At Akatsuki's headquarters in the perpetually rainy Land of Rain.
At Pain's summons, every member of Akatsuki once again appeared on the fingers of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Some were physically present, including Pain, Konan, Black and White Zetsu, and Obito.
The rest appeared through the Demonic Illusion: Astral Projection Technique.
Pain's reason for gathering them this time was simple—to seal the Two-Tails.
With a chime of bells, Itachi Uchiha finally appeared.
"The mission to capture the Eight-Tails failed."
Itachi's voice was calm, without the slightest fluctuation.
"Also, Biwa Juzo was killed."
That finally brought a slight change to the atmosphere.
No one showed any sorrow, though. To them, Biwa Juzo was merely a colleague they barely knew.
"It seems the Eight-Tails was stronger than expected."
Orochimaru licked his lips and was the first to speak.
Though they had hardly known Biwa Juzo, his membership in Akatsuki meant they at least acknowledged his strength.
He had also been accompanied by Itachi, whose awakened Mangekyō Sharingan could suppress tailed beasts to a certain extent. For the Eight-Tails to have killed him even then proved that its strength deserved serious consideration.
"Yes."
Itachi said nothing more.
Not long after he left Cloud Lightning Gorge, Biwa Juzo had died of his severe injuries.
Afterward, Itachi had been surrounded by large numbers of Cloud Shinobi within the Land of Lightning. He had even fought the Fourth Raikage, only managing to escape thanks to his evolved Susanoo.
The entire ordeal had taken more than a month.
In that month or so, the situation throughout the shinobi world had already changed dramatically.
"Since Biwa Juzo has unfortunately fallen, I will find a new member for the organization as soon as possible."
As their leader, Pain likewise showed no particular emotion over Biwa Juzo's