Time rewound three hours.
At two in the morning, amid the stillness of the night, the members of Akatsuki stood before two ninja villages.
They had split into two teams.
The first team consisted of Pain and Konan, heading to Kumogakure to capture the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B.
The second team consisted of Itachi Uchiha and Kisame, heading to Konoha to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki.
With Tsunade's return, Kakashi's Mangekyo Awakening, and the Fourth Raikage, A, unconscious on the other side, Konoha was stronger than Kumogakure in terms of overall military strength.
Pain had originally intended to go to Konoha himself, but Itachi Uchiha, who was usually easygoing, rarely voiced an objection. He gave one reason—
"I am familiar with every defensive arrangement in Konoha. If I go, I can bring back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki without alerting anyone."
To Pain, that was hardly a reason.
Defensive arrangements?
With a single Super Shinra Tensei, no defensive arrangement could stop him.
But Pain thought of Itachi's mental state.
Ever since he had received a secret letter some days ago and learned that Tsunade had refused Itachi Uchiha's return, his condition had been unstable.
Capturing the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails before the war was merely meant to further strengthen Akatsuki.
Yet compared to the two Tailed Beasts, Itachi Uchiha would play a more important role in the coming war.
So, although Pain had thought of many reasons to refuse, he ultimately said nothing. He merely nodded and wished Itachi's team success.
Itachi Uchiha stood on the streets of Konoha, looking at the hometown he knew so intimately.
He had walked every street here.
Further ahead was a takoyaki stand with rather good food.
Two streets over was a cake shop, where Itachi had once bought Sasuke's birthday cake.
Back then, Sasuke