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Over a year passed quickly, and the shinobi world appeared calm on the surface, with even the waves stirred up by Uchiha Kaito having settled into silence.
...
A hidden underground base in the Land of Fields.
"Orochimaru-sama."
A weak voice echoed through the quiet laboratory, waking Orochimaru from his thoughts.
"Hmm?" Orochimaru looked down at the small crimson snake on the ground, a strange smile appearing on his face. "What is it?"
"Shinya-sama asked me to inform you," the crimson snake hissed, "that he will meet you at his lair at ten o'clock tonight."
"I see. Tell Shinya that I will be there on time." Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips toward the snake.
"Understood."
A small puff of smoke exploded, and the snake vanished.
"Heh heh heh..." Orochimaru chuckled, a determined gleam flashing in his eyes. "White Snake Sage, Shinya, whatever secrets you hold, I will uncover them all."
...
In the high tower of Amegakure.
Blinding light pierced the darkness and then gradually dimmed.
Nagato, feeling his new body, smiled with satisfaction.
"Nagato, how do you feel?" Konan asked nervously, standing beside him, staring at Nagato's unfamiliar face.
"I'm fine, Konan."
Nagato, lying on the ground, stood up and took a few steps, adjusting his face to look like his own.
"I can finally stand again!"
"Congratulations, Nagato." Konan smiled as well. "But your hair can't return to red."
"That doesn't matter." Nagato ran his hand through his orange hair.
He looked at his former frail body on the bed beside him, a complex expression on his face. "I'll turn my original body into a new Hell Path."
Pain silently walked over and began the process.
Konan quickly turned her head away, unable to watch.
"Don't worry." Nagato patted her shoulder. "I'm doing well now, better than ever."
Konan looked into his eyes, still a bit concerned. "Your eyes?"
Nagato touched his lower eyelid and smiled. "No problem, it seems the burden on them has lessened a bit."
"That's good." Konan sighed in relief.
"Of course. Unlike Orochimaru's imperfect reincarnation jutsu, I rely on the power of the Rinnegan to control life and death cycles! When I obtained the Wood Release cells from Obito, my eyes grew stronger."
"Obito probably didn't expect that." Konan smiled again.
"Exactly!" Nagato replied. "Although he intended to control me through seals, he never imagined I'd switch to a completely new body."
"It's done."
Pain's voice echoed as Nagato's original body opened its eyes.
Nagato spread his arms, gazing at the complete Six Paths of Pain, and said, "The time has come. Summon the members of Akatsuki to begin gathering!"
...
In a dark cave filled with stalactites.
One by one, phantom figures lit up.
"Is everyone here?"
The figure standing in the center opened eyes marked with concentric rings.
"Everyone is present, Pain," Konan's voice replied.
"It's so convenient, this Phantom Body Jutsu," Kisame casually remarked. "Don't you think so, Itachi-san?"
Itachi turned to glance at him without saying a word.
"How are you all doing, seniors?" Tobi twisted his waist and raised his right hand high, waving. "Did you miss me?"
"Get lost!" Deidara glared at Tobi. "No one would miss an idiot like you, hm."
"Ah, Deidara-senpai is always so contrary." Tobi twisted even more enthusiastically. "I missed you too, Deidara-senpai."
"Idiot!" Sasori quickly moved away from Deidara, seemingly afraid of being caught up in it.
Juzo, standing nearby, nodded silently as he saw him.
"Quiet." Konan's voice cut through the chatter.
Pain scanned the now-quiet group with his Rinnegan and spoke loudly, "Everyone, the preliminary preparations are complete. The time has come. Our next target will be the nine tailed beasts!"
"Finally starting, hm! I've been waiting a long time," Deidara said excitedly.
"Deidara, Sasori," Pain ordered, "the two of you will be responsible for capturing the One-Tail."
"No problem," Sasori's raspy voice replied.
"Since sealing the tailed beasts takes time, we'll begin with the One-Tail first. Deidara and Sasori, you may begin your mission."
"Understood."
"Then we'll disperse for now. Once the One-Tail is captured, we'll regroup to perform the sealing."
...
Konoha Village.
Once again, Naruto was lying on the ground, bruised and battered, while Sakura hurried over to start healing him.
"Even though this kid hasn't awakened the Adamantine Sealing Chains yet," Kakashi said, rubbing his arm, "his taijutsu has improved a lot, and his sensory abilities have also increased."
"I'll leave the next stage of training to you, sensei." He looked at Minato. "After all, you're faster than I am."
"Thank you, Kakashi, you've been a great help," Minato said gratefully. "Maybe Naruto will awaken the Kagura Mind's Eye first."
"Who knows," Kakashi replied, pulling out his favorite book. "Either way, as long as you push him hard enough, he'll improve quickly."
"Heh heh." Minato laughed awkwardly. "I'll be more serious."
"Don't just be 'more' serious," Kakashi said, exasperated, glancing at him. "That kid is tough; hitting him harder will be more effective."
"Hahaha... I understand," Minato replied with a dry laugh.
...
At the Uchiha residence on Mount Ōeyama.
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes from meditation, and instead of the three tomoe, a complex hexagonal pattern appeared in his red eyes.
After a while, Sasuke, feeling a cool sensation in his eyes, ran to the bathroom mirror.
"Hahahahaha..."
Seeing his brand new Mangekyo Sharingan in the mirror, Sasuke burst out laughing.
"What's all the noise about, kid?"
Izuna's irritated voice called out, and Sasuke quickly ran over and stood before him.
"What is it..." Izuna, sitting on the porch and gazing at the moon, looked up. "Hmm? Have you finally awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"That's right!" Sasuke touched his lower eyelid. "I feel so much stronger now!"
"Of course," Chiri said, walking out of the house. "After opening the Mangekyo Sharingan, your chakra reserves will also increase significantly."
"Mhm, mhm." Sasuke nodded enthusiastically.
"Don't get too excited just yet," Kaito said, slowly walking out from the hallway. "After awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, the path to true strength is just beginning."
He walked up to Sasuke, closely inspecting his eyes, and cautioned, "Even though you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, don't overuse it. Always be mindful of your mental strength, so you don't deplete your eye's power and damage its source."
"I understand," Sasuke nodded.
"Well then, as promised, you can leave Mount Ōeyama. Just in time, according to our intel, the Akatsuki has already begun their operations."
Kaito smiled encouragingly and said, "The grand performance is about to begin. Go forth into the shinobi world, achieve your goals, and let the name Uchiha Sasuke echo in the ears of everyone."
"Yes!"
Sasuke's eyes lit up, and he responded excitedly.
'So easy to please.'
The three adults all thought the same thing as they watched Sasuke, eager to set out immediately.