Pain's [Rinnegan] shifted slightly.
He hadn't expected his casual question to yield this news.
Kakuzu aside, the Akatsuki no longer needed to keep raising activity funds.
But Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands...
One possessed the [Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu] and could summon a reanimated army.
The other possessed human puppet modification techniques and had an army of puppets.
Both were vital fighting forces!
With its ranks now depleted, the Akatsuki needed ninja like Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands, who came with troops of their own.
But after a moment's thought, Pain did not ask Black Zetsu to find Orochimaru or Sasori of the Red Sands and have them rejoin the Akatsuki.
Everything could wait until after the Five Kage Summit...
If Pain's operation succeeded...
Even if he didn't actively recruit Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands, there was a fair chance that these two S-rank missing-nin would return to the Akatsuki.
But if the operation failed...
Then, of course, it would all come to nothing.
Black Zetsu did not continue the previous topic either.
In fact...
Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands had done far more than merely "get in touch."
The two had already successfully met up!
And they were plotting an operation...
There was simply no need to tell Nagato about it yet.
Black Zetsu changed the subject, volunteering another bombshell.
"Orochimaru's [Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu] has already produced a major result!"
A major result?
Pain's eyes brightened slightly.
"Who did Orochimaru 'resurrect'?"
Black Zetsu did not answer Pain's question directly, merely looking to one side.
"Come out, Obito."
The signature spatial vortex of [Kamui] appeared.
Clad in a red cloud black cloak, Obito Uchiha appeared before the Six Paths of Pain in his fractured reanimated body, his [Mangekyō Sharingan] gleaming scarlet.