Visitors to Rōran!

After escaping Sunagakure unscathed, Suigetsu and Jugo raced north.

Akatsuki had Strongholds in every nation. During their Tailed Beast hunts, the members responsible would bring the Jinchūriki to the nearest Stronghold, where Akatsuki's leader, Pain, would summon everyone's Projections to seal the Tailed Beast together.

Before dawn the next day, Suigetsu and Jugo arrived outside the cave where Sasori and Deidara had brought Gaara in the previous life.

A boulder weighing tens of thousands of pounds blocked the cave entrance, with a Sealing Talisman pasted onto it.

Suigetsu peeled off the Sealing Talisman and raised two fingers to form a hand seal. With a rumble, the boulder rose. He and Jugo entered, and the boulder dropped behind them.

Having received word, the Projections of Pain and the other Akatsuki members were already waiting there.

Pain greeted them. "Thank you for your hard work, both of you. You put on a splendid debut, even setting an example for your seniors."

Pain had assigned these two newcomers, Suigetsu and Jugo, to hunt the One-Tail not merely because Shukaku ranked among the weakest Tailed Beasts, but also to spur Akatsuki's veteran members into action.

If two newcomers could complete their mission, those proud veterans would be all the more reluctant to fall behind.

Kisame Hoshigaki chuckled. "Heh heh, Suigetsu, I'm starting to see you in a new light."

Tobi played the fool. "Oh dear... Being a senior is so much pressure~!"

Deidara pointed out, "Tobi, you only joined Akatsuki a few days before they did, and you have the nerve to call yourself their senior!"

Tobi scratched his head. "But I saved your life, Deidara..."

Deidara snapped, "Hey! How long are you going to keep bringing that up?! I'll pay you back with my life one of these days—with my ultimate art!!"

Suigetsu seemed to have grown used to Tobi's completely different personas in public and in private.

After all, he had his own reasons for joining Akatsuki.

He seized the chance to claim credit, spinning tall tales without hesitation. "Ah, you seniors have no idea. Shukaku went berserk inside this guy! We risked our lives to subdue him, then braved a nonstop barrage of Explosive Tags to escape an encirclement of over ten thousand Sunagakure ninja. We barely made it out alive!"

Pain did not expose his exaggerated claims. He simply said, "In any case, you completed your mission perfectly. Akatsuki will certainly remember your contribution. Now, let us begin sealing the Tailed Beast!"

Pain's Projection formed hand seals.

Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!

Rumble!

Before the stone wall deep inside the cave, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path rose with a thunderous rumble, its hands firmly bound by Chain and all ten fingers spread!

Suigetsu exclaimed, "So this is the Vessel used to seal the Tailed Beasts! It's terrifying—even more terrifying than Shukaku!"

Under Pain's direction, all the Akatsuki members took their places on the statue's fingers corresponding to their rings. Suigetsu stared at the last vacant spot, the little finger of its left hand, lost in thought.

Pain asked, "Suigetsu, is something troubling you?"

Suigetsu replied, "Ah... I was just curious about that empty spot."

Pain said, "Akatsuki's Void Dust position, represented by the Ring of Void on the left little finger, was taken by Orochimaru. Had Orochimaru not defected, that place would have been his. But now, he is Akatsuki's sworn enemy. He and Sasuke Uchiha will eventually die at our hands!"

"..." On the statue's right ring finger, an almost imperceptible depth flashed through Itachi's expression.

Suigetsu replied, "I see. Understood."

"Then let us begin. The sealing will last three days and three nights. Everyone, make sure your real bodies are somewhere safe!"

Sealing Jutsu: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals!

Whoosh!

The statue opened its enormous mouth and received everyone's Chakra, gathering it into a dense, glowing mass in its throat. Moments later, nine Phantom Dragons roared out of that mass and lifted Gaara from where he lay on his back on the cold ground into the air!

"Aaargh...!!!"

Enveloped by the Phantom Dragons, Gaara let out a scream. Crimson Chakra poured from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, flowing along the dragons' bodies into the statue's mouth. From that moment on, his life was on a countdown!

Three days later, at the edge of the Land of Wind's desert, Sunagakure's elite Jonin Baki was returning from a mission with Temari and Kankuro.

They did not know that the village leadership had arranged this mission to make it easier to act against Gaara. Nor had they received any message from Sunagakure after the incident!

Still a teenage girl, Temari was eager to have fun.

She stood her folded Three-Star Fan beneath her arm and looked at the scenery at the desert's edge. "We're not far from the legendary Ancient Kingdom of Roran, right? We don't get a chance like this often, Baki-Teacher. Let's go sightseeing!"

Baki said, "We need to return to the village and report as soon as possible. Next time."

Temari insisted, "Once Gaara becomes Kazekage, Kankuro and I will have to stick by his side all the time. Come on, Teacher, let's go! Aren't you always teaching us that ninja should broaden their horizons?"

Baki relented. "Fine, but let me make this clear first. A dangerous Dragon Vein is sealed in Rōran. You may only look from a distance. You mustn't go near it!"

"Great! Let's hurry!"

Temari flicked the fan up with her toes, rested it on her bare shoulder above her fishnet tube top, and headed toward Rōran!

At the same time.

In the Rōran Ruins, the Yang Seal that Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, and Sasuke were working together to create was nearing its Finale.

Karin, who was handling sensory duties, immediately grew alert. “Someone's approaching. Three people, all with strong Chakra. The one in front is especially strong—probably above Jonin level!”

Orochimaru's brow furrowed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "The Yang Seal is almost complete. We can't step away right now. Karin, go stall them!"

"Understood!"

Karin immediately headed outside.

Outside the Rōran Ruins.

Temari really had come to sightsee. "This architecture is so ancient. It really makes you wonder what kind of civilization Rōran was. And how did it fall?"

"As for Rōran..."

As their Jonin instructor, Baki was about to demonstrate his extensive knowledge when he faintly sensed a Chakra presence within Rōran's Temple that made his heart pound.

"Hmm... Something feels wrong. Could it be...?"

"Temari, Kankuro, wait here. I'll go inside and take a look."

Seeing Baki's serious expression, Temari and Kankuro immediately asked, "Is something going on?"

Baki said gravely, "Yes. Seems we've arrived at just the right moment. I'm afraid someone has their sights on the Dragon Vein sealed here. The Dragon Vein is the property of the Land of Wind. We can't allow outsiders to claim it!"

Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances, setting aside their sightseeing mood.

"We're coming too!"

Baki knew they were both children of the Previous Kazekage. Once Gaara became Kazekage, they would be his right-hand aides, and their own abilities had long since surpassed Chunin level.

So he did not refuse.

"Then stay behind me, and don't act rashly!"

The three climbed the Temple steps. Just then... a slender girl appeared at the top. "Stop right there!"

Seeing that the young girl showed no fear whatsoever in the face of the three of them, Baki demanded, "Who are you? How dare you trespass on our nation's restricted grounds!"

Knowing full well that combat was not her strength, Karin tried to talk her way out. "What proof do you have that you're from the Land of Wind?"

Heh.

Baki sneered and pointed at his Forehead Protector, declaring with complete confidence, "Isn't my sand Forehead Protector proof enough?"

Karin spread her hands. "If a scrap of metal counts as proof, anyone could pretend to be a ninja. Anyway, we're carrying out official business. Please leave!"

A cold smile appeared on the half of Baki's face covered by white cloth. "Heh. Then I'd like to see just what official business you're carrying out!"

Whoosh!

The moment he finished speaking, he gripped his blade and became a gust of wind, charging straight at the unarmed Karin!