Inside a secret chamber in Konoha's Medical Department, a specially prepared medical barrier glowed pale blue, enclosing Su Ye and Nagato. Tsunade formed Hand Seals, guiding her chakra like fine threads as they carefully wrapped around the chakra receiver exposed inside Nagato's body. "The receiver has completely fused with his chakra pathways. If we force it out, it'll tear his heart." Sweat beaded on Tsunade's forehead, and her tone was grave.
Su Ye sat cross-legged opposite Nagato. His Rinne Sharingan turned slowly as pale purple chakra formed a probe and entered Nagato's chakra pathways. "I'll use my Rinnegan chakra to temporarily freeze the flow through his pathways. While I do, cut the chakra connection between the receiver and the Demonic Statue." Before he had finished speaking, pale purple light spilled from Nagato's seven orifices, and the chakra within him abruptly stopped flowing. Tsunade seized the opportunity. Her Medical Ninjutsu became a blade, precisely severing the Chakra Threads attached to the receiver.
Just as the receiver was about to be pulled out, Nagato suddenly convulsed violently and snapped his eyes open. His pupils were bloodshot, and countless fragments of memory surged into Su Ye's Rinne Sharingan like a tide—young Nagato kneeling in the rain, his parents lying in a pool of blood; Jiraiya smiling as he taught him ninjutsu; Yahiko's death at Hanzo's hands; the moment Obito handed him a list of Jinchūriki. At the very top was the name Han, Five-Tails Jinchūriki.
"Han!" Su Ye suddenly snapped back to himself, and his Rinnegan chakra instantly went out of control. Tsunade took the opportunity to pull out the last receiver. Nagato's body slumped limply to the floor, and he fell unconscious. Su Ye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said urgently, "The Akatsuki's next target is the Five-Tails. Kisame and Itachi are responsible. They've already set out for the border of Iwagakure."
At the same time, beside a steaming hot spring on the border of Iwagakure, Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, was soaking in the water, steam chakra swirling around him. He had just finished his patrol and was about to relax when he suddenly sensed two powerful chakra signatures approaching. Han sprang to his feet, and steam chakra instantly condensed into armor. "Come out, you Akatsuki scum!"
Kisame emerged from the woods, Samehada in hand and a cruel grin on his face. "Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki. You certainly live up to your reputation." Itachi stood in the shadows, his Sharingan turning slowly. "We have no desire to fight you. Come quietly, and we might let you live."
Han roared as steam chakra erupted from him, and he transformed into a tailed beast in an instant. The enormous Five-Tails Kokuō appeared beside the hot spring, steam pouring from its scales and scorching the surrounding trees black. "If you want to capture me, you'll have to ask Kokuō first!" The Five-Tails swung its tails, sending a shock wave of steam sweeping toward Kisame and Itachi.
Kisame raised Samehada to block the shock wave and fed it chakra. "Samehada, time to eat." Samehada swelled at once and lunged for the Five-Tails' chakra. Itachi cast a genjutsu, and countless crows flew out of the shadows, completely obscuring the Five-Tails' vision. The moment it fell under the illusion, Kisame's Samehada had already latched onto its chakra and begun draining it wildly.
"Kokuō, snap out of it!" Han tried to break free of the genjutsu, but Itachi's Sharingan released even greater ocular power, dragging his consciousness into a deeper illusion. Just as the Five-Tails' chakra was about to be drained dry, a streak of pale purple chakra shot through the air and severed Samehada's connection to the beast. Su Ye, Naruto, and Kakashi appeared beside the hot spring.
"You again!" Kisame's expression darkened. Samehada writhed in his hand, baring its sharp teeth. A note of gravity flashed in Itachi's eyes. He could sense the Rinnegan chakra inside Su Ye, a power so potent that even his Sharingan ached in its presence.
Su Ye's Rinne Sharingan fixed on Kisame and Itachi. "Kakashi, keep Itachi occupied. Naruto, help Han break the genjutsu. I'll handle Kisame!" Before the words had left his mouth, Su Ye used Heavenly Hand Power to teleport beside Kisame and thrust his black sword toward his heart. Kisame hurriedly blocked the blade with Samehada, but pale purple chakra surged along Samehada and into his body, beginning to seal his chakra.
Naruto charged toward the Five-Tails, golden chakra gathering into a fist as he slammed it into the beast's head. The genjutsu broke at once. Han ended his Tailed Beast Transformation and gasped for breath. "Thank you." He immediately gathered steam chakra and attacked Itachi.
Kakashi and Itachi clashed. Chidori and the Great Fireball Technique collided in midair, producing a violent explosion. Itachi's Sharingan repeatedly cast genjutsu, but Kakashi's Sharingan had long since adapted to it, allowing him to dispel each illusion with precision. Just as Kakashi spotted an opening and his Chidori was about to hit Itachi, Itachi suddenly activated Susanoo and forced him back.
Su Ye and Kisame's battle also reached its height. Kisame merged Samehada into his body, transforming into a half-man, half-shark form as his chakra surged several times over. He used Water Release Ninjutsu, sending a gigantic water dragon hurtling toward Su Ye. Su Ye's Rinne Sharingan warmed slightly; he could clearly sense the chakra flowing through the dragon. "Samsara: Banshō Ten'in!" Su Ye called. The water dragon was instantly pulled toward him, transformed into pale purple chakra, and absorbed into his body.
Kisame's pupils contracted, a trace of fear flashing through his eyes. Su Ye seized the opening and used Heavenly Hand Power to teleport behind him, then drove his black sword through Kisame's heart. Kisame fell to the ground, and Samehada separated from his body, writhing toward Su Ye. Su Ye kicked it away, formed a seal from pale purple chakra, and sealed it inside a scroll.
Seeing this, Itachi knew he could no longer complete the mission. He activated Susanoo to block Naruto and Han's attacks, then used the Great Fireball Technique on Kisame's corpse. The instant the flames consumed it, Itachi vanished.
After the battle, Han looked at Su Ye and the others, gratitude in his voice. "Thank you for coming to my aid." Su Ye nodded, his Rinne Sharingan warming slightly. "The Akatsuki won't give up. You'd better return to Konoha with us and join the joint defense plan." Han thought it over for a moment, then agreed.
The group brought Han back to Konoha. As soon as they entered the village, Tsunade hurried over. "Su Ye, Nagato's awake. He says he has something important to tell you about Madara Uchiha and the truth behind the Eye of the Moon Plan." Su Ye's expression turned serious, and he immediately headed for the Medical Department. He knew the moment to uncover the truth about the Eye of the Moon Plan had finally arrived.
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