Raiga Kurosuki's Request

It's clear that Koko wasn't the only one dissatisfied with the pairings Pain had just announced.

The moment Kakuzu heard his name and "Hidan" pronounced side by side by Pain in that cold voice, his already gloomy face visibly darkened.

His original plan was to take advantage of this team-up opportunity to spend a lot of time with that brat Uchiha Kuro. Even if he failed to learn anything from him, he could still sell the kid's personal information to those buyers in the black market who were eyeing him covetously.

Although it certainly doesn't earn as much as drawing books, it's still a considerable amount of extra income.

But now...

Kakuzu slowly shifted his gaze to the huge hole in the wall that Hidan had Hidan into, then glanced silently at the pair of purple Rinnegan on the high platform that were coldly watching him, before finally lowering his head in reluctance.

Damn it, my money!!

"Huh? So that idiot from before is still alive?! I have to say, he really lives up to his Akatsuki reputation..."

Deidara first sighed, then turned his head with a regretful expression and said to Koko with a pang of sorrow:

"What a pity, I didn't get assigned to the same group as you, Brother Kou."

"Brother Kou?"

While Koumoto was still pondering Nagato's true intentions in deliberately pairing Konan with Konan, he instantly snapped back to reality upon hearing Deidara's call.

"Ah? Ah! What a pity, hahaha..."

Deidara, however, failed to notice the hint of absent-mindedness in Koko's smile.

He leaned closer to Kou with a serious expression and asked in a low voice:

"Speaking of which, who is this guy named Scorpion who's my partner? What kind of person is he?"

Kou raised his hand and casually pointed in the direction of the scorpion.

Deidara looked in the direction of the tapping finger and met Sasori's cold gaze.

Sasori's gaze lingered on Deidara for less than a moment before he let out a cold snort and turned away.

"Hmm, seems like a rather difficult guy to get along with, and on top of that, an ugly freak who's anything but artistic..."

Deidara muttered a disappointed murmur, then quickly seemed to have found some new hope, and waved vigorously at Obito beside him:

"Hey, Tobi! Speaking of which, why wasn't your name on that group assignment list at all?"

"I feel like being paired with you would be much better than being with that guy named Scorpion."

"Yeah! At least we're both artists striving towards becoming artists! Although your skill level is definitely not as good as mine."

Obito scratched his head and replied in a comical tone:

"Haha, because I'm still just an intern, Tobi!"

He spoke with a smile, but a cold glint flashed quickly in his eyes beneath the mask.

"Partnering Konan with Kotori? That Nagato, he really does have his own ulterior motives..."

Just as Deidara opened his mouth, about to ask something more, Pain's cold and authoritative voice rang out again.

"This is the current pairing arrangement. In the future, all tasks assigned by the organization will be carried out in pairs."

If you are dissatisfied with your assigned partner, you can come and tell me at any time.

As he spoke, Pain's gaze lingered for a moment on the faces of the two newcomers, Deidara and Raiga Kurosuki, before he added casually:

"In the Akatsuki, apart from necessary tasks, all other time is at the members' own disposal, and the organization will not interfere in any way."

Kakuzu, when you leave later, remember to take Hidan with you and convey what I just said to him.

"Tch, I know."

Kakuzu said with a troubled expression.

Pain nodded, glanced one last time at his subordinates who each had their own thoughts, and said calmly:

"If new members have any questions, they can ask their partners or other members. We hope everyone can get along well and try to avoid unnecessary conflicts."

The meeting is now adjourned.

"Gentlemen, you may leave now."

Having said that, he glanced at Kokoro and Obito, who were watching him, then turned around and, with Konan who had remained silent the entire time, disappeared into the thick shadows deep within the tower...

Of everyone present, apart from Kō, Obito, Raiga Kurosuki, and Deidara who looked conflicted, the rest of the members disappeared from the spot in an instant.

Just as Deidara composed himself and prepared to press Koko for more information about the Akatsuki and Sasori, a gloomy figure suddenly stepped forward.

"Long time no see, Uchiha... knock"

Raiga Kurosuki approached Kokoro, remained silent for a long while, and then asked with great difficulty:

"Do you have time? I have something I'd like to talk to you about privately."

Deidara frowned in annoyance and protested loudly at Raiga Kurosuki:

"Hey, I was here first! Don't you even know the concept of first come, first served?"

Obito narrowed his single eye beneath his mask, giving his newly recruited subordinate a meaningful look.

Raiga Kurosuki felt Obito's gaze fall on him, stiffened for a moment, and then quickly lowered his head.

Seeing Raiga Kurosuki's reaction, Obito seemed to suddenly understand something. A playful smile appeared on his lips beneath the mask.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed Deidara's shoulder, shouting enthusiastically in his signature comical tone:

"Tobi can help Deidara- senpai too! I know there's a really, really great dango shop in Amegakure, let's go there and eat and chat!"

"Hey, Tobi, wait a minute--"

Deidara was half- Obito towards the edge of the platform. The voice that was still protesting quickly dissipated into the rain as they walked away.

On the empty platform, only Kou and Raiga Kurosuki remained.

Pain's Shinra Tensei had created several fine cracks in the ceiling, from which rain silently seeped, each drop hitting the cold metal floor with a crisp, crackling sound.

After a brief silence, he looked at the "old friend" before him and asked in a calm tone:

"So, what do you want to talk to me about? Reminiscing about the past? There's probably nothing between us to reminisce about."

"After all, although we can be considered old acquaintances, our interactions are almost entirely based on life-and-death battles on the battlefield."

As he spoke, Kou suddenly raised his hand and pointed with great interest to the old scar on his neck that stretched from his chest and branched out in a lightning bolt pattern:

"Although this lightning bolt-shaped scar is quite cool, it almost cost me my life back then."

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about this; I remember this debt perfectly well..."

"Thump!"

Kou wanted to say something more, but Raiga Kurosuki had already bent his knees and knelt heavily on the rain-soaked floor.

The smile on her lips suddenly froze. She looked at the man in front of her in surprise, and for a moment she didn't react.

"Uchiha Kuro, please, please help me, save Ranmaru!!"

Raiga Kurosuki slammed his forehead against the cold floor, roaring hoarsely at Koko:

"That child is innocent! That child is completely innocent!!"

Looking at the completely different, arrogant Raiga Kurosuki, who was no longer the same as he remembered, the last trace of a smile on his lips vanished silently.

After a moment of silence, Kou looked down at the man before him, who had abandoned all dignity and was now pleading with his former mortal enemy, and coldly said:

"I refuse!"