Land of Rain, an outlying Akatsuki base.
Boom, boom, boom...
Explosions rang out continuously in the distance. Ice fragments filled the air, waves surged, and the fierce battle sent tremors through the ground without pause.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Bang!
Two figures flew backward, coughing up blood, and slammed hard into the ground. They bounced and fell several times before finally blasting two deep craters into the earth, where they lay motionless for a long while.
Konan, as beautiful as ever, stood watching the battle end in the distance. Soon, Deva Path Pain descended from the sky and landed beside her.
"What do you think? They lasted quite a bit longer than last time."
"They still have a long way to go. They must keep improving their strength before the plan begins!"
Konan watched Zabuza Momochi and Haku help each other out of the deep craters and walk toward them. "If they carry out missions separately, their strength isn't particularly impressive. But together, they can just about hold out against you for a while. Why not let them carry out missions together?"
Deva Path Pain watched Zabuza and Haku approach without expression and rejected the suggestion. "Akatsuki's rules require missions to be carried out in pairs. Zabuza Momochi and Haku share a deep bond. If we also make them a team, we won't be able to monitor their actions effectively."
"I mean putting them on a team with Uchiha Itachi! Zabuza Momochi can become a full member of Akatsuki, while Haku serves as a trainee, accompanying Uchiha Itachi and Zabuza Momochi on missions as a reserve member."
"Agreed! I've already told them that Juzo Biwa and Kisame Hoshigaki were Uchiha Itachi's teammates." Deva Path Pain continued, "Presumably, they'll be on their guard when they carry out missions with Uchiha Itachi."
By then,