A certain country.
Underground.
In the dim surroundings, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path stood quietly in the shadows, like a withered ancient tree. Below it, Deva Path Pain, Konan, Kisame Hoshigaki, Kakuzu, Yuki Kanpyo, Hidan, and the Mental Image Body of Zetsu stood in a row.
Two people lay in front of them: Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, and Fu, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
"So we're sealing them back-to-back this time," Hidan said, sounding displeased.
Sealing these two Tailed Beasts would take at least twenty days. During that time, the great Lord Jashin wouldn't receive his offerings. Wouldn't that make him unhappy?
"Pain."
White Zetsu suddenly spoke with a giggle. "Konoha's Gekko Hayate and Might Guy have arrived in Takigakure."
"That's not good," Yuki Kanpyo said with a smile. "If I'm not mistaken, Pain, this place isn't far from Takigakure. If they find us..."
"Instead of worrying about that, let's finish the sealing quickly," Konan said coolly.
"Let's begin." Deva Path Pain formed a Hand Seal with one hand. "Illusion Dragon Nine Sealing!"
The others followed suit, their Chakra instantly connecting to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Under Deva Path Pain's control, the gigantic tree in the shadows slowly opened its mouth. A massive suction force suddenly descended, engulfing Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
Land of Waterfalls.
Takigakure.
Hayate and Guy searched the place, but didn't find a single living person. Of course, they didn't find a single dead one, either.
In this situation, there was only one possibility...
"It looks like the entire village of Takigakure has moved away," Guy said with a frown. "Which means the Akatsuki got the Seven-Tails."
If the Akatsuki hadn't gotten the Seven-Tails, they would probably have slaughtered everyone in Takigakure. In that case, there should have been corpses everywhere.
"Although Takigakure