It was the fifth day since Hyuuga Nen had joined the Akatsuki. Two days earlier, Sasori had returned to the Temporary Base. Hyuuga Nen had crossed paths with him, but they hadn't spoken.
When Hyuuga Nen entered the hall, he saw that the Akatsuki's current members had already gathered. Konan, Zetsu, Kakuzu, Sasori, Orochimaru, and Hyuuga Nen—six people, not counting Pain.
Hyuuga Nen waited for a while before Pain entered the hall. He stood on the raised platform and slowly began, "You all joined the organization at different times. Some of you have already carried out missions for us, while others have only been here a short time and haven't completed a single mission."
As Pain spoke, he glanced at Orochimaru and Hyuuga Nen. Then he continued, "Today, in my capacity as the leader of the Akatsuki, I'm issuing the organization's first major order. We are to attack and destroy Amegakure!"
"Destroy Amegakure? Sounds interesting. I never thought Hanzo would come to this," Orochimaru said in his hoarse voice, sounding reflective.
Pain nodded. "Hanzo is old. Under his rule, the Land of Rain has grown increasingly impoverished and fallen into decline. We'll kill him and make his life the price he pays to the Land of Rain."
"But you and Konan are from the Land of Rain, too." Sasori spoke, looking at the slashed Forehead Protectors worn by Pain and Konan.
"Pain and I were both born and raised in the Land of Rain. We want to kill Hanzo because of our personal grudge against him, but also because we truly want peace for the Land of Rain. We hope we can bring change to our homeland."
As Konan said this, however, she kept her eyes on Hyuuga Nen's forehead.
Following Konan's gaze, the others turned to look at Hyuuga