Hashirama Senju is gone. The Hashirama Senju who personally pierced Madara's heart for the sake of Konoha left without the slightest regret.
This is why Ren has always admired Hashirama Senju: he knew what he wanted, knew what he should do, and was a realistic idealist.
As he watched his elder brother Tobirama Senju gradually disappear, he sighed inwardly.
Brother, I will never be able to let go like you do!
"Is the person who possesses the Rinnegan your target?"
Having witnessed Pain's recent battle, Tobirama Senju's previous doubts were resolved, and now was the time to seek further verification.
"Teacher, or more accurately, the organization he founded!"
From Orochimaru's address to Pain, Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Pain was the leader of Akatsuki. Since Tobirama Senju had already guessed it, he no longer concealed it.
"Nonsense!"
Tobirama Senju Hiruzen Sarutobi with a stern expression.
Although Tobirama Senju didn't know the name of Ren, who had the audacity to turn Hiruzen Sarutobi into missing-nin, he still admired him to some extent.
After witnessing Pain's power, Tobirama Senju's goodwill towards Ren diminished considerably.
A guy who didn't even know the strength of the other organization's leader sent two villages' top fighters to be delivered to their deaths.
Ren was labeled as reckless by Tobirama Senju in his heart.
The need to send spies clearly indicates that the threat is known but intelligence is lacking; under normal circumstances, this move would be perfectly acceptable.
The current situation is clearly beyond normal, and will directly lead to a complete defeat, wasting the village's fighting strength.
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled wryly and said...
"Teacher, you should leave now. This is my own choice!"
With a slightly bitter and wistful expression, and a resolute look in his Tobirama Senju, who knew his disciple's personality well, had a bad feeling.
Were you coerced?
It seems that the relationship between this Hokage of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha and Hiruzen Sarutobi is probably quite bad.
He glanced at Itachi again, recalling his interaction with Hiruzen Sarutobi during their battle, and ruled out the possibility that Itachi was spying on Hiruzen Sarutobi.
A discarded piece?
He wanted to forcibly take Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi away, but seeing the determination in their eyes, Tobirama Senju gave up.
After sensing it for a moment, Tobirama Senju's figure disappeared from the spot.
They didn't leave, but instead hid not far away.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I am the leader of Akatsuki. You can call me Pain. Now you can choose to join Akatsuki or die!"
Shortly after Tobirama Senju Deva Path Pain concealed himself, Pain flew above Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi, looking down at Hiruzen Sarutobi and speaking.
An extraordinary Shinra Tensei caused the Deva Path Dao to recover its energy for a long time.
To maintain a high profile and to have a complete grasp of Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength, Deva Path Pain did not recruit him immediately after the battle.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength?
From the time the sealing barrier was raised until Pain intervened in the battle, Nagato felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength was sufficient since he was able to hold out for so long.
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into deep thought, while Pain gradually unleashed his powerful Chakra fluctuations, increasing little by little over time.
While Hiruzen Sarutobi, Pain glanced at Itachi beside him.
Similar to Madara's Sharingan?
Without hesitation, Pain spoke to Itachi.
"And you too!"
Thinking it was all just for show, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi felt the ever-growing power and the growing sense of crisis.
Finally, he spoke.
"I agree to join!"
"Very good. From this moment on, your past identities are meaningless. You are now members of the Akatsuki!"
After Pain finished speaking, he slowly flew away.
Until Pain's figure disappeared into the horizon, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi exchanged a glance, both filled with doubt.
Is that all?
Interrogation?
How about adding it to the program?
What about organizational philosophy and positioning?
...?
Countless questions arose in their minds. Even setting aside everything else, weren't they even slightly interested in the existence of the First Leader?
This Akatsuki seems quite organized, but the leader's head is a bit...
Deva Path Pain, too, had many questions, the most concerning of which was the existence of someone similar to Hashirama Senju in historical records.
However, all of this can be inquired about from Kakuzu, and later through Zetsu or Konan.
As a god, Pain must possess divine authority and an air of mystery.
Little did they know that people like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi Uchiha, who had worked in the system, had the deepest understanding of Pain as Pain not being very smart.
However, considering Pain's strength, it seems that not needing brains wouldn't be a big problem.
At the same time, their confidence in completing the spy mission increased significantly.
Tobirama Senju, who was ready to save the two at any moment, watched the recruitment process, which seemed like child's play.
With the same look of suspicion, does becoming powerful enough necessarily require using one's brain?
Recalling the performances of Hashirama, Madara, and Pain, Tobirama Senju felt it was very likely!
Tobirama Senju didn't go out to greet the two. He looked up at the sky to determine his location and then quickly left.
He's going to Konoha to take a look!