The cold air of the Northern Valley bit through layers of cloaks and armor as Haruto descended onto the frost-covered earth. His boots crunched through ice-laced moss, the sound sharp and brittle in the silence. Beside him, Tobi phased down with ghost-like grace, his single eye glowing faintly beneath his mask, while Itachi landed in a soft crouch, as silent and graceful as falling snow.
A pale, full moon loomed above like a sentinel eye, bathing the jagged cliffs and broken temple ruins in silver. The wind howled through skeletal trees, whispering ancient names long buried beneath the ice.
"So this is the place," Haruto muttered, his breath forming mist in the frigid air. His eyes scanned the ruined monastery ahead—stone walls cracked and overgrown, ancient symbols half-faded by time. "If our informant was right, the Two-Tails was last seen here… weeks ago."
Tobi leaned lazily against a frost-bitten tree, arms folded. "I hate the cold. It feels like the wind's trying to peel off my soul."
"You don't have one," Haruto said dryly, though a small smirk tugged at the edge of his mouth.
Itachi stepped ahead, his Sharingan active and focused. "The snow's been disturbed. Footprints… someone moved through here. Recently."
Haruto crouched and traced the prints with gloved fingers. "Not civilians. Too heavy, too fast… might've been carrying something. Possibly wounded."
His Rinnegan shimmered faintly, scanning the area not with sight—but with resonance.
A pulse.
Below.
"They're not above ground. The chakra... it's coming from beneath the ruins."
He approached the altar at the heart of the temple ruins—now half-buried under snow. Haruto pressed a palm against the marble, his chakra flowing through the cracks like water. The hidden seal resisted, then shattered with a sharp pulse.
Stone rumbled beneath their feet.
The ground split in a perfect circle, revealing a spiral staircase carved into the depths—pitch-black and humming with dormant power.
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "We proceed with caution."
Tobi chuckled. "Ghost girls, possessed cats, or chakra beasts—call me curious."
Haruto led them downward, the steps echoing with each footfall. As they descended, the temperature shifted—from freezing, to cool, to damp—and then, suddenly, hot.
A heavy, tainted chakra thickened the air.
They emerged into a vast subterranean chamber. Moss glowing green clung to the walls, casting an eerie light across the stone floor. At the center of the room, chained to an iron altar, was a massive feline figure. Its fur was a blue flame, flickering faintly with each breath.
But something was wrong.
"No soul," Itachi muttered. "It's not alive."
Haruto stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "It's a chakra construct. Someone tried to clone the Two-Tails. But it's incomplete."
Tobi poked a chain. "So we've got a fake kitty with no personality. Creepy."
Haruto examined the seal on the beast's chest—warped, twitching like a dying flame.
"Orochimaru might be behind this…" he muttered.
"Or Danzo," Itachi added. "He dabbled in forbidden cloning techniques during the old wars."
Tobi tilted his head. "Cell cloning? Ew."
Haruto turned away, cloak swirling. "We've seen enough. Let's move before the heat catches wind."
---
Three Days Later – Sunagakure
The desert sun beat down in waves, but Haruto lay sprawled atop a dune, eyes half-closed, as if listening to the heartbeat of the sand.
"I feel it," he murmured. "The One-Tail's chakra… it's still inside the village."
Itachi knelt beside him, his crimson Sharingan swirling. "Agreed. It hasn't moved for days. The host must still be a child."
Tobi was already brushing sand from his boots. "Perfect. Let's leave before someone recognizes my... charming aura."
Haruto stood, the desert wind tugging at his cloak. "Then onward."
---
Later – Whisper Markets of the South
"What's next on our chakra-hunting scavenger list?" Haruto asked, walking through a dusty trail lit by hanging paper lamps.
Tobi raised a scroll. "Three-Tails. Word is, he's been seen buying chakra-reactive stones in a black-market bazaar up north. Some say he travels under a genjutsu—looks like a wandering merchant."
Haruto's eyes twinkled. "A tailed beast going rock shopping? Cute."
Tobi shrugged. "Time to go shopping, boys."
---
Kurogane Bazaar – Outskirts of Land of Earth
Dust plumed beneath their feet as the trio stood atop a high ridge, overlooking the tangled sprawl of the Kurogane Bazaar. This was no ordinary town—it was a haven for smugglers, missing-nin, and mercenaries. The buildings were made of rusted steel and soot-darkened stone. Lanterns glowed red, reflecting off weapons and eyes alike.
A chorus of shouting merchants and clanging metal echoed through the alleys. The stench of blood, sake, sweat, and scorched earth clung to every breath.
"This place reeks," Tobi said through his mask. "And not just literally. Too many chakra flows… feels like I'm swimming in poisoned ink."
Haruto scanned the town. "Three rogue ninjas, two bounty heads… and one Kumo spy in a stall selling scrolls. It's a snake pit."
Itachi observed silently, eyes gleaming. "If Rōshi is here, we won't find him unless he wants to be found."
Haruto closed his eyes and sent out a pulse—subtle, like a ripple on still water.
A flicker of heat. A familiar hum.
"There," he said. "Buried beneath that tavern. I feel the Four-Tails—suppressed, but alive."
"Let's move," Itachi commanded.
---
Later – Akatsuki Base
The mission took two more days.
One by one, the Jinchūriki's trails were found.
Some leads were real. Others were traps. One involved a chakra-sculpted puppet filled with explosive tags. Another led them to a hunter-nin with stolen tailed beast residue sealed into his chest.
But eventually, they returned.
Pain stood silently atop his dais, eyes never blinking. His gaze fell upon the map Haruto offered.
"Good work," he said, voice like distant thunder. "All of you. You may leave."
Tobi and Itachi bowed and exited quietly.
But Pain raised a hand as Haruto turned.
"Except you."
Haruto stilled.
Pain's Rinnegan locked onto him.
Author's note
Harem removed