After a full twenty-seven days at sea, the ship steered by Orochimaru docked at a port in the northwest of the Land of Waterfalls.
The Land of Waterfalls bordered the Land of Grass, where the First Battle at Tenchi Bridge had taken place. The Land of Grass, in turn, bordered Amegakure, the destination of the Sixth Battle. It was only a day's journey on foot.
There was still plenty of time. Considerate of Orochimaru, who had not slept for nearly a month, Sasuke suggested resting at an inn in the Land of Waterfalls.
At the Akatsuki's secret Stronghold in the Land of Waterfalls.
The Phantom Dragon drew out the last of the brilliant crimson and returned to the Demonic Statue's mouth. The dark-skinned girl with pale green hair fell from midair like a bird with broken wings, becoming a cold corpse.
Her name was Fū, a girl born and raised in Takigakure... Like Naruto, she had been chosen as the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki because of her naturally immense chakra.
Just moments ago, the Akatsuki had finished sealing the Seven-Tails!
It had all begun while Sasuke was preparing for the Fifth Battle, when Obito had spoken candidly with Kisame.
Obito hoped to finish hunting and sealing the Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Eight-Tails within a month, paving the way for Nagato to begin the Nine-Tails Hunt.
Within seven days, Kisame returned to his homeland, defeated Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, and sealed the tailed beast on the spot.
But on his subsequent trip to Takigakure to hunt the Seven-Tails, he hit a snag.
It was not that Fū was stronger than the previous jinchūriki. Rather, the Seven-Tails' unique ability to fly was a particularly bad matchup for Kisame!
Kisame had no choice but to retreat for the time being... Several days later, Deidara, who