Iwagakure, deep beneath the rock strata.
A windowless secret chamber, its walls built from indestructible obsidian, cut off all sounds and prying eyes from the outside world.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, floated in midair, his small frame forming a stark contrast with the grave presence he exuded.
Standing opposite him was an uninvited guest.
A black cloak patterned with red clouds, short orange hair, and eyes filled with strange ripples.
"Is Iwagakure's way of receiving guests to make them stand here as punishment?" Pain spoke first, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.
Ōnoki snorted and slowly descended, his feet touching the ground. "For an unwelcome guest who came without invitation, not using Dust Release to clean you out is already the greatest courtesy this old man can offer."
His aged face was filled with wariness.
"State your purpose, Pain. Don't tell this old man you merely happened to pass by and wanted a place to drink tea."
Pain paid no heed to his mockery.
"I came to discuss a deal with you. We will cooperate and deal with Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha together."
The moment those words were spoken, the air in the secret chamber seemed to freeze.
Ōnoki narrowed his cloudy eyes into slits as he scrutinized the man before him. "Cooperate? Did this old man hear correctly? The famed Akatsuki needs to seek cooperation?"
"Naruto Uzumaki and the Root behind him are expanding at an unimaginable rate." Ignoring Ōnoki's probing, Pain stated the facts directly.
"His Purifiers have placed bounties on our members in the underground world. One member has defected, and another has been captured. Akatsuki has suffered considerable losses because of this."
Pain's candor surprised Ōnoki somewhat.
Openly exposing one's own predicament before a negotiating opponent was not a wise move.
Unless the other party