Li Xing prepared breakfast and was on her way to the Hokage's office with it. As soon as she arrived at the Hokage building, she saw Naruto walking out dejectedly.
"The pain of losing someone important is a necessary path for growth. Everyone goes through it, even I have had similar experiences."
Li Xing shook her head. She had nothing to comfort Naruto with. Someone as optimistic as Naruto didn't need to worry. What Li Xing cared about now was Tsunade's psychological state.
Upon entering the Hokage's office, Li Xing saw Shizune, Sakura, and others leaving with a toad. It was likely they were going to study the corpse of Pain, the Animal Path, brought back by Jiraiya.
Kakashi also left with a toad, presumably the ninja Jiraiya had captured in the Hidden Rain Village.
Only Tsunade remained in the office. Elder Fukasaku had asked Tsunade and the others to take pictures before returning to Mount Myōboku. Li Xing slowly pushed open the door and saw Tsunade head bowed in silence.
"Hokage-sama, I made you some porridge. It's better to eat something easily digestible in the morning."
Li Xing placed the prepared porridge in front of Tsunade, but Tsunade showed no interest in eating. Instead, she looked at Li Xing, her eyes red.
"Jiraiya is dead…"
Li Xing walked to Tsunade's side and gently hugged her. "Hokage-sama, I don't know who this Jiraiya you speak of is, but I imagine he was someone very important to you. However, even so, those who are alive must persevere. Please, eat your breakfast first."
Tsunade suddenly opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. Li Xing, thinking Tsunade wanted to be fed, picked up a spoon and fed her some porridge.
"That's right! Everyone in Konoha wishes you well. I certainly do too. As Hokage, you must set an example. If even the Hokage becomes withdrawn and depressed, the ninja and villagers won't be happy either."
Li Xing continued to feed Tsunade, coaxing her like a child until she finished the porridge. Only then did Li Xing start to clean up and prepare to leave.
"Thank you... Yun... Ji. I know what I need to do." Before Li Xing left the Hokage's office, Tsunade, who had been silent, suddenly spoke to her, expressing her gratitude.
Li Xing merely turned back with a gentle smile, bowed slightly, and left the Hokage's office.
What Tsunade did next was no longer Li Xing's concern. Now, she only needed to quietly await Pain's invasion. After this matter was over, she would prepare for the Great Ninja War and get ready for the Edo Tensei.
...
A few days later, Sasuke, accompanied by Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin, arrived at the Cloud Hidden Village, still wearing the Akatsuki's red cloud cloak.
Thanks to Jugo's presence, Sasuke easily infiltrated the Cloud Stream Valley. The information about the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki being in the valley came from Karin.
When Killer Bee emerged from the valley, he spotted the four of them standing below and immediately began a rap battle.
The four of Sasuke found Killer Bee's way of speaking utterly repulsive and prepared to attack.
First, Suigetsu drew the Executioner's Blade and charged forward, but within a single exchange, Killer Bee disarmed him.
Next was Jugo, who transformed his body into Sage Mode, his right arm contorting into a monstrous form. He unleashed a punch, his arm seemingly propelled by a booster, greatly increasing his speed and power.
However, as the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki of the Cloud Hidden Village, Killer Bee's taijutsu was second to none. With a backhand, he sent Jugo flying.
Seeing this, Sasuke drew his Kusanagi sword and prepared to take matters into his own hands.
"Forget it, I'll do it!"
Sasuke charged directly at Killer Bee. Killer Bee, unhurried, swung his Executioner's Blade horizontally. The powerful impact, upon colliding with Sasuke's Kusanagi, sent Sasuke flying backward.
Killer Bee pressed his advantage, moving to Sasuke's landing spot and swinging again. This time, however, Sasuke's Kusanagi blocked the strike. Sasuke then kicked Killer Bee in the chest.
Killer Bee suddenly had an inspiration. He put down the Executioner's Blade, pulled out a small notebook, and began writing rhymes. Sasuke seized the opportunity to throw the Executioner's Blade to Suigetsu.
"I'm in a good mood now! I just came up with some great rhymes. Thank you! So I'll play with you a bit, you bastards, my treasures!"
After finishing his rhymes, Killer Bee reached behind his back for his seven swords, tossing them into the air and catching them with all his joints, leaving only one foot on the ground.
"What a strange pose. But didn't that woman from the Akatsuki say he used eight swords? How can there only be seven? Where's the last one?" Suigetsu held the Executioner's Blade horizontally, confused about how the eight-sword style was calculated.
Before Sasuke and the others could exchange words, Killer Bee attacked. He leaped up on one leg, and Sasuke did the same, engaging Killer Bee in a sword fight.
Despite possessing the Sharingan, Sasuke's body couldn't keep up with the speed. Moreover, it was one sword against seven. Before long, Sasuke's body bore several wounds.
Finally, with a moment's lapse in reaction, Sasuke was brutally kicked away by Killer Bee.
Seeing that normal taijutsu was ineffective, Sasuke immediately activated Chidori, channeling lightning chakra into the Kusanagi sword and charging forward again. However, Killer Bee was from the Cloud Hidden Village of the Land of Lightning. When it came to lightning release, Killer Bee was no inferior to Sasuke.
Subsequently, Killer Bee, like Sasuke, infused his blades with lightning chakra and easily blocked Sasuke's Kusanagi sword.
"Dance! Dance like a butterfly! Eight-Tails! Sting like a bee!"
With a bizarre maneuver, Killer Bee plunged three swords into Sasuke's body and then kicked him away.
Seeing this, Karin quickly stepped forward and used a scroll to summon some plants, transferring their life force to Sasuke.
As Killer Bee was about to finish Sasuke, Suigetsu leaped in front of Sasuke and blocked Killer Bee with the Executioner's Blade. Then, Jugo appeared behind Killer Bee and punched him, sending him flying.
By the time Sasuke managed to stand up again, Killer Bee was preparing to return for a drink, but he had been discovered.
Killer Bee, with no other choice, drew his eighth sword, raised one hand, and a red chakra cloak enveloped him, with six tails sprouting from his back.
He then charged at Sasuke with extreme speed. At this moment, Sasuke activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and cast a genjutsu that left Killer Bee stunned on the ground.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Killer Bee suddenly appeared before Sasuke.
"Liger Bomb!"
This was a hand blade, the final move of the eight-sword style, and a combination technique. With this single blow, Sasuke's chest was caved in.
Without regard for anything else, Jugo rushed to Sasuke's side and used his cursed seal to heal Sasuke's body, while Karin also continued to transfer life force to him.
Now, only Suigetsu could stop Killer Bee. Suigetsu plunged into the water, forming a giant water-person.
Killer Bee also wanted to end it quickly and began to transform into his Tailed Beast form, engaging in a battle with the water-person.
By the time Jugo and Karin had finished treating Sasuke, they saw Killer Bee's Tailed Beast form and decided to leave.
Seeing Sasuke and the others attempting to escape, Killer Bee gathered a Tailed Beast Bomb in front of his mouth and fired it at them.
Suigetsu, however, showed no fear and used his body to block most of the impact. But he too fell unconscious, his body turning into a jelly-like substance.
Realizing escape was impossible, Sasuke activated his Mangekyo Sharingan once more. Recalling the feeling of using Amaterasu, he focused on Killer Bee.
"Amaterasu!"
Killer Bee was engulfed by Amaterasu and began to thrash wildly, his eight tails flailing in an attempt to extinguish the flames, but to no avail.
As one of the tails was about to strike Sasuke and the others, Sasuke used Chidori Spear to sever it. Finally, sensing that Killer Bee was reaching his limit, Sasuke felt he could control Amaterasu. He then used his right eye to control the flames, and Amaterasu gradually dissipated, leaving only a comatose Killer Bee floating on the water.
"Alright, carry the Jinchuriki. Let's go," Jugo and Sasuke each carried one person and quickly fled the Cloud Stream Valley. However, the commotion did not escape the notice of the Cloud Hidden Village ninja. A bald man spotted the battlefield through a telescope.
"Bee-sama has been captured by the Akatsuki. That person is from the Uchiha clan, it must be Uchiha Sasuke. Quickly inform the Raikage!"