"What... what?! We're officially going to war with Ash?!"
Night had fallen over a strange space shrouded in darkness, where several enormous fingers stood erect. Above them floated nine hazy Chakra phantoms of different colors and shapes.
This was the Akatsuki's core meeting. The decision Deva Path Pain had just announced immediately stirred a response.
"Wait, isn't this a little too rushed?" Hozuki Suigetsu's voice carried obvious panic. "I'm still gathering intelligence overseas. I can't get back right away!"
"Suigetsu, there is no need to panic." Deva Path Pain's cold, flat voice rang out. "Do your best to return, but you are not permitted to miss this battle."
"After this is over, we will no longer need to conceal our target... At that time, Kirigakure will officially be added to the plan as well."
Hozuki Suigetsu's phantom stopped swaying. Though he was still uneasy, he silently accepted the order.
"Ash..." A rather young-sounding voice spoke up, and the phantom with the build of a teenager took over. "Understood. That organization is also one of the targets that must be eliminated from my plan."
The phantom's outline appeared somewhat sharp, and his tone carried killing intent that did not match his age.
"But I have one condition—the member of Ash rumored to possess the Mangekyō Sharingan must be left to me."
"And if I get the chance to kill the traitor Orochimaru with my own hands... it has to be mine."
"Mm, no problem." Pain agreed without hesitation. To him, as long as the goal of "God" could be achieved, the members' personal grudges could be used as motivation so long as they did not affect the bigger picture.
"I don't care." Another low voice sounded. The outline of a massive blade could vaguely be seen behind the phantom. "The reason