Secret Meeting

As Konoha's bombshell announcement spread throughout the shinobi world, the entire situation instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Inside the Raikage Building.

The Fourth Raikage, A, stared fixedly at the intelligence scroll in his hand. Veins bulged on his thick arm as he nearly crushed the scroll.

A's eyes were bloodshot, his voice filled with incredulous shock.

"Rinnegan?!"

"The Sage of Six Paths' legend actually exists?"

"Is Konoha's intelligence real or fake?!"

Dodai stood to one side, his single eye full of gravity.

"Judging from the details Konoha provided about Pain's battle, it definitely wasn't fabricated out of thin air."

"They even revealed the top-secret Night of the Nine-Tails attack, something tied to the village's reputation. Clearly, they want to shift the trouble onto this organization called Akatsuki."

Dodai took a deep breath, a chill creeping down his back.

"Lord Raikage, if we keep pressing Konoha, we'll be helping the mastermind conceal himself."

"That monster with the Rinnegan is the real threat."

Bang!

A smashed the newly replaced solid-wood desk before him with a punch.

Amid the flying splinters, an intensely twisted, icy cruelty appeared on his rugged face.

A gritted his teeth, undisguised greed and viciousness flashing in his eyes.

"So what?"

"Go settle accounts with that organization hiding in the shadows with the Rinnegan?"

"What do we gain if we win?"

"Will it bring the village food, mineral resources, or territory?"

A strode to the map of the shinobi world on the wall and heavily slapped the prosperous territory of the Land of Fire.

"So what if they're the Sage of Six Paths' eyes?"

"As long as he hasn't stormed the Raikage Building, I don't give a damn!"

A abruptly turned and glared at Dodai, his tone brooking no objection.

"Notify Ōnoki and Rasa!"

"Konoha says they're victims,