Xuandou released Mabui, his brows furrowing slightly.
He gently pushed Mabui away and said quietly:
"Go out first. I have something urgent to handle."
Mabui opened her eyes, quickly straightened her clothes, and regained her usual calm composure.
She bowed slightly and withdrew from the study.
Xuandou then closed his eyes and sensed Orochimaru's location.
The Flying Thunder God Mark was still there.
Without hesitation, he formed hand seals with one hand. Space twisted, and he vanished from the study.
The next instant, he stood in a dim cave.
Orochimaru was leaning against a stone pillar. Seeing Xuandou arrive, he gave a hoarse chuckle.
"Xuandou, you're just in time. The meeting is about to begin."
Xuandou nodded without saying more, put on his Akatsuki clothes, and transformed into Nameless.
Then both of them channeled chakra into their rings and used the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
Spectral images took shape before them.
Pain, Konan, Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, Sasori, Zetsu, and Kisame.
Figures appeared one after another in the dim space.
Pain swept his Rinnegan over the group.
"Deidara and Sasori successfully captured the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara of Sunagakure."
"In addition, Kakuzu and Hidan successfully captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Fū of Takigakure."
"I summoned you all here today to extract the tailed beasts from these two."
Deidara was the first to jump in, gesturing with both hands, his face full of pride.
"Capturing the One-Tail Jinchuriki was all thanks to my art!"
"You should have seen the clay bombs I dropped over Sunagakure. The scale of those explosions, that dazzling brilliance..."
"In short, art is an explosion! Hahaha!"
Sasori stood expressionlessly to one side without speaking.
Elsewhere, Hidan squatted on the ground, spinning the Bloodied Triple-Bladed Scythe in his hand as he rambled:
"That little Seven-Tails Jinchuriki girl was pretty fast, but