What's going on?
I'm in a group by myself?
Kyo blinked, wondering if he had misheard.
But just then, Juzo beside him suddenly spoke up, interrupting Kyo's thoughts.
Juzo frowned, looking at Pain, and said:
"I have a question."
"Since everyone has joined Akatsuki, that means we're all top-tier strong Shinobi, right?"
"For experts at our level, why do we still need to act in groups?"
"Especially..."
"And I have to be with this newly joined Konoha kid."
As he spoke, Jinpachi glanced at Itachi, showing a somewhat impatient expression.
To be honest,
The moment he saw this youngster just now, Juzo immediately felt something was off.
Now, having to partner with someone like this, he might as well just act alone for more satisfaction.
Hearing this, although Kyo's expression remained unchanged, he was laughing inside.
'This guy, right now, doesn't seem like the person who would later block a Bijudama for Itachi...'
Just as Kyo was thinking,
Pain calmly spoke up, saying flatly:
"Precisely because you have this kind of thinking, we need to act in groups."
"That's right, everyone in Akatsuki are indeed very strong."
"However, precisely because everyone highly recognizes their own strength, it leads to unavoidable conceit."
"And this conceit is precisely Akatsuki's biggest weakness."
"Due to their own conceit, they might underestimate the enemy or be too eager to fight, causing themselves to fall into danger and die."
"Therefore, we need to act in groups to prevent this situation from occurring."
Having said this,
Pain paused slightly, then continued calmly:
"Another reason is intelligence."
"Akatsuki exists independently of the various nations of the Shinobi World; confidentiality is of utmost importance."
"Therefore, to survive, we must prevent the emergence of spies."
"And the mode of two people acting together in a group allows them to mutually supervise whether the other has betrayed the organization."
"This is the reason."
After speaking, Pain looked at Juzo and fell silent.
At this moment,
After hearing these words, Juzo was immediately speechless, stunned.
With his simple mind, he hadn't thought that such an ordinary grouping would have so many hidden meanings...
However, even so,
Juzo still seemed somewhat unwilling and suddenly raised his finger to point at Kyo, saying:
"What about this guy?"
"Why is he different from us, acting alone in a group?"
"Even if it's because of insufficient personnel, that's too perfunctory. I want to apply to switch with him!"
"Let this Kyo guy cooperate with that Konoha kid, and I'll act alone!"
Juzo spoke rapidly.
He directly proposed swapping groups with Kyo.
Obviously, he still seemed to want to act alone. Who knows if he was traumatized by that team battle of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen back in the day...
As the words fell, Kyo's gaze flickered instantly.
To be honest, after just hearing the grouping, he certainly felt it was strange...
Obito had always been uneasy about him, even arranging various White Zetsu to monitor him.
So why, when it came to forming teams, didn't he find a teammate to monitor him?
This was really strange...
It seemed to respond to Jinpachi's question, and also seemed to answer the confusion in Kyo's heart.
At this moment, Konan, who had been silent all along, spoke up.
She slightly raised her eyes, looking calmly at Juzo ahead, and said flatly:
"The reason Kyo is separated as a solo group is certainly not merely because of personnel vacancy."
"More importantly, so far, his overall strength is the most comprehensive and strongest in our entire organization."
"Whether it's movement speed, destructive power, defensive means, or combat intelligence,"
"He is the most top-tier existence."
"Precisely for this reason, Pain and I decided to let him act alone for now."
"And his main mission is to be responsible for promptly supporting other members' teams in action, and—"
"Carry out annihilation missions against all of Akatsuki's enemies!"
"?!"
Hearing this, not just Juzo, even Kyo's gaze shifted instantly.
'Huh?'
'They're putting me in charge of annihilating all of Akatsuki's enemies?'
'This task, just by the sound of it, doesn't seem simple...'
'And they're directly dumping this on me?'
Kyo felt a bit amused and exasperated inside.
However, Konan didn't stop. She looked calmly at Juzo and asked flatly:
"You want to swap groups with him, that's certainly fine."
"But the prerequisite is that you must prove to us... that you are stronger than Kyo."
"How about it?"
"Can you do it, Biwa Juzo."
"...Huh?!"
The moment he finished listening to Konan's words,
Juzo, who had been very tough just a moment ago, immediately turned green in the face and made a strange sound.
'Did I hear that right?'
'What's going on?'
'I have to prove that I'm stronger than that Kyo guy?!'
'Are you kidding me...'
'How the hell could I possibly beat him?!'