Naruto 404

1
Naruto
#404: "Taka" and "Akatsuki"
[insert text: Akatsuki, too, faces new developments...!!]
Tobi: There's something I'd like to talk to you about, Kisame-senpai...
Kisame: First Zetsu getting in my way, and now you...? / I admit, I thought you were dead, Tobi.
Tobi: It's all finished with now, but... // I must apologise for deceiving you, who were closest to me, all this time.
Kisame: ?! // ...!

2
Kisame: ...So that's how it is, huh...? // I must admit, I never suspected that Tobi might actually be you. // This certainly is reassuring... With you pulling the strings, things should be easier for me as well. // Mizukage-sama... no, Madara-san.
[TN: I love the way they still refuse to show us Madara's face.]
Madara: I hope you will continue to be of assistance, Kisame.

3
Naruto: ! // Wh - ahh... it's just you, Kakashi-sensei......
Kakashi: The Fifth wants to see you. Get yourself up and ready.
Naruto: Huh? / Big Boss Gama and Gamakichi...?
Gamakichi: Hey, Naruto!

4
Naruto: What're you two doing hanging around at this time? // Has something happened?
Gamakichi: The truth is...
Gamabunta: Gamakichi! There is no need for you to speak of such things! / Let's just leave the explaining to Boss Tsunade!
Naruto: ? // What the heck's going on...?
Kakashi: Just come on.
Naruto: ......?

5
Naruto: !

6
Naruto: .........
Fukasaku: Is this boy Jiraiya-chan's apprentice?
Tsunade: Yes... This is Uzumaki Naruto... // He is almost certainly the "child of prophecy".
Naruto: An old man frog...? // The heck?
Tsunade: Oi! Watch your mouth, Naruto! // This is one of the Two Great Sages of Mount Myouboku, Fukasaku-sama! / He has come here expressly because he has business with you!
Fukasaku: More properly, one of the Two Great Toad Sages. // But more importantly... you are Jiraiya-chan's apprentice, yes? Of this there can be no mistake?

7
Naruto: "Jiraiya-chan"...? / "Chan"...?! // Don't talk about Ero-sennin like he's some kid! / What's this old frog's problem?!!
Tsunade: I told you to watch your mouth! // This is Jiraiya-sama's master; the one who taught him the ways of the sage!
Naruto: !
Fukasaku: Hahaha... "Ero-sennin", is it...?! / Oh, how very fitting for Jiraiya-chan.
Naruto: So, anyway... what does this old sage want with me?
Fukasaku: I wonder where I ought best to begin... // Yes... I suppose I should begin by telling you...

8
Fukasaku: Jiraiya-chan has perished in battle.
Naruto: ......... // ......Wha...?

9
Naruto: Wh... What're you trying to say...?

10
[no text just taka]

11
Tobi: It's all very well saying "We're going to crush Konoha", but do you have any more... specific plans?
Sasuke: It's the village higher-ups that I intend to eliminate. // We're not targeting any of the other villagers.
Kisame: If you aim for the head, the body will move to protect it. // What you're planning won't be an easy task... / You people of "Taka" or whatever you're calling yourselves just don't have the sheer military power.
Suigetsu: Kisame-senpai... I'd suggest you refrain from underestimating us. // We still have yet to settle our little match back there... properly...
Juugo: That's enough, Suigetsu.
Suigetsu: Hmph...

12
Tobi: Sasuke, your group isn't very well disciplined.
Suigetsu: (...He blocked it with his bare hands...!)
Karin: Suigetsu, what the hell do you think you're playing at?! / This is not the time or place...!
Suigetsu: All I'm after is that Samehada of his... // I'm only with Sasuke so that I can get my hands on it.

13
Juugo: Sasuke... what is your word on this?
Sasuke: Fine... / If you want to fight, then go ahead, Suigetsu. // You won't be able to beat him at this point, either way.
Kisame: (Heheh... "At this point", eh...?)
Suigetsu: Hah... Nicely said, Sasuke. // Well, whatever. I'll be serving up some tasty fresh shark one of these days.
Tobi: At any rate, we of Akatsuki are also lacking in sheer military force.
Suigetsu: Looks like you're not such big shots after all, huh...
Tobi: Our two groups share a common interest. // I would like to propose that "Taka" and "Akatsuki" work together from here on out.

14
Sasuke: And what incentive do you intend to present us to do such a thing?
Tobi: You can have the Bijuu.
Sasuke: Bijuu?
Tobi: What, don't you know anything?
Karin: Oh, I know that! They're those tailed beasts like the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, basically huge masses of Chakra incarnate...
Sasuke: ...In other words?
Tobi: They're monsters of pure Chakra. / At one time, the First Hokage had a number of them under his own personal control. // When the ninja world was at war, the Hokage, Hashirama, split them up amongst other countries, notably the Five Great Powers, by way of collateral in pacts and treaties. / That was how he established a power balance.

15
Tobi: One could call them the ultimate Chakra weapons. / Not a bad deal, am I right?
Sasuke: A generous offer indeed.
Tobi: But if you betray Akatsuki, then you will die.
Sasuke: Heh...
Kisame: ...There are nine Bijuu out there in the world. // Right now, Akatsuki has collected seven of those nine. / ...Only two remain.
Tobi: We and Taka should divide our resources and go after those remaining two... / That is our immediate goal.
Sasuke: In other words... you still don't have the Kyuubi.
Tobi: We will go after Naruto. // Taka can hunt down the other remaining beast.

16
Zetsu: --HOW WAS IT?--
Tobi: It went well...
Zetsu: --THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR--
Tobi: With Itachi dead... the last great obstacle has been removed from my path. // I am no longer obligated to refrain from attacking Konoha.
Zetsu: That took quite some time...
Tobi: All for the sake of ensuring that the plan goes smoothly. ...Everything's ready now. // As I thought, Itachi planted a form of "insurance" within Sasuke. / "Amaterasu".

17
Zetsu: That Itachi... surely he never foresaw that the truth about him would be exposed... Why did he go that far...?
Tobi: Even without the matter of his own true nature, he must have been terrified by the possibility of Sasuke joining forces with me.
Zetsu: --STILL... TO THINK THAT AKATSUKI'S MEMBERS WERE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BRING US THIS FAR--
Tobi: There were a few problems here and there... / ...but every one of them served Akatsuki entirely of his own will. // Deidara, Sasori, Hidan, Kakuzu... / We would never have made it this far without them. // Thanks to them, things are proceeding entirely according to the scenario I planned. // And most importantly... // ...I have tamed Sasuke.
[side text: "Taka" and "Akatsuki". Their targets: Naruto and the other remaining Bijuu. And what does Madara have planned beyond that...?]
[bottom text: How does Naruto react to the tragic news...? Next issue, "Those Left Behind"!!]