As they travel slowly towards an unknown destination, Nagato and Itachi wonder who they were going to be forced to fight before crossing paths with Naruto and Killer Bee. Seeing an opportune moment to capture the Jinchuriki, Kabuto interrupts the reunion to have Itachi attack. As they clash, Itachi learns from Naruto that Sasuke knows the truth behind the Uchiha Clan Massacre and asks his opponent not to reveal this information to any one else as Nagato joins the fray. Though puzzled, Nagato was forced to attack and the battle between the four shinobi ensue. Retreating atop Nagato's Giant Drill-Beaked Bird, Itachi activates his Mangeky? Sharingan causing the crow he placed in Naruto to emerge from the shocked youth's mouth. Casting Amaterasu, Itachi incinerates Nagato's summons as well as Nagato himself, revealing that the crow possess the surgetically embedded eye of Shisui Uchiha, which was rigged to react to Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan and cast Kotoamatsukami: which had the order "protect Konoha". Now freed from Kabuto's control, Itachi explains that this was the power he had given to Naruto and had intended it for Sasuke. During this explanation, however, Nagato's corpse was able to regenerate. And Kabuto, excited by the prospect of acquiring Shisui's eye, had Nagato attack with his Giant Snake-Tailed Chameleon. Managing to absorb some of Bee's Eight Tails chakra, Nagato is restored to his youthful-looking self as he captures Naruto and prepares to remove his soul.