The life-support device emitted a low hum, and Nagato's eyes narrowed slightly behind his long hair.
Absurd.
That was Nagato's first thought after hearing Konan's report.
"Impossible."
He delivered the verdict through Deva Path Pain's body, his Rinnegan utterly still.
"Kakuzu knew how he was recruited, so he also knows the consequences of betraying Akatsuki."
Konan sighed softly.
"Nagato, I think the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki gave him the confidence. Besides, a sum as enormous as five billion was enough to make that miser lose his mind and take the risk."
In a daze, she realized that Nagato was still as idealistic as ever, stubbornly believing only in what he had decided upon, just like when they had first met.
Though she was hardly any better.
Ever since Yahiko died, they had embarked on a road of no return.
She raised her hand, and several sheets of paper formed from chakra appeared out of thin air, each clearly listing a clue.
"First, Hidan was last seen at Thunderclap Pass in the Land of Lightning. A massive slaughter took place there, but afterward, only Kakuzu was seen leaving with a huge metal case on his back."
"Second, the Purifiers organization issued the five-billion bounty right before the Thunderclap Pass incident. Kakuzu's movements perfectly matched those of a bounty hunter making a delivery."
"Most importantly," Konan stated with near-cruel calm, "Kakuzu's obsession with money far exceeds what either of us imagined. To him, between a noisy partner who brought no direct profit and a piece of 'cargo' worth five billion ryō, which would he choose?"
Nagato fell silent.
Every word Konan said was reasonable and supported by evidence. He did not want to believe her, yet he had no way to refute her.
It was not as though he did not know Kakuzu was