Six Against One

"Hahaha! I'm interested in leading the Akatsuki too!"

"If I become the Akatsuki's leader, Lord Evil God will praise me, won't he?"

Hidan threw back his head and laughed, his eyes blazing with fanaticism.

"Hey, Rono, you meant what you said, right?"

"If anyone can challenge you, that's perfect!"

"I want to challenge you too—with my finest art!"

Deidara, ever the demolition fanatic, joined in.

"I'm interested too. Just how strong is the man who became our new leader?"

Sasori, wrapped up so tightly that none of him showed, gave a cold laugh.

"Then count me in. We can't let just any nobody lead us."

"If you don't have what it takes, I'll cut your head off with Samehada myself!"

Kisame hefted the great sword Samehada onto his shoulder, eager for a fight.

"What about you, Itachi?"

Kisame turned to Itachi beside him.

"I... can join in."

After a moment's hesitation, Itachi Uchiha nodded.

With a new leader taking over the Akatsuki, he needed to learn what he could about the man—his strength and his methods.

"Well, this is rare. All of you fired up over the same thing."

Black Zetsu watched from the sidelines, happy to stir the pot.

He wanted a chance to observe Rono's strength and the cards he had up his sleeve.

After all, Rono had nearly defeated Pain in an instant. That had revealed nothing about the limits of his power.

Black Zetsu needed to understand the goals and strength of this man who had appeared out of nowhere.

Nothing could be allowed to interfere with the plan to resurrect his mother.

"Good. It looks like the Akatsuki's members are full of fight."

Rono nodded with satisfaction. If all six had ambitions like that, this would be easy.

He would crush every last one of