Attack and Evacuation

Earth Country.

Two figures dressed in Red Cloud outfits and wearing straw hats made their way slowly through the forest.

Caw, caw.

Suddenly, a black crow landed on one of their shoulders.

The figure glanced at the crow perched on their shoulder and said calmly, "The target's just ahead!"

The other laughed. "We finally caught up with that guy!"

There was no doubt about it: the two figures in Red Cloud outfits were Itachi and Juzo Biwa, sent by the Akatsuki Organization to capture Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.

When he received the order, Itachi had hesitated.

In the end, however, he chose to carry it out, because he knew that even if he didn't go, the organization could easily send someone else in his place.

The order might even have been a test.

Before long, the two emerged from the forest and entered a rugged, winding valley. There, Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, stood with his arms crossed, dressed in purple and wearing a Forehead Protector. He looked down at them both. "You Akatsuki pups actually dare to come after me!"

"Hey, this guy's got some nerve!"

Juzo chuckled and raised the Kubikiribōchō in his hands.

Itachi frowned slightly. "He seems to have noticed us. Watch out—there may be Iwagakure reinforcements nearby!"

"This is my turf," Rōshi said. "I don't need help to deal with you!"

Juzo gave a snort. "I'll go first!"

"Be careful!" Itachi warned him.

Even a grown Jinchuriki who wasn't a Perfect Jinchuriki like Killer B couldn't be underestimated.

Seeing Juzo charge in alone, Rōshi gave a sinister grin. "Once I take your corpses back to the village, let's see what Ōnoki has to say!"

A moment later.

Juzo sat on a rock, bandaging his wounds. His Kubikiribōchō leaned against the rock beside him, its blade marked