The morning light vanished for an instant, leaving a fast-moving shadow across the grass.
All three looked up at once. Hidan released the scythe handle, Kakuzu set his bowl back on the Rock, and Sasori withdrew his arm.
They recognized the creature: Archaeopteryx, the summon of Akatsuki's leader, God Pain.
Archaeopteryx swooped down over the treetops, its spread wings casting a dark shadow through the morning light.
A figure stood on its back. The wind pressed the hem of his Red Cloud Robe behind him and swept his long, pale-gray hair back.
His eyes stood out in the sunlight. Violet-white ripples spread outward from the center of his pupils, ring after ring, their edges gleaming coldly.
The three did not know the man, but they recognized those Rinnegan eyes.
Kakuzu approached first and asked cautiously, "Pain, what brings you here? Is this the new Deva Path?"
Nagato jumped down from the bird's back. His boots pressed shallow marks into the grass. Instead of answering Kakuzu, he asked with a dark expression, "Where's Konan?"
Kakuzu drew his neck in. His gaze dropped from Nagato's face to the grass at his feet, and he said nothing.
He sensed something was wrong.
Hidan, oblivious, tossed the Bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe onto the ground and answered at full volume.
"She went to seduce Uchiha Yongye. Bet she can't even get out of bed right now."
At that suicidal answer, Kakuzu and Sasori quietly moved away from him.
Hidan noticed nothing. He kept grinning, showing a row of gleaming white teeth.
Nagato's face darkened further. He gave a cold order.
"Come with me. We're attacking Konoha together. We'll kill Uchiha Yongye and bring Konan back."
Kakuzu and Sasori exchanged a glance, then looked at Nagato. Neither quite dared to speak.
Hidan grinned. "You've got the order