In Takigakure, Kakuzu sat in his office, reading the message Tetsuya had sent to his phone.
The message was short and clear, just one sentence.
Phase one complete. Phase two begins.
"Leader! Leader, something terrible has happened!"
"What is it? Look at you, panicking like that. Has the Akatsuki attacked us?"
Putting his phone away, Kakuzu scolded the newcomer. Only after seeing the sweat covering his forehead and his anxious expression did Kakuzu ask.
"Tell me, what exactly has you so panicked?"
"Leader, something's happened! Kaede... Kaede was captured by the Akatsuki!"
"What?!"
Kakuzu slammed a hand on his desk and rose to his feet.
"Why would this happen?! Only we and Konoha knew the route Kaede was taking to Konoha!"
"We don't know what happened either, Leader. Just now, we received a message written in blood, brought back by a summoning animal.
"It said that before they left the Land of Waterfalls, they encountered a group of Akatsuki members disguised as Konoha ninja!"
"Quick, gather the Elder Council! We're holding a meeting!"
Kakuzu called an emergency meeting. When everyone learned that Kaede had been captured by the Akatsuki, they were all horrified-and furious.
Only they and Konoha had known the route, yet the Akatsuki had learned of it. There was only one possible explanation: they had bet on the wrong side. Konoha probably really did have ties to the Akatsuki.
"Damn the Akatsuki! Damn Konoha!"
"Leader, what should we do now?"
"What can we do? We're no match for either Konoha or the Akatsuki!"
"Are we just going to accept this?"
"No! We can't just accept this! I can't stomach it!"
"But even if we can't stomach it, what can we do? Do any of you have a solution?"
As everyone argued and sighed, Kakuzu suddenly stood up and