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Finally, I am out from quarantine. With the resurgence of Covid-19 in India, I also got infected. Took me a week to recover and get discharged. With that said, I am back home, the college is closed again. So, yeah we will pick up the pace for the story. I will try to post 10-11 chapters a week. With that said, here is a double chapter. ​​

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In a giant metallic skyscraper In Amegakure,

"PAIN! Do you think it is a good idea to leave Ame unguarded?"

Konan address Deva Path as she stares at the perpetual rain falling on the metallic jungle of Amegakure.

"Konan... Akatsuki's sole aim is to achieve true peace in this world. The safety of the Ame is of secondary importance."

Deva Path Pain approaches the window as he gazes upon the residents of Ame flocking through the streets.

"But... Pain!..." Konan argues.

"KONAN! Izuna Uchiha is a threat to Akatsuki. He is a threat to our dreams and goals. We won't be able to achieve our dreams without getting rid of this threat."

Deva Path cuts off Konan.

"I am sure Yahiko also wants the same."

"I... I see..." Konan swallows her words.

"Besides... I am sure you will take care of matters in Ame in my absence."

"I will." Konan reassures him.

Swirl... Whoosh...

A swirling portal appears behind them as Obito walks out of the portal.

"That won't be the case."

He takes out a scroll from his pocket and throws it towards Deva Path.

Swoosh...

Deva Path catches the scroll and questioningly turns towards him.

"Madara! What do you mean?"

"Take a look at the scroll." Obito calmly replies.

Deva Path opens the scroll and reads its content.

"Intel on the location of the hidden Jinchuruki of Iwagakure!"

"Yes!" Obito nods his head.

"The tailed-beasts are an integral part of our plan. Without them, it is impossible to complete the 'Eye of the Moon Plan'." Obito remarks.

"We will capture them at all costs. The decree of God can't be defied."

Pain clutches his fist.

"Currently, the jinchurukis of One-tails and Nine-tails are in Konoha. The jinchuruki of Two-tails and Eight-tails are in Kumogakure. Three-tails have yet to revive from its previous death. The jinchuruki of Six-tails has gone rogue and the jinchuruki of the Seven-tails has yet to be identified.

This only leaves us with the jinchuruki of Four-tails and Five-tails. The information pertaining to them is hidden quite well by Iwagakure."

Obito slowly walks towards the window as he stares outside.

"Recently, one of Sasori's informant found out some intel regarding them."

Obito turns towards Konan and remarks.

"Nagato and his Six Paths of Pain will be crucial to explore the ruins. So, I would like you to visit this informant and dig out the intel."

"But..." Konan hesitates.

"Very well, she will do it." Pain nods his head.

"Only through pain and suffering the world shall achieve true peace.

Even a foolish child can grow up in the right way when he learns what pain is. Knowing pain controls one's thoughts and decisions. The world shall know pain."

Deva Path spreads his arms as he gazes at Ame.

"I... I see. Then I will follow your plan." Konan weakly nods her head.

---------------------

Outside Konoha,

In an underground secret hideout,

Whoosh...

A shadow flickers in front of the entrance. The shadow takes out a seal from its pocket and unseals the formation.

Hmm...

Izuna raises his head and remarks.

"Pride... you are here."

"Yes, leader."

Pride flickers in front of Izuna and passes a scroll to him.

"Leader, this is the information you requested."

Mm...

Izuna nods his head and opens the scroll.

"I have already gathered the chakra of all tailed beasts except the five-tails."

Hmm...

"Valley of lies! It is a small landmark located at the border of the Land of Mountains. The informant is a resident of Shangri-La; a small village situated in between a gorge."

Izuna folds the scroll and pockets it.

"Great job, Pride! You can take a break and pay a visit to your family. But keep in mind, you can only do so from a distance; for that is your sin and retribution."

"I will bear that in mind." Pride nods his head and flickers out.

Whoosh...

Izuna teleports from his location and reappears in his room.

"Finally... I will be able to gather the chakra of all tailed beasts and perform the Yin-Yang: Balance in All things technique to revive Minato and Kushina-san."

Bzzt...

Hmm...

Izuna takes out a scroll from his pocket. The scroll shines brightly with a purple glow.

"A summon from Ryuchi Cave!"

Izuna's expression turns serious.

"Well... it won't hurt to pay a visit to that old hag snake Sage."

Izuna closes his eyes and senses the location of Ryuchi cave.

Whoosh...

He teleports at the outskirt of Ryuchi cave.

"Let's see what the Snake Sage has to say?"

Izuna saunters in the Ryuchi cave.

HISSS...

A giant purple snake with black rings appears in his vision.

"Oh! Isn't it the boss summon Manda himself? You like quite good with that fresh look."

Izuna remarks as he stares at the charred skin of Manda.

"You too. This new look suits you well."

Manda snorts as he stares at the left hand of Izuna.

"At least, we can agree on something. Haha..."

Izuna laughs as he walks towards Manda.

Bang...

He launches Manda in the air and walks deeper into Ryuchi cave.

"Bastard! I will repay you for this." Manda releases a weak squeal.

"Lad! You are here."

An old, grumpy voice greets him as a giant, white snake appears in front of him.

"You should be more gentle to that Manda brat." She remarks.

"Let's say we are cut from the same cloth."

Izuna shakes his head.

"You should better look for another successor." He remarks.

"He is the most powerful of his generation. But it is his arrogance and ignorance that holds him back." The White Snake Sage remarks.

"So, where is the boy?" Izuna questions her.

The giant white snake points her tail towards the pool.

"There!... The boy has overcome the trial. Now he has officially become a Sage."

Hmm...

Izuna turns towards the pool as he senses a massive surge of Nature energy.

Whoosh...

Kimimaro absorbs a large amount of Nature energy in his body as his pupil changes to resemble a snake.

Various tendrils of Nature energy gather around his body and morph into snakes.

Whoosh... shoom...

Kimimaro disappears from his place and reappears in front of Izuna.

Swoosh...

He directs a punch at Izuna's face.

Swish...

Izuna stretches his palm and catches his fist.

"Not bad."

Whoosh...

Kimimaro takes a step back and disappears again. He flickers around Izuna in an attempt to confuse him.

Whoosh...

Kimimaro reappears in Izuna's blind spot and tries to stab him with a bone infused with the Snake Sage Mode.

"Your reflexes have improved greatly. But there are still many unnecessary movements."

Izuna raises his palm and brings it down.

Bang...

Kimimaro is smashed into the ground and forms a crater.

"Ouch!"

He clutches his forehead as the Sage Mode disappears.

"I am sorry, Angel-san. I couldn't live up to your expectations."

Kimimaro performs dogeza in front of Izuna.

"No!... you did quite well. I am happy with your improvement."

Izuna shakes his head as he picks up Kimimaro.

"Boy! You should be a little prouder of your achievement. It took you only two years to master Snake Sage Mode. You succeeded where others failed. It has been thousand years since the Ryuchi cave had a human Sage."

Slam...

The Snake Sage slaps its tail on the ground.

"But... but... Angel-san is already a sage." Kimimaro meekly replies.

Slam...

"Boy! He is an exception. Don't judge him in the same light as others." The Snake Sage remarks as she turns to Izuna.

"With this, the Ryuchi Cave has fulfilled its part of the promise. Since there is no other matter; you may see yourself out. I have to enter into my mediation to recover my energy."

The snake sage closes her eyes and enters into a deep slumber.

'She is still holding a grudge for losing the bet.'

Izuna shrugs his shoulder and flickers out of the Ryuchi Cave.

Whoosh...

Both of them exit the separate isolation Space Barrier of Ryuchi cave.

Shoom...

Izuna activates his Mangekyo Sharingan and inspects Kimimaro's body.

'Hmm... there is no sign of cancer anymore. The poison must have acted as an inhibitor to the cancer cells. Paired with the rich Nature energy of Ryuchi cave, he has recovered from his bone ailment.'

Izuna nods his head.

'Also... his bones... they have mutated.'

Izuna notices various greyish marks on Kimimaro's bones.

'From the looks of it, his Kekkei Genkai has attained a perfect state and now it is in harmony with his body and chakra. Now he won't suffer the same problem as earlier.'

"Well done, Kid!"

Izuna pats Kimimaro's shoulders.

"Angel-san! I am ready to serve you."

"Uh! Huh!... Let's talk about it later. For now, let's go on another journey like the previous time." Izuna scratches his head.

'I don't know what kind of laxatives his clan fed to him to make him this loyal.'

"Yes, Angel-san. I will follow your lead."

Kimimaro nods his head.

He takes out a small diary from his pocket and scribbles on it.