Uchiha Ren was nothing more than a stepping stone for Akatsuki

Pain had always needed a powerful enough enemy to prove Akatsuki's strength to the entire Shinobi World!

"The price?"

Pain slowly rose to his feet.

"Reshaping the world has always demanded a price."

"The stronger Uchiha Ren is, the greater his value."

Konan's brow furrowed even deeper.

"You want to use him as a stepping stone?"

"Exactly."

Pain looked down at Amegakure beneath the tower.

"The entire Shinobi World is singing his praises now."

"He defeated Hashirama and sealed Madara Uchiha."

"People call him the Asura of the Shinobi World. They even see him as a War God who has surpassed the Sage of Six Paths."

"If Akatsuki defeats someone like him head-on, who among the Five Great Shinobi Villages would still dare stand in our way?"

Everyone's expression changed at those words.

Pain turned around, his Rinnegan sweeping over them all.

"Uchiha Ren's corpse also holds immeasurable value."

"His Mangekyō Sharingan, his body, and that secret technique for merging the Complete Body Susanoo into his flesh."

"Once we obtain those things, Akatsuki will possess even greater power."

"Then no one will be able to stop us from collecting the tailed beasts, creating the ultimate weapon, and subjugating every nation through absolute power."

"Uchiha Ren is not an insurmountable mountain."

"He is Akatsuki's stepping stone to a new world!"

A brief silence settled over the tower.

A moment later, Kakuzu was the first to raise his head.

"Defeat the most renowned ninja alive, then take his corpse."

"A corpse like that would indeed be worth more than a hundred million ryō."

Sasori's tail stinger rose again.

"If he can merge the Complete Body Susanoo into his flesh and blood, his body has already surpassed that of an ordinary human."

"If I turn him into a human puppet, he will undoubtedly