Inside the VIP room.
Oyashiro En was entertaining Zou Hyuga, who had arrived without warning. He had been completely unprepared for Zou's appearance.
He had originally been watching the gladiatorial combat, hoping to acquire another ninja.
Then he suddenly noticed Zou Hyuga staring straight at his location and displaying his "Vermilion Bird" ring, the mark of an official member of Akatsuki.
With his strength, he naturally had nothing to fear from an ordinary jonin, but this was an isolated island, and his visitor was someone special even within Akatsuki.
The man could easily destroy the island, and he could also bring other Akatsuki members here.
Although countless officials and merchants stood behind the island, Akatsuki dared to fight the Five Great Nations. It was a truly lawless mercenary organization.
Thus, he had taken the matter seriously from the outset, only relaxing a little once he discovered that the visitor was Zou Hyuga.
"Forgive the hasty reception. I haven't had time to prepare properly," Oyashiro En said politely. Then he looked at Zou Hyuga, curious about what had brought him here.
Akatsuki was collecting tailed beasts on a massive scale. That was no secret in the shinobi world.
But there were no tailed beasts on the island, nor did they dare lay a finger on the shinobi villages' prized possessions. So what exactly had brought him here?
Was he representing Akatsuki, or had he come on his own behalf?
Oyashiro En felt that the latter was the true purpose of his visit. According to that old friend of his, Zou Hyuga apparently wasn't truly of one mind with Akatsuki.
Still, having been involved in Orochimaru's defection, he was somewhat afraid of how Akatsuki viewed him.
After sitting quietly for a good while, Zou Hyuga seemed to see through Oyashiro En's thoughts