Akatsuki Strikes!

Six days had elapsed since Kai began supervising Naruto and Sasuke's training. The transformation was evident: Naruto had grasped the Rasengan's intricacies without relying on his clones—a feat accomplished within just three days. Not stopping there, Kai introduced him to the concept of Wind Release, and Naruto took to it as a duck to water, soon training feverishly with his army of clones.

Sasuke, ever the prodigy, had not lagged either. He was on the brink of infusing Lightning Release into the Rasengan, an ambitious endeavor aimed at eclipsing the Chidori, a jutsu considered inferior to the Rasengan. The atmosphere in the training grounds was electric, both figuratively and literally, as Sasuke honed his new technique.

Kai watched them, his eyes switching between the two young shinobi. His gaze was neither emotionless nor nonchalant, but profoundly discerning. When Tsunade walked over to him, he nodded once to acknowledge her presence.

"Naruto's Wind Release is coming along?" Tsunade asked, a look of quiet pride on her face.

"He's progressing," Kai responded.

Sasuke, who was in the process of forming a swirling ball of Lightning Release-infused chakra, glanced at them and then returned to his practice, silently renewing his focus.

"And Sasuke?" Tsunade inquired, her eyes narrowing as she watched the young Uchiha.

"Almost there," Kai said. A quick exchange, but it said much.

Naruto, pausing his training, wiped the sweat from his brow. "Hey, Sasuke! How's the new jutsu coming along?"

"Concentrate on your training, idiot," Sasuke retorted, but there was a hint of camaraderie in his tone, a rarity that did not go unnoticed.

Naruto grinned and went back to his clones. Each of them was locked in battle, the Rasengan meeting Rasengan in whirlwinds of chakra.

As if guided by an unseen force, Kai's gaze abruptly shifted to the West. Tsunade noticed the change and stepped closer. "What's wrong?"

Kai raised a hand, a signal that immediately commanded Naruto and Sasuke to cease their training. "Akatsuki strikes."

The word hung in the air like a dark cloud, prompting everyone to hold their breaths.

Tsunade squinted, her eyes meeting Kai's. "Sand?"

"The mark I left on Gaara is activated. I'm going there," he confirmed with a nod.

Tsunade came to his side and kissed him gently. "Be careful," she whispered.

Kai nodded in response and looked at Naruto and Sasuke. "Come with me. I will test you in this mission."

Naruto practically jumped with excitement, barely containing his enthusiasm. "Yes! Let's do it!"

Sasuke, more reserved but no less determined, moved to stand next to Kai.

It was at this moment that Jiraiya emerged from behind a tree, concern etched on his face. "Are you crazy? Taking Naruto to face the Akatsuki? You know they're after him too."

Kai stared at Jiraiya, unblinking. The message was clear—his word was final. Gripping Naruto and Sasuke by the shoulders, Kai's form shimmered as they prepared to vanish. Just before they did, his voice reverberated throughout the space, echoing even as they were gone. "No one can take him when I'm protecting him."

In an instant, they were amidst the swirling desert winds of the Sand Village. Naruto had to blink several times to adjust, the excitement and the tension palpable in the air.

Kai sensed the chakra before he saw it—a dark, malevolent force. The Akatsuki were already inside the village, no doubt searching for Gaara. But they hadn't reckoned with Kai.

Kai's senses locked onto two enemies as soon as he appeared in the desert. They were like flares in the darkness in his Chakra Senses. In a flash, he stood at the entrance of the village with Sasuke and Naruto beside him.

Opposite them was a figure in the Akatsuki cloak, the air tainted by an enigmatic vibe. Beneath the cloak was a puppet—a body constructed from numerous wooden compartments filled with weapons and tools. Each section seemed engineered for death. This was Sasori, the master puppeteer.

"You two deal with this one," Kai instructed Naruto and Sasuke. His eyes shifted to a Sand Shinobi standing near Sasori. "He's a traitor; you can kill him."

Sasuke nodded, unfazed by the gravity of the instruction. Naruto clenched his fists, visibly uncomfortable with the notion of killing.

"He uses poison, so be careful," Kai warned. In an instant, he vanished, leaving the two younger shinobi to face their enemy.

Kai reappeared atop the Kazekage Tower in the Sand Village. Almost simultaneously, Gaara flickered beside him. Above, suspended in the air, was Deidara—a blonde figure missing one arm. The absence of that limb was Kai's doing, a battle scar from their past encounter.

Deidara's eyes met Kai's for a moment—resentment and hatred mingling in his gaze—before focusing on Gaara.

"Fight freely," Kai told the Sand Village's leader. "I won't let any harm come to your village."

Gaara nodded, gratefulness subtly conveyed through the firmness of his gesture. He discarded his Kazekage  garb, stepping onto a mound of sand that lifted him into the air.

Back at the village entrance, Sasuke and Naruto stood ready. Sasori's puppet form emanated malice and dark intent.

"Stay alert, Naruto," Sasuke cautioned. "Don't underestimate him."

Naruto nodded. "Right. He's Akatsuki, after all."

As Kai vanished from the scene, leaving Naruto and Sasuke to confront Sasori, the tension was palpable. The atmosphere felt like a ticking time bomb, and everyone knew the countdown had begun.

Sasori unveiled his puppet's arm, revealing a concealed blade soaked with poison. "Children dealing with matters far beyond their reach," he sneered.

Sasuke activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, his eyes flickering like lit embers. "Don't underestimate us."

At that moment, Naruto dispersed into multiple clones. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Sasori chuckled. "Intriguing, but futile."

Naruto's clones dashed forward, Rasengans in hand, while Sasuke moved in a zigzag motion, carefully avoiding a direct path. As the clones converged on Sasori, the puppet master unleashed a barrage of needles from his puppet's mouth.

"Watch out, they're poisoned!" Naruto shouted.

Too late. Several clones disintegrated upon contact with the needles, but the others kept pushing. Sasuke, seizing the opportunity, released a fire jutsu. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

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