Land of Rain,
In an underground cave.
Several phantom projections appeared one after another, casting radiant lights that lit up the small, pitch-dark space.
"We've been summoned again," one of them said, holding a massive triple-bladed scythe, tongue clicking impatiently. "Is it finally time to act?"
"Our unit's mission has already been completed," said another tall figure calmly beside him.
The one with the Rinnegan spoke, "Zetsu, share the intel with them."
The noisy group fell silent immediately.
A phantom shaped like a pitcher plant rasped, "The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has gone to the Land of Lightning. Kumogakure took notice and mobilized to capture him."
"He's been captured?" a high-ponytailed phantom shouted. "They beat us to it?!"
Zetsu ignored him and continued, "But the capture failed."
"Even with the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails Jinchūriki joining forces, and dozens of jōnin, even the Raikage himself—"
"They still lost to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Kumogakure's strike force was nearly wiped out."
"The Raikage was injured, lost an arm and a leg."
Those words dropped like a stone.
The colors of the phantoms seemed to dim.
The cave's atmosphere grew heavy.
"That's insane," the high-ponytailed one barked. "He took down an entire village?"
"Only if we all worked together could we do something like that."
"And he did it alone?"
"Kumogakure gave it everything and still couldn't take him down?" murmured a hunched man. "Itachi, didn't you fight him once?"
A phantom with Sharingan looked up.
He was the only member of the Akatsuki not referred to by a code name.
The Sharingan was too recognizable.
Only two people in the shinobi world currently had it, and everyone knew who he was.
"He's very strong," Uchiha Itachi said. "I didn't fight him deeply with Nan, so I don't know his full strength."
"And that was over a year ago."
The tall phantom looked toward the Rinnegan. "So the leader summoned us to combine our strength against him?"
The Rinnegan replied calmly, "The intel Zetsu just brought me—"
"And the information that Zhu and Nan brought me over a year ago—they seem to describe two entirely different people."
"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is still young."
"If we let him keep growing, he'll become a huge problem."
"Also…"
He paused, glanced at Zetsu. "Some intel suggests the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has been trying to gather information about our organization over the past year."
"He may already know our goal."
The man with the scythe laughed. "Maybe his target is Itachi?"
"It is the Sharingan, after all."
The Rinnegan gave him a look. "According to Zetsu's intel—"
"Orochimaru may still be alive."
"And he has interacted with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"The leak likely came from him."
The scythe-wielder shut his mouth.
The Rinnegan swept his gaze across all the phantoms and lowered his voice. "Whether due to Uzumaki Naruto's personal strength—"
"Or to preserve the secrecy of our organization—"
"Capturing the Nine-Tails is now urgent."
"But the battlefield cannot be within the Five Great Nations."
"We're not ready to expose ourselves yet."
"So…"
"San, Bei—"
"You will lure the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki into the Land of Rain."
"The rest of you prepare for battle."
The two phantoms addressed flinched.
The scythe-wielder groaned dramatically, "Sending us on a suicide mission?"
"Aren't you two the immortal duo?" the Rinnegan said. "This mission suits you best."
"And 'San,' you joined the organization after Orochimaru left."
"No one knows your abilities."
"You may surprise the Nine-Tails and capture him unexpectedly."
The one called "San" sighed. "Understood, Leader."
"But…"
"You can take back that last order."
"I will bring him back!"
The Rinnegan said nothing, just formed hand seals and whispered, "Be prepared."
His projection vanished.
The others disappeared one by one.
Land of Birds.
In a forest, two men wearing black cloaks with red clouds slowly opened their eyes.
"Deidara, you really know how to talk big," said a man wearing a Takigakure forehead protector. "You really think you can capture the Nine-Tails?"
"He crushed the strongest of the Five Great Nations."
"That kind of strength reminds me of an old acquaintance."
"If he grows for a few more years, he might reach that level."
The young man with a Yugakure headband turned around, annoyed, digging in his ear. "Kakuzu, you're such a nag. I've heard your story about fighting the First Hokage and surviving a million times!"
"The so-called 'God of Shinobi.'"
"Even if that brat reaches that level—so what?"
"A reputation built on praise can't compare to a true god."
"Lord Jashin is a true deity!"
"No one can resist his divine power."
Kakuzu scoffed. "Then let's go. It's a long way to the Land of Lightning."
Hidan was excited. In his mind, he was already imagining scenes of "slaughtering the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
Turtle Island.
Training at the Truth Waterfall was progressing slowly.
Naruto maintained a calm mindset, treating the waterfall as a tool to test himself. He fought against another version of himself, identifying flaws in his technique, improving them, and getting stronger.
Because of this approach—
He didn't visit the waterfall often. Maybe once every few days. Sometimes, when he hit a research bottleneck, he wouldn't go until he solved it.
The Nine-Tails, however, went every day—facing their dark self multiple times daily.
Partly to gain a Zanpakutō.
Also because they hated that "dark version."
A mere inner force…
So arrogant and insane.
But the results weren't promising.
They came back defeated every time, clearly outmatched.
Even arguing with Karin had lost its spark.
"Naruto, we can research tailed beasts later," Yin Kurama growled, baring its teeth. "Don't you want to settle that darkness inside already?"
"I'm not in a rush," Naruto replied with a smile.
Yang Kurama scratched the bed nervously.
But I am!
Should it really beg Naruto for help?
Like that "Soi Fon" girl did?
That would be humiliating.
Naruto read their expressions. The Nine-Tails couldn't hide their thoughts—everything was written on their faces.
He set down his scroll and turned to them. "You still haven't heard the sword's name?"
Both foxes nodded, faces twisted in frustration.
"We can hear the voice loud and clear," Yang Kurama growled, "but the name's always hidden."
"Why?"
"Are we not strong enough?"
Yin Kurama scratched the pillow.
Naruto said softly, "You're too impatient."
He paused, then clapped his thigh lightly. "Seeing you two like this gave me an idea."
Both foxes bared their fangs.
What do you mean "like this"? As if we're miserable?
"I wonder—"
"Are we too trapped in our own assumptions?"
The Nine-Tails tilted their heads, four eyes fixed on him.
"Dad told us we needed to deal with the darkness in our hearts," Naruto continued. "So we naturally assumed—we had to kill it."
Obviously, right?
They nodded in unison.
Of course we want to eliminate that disgusting thing!
"But…" Naruto recalled the night Kensei Muguruma and the others were attacked. "No matter how dark or evil it is, it's still a part of us."
"Before I unlocked Asura, I could hear their voices too—but not their names."
"I realized it was because I hadn't made up my mind."
"I craved power, but didn't feel close to it."
"I preferred weaker forces—yet I wouldn't accept them."
"Subconsciously, I rejected them. So I couldn't hear their names."
"It's not that we're not strong enough—we blocked our own ears."
The Nine-Tails were deep in thought.
"So, we need to accept it?" Their faces scrunched up in disgust.
Naruto grabbed Yang Kurama's tail and rubbed it. "Where there's light, there's shadow."
"Our hearts are no exception."
"We need to be the brightest light—to suppress those shadows."
"To let our true self guide our body and thoughts—not fragments of emotion."
Yang Kurama looked up at the blonde boy. "Naruto, you actually sound wise now."
"But…"
"What's with the Uzumaki clan!"
"Stop playing with my tail already!"
It bared its claws. Yin Kurama laughed beside them. Naruto refused to let go.
The next day.
Both foxes appeared at the Truth Waterfall.
They sat cross-legged, meditating, ready to confront their darker halves.
(End of Chapter)