Had Orochimaru started plotting something again?
Xuandou closed his eyes and began receiving the memories sent back by his shadow clone.
Images surged in like a tide.
Orochimaru maneuvering around the Akatsuki members with his shadow clone, Pain's impassive face inside the hideout, and that crude map marking the locations of the Tailed Beast jinchūriki.
Only after a long while, once he had sorted through these memories, did Xuandou let out a long breath.
So the Akatsuki had a mission.
He gave his secretary, Mabui, a few instructions:
"I'm going out to take care of something. Keep an eye on things in the village for now."
Mabui nodded in acknowledgment.
Xuandou formed hand seals with one hand, sensing the Flying Thunder God Mark he had left with Orochimaru beforehand.
Then his figure vanished from the office.
The next instant, he stood in a shadowy forest.
Orochimaru was leaning against an old tree, his golden slit pupils gleaming in the dim light.
He wore the Akatsuki's black cloak patterned with red clouds, with the Kusanagi Sword hanging at his waist, his long hair loose and his face pale.
At Xuandou's appearance, a faint smile rose on his bloodless face, and he spoke in a raspy voice:
"Xuandou, I assume you've already learned what happened through your clone."
"But to complete the mission, I should still go over the relevant intelligence again."
Xuandou nodded, signaling for him to continue.
"Although the whereabouts of a few Tailed Beasts remain unknown, the Akatsuki has finished gathering information on the publicly known jinchūriki over the past few years."
"Now, Pain has finally decided to act."
"The first target is the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, Roshi."
"And the two of us will be capturing him."
"Roshi?"
Xuandou raised an eyebrow at that.
"He's a rogue ninja from Iwagakure,