As the Sage of Six Paths remembered his failed attempt to reclaim Kagami's chakra, a shadow passed over his ancient eyes. The boy's power was an anomaly, an inexplicable failure in his system of control. If not for that, he would not have needed to risk coming to the mortal realm at this critical juncture, would not have needed to goad these mortals into eliminating Kagami for him. Kagami was a variable that existed outside of his control, and for that reason alone, he had to be destroyed at all costs.

But though he held an unshakable contempt for these lower life forms, he maintained the facade of a benevolent, kind smile. "That is excellent news," he said. "I believe that with the addition of their forces, we will be able to eliminate Uchiha Kagami."

The gathered S-rank criminals remained silent. Except for Nagato and Konan, none of them had any real interest in the peace of the ninja world. Each of them was here for their own purpose, united only by their shared fear of Nagato and the Sage's power. It was a truth each of them understood, a silent, unspoken pact of convenience.

Seeing their silence, the Sage stepped forward, taking charge of the conversation. "Then, let us begin. We will use the body of the Ten-Tails to absorb the chakra of the Tailed Beasts and revive it."

The members of Akatsuki glanced at each other, their playful, predatory expressions holding a barely perceptible hint of anticipation. Deva Pain's face was a stony, unreadable mask, but through his eyes, Nagato's own unease was palpable. An icy dread coiled in his gut. He was wary of the Sage's unknown power and deeply dissatisfied with this interference in his plans. But he knew now was not the time to show it. He had to remain calm, to see this through.

He took a deep breath, and through Pain, nodded expressionlessly. "In that case, let us begin the ceremony immediately. Let the power of the Ten-Tails show this world what true 'pain' is."

The Sage's smile never wavered, as if he was completely oblivious to the tension in the room.

Soon, the group followed Deva Pain through a series of winding, deep corridors, arriving in a vast, cavernous underground space. The walls were made of cold, damp stone, and the weak light from a few sparse lamps high above did little to pierce the oppressive darkness, casting long, ominous shadows across their faces. In the center of the cavern stood the Gedo Statue, the only focal point in the boundless gloom. It was a terrifying, colossal monster, like something that had walked out of an ancient, forgotten legend. Every inch of its skin spoke of the passage of millennia and the accumulation of unimaginable power.

"Is this the body of the Ten-Tails?" someone whispered. They all stared, their breath caught in their throats. The massive statue was like a mountain come to life, its skin etched with colorful, pulsating textures that flickered like the veins of the abyss.

"Alright," Nagato commanded through Pain. "Follow the jutsu I taught you. Begin with the hand Seals. Extract the chakra from the jinchuriki."

Everyone nodded, moving quickly to their pre-arranged positions and beginning the complex sequence of hand seals. The Sage of Six Paths, meanwhile, used a powerful, unknown ninjutsu to peel the Nine-Tails from Naruto's body, a technique so advanced it did so without harming the host.

The massive fox was separated completely, and it let out a joyous, thunderous roar. "Excellent! I'm finally free!" But the great beast did not go on a rampage. It stood quietly, looking at the Sage with gratitude. The Sage had promised that after the Ten-Tails absorbed most of its chakra, it would be set free. The Nine-Tails had no reason to doubt the being who had created it.

As the Akatsuki members completed the final hand seal, the entire space seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force. The Gedo Statue's nine eyes suddenly blazed to life, its blood-red pupils burning with a raging fire. It let out a deafening roar, a sound so powerful it made the very air tremble.

Then, its massive mouth opened wide, a portal to the abyss, and several chains of pure, inky blackness, wrapped in an ominous aura, shot forth. They drew strange, deadly trajectories through the air, piercing the bodies of the helpless jinchuriki with unerring accuracy. Painful groans and violent fluctuations of chakra filled the cavern, a symphony of despair and struggle.

Because of its immense chakra, the Nine-Tails was bound by three chains at once. A strange energy flowed through them, and with every struggle, they only tightened, causing the fox's once-defiant eyes to fill with a dawning look of fear.

"Old man! What are you doing?!" the Nine-Tails roared in panic as it was dragged closer and closer to the statue's gaping maw. "This isn't what we agreed upon!" The Sage had said most of its chakra, but this... the Gedo Statue was trying to devour it completely! It knew that if it was fully absorbed back into the Ten-Tails, it would cease to exist. Though it was grateful to the Sage for its creation, it was not willing to be sacrificed.

Its voice grew sharp and hoarse with anger and fear, but its struggles were useless. The closer it got, the more its heart sank, a trembling that came from the very depths of its soul, a fear of the impending, final end.

Seeing this, the Sage of Six Paths' face remained a blank, impassive mask.

"Kurama," he said slowly, his voice devoid of all emotion. "You were all once one. Now, it is time for you to become one again."

Hearing its true name, Kurama froze. An icy terror, colder than death, seized its heart. Its eyes were wide with a horrified disbelief. In that moment, the Sage of Six Paths seemed utterly alien, a complete stranger, nothing like the kind old man it remembered.

It stared at him, its eyes burning with a furious, desperate rage, as if trying to see through the facade. "You... you are not the old man! Who are you?!" This being wore the Sage's face and possessed his aura, but his actions, his cold, cruel heart... this was not the Sage who had created them.