Unlike Guangtai, who was terrified out of his wits, Deva Path Pain stood calmly where he was, utterly unmoved.
Behind him, the Preta Path had sprung into action the moment the Second Tsuchikage raised his hand. By the time the Dust Release shot forth, the Preta Path was already in front of the Deva Path, both hands raised.
The Dust Release reached him in an instant, but lost its power before his hands. It gradually vanished, completely absorbed.
The Second Tsuchikage looked at him. "Not bad. You can stop Dust Release. Now tell me why you're here."
Pain nodded. He understood what the Second Tsuchikage meant: if they could not even withstand Dust Release, they had no right to propose a partnership.
"Very well. We represent Akatsuki, and we want to work with you. Besides those of us here, several other powerful fighters are at our base, all at least Elite Jonin level.
"The Ninja who ambushed you earlier is Kakuzu, a core member of Akatsuki."
"Kakuzu? I vaguely remember him. A Rogue Ninja from Takigakure who once attacked Hashirama Senju. I didn't expect him to still be alive.
"What kind of partnership do you have in mind? What can you offer?"
"I don't know which faction you serve or what you're trying to achieve. Perhaps our goals are the same."
"Heh. We belong to Root, founded by Lord Danzo. As for the Ninjutsu that summons the dead to fight, it's called Impure World Reincarnation. The Second Hokage invented it to summon the dead from the Pure Land into the world of the living."
Fugaku felt the lie was getting embarrassing. Danzo simply made too convenient a scapegoat.
Pain and Guangtai were startled. Black Zetsu, hidden underground, was just as surprised. He had not expected them to be Danzo's subordinates.