Some moments ago in the Land of Sharks.
Kaito and Sasori were seen moving slowly against the dark landscape.
Their recent mission had been a success, in which it involved delivering a package to an assassin that was planning to execute the feudal lord of this country.
Neither of these two Akatsuki members spoke much during the trek since Sasori was mainly thinking about why Kisame wasn't sent on this mission instead.
Kaito, on the other hand, was more focused on Arthur's disappearance. While the clone's thoughts were clouded with a sense of urgency, he still kept his senses sharp enough not to be intercepted by bounty hunters.
Either way, both were eager to leave the Land of Sharks behind, knowing that the further they traveled, the safer they would be.
As they crossed the border, they each suddenly received a mental message from Pain.
"I need you two back in the Rain Village," his voice said. "There are matters that require your attention."
Sasori grumbled aloud, "Oh great."
His tone was sour, and he cast a glance at Kaito, as if asking what they had done to warrant such a random summons. Kaito didn't answer immediately but instead looked out in the distance.
"Let's get going," he finally said.
The days on foot were a long and uneventful journey. They crossed multiple borders as the landscape changed twice until finally they reached the Akatsuki's headquarters within the Rain Village.
Inside a dark room were the leaders of the organization. Pain stood at the center, eyes closed in thought, while Konan stood nearby. The third figure, Obito, was hidden behind a wall, which Kaito could sense.
Had it not been for the Flying raijin mark on Obito's collar, he might not have been aware of that shinobi's presence. And just from Obito being here in secret already arose suspicions.
Kaito wondered what had prompted him to hide.
Could it be that Obito suspected something? Or was there something more threatening behind this meeting?
"Don't tell me you only called us here," Sasori said.
"It was important that we speak with Kaito face-to-face first," Konan revealed.
Sasori's eyes shifted to Kaito. He looked at him with suspicion, noting the calm in Kaito's usual expression.
"Why me?" Kaito asked.
Pain finally opened his eyes and answered, "You have no particular ties to Arthur Bennett; are we correct?"
Kaito managed to dodge the question by saying, "Your asking that tells Sasori and me that Arthur's activities have been causing trouble for the Akatsuki."
"And what do you two know?" Pain asked in suspicion.
"Only what we see and hear outside," Kaito obliged.
"Is that true, Sasori?" Konan asked.
Sasori was a tad taken aback since they didn't have any real concrete information that Kaito seemed to be insinuating they did.
"That's the same guy you trusted to recruit Kaito, right?" he answered. "A man like him's bound to cause chaos for the Akatsuki if that's what we were called for."
The vague answers drew a sharp glance from Pain, who then revealed a critical piece of intelligence.
"Arthur has formed a village," he announced. "And he's revived most of the Uchiha clan there."
Sasori's eyes slightly widened as he looked at Kaito to ask, "Did you hear about that?"
"I've heard many things," he replied with an unreadable expression, "but reviving an entire clan sounds more like a fairy tale."
Pain explained, "We've had Zetsu infiltrate the land. He reports that one of the villages houses the lost Uzumaki clan as well."
Of course Pain would find this information extremely disturbing considering he was from that clan.
Sasori's brow furrowed in disbelief.
"If that's true," he slowly said, "then we've underestimated this boy."
Now Kaito was on edge. How could Arthur's village have overlooked such an extensive breach in their security? They had placed guards, spies, and virtually everything they could think of to prevent such things from spreading to the outside.
Arthur's defenses were supposed to be impenetrable. To think there was a flaw—likely minor—that the likes of Zetsu could infiltrate.
Then Konan spoke, "We tried to test him by offering a trade agreement."
"I suppose that's why you wanted to speak to me first?" Kaito wondered. "To deliver the message."
"No," Pain answered. "We've already sent one, and it got rejected."
The room grew quieter as Kaito was left to think, why was something as critical as a trade agreement from the Akatsuki rejected? That was basically asking for trouble.
No, perhaps the Akatsuki didn't send it in their name. Meaning the other clones might have mistaken it.
"So," Sasori asked, "what's next?"
"The others are on their way back," Konan answered. "When they arrive, we'll discuss the new plan."
"Mind we know what it is?" Kaito probed.
Pain's voice was calm but firm, and the answer relayed disturbed Kaito greatly.
"War…"
Those words, from the leader of the Akatsuki, were not something to overlook. The truth was clear: the Akatsuki was on the brink of conflict. Their patience had limits, and Arthur's actions had upset the balance, so the organization was preparing to stop him.
Who could blame them after discovering what he had been up to in the Light Village? Practically every nation would wish to do the same.
The fact that the Akatsuki was mobilizing suggested that the land Arthur built was more than just a village; it was a threat to their entire organization.
The revival of the Uchiha clan, the rejection of their trade offer, and the looming threat of war all pointed to a clash that could reshape the ninja world.
Kaito absorbed all of this quietly. His mind had many questions and concerns. Yet he had remained conspicuous as a double agent since Obito's presence in the shadows was a warning.
Kaito's main role was to observe, to gather intelligence, and to act when the time was right. But deep down, he knew that the unfolding events were just the beginning.
The true battle lay ahead, and the outcome would depend on what Arthur desired to do—not what the clones could determine. And the biggest concern was whether he would come back in time to stop the chaos from consuming everything he's built.
It wasn't long until the two were dismissed. Their task was to wait in the lair until the other also arrived.
While waiting, Sasori questioned Kaito on a few things. Such as how Kaito had gotten information on Arthur and what his background with him was.
Kaito answered accordingly, feigning much ignorance and stating that Arthur was simply an infamous shinobi. No different than Orochimaru.
Sasori had had a hard time believing that considering Arthur's age, but he refrained from probing on matters since their leader had technically waged war.
To Sasori, Arthur was already a dead shinobi.
Not long after, the two eventually found themselves in the room where the Gedo Statue was located. Each member stood on the respective giant fingers as Kaito looked at the faces around him: Pain, Konan, Hidan, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Itachi, Kisame, and Sasori.
They all expected answers after hearing the big news.
Kisame loudly laughed, "I suppose there's no going back, is there?"
"Kidding?" Hidan answered.
"Our enemy's got a long track record," Kakuzu revealed. "We shouldn't hold anything back."
That statement confirmed what Kaito already knew: the Akatsuki's plan was going to be an aggressive one. That meant that they intended to attack the Light Village, and they were prepared for its utter destruction.
That left no room for a peaceful negotiation.
The Light Village, after all, was the core of Arthur's domain. Because its defenses were not yet at full strength, Kaito understood that the village's power was still lacking.
If the Akatsuki launched an assault now, without anyone aware, it could devastate everything Arthur had built.
"Out of everyone here," Konan began, "we have one member who's got more knowledge on Arthur than us all."
Kaito looked around the room, knowing every member was waiting for his response. It was clear they expected him to be on their side and tell them everything he knew about the one who created him.
Thankfully, Arthur raised a stable clone, one with purpose and a loyalty that went unshaken.
Yet, the question remained: how deeply was that clone willing to go? How much could it reveal without risking everything?
"Well?" Sasori beckoned, being the veteran partner of Kaito.
Yet Kaito refused to say a word, prompting the other members to stir.
Pain finally broke the silence, declaring, "This meeting was issued for anyone to keep quiet… Either you tell us what you know about the enemy or—"
"Or what?" Kaito interrupted.
Everyone's eyes flashed in surprise.
The ultimatum was clear before Pain could even finish: either Kaito cooperated fully, or his refusal to relay any information would be seen as an act of treason.
And anyone betraying the Akatsuki would be eliminated.
There was simply no middle ground.
"Very well," Pain declared without a hint of mercy in his tone.
Just as he slowly raised his hand up, Kaito bolted toward the exit, and the room quickly erupted into chaos.
"Stop him!" Konan commanded.
Several members moved to intercept Kaito, but his legs carried him swiftly through the corridors as he weaved through any corner blocking his path.
He had to get away; he needed to relay the information he'd heard to the other clones so they could be ready. And if he was captured, the Akatsuki had more than enough means to interrogate his mind and learn everything about Arthur.
He couldn't let that happen.
Nearing large metal doors, he pulled out a kunai already strapped with a paper bomb and hurled it.
Boom!
Racing through the dark clouds, he continued to push himself into the open aim.
His heart pounded. And who could blame him for feeling that way when the world's deadliest organization was after him?
The landscape blurred as he moved faster. He kept running, not looking back.
Then suddenly, the first attack came.
"Hey-hey-hey!" Hidan yelled, coming into view with his triple-bladed scythe.
Kaito reacted instinctively by swinging his chakra chains to intercept the blades.
Cling!
Sparks flew as the weapons clashed against the links. Hidan pressed forward with a sweeping strike, but Kaito jumped over it before kicking off against the weapon to put distance between them.
"I missed?!" Hidan roared in frustration.
Hidan lunged again, but Kaito's chains snaked out and suspended the scythe in mid-air, forcing Hidan to fall back for now.
Almost immediately, Itachi stepped into the action with the Sharingan.
"Fire style: fireball jutsu…"
The flames erupted from his mouth just as Kaito rolled to the side. A successful dodge, but when he recovered, Itachi was standing right in front of him with his Sharingan spinning.
"Sharingan genjutsu…"
"Tamashii…"
Before a brutal illusion could commence, it was instantly shattered, leaving Itachi stunned.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu appeared with a sneer.
"Earth style: earth spear!"
Without hesitation, Kaito's chains lashed out and wrapped around the incoming fist. It caught it just moments before impact.
"Think that's gonna work?" he taunted.
Kakuzu's expression twisted in annoyance as he was yanked to the sides by the chains, causing Itachi to also fall back.
Then Kisame appeared. But it wasn't just him; there were multiple of him: water clones.
"Water style: water shark bomb jutsu!" they all howled.
The water sharks lunged at Kaito with snapping jaws. He responded by summoning his chains to block and absorb the sharks, then countered with a single chain that shot straight back at Kisame.
Splash!
A good hit, but it was only a water clone.
The real trouble had yet to come. High above, Kaito saw Konan floating with papers all around her.
She flung razor-sharp paper blades in a sweeping arc. Kaito dodged, flipping through the air just as his chains wrapped around a mix of fire and water attacks from Kisame and Itachi.
The exchange was nothing short of dazzling.
Just as Kaito landed on the ground, a puppet's hand emerged underneath him. Slowly, he could see the prosthetic arm about to launch a barrage of poisoned needles.
In an impossible twist, Kaito managed to spin and use his chains to cover himself as the needles fired.
Clank-clank-clank-clank.
Sasori finally appeared alongside the others. From his expression and method of attacking, it was clear that he was not going to go light on his former partner.
The attack finally ceased. But when Kaito retracted his defenses, a white substance sprouted from his body and tried to entangle him in a choking grip. White Zetsu's Spore technique, no doubt.
"You really shouldn't have betrayed us," Black Zetsu declared.
"Not my problem," Kaito responded indifferently.
Then his chains burst from his body and disrupted the spores' growth, forcing Zetsu to retreat.
Using the chains as leverage, Kaito leapt and used them to swing from tree to tree. But at the speed he was moving, against the likes of an Akatsuki member who could fly, his options were going to run thin.
That meant the only way to escape was to use the Flying raijin.