Amegakure - Akatsuki Base
Because the Akatsuki was busy with missions recently, the empty base was unusually quiet. The chief medical-nin of Amegakure emerged from the room, closed the door behind him, and respectfully addressed Konan:
"My lord, his injuries have mostly healed, but due to recent overexertion and excessive use of Chakra, coupled with his pre-existing injuries, although he has regained consciousness, he still needs to rest for a while."
Konan nodded expressionlessly, and said coldly, "Well done, God will remember your efforts."
This meaningless praise, however, delighted the medical-nin, who beamed with undisguised joy and exclaimed excitedly:
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Angel, thank you, Your Majesty the Angel, I will surely obey God's will..."
"Alright, God has important things to do, you can go now." Konan skillfully dismissed Pain's fanatical followers.
As expected, even after being driven away by the 'angel,' the medical-nin showed no impatience whatsoever. Instead, he bowed respectfully and said:
"Yes, my lord." With that, he walked slowly out of the Akatsuki base.
To the ninjas of Amegakure, this was the place where the angel purged heretics, not the infamous Akatsuki base. Although some 'strange' ninjas sometimes appeared, it did not diminish the angel's status in their hearts.
After the medical-nin left, Konan gently pushed open the door. In the orange candlelight, Uchiha Itachi, pale-faced, sat half-sitting on the bed.
Konan, unusually concerned, asked, "How are your injuries?"
Remembering Naoki Senju's reminder, Uchiha Itachi said weakly:
"Much better, I'm mostly fine now."
Konan nodded, not continuing to inquire about Uchiha Itachi's health. It was just a polite formality; even if Uchiha Itachi's injuries hadn't healed, there were still some questions she needed to ask.
"Then tell me what happened during this mission. How are Orochimaru and Naoki Senju? Who else could have injured you like this? And most importantly, where is Kakuzu now?"
Uchiha Itachi recalled their conversation that day and told Konan about the course and outcome of the battle, but omitted his conversation with Naoki Senju, replacing it with a brief exchange of probing.
Upon hearing that Kakuzu had been killed by Naoki Senju of the Senju Clan, and that Naoki Senju had awakened the First Hokage's Wood Release, Konan was instantly filled with rage.
The mission to hunt down Orochimaru and Naoki Senju was Danzo Root, but Danzo made no mention of Naoki Senju having awakened Wood Release, and even distorted the facts, saying that Naoki Senju was just an ordinary person! Could an ordinary person really kill Hokuto of Akatsuki?
After taking a deep breath through gritted teeth, Konan said "Take good care of your injuries" and hurriedly left.
Watching Konan's retreating figure, Uchiha Itachi felt a mix of emotions. Using false information to mislead the enemy was a common tactic for ninjas, but Naoki Senju's skillful and meticulously crafted plan always gave him a headache.
Hopefully, the Akatsuki won't be ruined.
" Pain, Pain."
Countless white sheets of paper floated up to the top floor of the steel building and coalesced into the figure of Konan.
Upon seeing Pain, Konan's anxious and angry emotions eased somewhat, but after noticing the Masked Man next to Pain's Deva Path, her newly calmed emotions tightened again, and her vigilance was immediately heightened.
The Masked Man glanced at Konan, who had suddenly appeared, then looked away and continued:
" With Kakuzu's death, the Akatsuki is now short-handed, and I happen to have a good candidate who can fill that gap."
Pain held his own against the Masked Man, his grey, rippling Rinnegan the fine drizzle as he calmly remarked:
"Who?"
" Kirigakure, a former rogue missing-nin from Kirigakure and now Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Kisame Hoshigaki, possesses sufficient strength and also aligns well with the Akatsuki's ideals."
Information about Kisame Hoshigaki flashed through Nagato's mind, and at the same time, he casually spoke as he controlled Pain's Deva Path:
" The Akatsuki has no shortage of manpower, but since you chose him, let him join, replacing Juzo Biwa, with the code name Nanto."
After achieving his goal, the Masked Man looked at Konan and asked in a disguised voice:
"I heard that Uchiha Itachi barely escaped with serious injuries. Where is he recuperating now?"
Konan kept a wary eye on the Masked Man and replied indifferently:
"I wouldn't dare trouble Madara Uchiha. With the chief medical-nin of Amegakure here, Uchiha Itachi's injuries are no longer a problem."
The atmosphere instantly became tense. The crimson Sharingan was Rinnegan. Pain's Deva Path, stepped between the two and said with considerable authority:
"Alright, that's enough. If anyone still wants to make a move, I'll take care of it."
The Masked Man's only exposed eye gave Pain's Deva Path a deep look, as if he could easily see the manipulator hiding behind the scenes.
Hidden somewhere in Amegakure, the Nagato frowned. His keen senses alerted him to something amiss. Just as he was about to forcefully test Madara Uchiha's strength, the surrounding space began to distort.
The space, twisted into a spiral shape, collapsed inward, and at its very center was the scythe-shaped Mangekyō Sharingan.
After the Masked Man left, Konan relaxed a bit and recounted Uchiha Itachi's situation and the information he had provided in detail, making no attempt to hide her anger.
" Pain, this mission failed entirely because Danzo of Root deliberately concealed information, causing us to lose a powerful core member. It's even possible that this was a scheme orchestrated by Danzo and Orochimaru!"
But Pain wasn't as furious as Konan. The loss of a core member wasn't worth his anger; the Akatsuki had more important plans...
"Besides Naoki Senju's strength, Danzo also concealed the whereabouts of the legendary Sannin Tsunade. Tell Danzo the whole story of the mission, demand compensation for the losses, and be prepared that a new core member is joining."
Sannin Tsunade... Konan was slightly surprised. If Tsunade was also there, with two Sannin, plus Naoki Senju, who was capable of killing Kakuzu single-handedly, it was either incredibly lucky and strong enough that Uchiha Itachi was able to return alive, or...
Uchiha Itachi has betrayed the Akatsuki!
Seemingly sensing what Konan was thinking, Pain's Deva Path calmly said:
"The reason why Uchiha Itachi, one of the Sannin Tsunade, didn't intervene is probably because her hemophobia hasn't been cured, and she currently has no combat ability."
"Furthermore..." Pain paused, then added, "Move Uchiha Itachi to a safer location to recover. I suspect that the Masked Person who claims to be Madara Uchiha might try to harm Uchiha Itachi while he's still recovering."
Konan was startled. At first, they had suspected that Uchiha Itachi might be one of Madara Uchiha's men, but judging from the current signs, the truth might be the opposite...
"Understood, we will absolutely not let Madara Uchiha find Uchiha Itachi." Konan nodded in agreement.
After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and it's definitely a good thing if someone can pose a threat to ' Madara Uchiha '.