"You are the organization known as Akatsuki?!"
Hanzo of the Salamander's words carried all the weight of his authority. None of the Akatsuki members could withstand the intense pressure, and no one stepped forward to answer for a long while.
Yahiko, who stood at the head of the group, saw Hanzo of the Salamander's stance and knew there was probably no way to settle things peacefully. But the young man still held on to a glimmer of hope. He took a deep breath, stepped out of the group, and replied:
"Yes. We're Akatsuki!"
When Yahiko stepped forward, a smile appeared on Hanzo of the Salamander's face. He then gestured to those behind him. At Hanzo's command, hundreds of Rain Ninja quickly spread out, surrounding the Akatsuki members. At that very moment, the ground beneath the group began to sink.
"What's going on?"
"What's happening?"
"What happened?"
The Akatsuki members huddled close together. As soon as the ground shifted, they drew their weapons. Some held kunai, while others gripped short swords, warily watching their surroundings.
The ground sank several meters before finally stopping. The plain they had been standing on had been transformed into a small basin by the wide-area Earth Style ninjutsu. Rain Ninja peered over the earthen walls surrounding the basin, staring coldly down at the Akatsuki members below.
"Whoosh!"
Hanzo of the Salamander leaped high onto the earthen wall and looked down at Yahiko from above. He spoke in a detached voice:
"Akatsuki, your organization is far too much of a nuisance to me!"
The moment he finished speaking, a transparent shadow appeared beside Konan and seized her. The shadow carried her swiftly up the earthen wall, stopping beside Hanzo of the Salamander.
Hanzo of the Salamander moved very quickly. He bound Konan's hands behind her back and