"You?"
Sasori's rough voice echoed, "They say you were beaten by Linto once and almost died in Konoha, ha—I should go."
"I'm very interested in Linto's and Orochimaru's bodies... they have the potential to become excellent puppets."
Uchiha Itachi glanced coldly at Sasori, unmoved.
The only person giving orders here was Pain, and Uchiha Itachi's personality meant he wouldn't argue with anyone.
Besides, Itachi might give way on other matters, but this time, he had to go.
In the past, he only thought Linto was a ninja with special abilities, but ever since Linto took Sasuke away from the village, the whole thing had gone beyond Itachi's expectations.
Last time was too rushed and too sudden. This time, Itachi wanted to see Linto's power properly.
And also...
To see Sasuke, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
When he thought of his younger brother, Uchiha Itachi's emotions were mixed.
"As long as he's healthy and safe, that's all that matters."
"Itachi, you get one spot on the team."
Pain said, "Orochimaru was your former partner, Linto was your former opponent, and Orochimaru even severely injured your only younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke. It's only right that you go and settle this."
"Sasuke... severely injured?!"
Uchiha Itachi's heart filled with overwhelming killing intent, but he didn't show it at all, and silently nodded.
"The second spot on the team—"
Pain looked at Deidara, who had his hands in his pockets, next to Kabuto.
"Deidara, you go too."
Hoshigaki Kisame paused for half a second. "I'm Itachi's partner, shouldn't I go with him?"
Although Pain was cold, he still had some respect for the Akatsuki members, so he explained briefly:
"Linto has continuously killed three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure. Kisame, you're from Kirigakure, and Linto is already familiar with your methods and style. If we're going to deal with Linto, we need to arrange opponents he's not good at handling."
Hoshigaki Kisame nodded in agreement.
All the information about Linto mentioned that a two- to three-meter range was Linto's absolute domain, and that he had extremely strong charging abilities.
Uchiha Itachi, who is good at illusions.
Deidara, who is good at explosion ninjutsu and has flying abilities.
It really was the most suitable combination.
Hearing his name, Deidara grinned. "As expected, tough nuts like this have to be cracked by me. I wonder if Linto can understand my art."
"But, are we capturing Linto alive to bring him into the Akatsuki organization?"
Pain nodded.
The fighting power Linto showed, as well as his attitude towards ordinary people, reminded Pain of himself in the past.
He wanted Linto to join Akatsuki.
To fight for the ideal of "peace."
Deidara said, "I understand, I'll hold back a little when I beat Linto, so I don't kill him. But why do we have to capture Orochimaru alive too? Isn't he a traitor?"
This time, Konan gave the explanation.
"Because none of you can be sure if you're killing the real Orochimaru, or just an experiment or a clone.
And you can't be sure that after killing him this time, Orochimaru won't crawl out of another base. So, I'm the third member of this operation."
Konan said to Uchiha Itachi and Deidara, "I'll help you in the fight, and after defeating Orochimaru, I'll be responsible for sealing him and bringing him back to Pain for disposal."
Uchiha Itachi, Deidara, Konan.
These three formed a team to capture Linto and Orochimaru.
Akatsuki is an efficient organization.
As soon as the meeting ended, the three of them gathered together and flew towards the Land of Rice Fields on a clay bird made by Deidara.
Deidara's bird was very big.
Big enough for three people to ride without feeling crowded.
Deidara was absorbed in his art, writing and drawing on paper, occasionally letting out a light laugh or two.
Uchiha Itachi closed his eyes to rest.
Konan sat on the other side, watching Uchiha Itachi's every move out of the corner of her eye.
Her mission this time was not only to help in the fight and seal Orochimaru, but also to carry out a secret mission from Pain—
To find out about Uchiha Itachi.
The Akatsuki organization was made up of people with shady pasts and secrets.
Pain didn't care how many secrets they had, as long as they helped his plan move forward, he never asked about personal privacy.
The so-called leader usually has four cards in his hand:
Rewards, emotions, protection, and force.
Playing different card combinations for different people is what a leader should do, and Pain was good at this.
Except for Uchiha Itachi.
On the one hand, Itachi had no desires and focused on tasks, completing them excellently—a perfect teammate.
On the other hand, he slaughtered his entire clan without any reason—an absolute madman.
Pain's mission for Konan was to observe the choices Uchiha Itachi made when facing Linto, Sasuke, and Orochimaru.
If something was really wrong, once Itachi returned…
Kill him on the spot!
...
Konoha Village.
Anbu Medical Room.
A huge "bubble" floated in the air.
This was clean water made jointly by the Mount Myōboku sages, Fukasaku and Shima, which could isolate external natural energy to the greatest extent.
Sasuke was immersed in the center of the clean water.
Because all things in the world have some natural power, he was now almost completely naked, with only a cloth wrapped around his waist and a crown of thorns on his head, with no other clothes.
Jiraiya sat cross-legged in front of the clean water.
A week had passed since the battle with Orochimaru, and he had stayed by Sasuke's side without sleep or rest.
Jiraiya originally wanted to put Sasuke on Mount Myōboku, which would be safer without anyone else causing trouble.
But the natural energy on Mount Myōboku was too strong, and the clean water couldn't be maintained for long, so he had to set the treatment place in Konoha Village.
Jiraiya looked at Sasuke floating in the water, his arms slightly open, wearing a crown of thorns, and his body becoming thinner and thinner…
He felt an inexplicable urge to kneel down and kowtow.
Jiraiya rubbed his face hard, thinking that he must be too tired.
"If you're too tired, go and rest."
An old, familiar voice came from behind.
Jiraiya turned around and saw the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, walking over in plain clothes, like an old man in the neighborhood.
"Go and rest, and then let Danzo attack Sasuke again?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen silently came to Jiraiya's side and quietly looked at Sasuke in the water ball. After a long time, he spoke again:
"About the Uchiha… I couldn't make a better choice."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know that the Uchiha massacre was wrong? Didn't he know that this would damage the village's strength?
He knew.
It was just that, with his political skills, he couldn't make a better decision.
So, he could only keep silent.
Jiraiya turned his head and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
When he first heard about the Uchiha massacre, Jiraiya was filled with anger and wanted to rush back and scold Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But now…
Jiraiya sighed softly. "Teacher, we really are master and student."
Because in the battle, he couldn't make a better choice, and in the end, he kept silent and let Orochimaru go. What was the difference between Jiraiya and his teacher?
In fact, both of these things hurt Sasuke.
"But I won't be confused anymore."
Jiraiya said, "Teacher, you always abandon the things you shouldn't abandon, so you were deprived of the things you should have protected."
Whether it was the Uchiha, Minato, Orochimaru, or the glory that once belonged to Konoha, the Will of Fire that shone over the ninja world.
"What do you think I should do?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
Jiraiya shook his head. "I don't know, but there is someone… he should know."
"Linto?"
"That's right."
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the trust in Jiraiya's voice. "The last time I heard you describe someone like this was Minato. But if Linto comes back, it means Orochimaru is dead."
Jiraiya nodded.
"He… died long ago."
"From the moment he stubbornly indulged in the pursuit of immortality, the soul named Orochimaru was already rotten."
At the same time, Land of Rice Fields, Hidden Sound Village.
Orochimaru looked at the thirty people standing in front of him.
Yakushi Kabuto came over. "Orochimaru-sama, these are the people who have volunteered to become 'materials' this time."
"Was the price explained?"
"Yes, certain death."
Orochimaru nodded, pointed at the volunteers, and picked two people.
Even though they were becoming materials that would certainly die, those two showed joy, and the others looked at them with envy.
Because once they became Orochimaru's volunteers, their families, friends, and even neighbors would be treated well, and their parents and children would receive a large sum of compensation, enough to live a stable life.
In such a terrible world, this was simply a gift from God.
And the price was just their lives.
It was such a good deal!
The two went forward, and Orochimaru personally straightened their collars, smiling as he said:
"Thank you."
The two were moved to tears, choked with emotion.
Orochimaru patted them on the shoulders and said to Yakushi Kabuto:
"Now that we're almost ready, let's begin, Forbidden Technique—"
"Reanimation Jutsu."
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