Chapter 43: Farewell, Partner
The pursuers closed in as the sealing of the One-Tail continued.
On the morning of the fourth day, after three days of sealing, the sealing of the One-Tail entered its final stage.
"The enemy is here, very close."
Zetsu sensed that the enemy had already entered within five kilometers.
"How do we deal with those annoying flies?"
Kisame seemed eager to get closer; his main body was not far from the Land of Rivers.
"Don't bother. We still have one layer of insurance. If that fails, Bai Ye, Deidara, and Sasori, the three of you will hold them off."
Su Xiao and the others had their main bodies inside the cave, while everyone else was just a projection.
"Alright."
The sealing continued. Contrary to expectations, in the final stage, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path became active, greatly speeding up the sealing process.
When the last wisp of red chakra drifted out of Gaara's body, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path closed its mouth. Gaara, who had been floating in midair, fell to the ground.
With a thud, Gaara crashed to the floor. His sand armor completely shattered and peeled away, and the breath of life vanished from Gaara's body.
The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, died after having his tailed beast extracted.
"It's over."
Pain breathed a sigh of relief. This sealing had been somewhat perilous; the pursuit force from Konoha and the Sand Village was already outside the cave.
"Damn, my shoulders are sore."
"So tired. How many more times do we have to repeat this? Such a headache."
The Akatsuki members all looked relaxed. The sealing was complete.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
Boom!
Just as Pain was speaking, a dull thud came from the rock wall at the cave entrance.
"They're already this close. Surprisingly, there's a jinchuriki among the pursuit force... the Nine-Tails, huh."
Pain looked at Su Xiao and the three others.
"Leave the rest to you three. As for that jinchuriki... capture him if you have the chance; if not, just retreat. It's too early to capture the Nine-Tails now."
Pain's projection vanished. He said this purely out of respect for Itachi. The projections of the other members also disappeared.
Bang.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path turned into white smoke and vanished.
"Hey, hey, that's so unfair. The pursuers are already at the door."
Deidara yawned. He hadn't rested much in these three days.
"It can't be helped. After all, our main bodies are right here."
Sasori's tone was a bit off, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
Boom! Boom!
Loud crashes echoed from outside. Those outside the cave were trying to forcefully break through the boulder blocking the entrance.
The three inside the cave remained unfazed. The cave was protected by the "Five-Seal Barrier." This barrier involved setting up the same seal at five different locations. Unless all five seals were broken simultaneously, they would interconnect, making it impossible to break through just one.
This was a seal set up by Nagato, and the Five-Seal Barrier had another trick to it, which would help Su Xiao and the others hold off the four enemies outside the cave.
At that moment, Kakashi and the others stood outside the cave. The team consisted of eight people:
Team Guy: Guy himself, Neji, Tenten, and Lee.
Team Kakashi: Kakashi himself, Naruto, and Sakura.
Sand Team: Chiyo.
Ironically, even though the captured jinchuriki and Kazekage were from the Sand Village, Konoha had sent more ninja than the Sand Village.
Outside the cave.
"This is the situation. To break the Five-Seal Barrier, five people need to destroy the five seals simultaneously. Neji."
Kakashi signaled Neji to use his Byakugan to observe.
Neji formed hand seals.
"Byakugan."
The veins around Neji's temples bulged, and his vision changed.
"Found them."
Neji pointed out several locations. Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then looked at Guy. Team Guy had exactly four members, and with his cooperation, they could break the seal.
"Understood."
Team Guy sprang into action.
...
Inside the cave, Su Xiao and the others could faintly hear the conversation outside.
"If you really want to come, hurry up and get in."
Deidara, though still recovering from his injuries, showed no fear.
"Here they come."
Boom!
Dust surged, and rubble flew. A pink-haired kunoichi burst into the cave in a punching stance, wearing black gloves on her hands.
"Nice entrance, hm."
Deidara and Sasori each stood on one side of Gaara's corpse. Su Xiao sat on a large rock not far away, with Bubu Wang crouching at his feet.
Four figures rushed into the cave: Kakashi, Chiyo, Naruto, and Sakura.
As for Team Guy, they were already held up by the seal Nagato had set up and couldn't join the battle anytime soon.
Kakashi surveyed the situation inside the cave. After spotting Gaara's corpse, his expression darkened.
"We're too late."
Naruto stood frozen in place. He, too, saw Gaara's body.
An ominous aura spread. Naruto's teeth began to sharpen, and his pupils shifted from their original sky-blue to blood-red.
"You bastards!"
Seeing Gaara's corpse, Naruto's emotions spiraled slightly out of control, showing signs of tailed beast transformation.
"Oh? So this must be the guy."
Deidara sat on Gaara's corpse, sizing up Naruto not far away.
"Bastard, get off him!"
Gaara's death clearly provoked Naruto. Seeing someone sitting on Gaara's body made Naruto's anger understandable.
Naruto and Gaara were both jinchuriki, both had tragic childhoods, and their mutual understanding had naturally made them close friends.
"No mistake, this guy is the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Just like Itachi said, the one who yells the loudest when coming in is the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Quite an apt description."
Sasori beside him said nothing. He simply stared calmly at Granny Chiyo—his own grandmother.
Slap, slap~
Deidara patted Gaara's face, glancing sideways at Naruto.
"Give him back, you bastard!"
Naruto kicked off the ground and charged at full speed toward Deidara.
"Deidara, don't provoke the jinchuriki. It's a pain to deal with him after he starts releasing tails."
Su Xiao stood up, drawing the Dragon-Slaying Flash from his waist.
"Naruto, calm down! This is a trap!"
Kakashi stepped in front of Naruto, his eyes fixed on Su Xiao.
"The enemy wants you to get close, like that guy over there."
"Huh?"
Naruto blinked, and the blood-red in his pupils faded slightly.
"Deidara, you should have just cut off the One-Tail jinchuriki's head. Then the Nine-Tails jinchuriki would definitely have charged over."
Su Xiao sounded regretful. If Naruto had dared to come forward earlier, even with Kakashi nearby, Naruto would have either died or left some "parts" behind.
"Deidara."
Sasori, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"Hm?"
"I'll handle that guy." Sasori looked at the corpse beneath Deidara and said, "The Nine-Tails jinchuriki seems to really want this body."
"Looks like it."
Deidara looked at Naruto, a smile spreading across his face.
"Brother Sasori."
Sasori looked at Deidara with confusion.
"I know you might get angry hearing this, but... leave the Nine-Tails jinchuriki to me."
"Don't get cocky! You and Bai Ye already caught one. Bai Ye, what do you say?"
"Don't look at me. You two do whatever you want."
Su Xiao had no intention of going after the Nine-Tails for now. It was too dangerous. Why go after the strongest when there were plenty of easier targets?
After a few exchanges between Deidara and Sasori, the team had its usual internal squabble. Deidara took Gaara's corpse, hopped onto a clay bird, and flew out of the cave. Kakashi and Naruto immediately gave chase.
Now, only four people and one dog remained in the cave: Su Xiao, Sasori, Chiyo, and Sakura.
"Bai Ye, I'll handle this."
Sasori spoke up.
"You don't need me to kill this one?"
Su Xiao pointed his blade at Sakura. He was the bane of taijutsu-type ninja like her.
"Thanks, but no need."
Sasori meant to stay behind alone.
"Fine then, Sasori... farewell."
Su Xiao walked toward the cave entrance.
"Goodbye. You're much more reliable than Deidara. You were a good partner."