Hiruko wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and pushed himself to his feet with one hand.
"Are there many shinobi with kekkei genkai in the Akatsuki?"
As he spoke, Hiruko cast an unobtrusive glance at Uchiha Mo.
He was curious whether Uchiha Mo, upon completing the Chimera Technique, could take his research to its pinnacle and prove that an ordinary man like him truly could topple so-called "geniuses" through his own efforts.
Hiruko's obsession stemmed from his hatred of the inequality people were born into, rather than a simple pursuit of power.
That was why Hiruko would later teach the Chimera Technique to his followers without any reservations.
Konan thought it over. Aside from Uchiha Mo, Nagato, and the Masked Man, Zetsu's unusual constitution seemed to be a kind of kekkei genkai as well.
She nodded. "Of course. And our leader possesses the eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths. He is the true savior!"
"The Sage of Six Paths' eyes?! Could they be... the Rinnegan?!"
Hiruko's pupils contracted sharply, and his body trembled. The movement aggravated the wound in his shoulder, however, making him suck in a sharp breath of pain.
"That's right! The Rinnegan!"
Konan answered with a smile.
"Ha... then it looks like I really did come to the right place..."
At her words, Hiruko's lips curled upward as well.
Mo turned to glance at him. He offered no further comment, merely urging them on.
"Let's go. It's time to head back. I have things to do."
Konan nodded. "Let's go, then."
As she turned around, Konan suddenly felt as though she had forgotten something. But since the mission was complete, she gave it no further thought.
Two days later, the four of them returned to the Akatsuki at a leisurely pace.