Pain's voice echoed through the dim space.
The smile remained on Orochimaru's face, but his golden, slit-pupiled eyes slowly turned cold. He did not argue further. He merely looked toward the other members.
Konan's expression was calm.
Kakuzu closed his eyes again, as though the matter had nothing to do with him.
Hidan curled his lip and looked down, fiddling with his Three-Bladed Scythe. He had no interest in Zetsu's flight from the battle.
Biwa Jūzō studied Orochimaru with interest.
Everyone understood.
Zetsu's actions went against Akatsuki's usual rules of cooperation.
But Zetsu held a special position in the organization, and no one wanted to offend him for Orochimaru's sake.
Besides, the fact that Orochimaru had returned alive was surprising enough.
Everyone's gaze settled on Orochimaru.
They wanted to know what result this member of the Legendary Sannin had brought back from Uchiha Lieyang.
Orochimaru did not keep them waiting long.
"However, the mission did not fail."
His voice was quiet, but the entire space fell silent.
Pain's Rinnegan slowly shifted.
"What do you mean?"
"Uchiha Lieyang has agreed to join Akatsuki."
Orochimaru raised his head.
In the next instant, every Akatsuki member's expression changed.
The smile froze on Biwa Jūzō's face.
Kakuzu opened his eyes.
The Three-Bladed Scythe stopped in midair in Hidan's hands.
Konan frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on Orochimaru for a long moment.
Even Zetsu, unusually, did not speak at once.
Uchiha Lieyang.
That name had recently spread across the Shinobi World.
He had defeated powerful members of the Uchiha clan, destroyed Root's pursuit force, then fought Jiraiya at the border of the Land of Fire.
Akatsuki had learned the outcome of that battle through its intelligence network.
A pure-white Susanoo had blotted out the sky.
Blinding light had engulfed the forest for a kilometer around.