The Land of Rain, Amegakure.
The sky was still a uniform gray, and the drizzle continued without letup, as if it would never stop.
On top of a towering building, the members of the Akatsuki Organization had gathered once again. Unlike before, however, the organization had gained two new members. Both young men gazed at Pain with awe and reverence, and even the Forehead Protectors they wore bore the mark of Amegakure.
Like Pain's, their Forehead Protectors had a horizontal slash through the center. Perhaps it signified that the heights they aspired to were no longer confined to a single nation or village.
"It's been several years..."
"We've finally assembled all the manpower we need..."
"Starting with the Land of Earth, we'll lead the Ninja World down a true path to peace!"
Pain's deep, mysterious voice echoed through the tower.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning flashed!
It illuminated the figures in black robes patterned with red clouds, revealing them against the night.
Most striking of all was Pain's pair of cold, purple Rinnegan. Like a god, he gazed down upon the insignificant masses without emotion.
Next was a blood-eyed man wearing a yellow mask. He still revealed only one eye.
He hadn't managed to trade with Souya for the Sharingan that was supposed to be his, and the Masked Man had approached Souya again afterward, hoping to continue their dealings.
But Souya had fobbed him off with a different excuse every time. When Souya was pushed too far, he had even crushed two vials containing Sharingan right in front of the Masked Man, turning the eyes inside to useless scraps.
The Masked Man could only grit his teeth in secret and keep plotting how to kill Souya, his greatest obstacle.
"Lord Pain, we've spent all our remaining funds on Explosive