The second battle, decided!

Inside the cottage on Blue Moon Island.

Sasuke placed a cup of hot tea in front of Karin.

"Don't be afraid. You're safe now."

"Thank you." Karin cradled the cup, and the warmth against her palms instantly reduced her to a vulnerable young woman.

Tears streamed down her face. She set the cup down and, unable to help herself, threw her arms around Sasuke right in front of Orochimaru and Kabuto.

"Boohoo... I was so scared..."

"Hey, don't do that..." Sasuke was at a loss.

Karin said, "Sasuke, I swear I'll never leave you again!!!"

Sasuke thought, That's strange. She shouldn't even know me yet at this point, should she?

He had once saved Karin's life in the Forest of Death during the Chunin Ninja Exams. From that moment on, she had never forgotten his face.

For Sasuke, that was the distant past, something he had never taken to heart. For Karin, however, it had happened only half a year ago.

When she looked up at the young man's back once more in the woods near the Northern Hideout, Karin had decided that she would belong to Sasuke for the rest of her life!

After much coaxing, Sasuke finally managed to calm Karin down.

Sasuke wiped the lipstick marks off his face and said seriously, "Tell us what happened."

Karin picked up her teacup again and recounted last night's ordeal, still shaken. "Before the enemies reached the Northern Hideout, I sensed their powerful chakra. I immediately told Suigetsu to take Jugo and leave. Suigetsu didn't want to. He wanted to escape on his own..."

"I knew how important Jugo was to Lord Orochimaru as a test subject, so I threatened Suigetsu. I told him that if Jugo died, we'd be in serious trouble even if we escaped the enemies. Only then did Suigetsu reluctantly take Jugo with him."

"We split up and fled in two directions. The bomber chased me, while the masked man with him went after Suigetsu and Jugo. Later, I sensed Suigetsu's and Jugo's chakra disappear. I thought the masked man had killed them. I was terrified and thought I was doomed too, so I fled into the woods and hid my chakra. You know what happened after that..."

Kabuto Yakushi pushed up his glasses. "So they didn't die in the explosion itself? Then perhaps..."

Orochimaru and Sasuke exchanged glances and nodded.

Orochimaru said, "Kabuto, we still have samples of Suigetsu's and Jugo's biological material. Bring them here. Let's confirm it!"

Kabuto Yakushi said, "Understood. Impure World Reincarnation, then? I'll bring living sacrifices along too!"

Orochimaru said, "We won't need living sacrifices..."

Kabuto Yakushi froze for a moment, but asked no further questions.

Half an hour later, Kabuto returned with Suigetsu's and Jugo's biological material.

The four of them went outside.

Only then did Karin notice the azure moonlight overhead, and her girlish feelings overflowed. "It's so beautiful~. It's so good to be alive. I wish I could live here with Sasuke forever..."

Kabuto placed Jugo's and Suigetsu's biological material on the ground, then stepped aside.

Whoosh!

Orochimaru's long hair stirred as he entered Reaper Unsealing Mode!

Karin was stunned. What's with that form?! Orochimaru's chakra is completely different from before! What happened while he was missing after his failed attack on Konoha?!

Orochimaru tossed out the Prayer Beads, his Shinigami ritual implement, encircling the two samples of biological material.

“These Prayer Beads can summon the souls of the dead through biological material left behind during their lives...”

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!

Jugo's and Suigetsu's biological material burned to ashes, but no souls appeared!

Orochimaru said, "The summoning failed? Then we can conclude that Suigetsu and Jugo are still alive in this world!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at his words!

Sasuke said, "Then there's only one explanation. Obito sucked Suigetsu and Jugo into his Space-Time dimension."

Orochimaru retrieved the Prayer Beads and exited Reaper Unsealing Mode. "That should be it. We can't rescue them at this stage. Whether they survive will depend on their ability to adapt. Fortunately, neither of them is absolutely loyal to me, so they shouldn't throw their lives away over their allegiance..."

Karin's thoughts raced. It's not just his chakra. Orochimaru's personality is completely different too. He would never have tolerated his subordinates betraying him before. But now, not only has he let my failure slide, he's actually hoping Suigetsu and Jugo will betray him to survive their captors. My god, is the world about to end?

With Suigetsu and Jugo still alive, Sasuke's anxiety eased. He rubbed his eyes, trying to soothe the pain he had been enduring for so long.

"My eyes are bothering me. I'll go get some rest."

"Sasuke..." Karin wanted to follow him, but hesitated because of Orochimaru. Only after she saw his smiling look of approval did she go after Sasuke.

Orochimaru said, "To prevent a repeat of what happened at the Northern Hideout, Kabuto, shut down all our hideouts and dismiss all our peripheral personnel, apart from your intelligence network..."

Kabuto Yakushi could not hide his reluctance. "But we spent so much time on them. Wouldn't that be a terrible waste...?"

Orochimaru's gaze grew distant. "They already served their purpose in that long-distant past. Now, we need to travel light."

Kabuto Yakushi said, "Understood. I'll see to it right away!"

Orochimaru said, "While you're at it, take care of something else. I've already decided on Sasuke's opponents for his Second Match..."

Kabuto Yakushi said, "So soon? Weren't we going to decide based on how well Sasuke-kun absorbed the White Cursed Seal?"

Orochimaru said, "Regardless of how much he absorbs, those two will still be suitable opponents for his Second Match. Besides, the current situation makes this the ideal time to target them..."

Kabuto Yakushi pushed up his glasses and asked solemnly, "The two you mean... could they be...?"

Orochimaru said, "Exactly. The duo in Akatsuki known for their immortality: Hidan and Kakuzu!"

"Kakuzu is the key figure in Akatsuki's fundraising plan, and he controls wealth rivaling that of a nation. The advanced equipment I need for my Otsutsuki Plan will require enormous funding. Hidan, meanwhile, is a follower of the Evil God, one of the Four Gods of the Earth alongside the Reaper. He's also vital material for my other project, the Four Pillars God Plan. Rather than leave them running loose out there, it would be safer to secure them early..."

Understanding what was at stake, Kabuto Yakushi felt the weight of his responsibility!

"Understood, Lord Orochimaru. I'll make absolutely certain nothing goes wrong!"

Inside a cave filled with stalactites, the members of Akatsuki gathered once again.

Kakuzu grumbled, "Hey, aren't we meeting a little too often lately? Have we got nothing better to do?"

"Boohoo..."

Tobi threw himself over Deidara and sobbed uncontrollably. Beside them lay Deidara's severed hand, its tongue lolling out!

"Deidara, sir! I failed to protect you! What a horrible death you suffered!!"

Pain said, "Tobi, stop crying for now and tell us what happened."

Tobi spoke through tears. "Deidara, sir, successfully completed the bombing mission at the Northern Hideout, only to run into that vicious Sasuke Uchiha afterward! He summoned a terrifying Chakra giant! It fired a black arrow! Deidara got careless and didn't dodge, and the giant bird he was riding was blown apart!! I risked my life, but all I could save was his body! Boohoo... Deidara was strict, but he was a good senior!!"

"Ugh, damn it, that hurts. I can't feel my right hand. Where's that bastard Sasuke Uchiha?!!"

At that moment, the supposedly dead Deidara opened his eyes and sat up.

Tobi clutched his mask and screamed in terror. "D-Deidara's come back from the dead!!! Help!!!"

Pain said, "Don't be afraid, Tobi. Deidara was never dead..."

Tobi said, "Huh? He's still alive? He's just crippled!"

Pain said, "Deidara, Tobi saved you..."

Deidara came to his senses as well. "Damn it, that bastard Sasuke! Next time we meet, I won't let him get away! Itachi, that little brother of yours is quite something. Let's get this straight now: his life is mine!"

"..." Itachi's Sharingan gazed deeply into the darkness. He remained silent.

Pain said, "Deidara, take some time to rest and recover from your injuries. Kakuzu, go meet up with Deidara and sew his arm back on..."

Kakuzu complained, "How much time am I going to waste on the road? How much money am I going to lose? Who's paying for that?"

Deidara said, "Hmph. Settle the bill with Sasuke Uchiha's head. Kakuzu, I'll tear Sasuke's head off and hand it over to you!"

Kakuzu reluctantly agreed. "Then it's a deal. If you can't deliver, I'll cash in your head instead!"

Tobi said, "Come to think of it, Deidara's head isn't worth much either, is it?"

Deidara said, "Hey, Tobi! Don't think getting lucky and saving my life means you can disrespect me! Leader, you need to teach him some manners!!"

Pain glanced over. "Tobi, always show respect to your seniors!"

Tobi stood at attention. "Yes, sir~! I'll carry on the late Sasori's wishes and make sure he and Deidara are reunited soon!"

Deidara said, "Hey...!!!"

Pain said, "Tobi, your assistance to Deidara was a significant contribution. From today onward, you'll inherit the Jade Maiden of Akatsuki and become a full member of Akatsuki!"

Tobi danced with joy. "Hooray~! Hooray~!"

Kisame Hoshigaki could not help laughing. "Hahaha... Where did you find this clown?"

Pain looked around at everyone. "That's all, then. Keep a low profile for now. I don't want to hold another meeting before the Tailed Beast hunt three years from now!"