(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Seven days later, Pain once again contacted the members of the Akatsuki organization through the ring in his hand.
As usual, the familiar phantom of Pain stood at the highest point, looking down at the members.
Finally, his gaze settled on Itachi Uchiha.
"Itachi Uchiha, the main reason for this meeting concerns you."
Itachi froze for a moment.
Related to him?
"Two days ago, Sasuke Uchiha encountered Deidara and defeated him."
"According to Sasuke, he has acquired everything from Orochimaru to become an Avenger."
"And the target is you, Itachi Uchiha."
Pain slowly recounted what had transpired.
"Hey, hey, boss, I wasn't defeated! I still had my ultimate art!" Deidara retorted loudly.
Just as he was about to undress and use his Ultimate Art, he was stopped by Sasori, who had arrived and driven Sasuke away.
Otherwise, with his ultimate art, Sasuke would never have survived!
Yeah, he didn't lose, actually it should be Sasuke who lost.
"Idiot, you were beaten to near death, and you still don't have a brain!" The recovered Sasori snorted.
He couldn't understand what Deidara was thinking.
Although called the Explosion Style, Deidara's clay bombs were essentially Earth Style.
Under the restraint of attributes, he faced Sasuke, who wielded the Lightning Style.
His ability as such had lost 60% of its effectiveness, yet he still recklessly fought at that moment.
If it weren't for the fact that fewer people pursued art in the world, Sasori wouldn't have cared about Deidara's life or death.
"I... next time I'm going to kill him!" Deidara grew angrier, only able to utter cruel words.
"You won't have a chance, Deidara," Pain said, waiting for the two to finish before speaking.
"Itachi Uchiha, your brother asked Deidara and the others to send you a message. In three days, he will face you in a battle to the death at the Uchiha clan grounds."
Itachi didn't even lift his head.
"Don't worry about it. The mission is still important. The Four-Tails has just been captured, and it's time for Kisame and me to go to the Hidden Cloud Village."
"If it's brothers killing each other, I think we can wait."
A smile appeared on Kisame's face.
"After all, the Eight-Tails is there, ready to be picked up."
"But such a good show, I don't know how long we'll have to wait to see it again."
Itachi frowned slightly.
"The Eight-Tails is the second strongest-tailed beast after the Nine-Tails. I don't want to suffer any damage beforehand."
He was relieved that Sasuke had become much stronger, even defeating Deidara.
But it wasn't the right moment yet.
Due to the treatment Itachi received from Colt when he was a teenager, his body was still weak, but he could last for a while longer.
He wanted to completely settle things with the masked man and then give Sasuke his eyes.
So, the time wasn't right.
"He's just a kid. You don't have to be so careful," Kisame retorted casually.
"Besides, I can catch the tailed beast by myself."
With the Samehada, he was the nemesis of all Jinchūrikis. Itachi hadn't even needed to fight when capturing the Four-Tails the last time.
Kisame didn't even receive any damage, capturing it quite easily.
Pain nodded.
"Kisame is right. Sasuke Uchiha nearly caused the Three-Tails to escape this time, defying the Akatsuki's authority."
"Itachi Uchiha, go and deal with him, otherwise the others will be sent instead. As for the Eight-Tails, don't worry about it for now. During this time, I will capture the Six-Tails and the Seven-Tails. It's not too late for you to act afterward."
Seeing that Pain had spoken, Itachi had no choice but to agree.
At the end of the meeting, the consciousness of each member returned to their physical bodies.
Itachi sat by a stream, its clear waters reflecting his blood-red eyes.
"Kisame, you seem to care too much about what's happening between Sasuke and me."
Standing behind him, Kisame was carrying the Samehada.
"Yeah, Itachi-san. Since you wiped out the Uchiha clan, it would be troublesome to leave a loose end."
"Simply get rid of him and take his eyes for yourself. Maybe it can help restore your vision."
Itachi suddenly turned back.
Looking at Kisame's shark-like face with its playful smile, Itachi couldn't tell if there was any hidden meaning to his words.
He knew in his heart that Kisame was the masked man's way of keeping watch over him.
Just as he feared the masked man, the masked man was also full of doubts about him.
After a long moment, Itachi stood up.
"Let's go."
Not keeping pace with Itachi, who was walking ahead, Kisame dropped a scroll from his sleeve and threw it into the river bottom.
A shark lurking in the depths grabbed it with a bite and swam away.
Seeing this, Kisame followed after the Uchiha.
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Colt didn't expect that this time it would take so long.
The rewards given by the [Healer's Benevolence System] in the past were quick and efficient, but this time it took an unexpectedly long time.
He had been receiving it for nearly ten days.
But it was all worth it.
He could feel his body absorbing the natural energy on instinct, and his life force was exaggerated to the point where he couldn't see its limits.
It truly felt like he became a humanoid tree, grasping at the very origin of the planet.
This kind of state, just like the others: sage body, sage mode… it also deserved a fitting name.
It was thus named: The Divine Tree Body.
With a name for his current state in mind, Colt stretched and cut off the absorption of natural energy.
The chakra in his body was enough to sustain his body's growth for a while, so he didn't want to drain the planet dry.
If he opened up to fully absorb it, it wouldn't take many years before the natural energy left in this world would be exhausted.
In that case, the life force of the entire planet would wither.
He wouldn't do that.
Hearing movement in the house, Hinata, Ino, Yakumo and Kurenai, who had been waiting at home, hurried over.
Hinata had come back frequently after that time, and at this moment she and the others were waiting close by.
She was the one who told the others.
"Colt... have you finally finished your training?" Hinata asked and was checking him for any injuries.
It wasn't usual to lock oneself in a room and train, but she didn't mind much.
They usually trained ninjutsu and taijutsu at the training grounds or refined chakra.
No wonder a few people were so worried.
He nodded his head.
"Yeah, sorry to make you all worry. I didn't know it would take so long this time."
Colt inwardly cursed the system for not informing him in advance.
"Next time, you must explain such a thing beforehand. These past few days, Hinata and the others have been so worried," Kurenai said strangely.
"Don't worry, there absolutely won't be a next time. Now, I'm starving. Is there anything to eat at home?"
Colt raised his hand in reassurance, then rubbed his shriveled stomach and said pitifully.
The girls laughed and went to prepare dinner for Colt.
He walked over to Ichibi, habitually rubbing the dog's head affectionately.
"It seems you're not stupid; you know the benefits."
Ichibi's appearance hadn't changed much, but the natural energy and chakra in his body had increased several times over.
"Woof!"
"Oh? You're saying your appetite has also increased?"
"Then you'll have to take on more tasks, otherwise how will you support yourself?"
Colt said earnestly.
"In the future, you'll be a famous Dog Sage in the ninja world, not only supporting yourself but also countless descendants."
"So, for your future life, you must work harder now."
Ichibi's eyes went blank.
Descendants?
What descendants?
He was a pure, true single dog!