An abandoned base somewhere in the Land of Rain.
Footsteps echoed through the dark, damp passage as the long-abandoned base welcomed its owner back.
Orochimaru raised his flashlight and headed deeper inside. Its cold light illuminated the surrounding walls, which were covered in mechanical traps.
Behind Orochimaru followed a series of figures dressed in Red Cloud Robes.
The Akatsuki members, who had vanished from the shinobi world, had gathered again at a single command.
They pushed open the door at the far end, and the view suddenly opened up as they entered an enormous underground cavern.
Someone had already been waiting for quite some time in the center of the cavern.
Hearing their footsteps, the figures standing with their backs to Orochimaru and the others turned around and said slowly, "You finally came."
"This looks like it won't be a very pleasant reunion... Nagato," Orochimaru said to the figure ahead.
Although he had long known that Nagato was still alive and had "voluntarily" surrendered his position as Akatsuki Leader, Orochimaru, who had once defected from the Akatsuki, could not help feeling something at the sight of his former superior.
A meeting between a deserter and a failure seemed rather interesting.
"It's been a long time, Nagato, Konan..."
After a long hesitation, Sasori finally managed to get those words out, seemingly struggling with how to address them.
Unlike deserters such as Orochimaru and Shinnō, he had fought for the Akatsuki to the very end. He owed Nagato and Konan nothing.
As the weakest person present, Shinnō was far more reserved.
But remembering who stood behind him gave Shinnō considerably more courage. "Lord Nagato, you shouldn't have provoked the President... Now your eyes have been taken."
Ignoring Shinnō's words, Nagato swept his gaze past his former subordinates and settled on Hokage Tobirama