Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi didn't linger either, quickly leaving as well.
After Hashirama Senju regained consciousness, the giant Wood Golem was recalled, and most of the trees that Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence did the same.
Only the trees, completely destroyed from root to leaf, remain in their original locations.
No sooner had Itachi and Hiruzen Sarutobi left than a large number of White Zetsu emerged to destroy any traces of the battle.
The main task is to clean up scattered clothing, such as in the Animal Path and the Hidan.
Black Zetsu was quite righteous, and also had White Zetsu clean up the traces left by his Wood Release.
One of the White Zetsu discovered something strange: a large clump of dark red soil was showing a clear Chakra reaction.
White Zetsu could even distinguish that it was Hidan's Chakra reaction.
Hidan was in a terrible state at this moment. First, he was rendered unrecognizable by the Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu, and then he took two hits from Shinra Tensei, especially the PLUS version of the latter.
It had completely lost its shape; it was just a pool of flesh and blood and shattered bones, pressed into the soil by Shinra Tensei.
Even the White Zetsu couldn't distinguish which parts were Hidan's body and which were the soil; the huge lump in front of them all seemed to be Hidan.
To distinguish between Hidan and Muddy, you need to touch them and feel their texture.
White Zetsu would never do something so troublesome. Judging from its Chakra reaction, Hidan was not dead. This White Zetsu decisively dug out the entire piece of soil that was reacting, packed it up, and took it back.
On the other side.
Not far after they had gone, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi encountered another person flying in the air.
Meanwhile, someone else emerged halfway out from underground.
It was Konan and Jue.
Except in front of Nagato, Konan always presents an icy, aloof beauty to outsiders.
Jue was the first to speak.
"Gentlemen, let me introduce myself. I am Black Tortoise, and my name is Zetsu. I am in charge of the organization's intelligence work."
Then Jue looked up at Konan.
"This is Akatsuki no White Tiger, Konan, a combat member of the Akatsuki, and also the leader's teammate."
Black Zetsu then briefly explained the Akatsuki's goals and general situation to the two of them.
The goal was naturally peace in the Shinobi World, but Black Zetsu didn't tell the two how; it was Nagato's request.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi only need to focus on their work; they don't need to know much else.
After listening to the introduction, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that Zetsu had said so much, but it seemed that apart from the name he already knew, he hadn't provided any useful information.
It wasn't even as detailed as the information recorded in the scroll that Ren gave him before he set off.
Hiruzen Sarutobi found this quite normal; the previous Akatsuki leader's actions had been far too frivolous.
"Next, I will ask you some questions about you two. Please do not hide anything from me; my intelligence capabilities exceed your expectations!"
The real test is coming!
Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi felt a chill run down their spines.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more so, because he recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi the moment Zetsu appeared.
Although only half of it is similar, Hiruzen Sarutobi is still certain that it is the strange creature that Ren discovered a few years ago when he captured the Kirigakure envoy.
With a heavy heart and his mind racing, Hiruzen Sarutobi was trying to deliver a perfect performance.
But afterwards, he began to doubt life again.
After the initial few mild questions, some crucial questions began to emerge while Hiruzen Sarutobi was still considering his wording.
The intelligence agent opposite me, who called himself "Absolute," actually hinted at the direction of my answer by asking the question, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Is this a trap?
Were you deliberately trying to lead me into asking this question?
Hiruzen Sarutobi between his inner thoughts and his own, and the guidance he received from the decision aligned perfectly with the answer he had originally envisioned.
Has it all been seen through?
Unable to remain silent for long, Hiruzen Sarutobi forced himself to give his answer.
He then secretly gathered Chakra, intending to launch a counterattack immediately should anything go wrong.
The truth is, nothing happened.
The other party seemed completely oblivious to the problem and continued with the next question, which was still subtle but clearly leading.
After a series of questions, Jue looked up at Konan, indicating that it was over.
Konan witnessed the entire process and, after a moment's thought, found nothing suspicious.
They then began distributing equipment to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi.
The equipment includes clothes, rings, and nail polish.
"These three items are symbols of the core members of Akatsuki. The most important one is the ring, which not only bears the code names of the two members within the organization, but also serves to locate them, transmit information, and summon them to meetings. It is essential to wear it at all times."
It was still Jue who explained the function of the equipment to the two of them.
The codenames and teammates for the two, Nagato and Konan, had already been decided long ago.
After receiving his own ring, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a rather absurd feeling.
His ring displayed his codename within the Akatsuki.
Vermilion Bird!