Several hours ago.
After a long flight, Ōnoki departed from Iwagakure and crossed several borders before arriving in the Land of Rice Paddies.
He found Kakuzu career was becoming increasingly successful.
Ōnoki gave him a mission: to help Iwagakure kidnap a Genin, for a reward of 10 million ryo.
This is an astronomical price, even without considering the difficulty of the task.
Kakuzu immediately became interested, until Ōnoki mentioned that the Genin was now in Konoha.
Kakuzu initially very interested, suddenly lost interest.
They boasted too much and overdid it, really thinking they'd do anything for money!
Just as Kakuzu was about to refuse Ōnoki's mission and tell him to find someone else, the communicator Sasori had given Kakuzu stirred in Kakuzu's arms.
Having overheard their conversation, Sasori, based on Ōnoki's description, recalled seeing Deidara several times from afar at the Konoha Laboratory Building.
Compared to the fact that he had been ruthlessly abandoned by Konoha, Sasori felt that this was something he might really be willing to try.
Perhaps Deidara is worthless now. If the price is right, given their current cooperative relationship with Konoha, they might be able to buy him directly.
Sasori's wild analysis made Kakuzu think it might actually be true.
So they resumed negotiations with Ōnoki, mainly regarding the price.
Kakuzu asked for 100 million ryo, mainly because his Kakuzu broadened after becoming friends with Ren.
What's the point of discussing a deal that doesn't even cost 100 million taels? We never realized Iwagakure was so stingy.
If Ōnoki knew what Kakuzu was thinking, he'd probably spit out a mouthful of blood.
The previous orders covered years of defense for the Land of Earth; can they be compared to capturing a single person?
After some back and forth, the two finally reached an agreement on a price of 30 million taels of silver.
Kakuzu then used the excuse that he couldn't make the decision and needed to consult with the leader, leaving Ōnoki waiting in the same spot once again.
The grumpy old man Ōnoki, stood alone, puffing out his beard and glaring.
This is just messing with people!
You can't make the decisions, yet you're talking so enthusiastically. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the leader. missing-nin is missing-nin; you don't behave properly at all.
After Kakuzu left, he immediately contacted Ren and asked if he could buy a ninja in Konoha for 10 million ryo.
Ren could never agree to such a thing, so he gave Kakuzu a good talking-to, saying that if he didn't want to continue, he didn't have to.
However, Ren still asked who he actually wanted to buy.
After hearing the answer, Ren recalled the current situation and roughly guessed that it might be the work of Iwagakure.
Even ordinary Konoha Ninja Ren are willing to sell, let alone Xiao Di.
That's definitely one of our own, Ren's biggest fanboy.
Seeing that Ren wouldn't agree, Kakuzu knew he wouldn't be able to earn this extra money, so he contacted Pain.
After explaining the whole story, he made it clear that he did not want to take on the mission and did not want to provoke Konoha.
After listening to Kakuzu's report, Nagato pondered for a moment and then decided to accept the job.
It's time for the Akatsuki to make their presence felt in the Shinobi World. Nine Tailed Beasts have emerged, and the plan to recapture Tailed Beast can begin.
Especially after learning from Konan Sunagakure had sent the One-Tail Jinchuriki to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
Nagato, who was already restless, became even more certain of his plan. On the surface, he captured Deidara to gain the help of Iwagakure, but in reality, he set his sights on the One-Tail and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
We must get our hands on the One-Tail Jinchuriki. As for the Nine-Tails Fox, if we can capture it while we're at it, we should do that too.
As for failure?
Nagato hadn't considered this issue at all. His First Shinobi World War and victory against the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, boosted Nagato confidence to an unprecedented level.
In the Shinobi World today, I am a god!
Having made his Nagato, Konan and explained the plan to her.
To be honest, Konan was unwilling to take action against Konoha, especially after witnessing Konoha's defensive capabilities yesterday.
Even after explaining Konoha's various advantages, Nagato was still unable to change his mind.
Konan is currently inside Konoha, and there's only one reason why Nagato can trust Konan to go to Konoha alone.
That is, Nagato made ample preparations, Konan carried a scroll containing a Pain, the Preta Path Pain, capable of absorbing all Ninjutsu attacks.
In order to connect with Konan the moment she released it, the body beneath the Preta Path's clothes was almost entirely replaced by black rods created by Yin-Yang Release.
When Konan is in danger, the other five Paths of Pain and Nagato body can instantly reach Konan's location using the new Animal Path Pain's Reverse Summoning and Summoning Technique.
No matter how excellent Konoha's defenses are, if Akatsuki sends out other squads to create chaos, Nagato can use this opportunity to get to Konan's side and practically kill anyone in Konoha who gets in his way.
Nagato remained obstinate, Konan, aside from offering her support, no longer tried to dissuade him.
After ending her communication with Nagato, Konan, who had already returned to her residence, walked to the window and looked at the bustling Konoha, her mind filled with many thoughts.