Black Zetsu: Everything Was for Mother!

Uchiha Itachi, sitting quietly off to the side, felt a subtle stir of emotion when he heard that another Uchiha had survived.

He took a deep breath, doing his best to steady his emotions, but the light in his eyes still flickered despite his efforts.

Ever since joining the Akatsuki, Itachi had carried the burden of heavy secrets and an even heavier mission. He knew all too well how tragic the Uchiha Clan's fate had been. The death of every clansman tugged at his otherwise unfeeling heart.

Now that he knew one of them had survived, he was at a loss for words. He felt relieved that the Uchiha bloodline had endured, but worried that this clanswoman might face the same dangers and hardships.

"A girl from the remnants of the Uchiha Clan?" Itachi Uchiha murmured, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

It had been some time since he left the Akatsuki, and Itachi had been searching for a path of his own.

He knew who he had once been and the sins he had borne, but he also longed to find a way to make amends for his past mistakes and protect the things truly worth protecting.

And now, the appearance of this girl from the remnants of the Uchiha Clan had undoubtedly given him much to think about.

He remembered that blood-soaked night of slaughter, when the Uchiha Clan had crumbled beneath their enemies' blades, one clansman after another falling as blood stained the earth.

He remembered the choice he had made. To protect Konoha and his younger brother Sasuke, he had betrayed his clan and become a member of Konoha's Anbu.

He had taken the lives of countless clansmen with his own hands, bearing the weight of his sins and anguish.

Yet he had never forgotten his roots, never forgotten that he had once been one of the Uchiha.

Deep in his heart, he had always held on to his longing for his clan and his guilt. He had also never stopped searching for a way to make amends for the past.

At that moment, voices filled the Akatsuki's conference room, rising and falling like turbulent waves beating against the still air.

Everyone was intensely interested in Uchiha Hanabi's Mangekyō Sharingan. Their curiosity burned like a raging fire, impossible to suppress.

After all, the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan had once been extraordinarily rare, and its power and abilities were cause for fear.

The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan was hailed as one of the Ninja World's most powerful ocular techniques. It could see through all illusions, copy an enemy's ninjutsu, and even control an opponent's mind.

The clan's glorious history was inseparable from its great power, which had also earned it countless enemies in the Ninja World.

Now, to learn that there were survivors from this clan, once thought to have been wiped out, naturally drew everyone's attention.

They all wondered who this Uchiha Hanabi was. How could someone like her be living in a peaceful little village?

Even Itachi Uchiha, the man who had massacred his clan, had become quite interested in her.

"Then we must go after Orochimaru for his defection. Sasori and Zetsu, you two will go."

Pain's gaze was like a blade as he fixed his eyes on the two. His voice was cold and firm, leaving no room for dispute.

Zetsu gave a slight start, his expression instantly turning grave. He knew Orochimaru's defection was a major blow to the Akatsuki, and Pain's decision meant they had to act at once.

"Understood, Leader." Zetsu's hoarse voice held a note of resolve. "I'll go with Sasori to capture Orochimaru and bring him back to face judgment."

Sasori said nothing. He simply nodded, a cold glint in his eyes, like a sharp blade ready to be drawn at any moment.

Pain looked at the two, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He knew that Sasori and Zetsu were among the Akatsuki's finest members, and that they had the strength to meet any challenge.

"Remember, Orochimaru is extremely dangerous," Pain said. "He betrayed the organization, and all of us. His ambition and greed have put him on a path of no return. You must proceed with caution and make sure he doesn't escape."

Sasori and Zetsu nodded together. They understood what Pain meant. Orochimaru's betrayal filled them with anger and disappointment, but they also knew that their priority was to capture him and preserve the organization's stability.

"Also, about Itachi Uchiha." Pain's tone softened slightly as he turned his gaze to the Mysterious Masked Man standing off to the side. "Once Uchiha Hanabi joins us, Itachi will have someone from his clan here. And you'll have a new trainee with you as well."

The Mysterious Masked Man gave a slight start. He clearly hadn't expected Pain to bring up the subject so suddenly.

He furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly pondering the deeper meaning behind Pain's words.

"Huh? Orochimaru-senpai has defected from the Akatsuki?" the Mysterious Masked Man suddenly asked, his voice tinged with surprise and regret. "What a shame. I'm still a trainee, and I wanted to ask Orochimaru-senpai to help me study some experiments!"

Pain knew that although the Mysterious Masked Man didn't usually say much, when he did speak, he had a way of lightening the mood.

"Yes, Orochimaru has defected from the organization," Pain replied coolly. "His ambitions were too great, and he was no longer content to remain in the Akatsuki. We can only regret his betrayal."

The Mysterious Masked Man fell silent for a moment, seeming to take in the news. Then he raised his head and looked Pain straight in the eye. "So, what does the organization plan to do about this? Orochimaru-senpai's strength is not to be underestimated."

A cold gleam flashed in Pain's eyes. "We'll send people to hunt him down, of course."

The Mysterious Masked Man nodded and didn't press the matter any further. Instead, he turned his gaze to Konan.

With a playful grin, he said, "Then I'll go with Konan-senpai, Kakuzu-senpai, and Itachi to Yugakure to bring that Uchiha girl into the organization, right?"

Konan's brows drew together slightly at the Mysterious Masked Man's words. She didn't like his flippant attitude, especially when discussing something so important.

Still, she did her best to remain calm and didn't voice her displeasure.

Pain nodded and said to the Mysterious Masked Man, "Yes. You and Konan will go."

His voice was calm and firm, without a hint of emotion.

The Mysterious Masked Man seemed a little surprised by Pain's decision, but he didn't show it.

He simply smiled, then looked at Konan as if waiting for her response.

Konan fell silent for a moment before replying, "All right. I'll go with you to Yugakure. But we must be careful and not let our guard down."

Her tone was serious, making it clear that she regarded the mission as important.

The Mysterious Masked Man nodded, showing that he understood.

Back when Orochimaru was still in the Akatsuki, his relationship with Sasori of the Red Sands had been fraught with tension. They had argued repeatedly over their differences in principle, and even the allocation of funds had become a point of contention.

Sasori of the Red Sands was an artist obsessed with the Puppet Technique. His world was made of steel and strings, and he had always regarded Orochimaru's strange and dangerous ninjutsu with suspicion and caution.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, was a scientist in pursuit of eternal life and power. His eyes held nothing but a hunger for knowledge and strength.

He was just as dismissive and critical of Sasori of the Red Sands' reliance on external tools.

As a result, their relationship had always been tense. Every time they met, they ended up in a heated argument.

Yet Orochimaru's defection brought those arguments to an abrupt end.

He had left the Akatsuki to pursue what he called the path to eternal life, leaving behind chaos and a vacancy. To Sasori of the Red Sands, it was not only a relief but also a provocation.

He viewed Orochimaru as a traitor and loathed his betrayal, a fire of vengeance burning in his heart.

At last, Sasori of the Red Sands had discovered Orochimaru's whereabouts. He immediately asked Pain for permission to assassinate Orochimaru alone, hoping to seize this chance to avenge his past humiliation.

Pain looked at Sasori of the Red Sands before him. His eyes were full of resolve and determination, and Pain knew he had been mulling over this decision for a long time.

However, Pain also understood that the Akatsuki was now at a critical juncture. Three of the Six Paths of Pain had been destroyed by Kirin, dealing a heavy blow to the organization's strength.

Pain's own right hand had only recently been repaired, and his combat strength had yet to return to its peak.

Under the circumstances, every operation had to be considered carefully.

"Of course," Pain said softly, his voice calm and deep. "But you must ensure the mission succeeds. We can't afford any more losses."

Sasori of the Red Sands nodded, his voice brimming with unquestionable confidence. "I understand, Leader. I've planted a spy near him, and it won't be long before I learn his exact location. I'll take care of it myself and make sure Orochimaru doesn't escape."

Pain looked at Sasori of the Red Sands and couldn't help but feel a quiet admiration. He knew Sasori's strength, and he knew how badly he wanted revenge.

But he hoped even more that Sasori would stay calm and not let personal feelings affect the bigger picture.

"Then I'll leave the search for Orochimaru to you." Pain's voice echoed through the dim conference room, carrying an unquestionable authority.

His gaze was deep and resolute, as though he had already seen all the challenges that lay ahead.

Sasori of the Red Sands smiled slightly. A trace of cunning and confidence showed in his smile.

He knew this was a sign of Pain's trust and support, as well as recognition of his strength.

He nodded lightly and said in a hoarse, determined voice, "Thank you for trusting me, Leader. I'll do everything I can to track down Orochimaru and settle this grudge myself."

Pain nodded, a glint of approval in his eyes. He knew Sasori's strength and believed he could complete the mission. But he hadn't forgotten the organization's current state, especially the loss of the Six Paths Power.

"At the same time, I'll send Zetsu to find three new bodies to replace the other Paths and fill the vacancies in the organization." Pain's voice held a note of cool decisiveness. "The Animal Path, Preta Path, and Asura Path were all crippled by that Six Paths Level technique. They're still alive, but they've lost their fighting ability. We need to recover our strength as soon as possible so we can face the challenges ahead."

Sasori of the Red Sands' heart tightened as he listened. He knew Pain was right. The organization had indeed suffered severe losses.

If they didn't replenish their forces soon, the road ahead would only grow more difficult.

"Wise as ever, Leader." Sasori of the Red Sands' voice held admiration and resolve. "I'll find Orochimaru as soon as possible and eliminate this threat to the organization. At the same time, I'll do everything I can to help Zetsu find three new Paths, so the organization can regain its vitality."

"Mm." Pain's brief, firm voice echoed through the empty conference room, adding a cold edge to the gloom that shrouded it.

"Mm." Pain's reply was short and powerful, like a blade forged from tempered steel, bearing an unquestionable authority. His gaze was deep and bright, shining like the stars, and filled with boundless curiosity and a desire to conquer the unknown.

The Akatsuki's meeting came to an end in an oppressive, somber atmosphere. As the last member left, the lights in the conference room gradually dimmed. Pain did not leave at once, however. He kept Zetsu behind, a member renowned for his skill at gathering intelligence.

"Zetsu, I need you to gather intelligence." Pain's voice echoed through the empty conference room, deep and mysterious in a way that was difficult to describe. His words were like an invisible order that Zetsu could not refuse.

"Yes, Leader." Zetsu's voice was low and respectful. He knew his duty and his mission.

As a member of the Akatsuki, he had long grown accustomed to walking in the darkness, using his eyes and his instincts to uncover the secrets of the world.

"We need the bodies of new shinobi to create three new Paths of Pain."

Pain's voice rang out again, echoing through the empty, silent chamber.

For Zetsu, this was a daunting yet important task. He dipped his head slightly to show he understood, his face devoid of any unnecessary expression.

He knew Pain's decisions were always made after careful consideration. Every word carried a deeper meaning and purpose. Pain must have wanted to create three new Paths to strengthen the organization and face the challenges to come.

Especially with Liuli's arrival, an unknown Six Paths Level powerhouse the likes of whom hadn't been seen in a thousand years.

Zetsu understood that her appearance had put the entire Akatsuki under unprecedented pressure.

The grand plan to save Mother couldn't afford to miss a single opportunity!

The appearance of an unknown powerhouse had undoubtedly brought great uncertainty to the organization's future.

That made Pain's decision all the more important. He hoped to strengthen the organization by creating three new Paths of Pain, so they could face the challenge posed by this unknown powerhouse. As an important member of the organization, Zetsu naturally bore the burden of this difficult task.

"I understand. I'll search the Five Great Villages for the bodies that were left behind," Zetsu replied, his low, powerful voice conveying determination.

He knew the task would be difficult, but he had to complete it. Only by finding shinobi bodies suitable for creating the three Paths of Pain could he ensure that the organization's strength improved.

"Mm. Ones especially suited to the specialized roles of the Animal Path and the others," Pain added, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.