The Land of Birds.
Several figures gathered in a forest where the trees grew thick and lush.
Sasori of the Red Sands tended to his puppets, while Deidara had just collected a huge pile of explosive clay.
Uchiha Itachi sat leaning against a large tree nearby. Yuki Haku stood calmly beneath it, a chill silently spreading around him.
Rustle...
Sheets of paper fluttered through the air before finally forming a beautiful, blue-haired female ninja.
Konan!
Behind her, Deva Path Pain walked over, step by step.
"Where are the others?"
Zetsu emerged unsteadily from underground and answered, "Kakuzu and Hidan have already set off to go after Orochimaru."
Deva Path Pain said nothing more. Everyone knew Kakuzu's personality well. He was worried someone else would claim Orochimaru's head, so he had not waited for the Akatsuki members to gather.
He swept his gaze over the organization's members. Everyone looked relaxed.
That was only natural.
After all, the entire Akatsuki was mobilizing. No matter how they looked at it, Orochimaru alone could not possibly match them.
Besides, Deva Path Pain was prepared to act as well, giving them even less reason to worry.
Having fought Orochimaru once, Deva Path Pain did not consider him a threat at all.
He had only come to oversee things because Orochimaru was a traitor to the Akatsuki and had once coveted the Rinnegan.
Unless something unexpected happened, he would not act.
In Deva Path Pain's-or rather, Nagato's-eyes, Orochimaru truly did not warrant his involvement.
Standing beside him, Konan glanced at Deva Path Pain. She had already made arrangements for Nagato, whose mobility was impaired.
Once the operation began, she would not move with the main group. Instead, she would return to Nagato's side to serve as his best defense.
"Move out!"
"Yes!"
After lengthy preparations, the