In the Hokage Office, the Shadow Clone buried in paperwork paused mid-stroke.
He slowly looked up at his original, who had appeared out of thin air. His eyelid twitched, and he let out a long breath.
"Well, you came back surprisingly fast this time."
"Whatever. Since you're back, I'm done with this."
"Fine. Guess that's what I get for being a copy."
The moment he finished grumbling, the clone vanished in a puff of white smoke without waiting for Uchiha En to respond.
Uchiha En rubbed his brow.
That guy was getting better at complaining by the day.
In an instant, both sets of memories finished syncing.
Seeing that nothing important had happened, Uchiha En dropped into the Hokage's chair.
"Finally, I can get some proper rest."
That afternoon, in Amegakure.
Beneath the Amegakure Tower, several dozen feet underground, lay a natural stone hall.
Cold, damp steps wound downward into the darkness.
Candle flames flickered inside the hall.
The sound of water overhead was muffled by thick rock. Each dull beat sounded like a knock on a coffin lid.
Ten figures entered the hall one after another.
The Six Paths of Pain led the way, with Kakuzu following behind them, arms crossed.
Sasori carried a Sealing Scroll taller than a person on his back. His hood hung low, and he said nothing.
Orochimaru walked with his hands tucked into his sleeves, most of his body hidden in shadow.
Uchiha En's clone brought up the rear.
Konan did not enter. She stood guard outside the hall alone.
She was the ceremony's last line of defense.
At the center of the hall stood a circular altar carved from a single piece of black stone.
Sasori stepped forward and rapidly formed Hand Seals.
Bang!
White smoke billowed up. When it cleared, Gaara