Amegakure.
Zetsu emerged from a lantern plant and stood beside Pain.
"I have some good news."
Pain said, "Speak."
"In ten days, the Land of Fire will send people to Konoha for advanced study in Genjutsu dispelling.
Last time, didn't you nearly suffer a setback at the hands of Konoha's Tobitake Tonbo?
This time, I'll infiltrate the Land of Fire's Imperial Guard Corps.
I'll learn Konoha's methods of dispelling Genjutsu for you."
Zetsu's eyes narrowed like mung beans as he grinned.
Last time had truly shocked him. Nagato was already a genius, and with the power of the Rinnegan, yet Tonbo had used Genjutsu to seal all six puppets. It was simply unbelievable.
That level of Genjutsu ability...
Unless it was a forbidden technique of the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could not imagine who else could achieve it.
The Sage of Six Paths had existed for over a thousand years.
Even so, only a few people with that kind of Genjutsu ability emerged in each era.
So now that he had found an opportunity, he would not let this chance to gather intelligence slip away.
Still, Pain was nominally the leader of Akatsuki, so he naturally had to report it.
Pain paused. "Do not get discovered."
After so much research, he had already found a way to counter that Genjutsu ability.
But if there was a more convenient way to dispel it, it would be more advantageous in battle.
He considered himself a god.
But he did not dare underestimate the power of the Five Great Nations.
Only through caution and prudence could he end the world and rebuild order.
"Don't worry. You still don't trust my intelligence-gathering abilities?"
Zetsu smiled and slowly melted into the ground, disappearing before Pain.
Pain looked down over Amegakure from on high, his thoughts swirling.