Kisame confidently retracted his shark-like weapon.
"Mr. Itachi, it seems you haven't grasped the situation."
Kisame quickly formed hand seals: "Water Style: Great Eruption Wave!"
A torrent of water erupted from Kisame's mouth, instantly forming a colossal, oval-shaped water prison.
Roshi's eyes widened in alarm as he was engulfed by the water prison.
The surface of the water began to boil, and the lava surrounding Roshi rapidly extinguished.
Kisame smirked, raising two fingers: "Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
A massive, shark-shaped water projectile materialized before Kisame.
It was only then that Itachi truly understood the situation: "So Kisame's Water Style precisely counters the Four-Tails Jinchuriki's Lava Style..."
"Then the battle should be over..."
Roshi, hampered by the water's resistance and Kisame's jutsu, was unable to transform into his Tailed Beast form.
He could only watch helplessly as the shark bullet hurtled towards him.
However, unwilling to surrender, he unleashed a Lava Style ninjutsu: "Lava Style: Burning River Rock Technique!"
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Multiple magma spheres were spat from Roshi's mouth, but upon contact with the shark, they were instantly absorbed.
The shark bit down on Roshi's body and slammed him violently towards the bottom of the water.
Kisame smiled in satisfaction, then clasped his hands together, dispelling the water prison.
The mighty Four-Tails Jinchuriki was defeated.
He was unwilling, but he had no choice but to face an enemy who countered his Lava Style.
If it had been Itachi alone, it might have taken longer.
But for now, it was all over.
Akatsuki.
Inside a dim stone cave.
Pain and the others were discussing plans to capture the Tailed Beasts.
At that moment, Kisame and Itachi slowly entered, carrying Roshi's body.
"Yosh, everyone's here."
"We can show off our team's strength."
Kisame mockingly eyed the assembled group, then unceremoniously dumped Roshi on the ground.
Pain approached, squatted down, and gently touched Roshi's body.
A monkey emanating flames appeared in his consciousness.
"Heh, that's right, it's the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Son Goku."
Kisame was taken aback: "The Four-Tails is called Son Goku? No wonder this guy was reading that book 'Havoc in Heaven'."
"So he really wanted to be the Great Sage."
"Excellent, this is the first Tailed Beast captured by our Akatsuki organization. I imagine the Five Great Nations will now intensify their defenses," Pain stated, nodding at Itachi and Kisame.
"Let's deal with the matter at hand first."
The members lined up before the Gedo Statue.
However, there were only eight of them now. At least ten people were needed to activate the Gedo Statue.
Jashin was currently serving as a decorative plant for Sumiki.
Scorpion's whereabouts were unknown.
Nagato sighed helplessly, and then two unfamiliar ninjas entered the stone cave from outside.
Everyone turned to look. The two ninjas bore a slight resemblance to their leader, Pain, though they couldn't quite pinpoint where the similarity lay.
"Let's begin."
The ten individuals focused their consciousness on the Gedo Statue simultaneously.
*Boom!*
The entire stone cave trembled violently.
The Gedo Statue was activated, and a thick chain was released from its mouth.
The chain pierced Roshi's body, and a roar echoed through the stone cave.
The Four-Tails, Son Goku, was bound by the chain and forcibly extracted from Roshi's body.
It was then pulled into the Gedo Statue's mouth.
After absorbing the Four-Tails' chakra, the Gedo Statue slowly closed its mouth and fell back into slumber.
"Tada~ I'm exhausted!"
Tobi, wearing a spiral mask, stumbled and collapsed onto the ground.
Kisame looked at Tobi, bewildered: "Who is this? A new recruit?"
Pain nodded slowly: "Tobi was entrusted to us by Scorpion and joined the Akatsuki. He disappeared after leaving his ring."
Itachi, standing behind Pain, kept his gaze fixed on Tobi's mask. For some reason, he felt as if he knew the person beneath the mask.
That chakra, it was familiar.
"Deidara, you will temporarily team up with Tobi."
"As for Kakuzu, he will remain with me in the Hidden Rain Village. The Akatsuki's expenses require a thorough accounting lately."
Pain said calmly.
"Yo~ Teaming up with senpai Deidara!"
Tobi scurried to Deidara, jumping and flapping his hands excitedly: "I'm so thrilled, senpai!"
Deidara looked at Tobi with disdain. He had considered refusing, but given Tobi's enthusiasm, he let it slide.
This guy seemed a bit simple-minded. How could someone like him join the Akatsuki so easily?
"Deidara, the Three-Tails is currently in the wild. Without a Jinchuriki, it's quite easy to capture."
"Take Tobi along for some practical experience," Pain instructed before turning and walking deeper into the stone cave.
"Finally, I can get some rest, Mr. Itachi."
Kisame comfortably found a spot to sit down. For a while, there would be no more rushing around.
Itachi remained silent and walked out of the stone cave.
The sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds.
In an instant, a torrential downpour began.
Itachi looked up, closed his eyes, and let the rain drench his face.
"Huh..."
Kisame looked at Itachi outside the cave and shook his head helplessly: "That's not good for your health."
An umbrella suddenly appeared above Itachi's head.
Kisame, standing behind him, chuckled: "From this angle, it looks like you're crying."
"Is that so? I thought I was irredeemable, and only in the rain could I feel clear-headed," Itachi said softly.
Kisame burst out laughing: "It seems we're both irredeemable..."
"When it rains, I feel the same way as you, Mr. Itachi..."
Hidden Stone Village.
Onoki was immediately informed of Roshi's abduction by the Akatsuki.
He trembled with rage, but as he was about to erupt, he felt a twinge in his back.
"That old rascal Roshi. If he hadn't been so stubborn back then, I wouldn't have argued with him so much."
"If he thought I had a bad temper, he should have just said so. Why did he leave the village? What's so good about being a wandering monk!"
"Now that he's been captured, our Hidden Stone Village is the first to have its Jinchuriki taken by the Akatsuki!"
"It's utterly shameful to have this spread!"
Onoki sat in his chair and sighed helplessly.
Beside him, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi dared not even breathe.
"From now on, protect Han closely. If he's captured, our Hidden Stone Village will lose its balance with the other Four Great Nations!"
"The other four nations are surely increasing their defenses now. We've become the tool that alerted them."
"I cannot stand this insult!"
"Investigate clearly who among the Akatsuki captured Roshi!"
Onoki slammed the table in anger.
At that moment, Kurotsuchi entered from outside.
"Grandfather, there's new information from Sumiki's side."