In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

Pain finished his impassioned speech and released the Ninjutsu.

In the blink of an eye, the figures formed from Chakra around him began to vanish.

The Land of Rain!

Deva Yahiko gazed at the drizzling rain, the fervor still burning on his face. Black Zetsu and Obito stood behind him.

"I'll send them the information now!" Black Zetsu said. He turned into a pool of black liquid and sank into the Lighthouse.

"The other Tailed Beasts should be easy enough! But the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails will be trouble!"

Standing behind Pain, Obito spoke in an indifferent voice.

"Don't worry! I'll handle the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails myself!" Pain's expression did not change.

"As long as you know what you're doing." Obito nodded, and ripples spread through the space around him.

"I'm only reminding you: Konoha isn't what it was four years ago under Hiruzen Sarutobi. Minato Namikaze is far stronger than the previous three Hokage!"

"More importantly, they have close ties to Uchiha Liuyun!"

At the mention of Uchiha Liuyun, Deva Path Pain trembled slightly.

"I know! A god may be struck once, but never a second time!"

Obito shook his head faintly, his lips curling with disdain beneath his mask. Big talk. Who was it whose Six Paths Puppets were wiped out in an instant four years ago?

But Obito did not mock him outright. Pain was the public leader of the Akatsuki, after all, and he had to save him some face!

Besides, Obito himself had lost count of how many times Liuyun had tormented him. Neither of them was in any position to judge the other.

The spatial ripples faded, and Obito vanished with them.

Pain continued to stare at the rain in the distance, lost in thought.

The Land of Demons!

Liuyun rose from the Tatami