The Land of Wind's Lament!

Orochimaru laid out a complex, triple-layered composite formula around the altar in the Temple where the Dragon Vein was sealed. That process alone took six full hours!

Once it was finished, Sasuke sat cross-legged on the altar. "Orochimaru, do I just need to sit still?"

Orochimaru said, "Not quite. The Dragon Vein is an immense concentration of Nature Chakra, but you must refine it through the Yang Seal, converting it into Yin Release Chakra compatible with your eyes before it can affect them. This process will severely test your fine Chakra control and mental endurance. I imagine it won't be easy."

"I understand..."

Sasuke closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, preparing for the challenge ahead.

Microscopic Chakra control used to be Sakura's greatest talent. In my previous life, I probably couldn't have managed something like this. But with two lifetimes of experience now, I'm confident I won't lose to Sakura in this particular ability.

Orochimaru looked at the triple-layered composite formula surrounding the altar. "These are the Dragon Vein Seal: Release formula, the connection formula for the Yang Seal, and the channeling formula. With me personally directing them, they can guide the Dragon Vein's Chakra into Sasuke-kun, who will refine it to complete the Yang Seal. It's a massive, precise undertaking. I expect it will take three days and three nights!"

Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses. "That's quite a long time. If I remember correctly, Akatsuki's ritual for sealing a tailed beast takes three days and three nights too, doesn't it?"

Orochimaru's expression turned serious. "Once the Dragon Vein's seal is released, the formula for constructing the Yang Seal will activate immediately. But the earth's energy, dormant for so many years, will erupt violently, causing unpredictable consequences. We therefore need a powerful outside force to suppress it. Kabuto, I'll leave that task to you. Lord Hashirama's Wood Release, which he used to suppress tailed beasts, will do the job!"

Kabuto Yakushi couldn't help feeling uncertain. "Can... can I really do that?"

Orochimaru encouraged him. "Don't worry. The Hashirama cells you received are exceptionally pure, far surpassing those of my former test subject, Yamato. You might not be able to suppress the Nine-Tails, but suppressing the Dragon Vein should be well within your power!"

Kabuto Yakushi pushed up his glasses and smiled. "In that case, I'm relieved!"

Unwilling to stand around doing nothing, Karin asked, "What about me? Is there anything I can do?"

Orochimaru thought briefly. "Kabuto, Sasuke-kun, and I will be fully focused for three days and three nights. Although it's unlikely, Rōran is still part of the Land of Wind. We can't rule out some curious Sunagakure ninja coming here to sightsee. Please use your sensory abilities to keep constant watch on what's happening outside!"

Karin said, "Understood!"

Orochimaru turned his attention back and formed hand seals. "Then let's begin!"

Dragon Vein Seal: Release!

Bzzzt...!

The first layer of the formula he had drawn began to flow, gathering beneath Sasuke over the Dragon Vein sealing formula Minato had left all those years ago. Like a key fitting perfectly into a lock, it released the Dragon Vein's seal!

Boom...!!!

In an instant, the Dragon Vein Chakra's distinctive dark-purple light poured out from beneath the altar. Rumble!! The altar shook, along with the entire Rōran Ruins!

Orochimaru called urgently, "Kabuto!"

"Leave it to me!!"

Already poised for action, Kabuto clasped his hands before his chest.

Crack! Eight wooden pillars bearing iron spikes and beast heads rose around the altar!

Kabuto Yakushi gripped his right wrist with his left hand. The character for "seat" appeared on his right palm, which he aimed at the altar!

Hokage Style: Ear-Wrapping, Hand-Hanging Technique!

Boom...!!!

Under the suppression of Wood Release, the Dragon Vein Chakra, which had been on the verge of erupting, quickly stabilized!

Kabuto Yakushi remarked, "Suppressing it doesn't seem difficult. The hard part is maintaining this technique for three days and three nights!"

"As the Dragon Vein is converted, the pressure on you will gradually lessen. This is the perfect opportunity to practice using Wood Release!"

Orochimaru formed hand seals again.

Bzzzt! The second layer activated. Dark-purple markings flowed onto the altar, climbed along the outside of Sasuke's arms, and crept up his cheeks before turning inward at his eyes. Finally, they converged on his forehead, forming a network for the Yang Seal with a hollow core. This also served as the channel through which the Dragon Vein Chakra would flow into the Yang Seal!

After another sequence of hand seals, Orochimaru held his hands in the final Rat seal!

Whoosh!

The channeling formula activated. Under Orochimaru's orderly guidance, the Dragon Vein Chakra buried deep underground flowed into Sasuke's body at a steady rate. Sasuke refined it with absolute concentration, gathering it in the hollow core where the network converged on his forehead.

Once the seal was fully completed, the legendary Yang Seal would manifest within that hollow core!

"Then I'd better get to work too!"

Karin's face grew serious. Holding two fingers upright, she unleashed her full sensory abilities!

Mind's Eye of the Kagura!

As the four worked together at a feverish pace to complete the Yang Seal, an uninvited guest arrived amid the swirling sands of Sunagakure, accompanied by an eerie Vortex. The village lay in the same Land of Wind, but a thousand miles from the Ancient Kingdom of Roran!

Neither Sunagakure's Barrier Team nor its sensory unit detected his arrival.

Who else could it have been but Obito Uchiha?

Whoosh!

After looking around, he released the main participants in this operation from his Space-Time dimension.

Suigetsu and Jugo, now officially members of Akatsuki, had changed into Akatsuki Robes. On his left index finger, Suigetsu wore the "Three" ring signifying Three of Akatsuki, while Jugo wore the "North" ring signifying North Star on his left middle finger.

At the meeting not long before, they had received the mission to hunt Shukaku of the Sand!

Since they were close associates, Obito had no need to conceal his abilities this time. He brought them straight to their destination, sparing them the tedious journey and infiltration!

Still... having to confront a jinchūriki head-on in enemy territory right after joining Akatsuki, how could Suigetsu and Jugo not be nervous?

Suigetsu in particular had made a bold declaration when Kisame Hoshigaki questioned him at the Akatsuki meeting: if he failed to bring Shukaku back, he would offer his own head!

But now that it was actually time to act, he felt as though his legs were about to turn to water!

"Damn it, I should never have said that. Now I've got no choice but to grit my teeth and do it..."

Jugo's unease came from having to kill someone who had never wronged him.

He truly hadn't expected Akatsuki to be an organization devoted to hunting tailed beasts!

He had no quarrel with Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchuriki. Without deliberately unleashing his murderous impulses, how could he bring himself to strike ruthlessly? Yet if he deliberately unleashed them, how could his conscience bear it?

Obito looked at the two hesitant men.

He said sternly, "This is your first mission as members of Akatsuki. It concerns not only whether Akatsuki's plans can proceed smoothly, but also whether you can establish yourselves within the organization..."

"Suigetsu... show the courage and ingenuity you displayed when you fought Pain. The One-Tail Jinchuriki is only a brat. You should already have learned about his abilities from Zetsu!"

Suigetsu voiced his concern. "I-I know that... but this is Sunagakure! If our fight draws attention, we'll definitely end up surrounded by enemies. Who knows if we'll even get out alive!"

Obito said, "We've already considered everything you can think of. Listen. As a jinchūriki, Gaara is regarded as a bad omen by the village. Last month, Sunagakure's leaders learned that he intended to succeed his father, Rasa, as Kazekage. Everyone in the village opposed it. In fact, he's already faced three assassination attempts this month!"

Suigetsu was astonished. "Hey, hey... what did this Gaara guy do to deserve that kind of hatred? If it were me, forget becoming Kazekage. I'd have slaughtered all those bastards and gotten the hell out!"

Thinking of that blond boy, Obito said gravely, "Well... that's the fate of a jinchūriki. The only people in Sunagakure who might protect Gaara are his jonin instructor, Baki, his older sister, Temari, and his older brother, Kankuro. But to make it easier to act against Gaara, the village leadership has already sent them away on missions. They aren't expected back for several days!"

Hearing this, Suigetsu said, "Oh, is that so..."

Obito said, "Yes. If Gaara is your target, Sunagakure will be eager to see that problem disappear as soon as possible. They won't go so far as to help, but they certainly won't interfere!"

Relieved, Suigetsu said, "Then there's nothing to be afraid of!"

Obito turned his gaze to Jugo, whose brow remained tightly furrowed.

"Jugo... you feel you have no quarrel with the jinchūriki, so you can't bear to kill him. Is that it?"

Jugo clenched his fists. "That's right..."

Beneath his mask, Obito's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Then you needn't hold back at all. Because Gaara of the Sand Waterfall is the very person who killed your old friend, Kimimaro... Kaguya!"

Tenbin Jugo's pupils abruptly contracted. "What... did you say!?"

"Now then, the target is alone at Sunagakure's training grounds. Go! Once you've succeeded, bring him to Akatsuki's rendezvous point to complete the sealing. Failure is not an option!"

Whoosh!

Having finished his instructions, Obito vanished into the space-time Vortex...