Amegakure, Hanzo the Salamander's room.
By the flickering candlelight, Hanzo looked over the letter his subordinate had delivered. It had just been sent by Shimura Danzō of Konoha, instructing him to proceed according to the plan.
A figure in a black robe slowly rose behind Hanzo. Beneath the hood were a pair of sinister eyes, and it spoke in a low, hoarse voice. "Another person from Konoha?"
Hanzo said, "Shimura Danzō wishes to join forces with me to wipe out the Akatsuki."
The black-robed figure slowly replied, "Shimura Danzō is a cunning old fox. He must be plotting something."
Hanzo lowered his head and pondered in silence.
The black-robed figure continued, "But there is no harm in cooperating with them for now. It will be useful for destroying the Rinnegan."
Hanzo said, "Have you not considered that Shimura Danzō may also be after the Rinnegan?"
The shadow replied, "Shimura Danzō is not the Hokage. How many ninja can he bring? This is the Land of Rain—doesn't that mean everything is up to you?"
"If Shimura Danzō turns on us, Amegakure can also direct its spear at Konoha on the grounds that it conducted military operations in the Land of Rain without authorization. Konoha is weak beyond measure now. It definitely would not dare start a war with Amegakure and would only let Amegakure name its terms."
Hanzo fell silent. At the right moment, the black-robed figure added, "The Rinnegan is an omen of world destruction. Lord Hanzo, you must stop its wielder and save the world."
The room remained silent for a long while before Hanzo slowly rose and walked out the door.
As he opened it, a gust of cold wind blew in, extinguishing the candles in the room and knocking down the figure's hood.
The black-robed figure was