"No!"
Uchiha Itachi's crisp answer drew sidelong looks from the members of Akatsuki.
So certain?
"Given Konohagakure's deep reserves, even a sudden war wouldn't destroy it. At most, it would suffer some losses, and it would recover in an extremely short time."
"Orochimaru can use his former position among Konoha's leadership to gain some advantages early in the war, but he'll soon fail!"
"Don't underestimate Konoha. If a Shinobi Village could be destroyed so easily, Konoha wouldn't still be standing today."
Uchiha Itachi's truthful words, which seemed to favor Konoha, immediately earned a nod of agreement from Kakuzu. Kakuzu seemed to have come to his senses after being blinded by money.
As though recalling some unbearable memory, Kakuzu grew serious too. "The Konoha founded by the God of Shinobi isn't that simple!"
Beside him, Hidan gave Kakuzu a puzzled look. What's gotten into him?
Deva Path Pain also agreed with Uchiha Itachi for once. If he truly thought nothing of Konoha, he would have led Akatsuki into action long ago. None of the major Shinobi Villages in the shinobi world was simple. Even with Akatsuki's strength, they needed to plan carefully and build up their funds and power!
Sasori said bluntly, "Since Orochimaru wants to start a war with Konoha, let him. It would be just as well if he died there. It would save us the trouble of hunting down that traitor to our organization!"
Hidan shouted too, "Lord Jashin wouldn't like an offering like Orochimaru. Let him die."
"In that case..." Deva Path Pain nodded, deciding not to take part in the war against Konoha. "Akatsuki won't participate in this war. Let Orochimaru weaken Konoha for us. That will be of some help to our future plans."
"Hidan, Kakuzu, your current mission location is very close to the