Thirty minutes later...
After settling Konan in, Pain walked out of the bedroom alone.
Outside the door, only Black and White Zetsu remained.
The other members had already fought their way from the doorway to the base's main hall.
White Zetsu chuckled. "Pain, how's Konan? Did she admit the child is Uchiha Itachi's?"
Pain shot him an icy glance. "No, this child isn't Itachi's. He's everyone's!"
"Huh?" Black Zetsu froze. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Pain started toward the hall, answering as he walked. "I'm about to hold a meeting to explain this. You'll find out then."
"Wait a moment."
Obito, dressed in a black robe and wearing the Spiral Mask, emerged from within the dim wall and called Pain to a halt.
"Pain, since you're holding a meeting anyway, I have a mission for you. Announce it to the members along with everything else..."
Pain said, "...What mission warrants so much attention from you?"
Obito said, "Uchiha Xia Yu. You remember him, don't you?"
Pain nodded slightly. "Yes, I remember. The man who single-handedly bred back the clan Itachi wiped out."
Obito said, "That's right, him. Xia Yu's recent actions have left me unable to figure him out, and that concerns me..."
Pain said, "I've been busy with the organization's affairs and Konan's health, so I haven't followed the recent intelligence. What's happened with Xia Yu?"
Black Zetsu said, "Well, well... Xia Yu left Konoha in the Land of Fire a long time ago. He's now established himself in the Land of Sea and become its Daimyo. What do you think? Interesting, isn't it?"
"Oh...?" Pain fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "Could Xia Yu... have betrayed Konoha and decided to become a rogue ninja?"
White Zetsu grinned wickedly. "Hehe, it's possible, but this could also be