At that moment, Obito deliberately shifted his gaze to the ring on Zou Hyuga's hand and said enviously, "Senior, since you're new here, could you give me the ring on your hand?"
Seeing Obito act like this, Zou Hyuga smiled. "I'm afraid not. If you want a ring, you'll have to ask Leader Pain... if you can't get one, perhaps you haven't earned his approval..."
"Then there's nothing I can do..." Obito said dejectedly, returning to the other person's side.
Just then, Orochimaru looked at the other newcomer and asked, "And who is this?"
As though claiming credit, Obito said, "This is Lord Hozuki Mangetsu, Kirigakure's child prodigy, the new member I worked so hard to recruit!"
"Kirigakure's child prodigy?"
Everyone present turned their attention to Hozuki Mangetsu.
They had initially paid him little mind because he looked so young, but they had all heard of the child prodigy-a genius capable of wielding several ninja blades.
Zou Hyuga also focused on Hozuki Mangetsu, recognizing him as the man who had once fought Oto and represented Kirigakure at the conference. He cast a discreet glance toward Obito.
Hozuki Mangetsu certainly met the standards for joining the Akatsuki, but wasn't Obito worried that his manipulation of Kirigakure would be exposed? Or had Kirigakure already outlived its usefulness?
Zou Hyuga said casually, "Kirigakure's child prodigy? I think another Kirigakure ninja passed by just now..."
Orochimaru nodded in agreement. "That was Juzo Biwa. Perhaps this child prodigy and Juzo Biwa are old friends."
As Zou Hyuga had expected, Hozuki Mangetsu and Jūzō Biwa knew each other, though they did not seem to get along. Hozuki Mangetsu, who already possessed two ninja blades, had his eye on Jūzō's Kubikiribōchō, and the two nearly came to blows.
Zou Hyuga felt a little disappointed that he hadn't