Uchiha Obito had sensed Uzumaki Chito's arrival long before the others. As he observed the sudden clearing of the Land of Rain's perpetual storms, he felt a mixture of awe and dread. Uzumaki Chito's strength was undeniable, a force so absolute that even the resurrection of Kaguya would pale in comparison.
Inside the Akatsuki base, Naruto had already donned the Akatsuki cloak—a black robe adorned with red clouds. He carried himself confidently, the "Kū" ring fastened to his belt, as he stepped into the organization's stronghold.
Trailing behind, Uzumaki Chito remained as composed as ever, his white robe fluttering lightly with each step. His demeanor exuded an air of invincibility, oblivious to the hostility radiating from the other members of the Akatsuki.
At the entrance, Deidara and Sasori moved to block Uzumaki Chito's path. Their intentions were clear: no outsiders were allowed.
"Grandpa?" Naruto called out nervously, sensing the tension.
Deidara's laughter echoed through the corridor. "Grandpa? Hah! What kind of ninja brings their family to a place like this?"
Sasori, ever silent, readied his puppets, their lifeless forms falling into position before him. "Outsiders aren't welcome here," he said coldly.
Naruto hesitated, looking back at Uzumaki Chito. "It's fine," Chito said with a calm smile. "Go on ahead, Naruto. I'll handle this."
Reluctantly, Naruto nodded and entered the base, casting one last glance at his grandfather. He couldn't help but think it was overkill for someone of Uzumaki Chito's caliber to deal with these two.
Deidara smirked. "Don't worry, kid! I'll make sure your grandpa doesn't get hurt." He turned to Uzumaki Chito, his tone mocking. "Alright, old man, step aside. It's dangerous in here."
Uzumaki Chito's expression remained unchanged, his eyes glinting with amusement. Deidara's patience snapped. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you!" he shouted, detonating a clay bomb at Chito's feet.
The explosion was deafening, the ground shaking under its force. Smoke and debris filled the air, drawing the attention of everyone within the base.
"What's going on?" Uchiha Obito demanded as he rushed toward the entrance, recognizing Naruto's presence. His thoughts immediately jumped to Uzumaki Chito. "Those fools. They have no idea what they've done."
Nagato and Konan, seeing Obito's urgency, followed close behind. They believed him to be Uchiha Madara, and his reaction alarmed them.
As the dust settled, Uzumaki Chito stood unharmed, his robes pristine. He brushed his sleeves lightly, dispersing the lingering smoke.
"It seems your so-called art lacks substance," he remarked, his tone laced with disdain.
Deidara's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible! How dare you insult my art!" Enraged, he prepared another attack.
Sasori, recognizing that something was amiss, brought forth his prized Third Kazekage puppet. "You won't get past me," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Uzumaki Chito's gaze lingered on the puppet, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The Third Kazekage," he mused. "He was a good child."
Sasori froze. His impassive demeanor faltered. "How do you know that?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion. Even the Akatsuki didn't know the full story of the Third Kazekage's death.
Ignoring Sasori's question, Uzumaki Chito shook slightly, and all of Deidara's clay ants, which had been creeping toward him, fell lifeless to the ground. They disintegrated into dust, rendering them useless.
"Your tricks are meaningless against true strength," Chito said dismissively.
Before either Deidara or Sasori could act further, Uchiha Obito appeared, his voice urgent. "Stop! Both of you, stand down!"
Deidara turned, confused by Obito's reaction. "Why? He's just some—"
Obito cut him off, his tone almost trembling. "You don't understand who you're dealing with."
Turning to Uzumaki Chito, Obito bowed slightly, his voice reverent. "Lord Chito… What brings you here?"
Deidara and Sasori exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what they had just stumbled into.
"I'm not here for you, Obito," Uzumaki Chito said calmly. "I've come for Nagato."
At that moment, Konan pushed Nagato forward in his wheelchair. His crimson hair glistened under the newfound sunlight, and his Rinnegan eyes studied Uzumaki Chito cautiously.
"I'm not called Nagato anymore," he said, his voice steady. "I'm Pain."
Uzumaki Chito regarded him with satisfaction. "Sure enough, the blood of the Uzumaki Clan runs strong in you," he said, nodding. "That red hair of yours is a mark of your heritage."
Nagato's expression tightened. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
Naruto, who had been listening from nearby, was wide-eyed. "Wait, he's from the Uzumaki Clan? That means…" He trailed off, his mind racing. "No wonder Grandpa asked me to join Akatsuki. There's a connection here."
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