Akatsuki's response

Amegakure.

Through the Magic Lantern Body Technique, every member of Akatsuki had assembled.

At their head was Deva Path Pain.

An icy light flickered in Deva Path Pain's purple Rinnegan.

The Akatsuki Robe he wore exuded a terrifying pressure.

Beside him stood Konan, who wore the same Akatsuki Robe.

Everyone gathered around a round table.

Everyone here was an S-rank rogue ninja renowned in the outside world.

From Sunagakure, Sasori of the Red Sands!

From Konoha, Orochimaru!

From Kirigakure, Juzo Biwa!

The bounty hunter, Kakuzu!

They each attended the meeting through their projected bodies.

Orochimaru looked at Pain with interest.

Thanks to what Feng Yao had told him, he had learned the secrets of the Shinobi World.

He had never imagined that the powerful, arrogant Pain-or rather, Uzumaki Nagato behind him-was nothing more than a pawn!

It left him sighing.

But Pain noticed Orochimaru's actions and glanced at him.

Or rather, Nagato noticed.

As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Nagato possessed naturally powerful sensory abilities.

Still, Nagato paid it no mind. With the Rinnegan, he was supremely confident, because he was a god!

Pain's gaze startled Orochimaru as well, and he stopped showing any expression.

What terrifying perception!

Was this the power of the Uzumaki Clan?

It made him even more interested in Karin and her mother.

Unfortunately, they were people Feng Yao valued.

Strangely enough, he clearly knew that Kotoamatsukami had altered his will, making him loyal to Feng Yao.

Yet he felt no dissatisfaction or resistance whatsoever.

Instead, he felt that he truly should be loyal to Feng Yao!

How wonderful!

Once again, he could not help licking his entire face.

Pain and Konan watched Orochimaru, their faces expressionless, though inwardly they found it incredibly strange.

Was this the Orochimaru whose fame rivaled that of their teacher, Jiraiya?

Never mind. A rogue ninja organization had all sorts of people.

They had long since grown accustomed to it.

"What a stinking snake..."

Sasori spoke with disgust.

Perhaps snakes and scorpions were natural enemies.

That made Sasori intensely averse to Orochimaru.

As luck would have it, he had ended up partnered with Orochimaru.

"Heh, so it's you, Sasori..."

Orochimaru felt no anger at Sasori's provocation and merely gave a cold, sinister smile.

"Hmph..."

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Pain nodded to Konan.

Konan saw his nod and stepped forward.

"According to our information, Danzo of Konoha staged a coup, trying to force the Third Hokage to step down. In the end, the Third Hokage killed him."

At this point, both Konan and Nagato felt a measure of satisfaction.

Back then, Danzo and Hanzō had joined forces to entrap their Akatsuki, ultimately causing Yahiko's death. They would never forget that hatred and pain for the rest of their lives.

"Heh..."

Orochimaru already knew the truth behind the news and showed little reaction.

Kakuzu showed no reaction at all. He was interested only in making money.

Juzo Biwa was surprised for a moment, but he did not give it much thought either.

The same went for Sasori. Konoha's affairs had nothing to do with him.

He was interested only in art and puppets.

Konan observed everyone's reactions and continued.

"But according to Black Zetsu's information, what actually happened may have been a conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha High Command!"

Now everyone except Orochimaru became interested.

"Oh, that clan with the Sharingan?"

"The Uchiha are Konoha's largest clan, yet they've come into conflict with the village leadership. Is Konoha going down Kumogakure's path too...?"

"The Uchiha were even among Konoha's founders. Who would have thought they'd end up like this...?"

Konan continued.

"If the Uchiha and Konoha fight, it will severely drain Konoha's strength, which will greatly benefit our later capture of the Nine-Tails."

"Also, someone has made a deal with our organization..."

By now, Akatsuki had earned the title of the number one assassination organization on the black market.

"They're offering one billion for the head of the current Uchiha Clan Head..."

"According to Black Zetsu's information, the person offering the bounty may be from Konoha..."

Someone from Konoha?

Who in Konoha could produce one billion? Without a doubt, it was very likely Konoha High Command.

This made him even more certain of the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha.

Still, that had nothing to do with them.

Kakuzu's eyes lit up. One billion!!

His breathing grew even more rapid!

"So it's a mission..."

Juzo Biwa became interested as well, excitement appearing on his vicious face.

The Uchiha Clan Head should be strong!

"The Uchiha, the Sharingan... Perhaps they could become my new art..."

Sasori was also extremely interested in the Uchiha Clan Head.

Orochimaru licked his lips excitedly.

Unlike them, he had witnessed Feng Yao's strength firsthand.

The ability to effortlessly drag even him, Orochimaru, into an illusion was enough to assure him that unless Pain acted, the others would merely be serving themselves up on a platter.

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm rise,

Pain stepped forward.

"Mm, very good. Let's assign the tasks, then."

"This mission will be extremely difficult. All of you will deploy."

"Black Zetsu will continue gathering intelligence."

"Kakuzu will remain partnered with Juzo Biwa, and Sasori with Orochimaru. Konan will also take part."

After laying out the plan, Pain ended the Magic Lantern Body Technique.

Elsewhere, in a dark, damp place.

"Ah, damn it! Damn it!!"

Obito looked like a madman. He used Wood Release frantically, disregarding his chakra consumption, wanting only to vent the fury in his heart.

Black Zetsu, Aloe White Zetsu, and Spiral White Zetsu watched helplessly as Obito vented.

Black Zetsu, in particular, had truly never expected this.

One lapse in attention, and Obito's Mangekyo was gone.

He had nearly lost his life, too.

Had Black Zetsu not stayed vigilant and kept a contingency ready, Obito would truly have had no chance of surviving after first losing one Sharingan to Izanagi, then having the Mangekyo connected to the Kamui Dimension gouged out.

Black Zetsu was furious too. That idiot Obito had actually let even his Mangekyo get gouged out!

Obito had stored almost everything Madara had left behind in that mysterious dimension. Now it had all fallen into the other party's hands.

"Obito, don't be sad. I heard humans feel much better after taking a dump..."

Spiral White Zetsu, also known as Tobi, spoke up to comfort Obito.

But while things had been fine when Spiral White Zetsu kept quiet, the moment he spoke, Obito exploded!

Immediately, he panted like a bull, his eyes bloodshot as he fixed Spiral White Zetsu with a murderous glare.

"Shut your mouth!!"

"I'll kill you!"

"I've had enough of you, you idiot!"

Seeing Obito about to kill Spiral White Zetsu, Black Zetsu immediately grew anxious.

He himself could no longer stand Spiral White Zetsu either; otherwise, he would not have chosen to live in symbiosis with Aloe White Zetsu.

But Spiral White Zetsu was the only White Zetsu who could use Wood Release.

He was a useful helper. They could not lose him.

"Enough, Obito! Being angry won't do you any good now!"

"Listen, Konoha High Command has offered one billion to hire Akatsuki to assassinate Uchiha Fengyao!"

Obito turned toward Black Zetsu, fixing him with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan he had newly transplanted.

His body trembled uncontrollably, his expression excited. He could still get his Mangekyo back!