At the border of the Land of Lightning lay a barren valley covered in jagged rocks and sparse, cold-hardy vegetation. A shrill wind howled through the cracks in the stone, stirring up clouds of sand and dust.
Sasuke Uchiha stood atop a jutting boulder, his Akatsuki cloak snapping in the wind. His face was expressionless, save for his scarlet Sharingan, which coldly watched the figure at the other end of the valley, also dressed in an Akatsuki uniform-Kisame Hoshigaki-and Zetsu, who was slowly emerging from the ground beside him.
"Tch, so I have to partner up with a brat." Kisame carried the bandage-wrapped Samehada on his shoulder, impatience showing on his sharklike face. "What the hell is Tobi thinking?"
"Hee-hee, don't say that, Mr. Kisame," the White Zetsu half said with a giggle. "This newcomer is very 'special.' You'll see soon enough."
The Black Zetsu half silently observed Sasuke, particularly the faint, icy aura surrounding him that seemed utterly at odds with his surroundings.
Sasuke ignored their conversation, focusing entirely on his senses. According to the intelligence Zetsu had provided, Yugito, the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki, was active in this area.
Before long, an agile figure appeared at the valley's entrance. She was a tall female ninja with long, straight, beige-brown hair-Yugito, the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki. She seemed to have detected the unusual chakra in the valley as well. Stopping warily, she swept a sharp gaze toward Sasuke and the others.
"Akatsuki..." Yugito's gaze hardened as she immediately recognized their distinctive Akatsuki cloaks. Powerful blue chakra erupted around her, burning like flames. "You skulking rats dare set foot in the Land of Lightning!"
"Target confirmed," Sasuke said coldly. His figure vanished from the boulder in an instant, becoming a blur wreathed in dark purple lightning as he charged straight at Yugito!
So fast!