticks then?"
Enkai's playful demeanour heightened Itachi's unease, leaving him with a sinking feeling that his meticulously devised plans were crumbling right before his eyes.