In a secret cave in the Land of Rivers.
The projections of the Akatsuki members were still performing the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals.
Just then, Uchiha Itachi, who had kept his eyes closed and remained utterly composed, suddenly felt something strange in his backside.
Then... a flood of memories entered his mind.
Once he learned how his clone had been defeated... Itachi was anything but composed.
"And... why were there two Narutos?"
Because... he had fought Little Naruto, he could confirm that neither Big Naruto nor Little Naruto was a clone or using the Transformation Technique...
Pain, who had been controlling the Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals, noticed Uchiha Itachi occasionally squirming his backside and found it puzzling.
"Vermilion Bird, is something wrong?"
"Nothing. The clone you created for me was defeated, Leader..."
"Hmm? That quickly?"
He was rather surprised to hear that the Uchiha Itachi he had created with the Shapeshifting Technique had already been defeated.
"In that case... let's pick up the pace! Those people will probably be here soon!"
Meanwhile.
After defeating the fake Uchiha Itachi, the group set off again.
They were not far from the location the ninja dog had tracked down. They only needed to cross the forest ahead to reach it.
When they were still a few kilometers from their destination, Kurama spoke up inside Little Naruto's Sealing Space.
"This is bad... Shukaku's presence has disappeared!"
Hearing Kurama's words, Little Naruto immediately frowned.
He had thought... as long as they defeated that fake Uchiha Itachi faster, they would have time to save Gaara. But it seemed... the Akatsuki had sped things up on their end too.
However, Little Naruto did not tell them that Gaara was already dead. They continued onward and soon reached a torii. Behind it was a