In Konoha, they wiped out the Sarutobi clan at the start.

Chapter 218 The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Erzhuzi felt he was back to normal.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Nan asked curiously.

"It's just sealing off the acupoints and meridians all over her body, so she shouldn't die immediately after the tailed beast is separated," Qianye replied.

"Even if they survive, they'll be nothing more than withered leaves in autumn—a futile effort." Payne glanced at Fu and said expressionlessly, "Alright, enough of this small talk. Let's prepare for the sealing ritual."

After saying that, Payne formed hand seals, slammed them on the ground, and whispered, "Summoning Jutsu."

Rumble!

The cave floor suddenly began to shake.

Immediately afterwards, a huge stone sculpture rose from the ground.

This stone sculpture is humanoid, but it has nine eyes and a very strange posture, as if it is praying. It is the shell of the Ten-Tails, the Gedo Mazo.

"Come on up," Payne said, jumping onto the right thumb of the Gedo Statue.

Chiya and Konan also jumped onto the corresponding positions on their respective rings, standing on the fingers of the Gedo Mazo.

Pain formed a hand seal with his right hand and channeled chakra into the ring, which immediately produced a reaction.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

All the other Akatsuki members appeared out of thin air on the corresponding golem fingers, but not in their actual forms; they were projections of the Illusionary Body Technique.

All members of the Akatsuki simultaneously formed hand seals and growled, "Nine Seals of the Illusionary Dragon!"

Zero, Green, White, Vermilion, Black, Empty, South, North, Three, Jade.

These ten words simultaneously lit up on the corresponding fingers of the golem.

With a hum, the Gedo Mazo opened its mouth and emitted a beam of light that enveloped the two Jinchūriki on the ground, suspending them in the air.

Then, red chakra bubbles emerged from the eyes and mouths of the two figures, slowly drifting into the golem's mouth.

"Because we are sealing two tailed beasts at the same time, even with ten people, the sealing will take five days to complete." Pain, still in his hand seals, said to the group, "Please bear with us, the seal will be over soon."

"Oh my, I really envy Mr. Chiyo's partner. He doesn't have to participate in the sealing. I wish I had joined the organization last." Kisame looked around and, seeing that he didn't see Yekura, couldn't help but say enviously.

Bai Zetsu chuckled from the side, "You can't be envious of this. Qianye is very considerate of his female comrades. It seems he didn't even let Yekura participate in capturing the Five-Tails this time, just letting her watch from the sidelines. I boldly guess there's something going on between them."

Before it could finish speaking, Qianye glared at it and threatened, "White Zetsu, if you feel stuffy, do you need me to loosen your muscles next time and turn you into a second Orochimaru?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jue quickly shut his mouth. Although his vitality and self-healing ability were very strong, they could not withstand Qianye's power.

"Shut up, White Zetsu," Black Zetsu snapped.

This guy is truly capable of killing them.

A dark, enclosed laboratory, flickering candlelight, with various experimental equipment and drugs laid out on a huge experimental table.

Since the end of the Konoha Crush plan, Orochimaru has been constantly monitoring the Akatsuki's movements.

At that moment, Kabuto was reporting to him.

"Lord Orochimaru, I just received news that the Akatsuki organization has finally begun to take action. A week ago, Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure, was captured on the border of the Land of Earth."

"At the same time, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki of Tsurugakure disappeared after participating in the second Chunin Exams jointly held by Sunagakure and Konoha, and unsurprisingly fell into the hands of Akatsuki."

"Do you know who did it?" Orochimaru asked with interest, sitting on a stone chair with his right hand supporting his chin.

"The identity of the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki cannot be confirmed, but there is a high probability that it is Kakuzu from Tsurugakure and his partner Hidan. As for the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, he is probably the one you are most familiar with among the many Akatsuki members."

Kabuto turned around and gently touched his glasses.

"Fujiwara. Chiya?" Orochimaru's eyes widened suddenly, his golden vertical pupils flashing with undisguised killing intent.

Orochimaru was furious at the mere mention of Fujiwara Chiya.

Three years ago, this guy not only ruined his own hands, but also broke his promise not to interfere with Sasuke, extending the deadline for Sasuke's defection. As a result, after enduring a month of burning pain in his arms, he ended up with nothing and was forced to reincarnate prematurely once again before Sasuke arrived.

Dou nodded. "Yes, it's him. But he's as amazing as ever. The Third Tsuchikage, who possesses the Bloodstained Elimination skill, didn't even send out a symbolic rescue team after learning that the Five-Tails Jinchuriki had been captured."

"Not only that, but the news has been completely blocked. I'm afraid the other four of the five great nations are still unaware that the tailed beast has been captured."

Orochimaru smiled wickedly, "Of course. Even if we send out a rescue team, it will only increase casualties against Senya-kun."

"However, Onoki's stubbornness is truly beyond my expectations. His own Jinchuriki has been captured, but he doesn't even want to spread the news. Is he worried that it will bring shame to Iwagakure?"

"Oh well, whatever. As long as they don't bother me."

As the two were talking, the laboratory door opened, and a young man walked in—it was Erzhuzi three years later.

Three years have passed, and Sasuke has grown noticeably taller, wearing a pure white kimono and dark blue trousers. The back of the kimono features a small Uchiha clan crest, and dark gray arm guards cover his forearms, extending to his hands. A purple rope belt is tied around his waist, with a Kusanagi sword tucked into it.

Compared to three years ago, Erzhuzi's strength has improved dramatically, but at the same time, he has become increasingly ruthless, giving people a chilling feeling.

"Did you go rummage through corpses again?" Erzhuzi frowned at Yakushi Kabuto, his disdain undisguised. He could smell the stench of a corpse on Kabuto.

"Tch," Kabuto's expression suddenly turned ugly. He avoided Sasuke's gaze, clicked his tongue, and then seemed to have thought of something. A sly smile appeared on his face. "There's some news that you might find very interesting."

"Speak," Erzhuzi said in a commanding tone.

Kabuto said gloatingly, "The guy who defeated you three years ago after only teaching the Fifth Hokage's daughter for half a month has just captured the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. Now the Akatsuki will probably be facing off against Naruto Uzumaki, who is also a Jinchuriki."

"Fujiwara Chiya." This time, Sasuke's face turned ugly. Losing to a four-year-old girl after three years was a disgrace to his life, a pain he could never erase after the Uchiha clan massacre. For this reason, he had been training himself like a madman for the past three years.

And this pain was precisely what Qianye had inflicted on him back then.

"I'll kill him sooner or later."

"If you can do it, but this is something even your brother Itachi Uchiha couldn't do." Kabuto's smile remained unchanged. For the first time in three years, he had gained the upper hand in his conflict with Sasuke, and for a moment, he felt incredibly happy.

P.S.: Third update

(End of this chapter)