Over the next few days, Zou Hyuga occasionally caught sight of Konan.
On days when God Pain did not appear, Angel Konan had to handle the village's affairs herself. Zou Hyuga also saw another side of her as she treated Amegakure's villagers gently.
But soon, the Akatsuki, which had once yearned for peace, would ignite a war.
That afternoon, Zou Hyuga was suddenly summoned to the Akatsuki base outside the village, where he met some of its full-fledged members.
"President, it's been a while. I trust you've been well."
As always, Orochimaru and Shinnō greeted Zou Hyuga warmly when they saw him. It had practically become a habit.
Zou Hyuga nodded slightly, but sensed something different about Shinnō.
He knew that aura well. It was the natural energy found throughout the Shinobi World. It seemed Shinnō had gained quite a few benefits from Chiriku. Perhaps he had even begun to master natural energy.
What puzzled him, however, was that Shinnō had obtained his Natural Energy Cultivation Method from Chiriku.
Judging by Kimimaro's performance last time, Orochimaru's research into the Cursed Seal had already reached a remarkably advanced stage, many times better than the Fire Temple's method.
Although Orochimaru himself could not use Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, that did not mean he could not use natural energy.
Zou Hyuga could only privately speculate that Shinnō and Orochimaru remained somewhat wary of each other.
Still, judging by Orochimaru's behavior, he would hold nothing back only for a body he intended to reincarnate into, and even then, he would leave himself some contingencies.
Suddenly, Zou Hyuga sensed hostile gazes. Turning, he saw Hiruko and Sasori staring coldly at him, making no attempt to hide their disgust.
If Orochimaru and Shinnō were friendly because they wanted to use him, those two disliked him openly.