Elsewhere.
Konan approached Zou Hyuga alone. Although he knew there was very little chance of being exposed, he still made ample preparations.
Orochimaru had cast suspicion on everyone by visiting every member of Akatsuki.
But everyone had seen how eager Orochimaru and Shinnō usually were to win him over.
There was no hiding that from anyone.
Yet Konan did not mention Orochimaru and Shinnō's defection. Instead, she asked about Hiruko's current condition.
After Ōnoki's surprise attack and everything that followed, Hiruko had not only fallen into a coma, but his life was also in danger.
The organization had originally had several experienced medical ninja, but Orochimaru and Shinnō had defected, and the unconscious Hiruko clearly could not treat himself.
"Basic medical ninjutsu isn't working..."
Zou Hyuga casually described Hiruko's condition.
Konan nodded. She understood Hiruko's situation as well, and knew that without Orochimaru and Shinnō's help, he would have little chance of waking up.
At that thought, Konan frowned slightly.
She did not mourn the potential loss of a madman like Hiruko. She simply felt that the organization would lose a fighter.
With Hiruko unconscious and Orochimaru and Shinnō gone, Akatsuki had lost nearly half its fighting strength in one stroke.
That was not all. Without those three professional researchers, the organization's research on its test subjects would also grind to a halt.
Fortunately, the organization had already collected over half the tailed beasts. Only four of the Nine-Tailed Beasts remained.
After considering it for a moment, Konan looked at Zou Hyuga and said, "The leader and I have discussed it. We've decided to assign you the Eight-Tails Hunt Mission."
Zou Hyuga nodded without much objection.
With the task of recovering Five-Tails assigned to Obito, he had demonstrated the greatest strength among the organization's remaining members.
And Eight-Tails had a