Deep within the high tower of Amegakure, the massive Gedo Statue stood in the center of the dim space, its ten fingers stretching upward. Nine figures gathered before it, composed of flowing, multicolored chakra and dark shadows, their forms discernible only by their eyes and faint outlines.
"Tch." A click of the tongue echoed among the group.
"Another meeting... what is it this time?" Deidara scowled. "I'm still researching my ultimate art!"
His complaint sparked immediate reactions.
"Yeah! My ritual was only halfway done! Lord Jashin will be displeased!" Hidan yelled.
"Time is money," Kakuzu muttered. "Ineffective gatherings waste potential commission earnings."
Voices of discontent rose, while others like Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki stood in absolute silence.
"Quiet."
A figure dressed in a black cloak patterned with red clouds spoke. He had short orange hair and black metal rods piercing his face. He opened his eyes, revealing concentric ripple patterns.
The Rinnegan.
Pain.
"This summons," Pain said, his Rinnegan scanning the group, "is primarily regarding Orochimaru, who betrayed the organization. He has been captured alive in Konohagakure."
Reactions varied among the holograms. Those with their own intelligence networks were unsurprised, but the others were visibly stunned.
"Ha!" Hidan barked a harsh laugh. "Orochimaru actually saw a day like this? Serves him right! I've always found him to be an eyesore. It's just a pity he didn't become a sacrifice for Lord Jashin!"
Deidara rested his chin on his hand and turned toward his partner. "Hmm? I remember... that guy used to be on a team with Sasori, right?"
"A team?" Sasori's muffled voice echoed from within his puppet armor. "Merely a brief companionship. He pursues an inferior immortality, while I pursue eternal art."
Deidara bristled, completely ignoring the topic of Orochimaru to retort. "Sasori, your thinking is all wrong! True art is a fleeting moment, not some rigid eternity! Art is an explosion!"
"Interesting," Kisame Hoshigaki remarked, a sharp smile revealing his jagged teeth. He was far more interested in another detail. "But... who exactly could capture Orochimaru alive? Was it Konoha's Hokage?"
The question hit the mark. Many in the organization were well aware of Orochimaru's notoriously slippery survival methods. Despite multiple attempts to hunt him down, the Snake Sannin had always slipped away. For someone in Konoha to capture him alive, their strength had to be extraordinary. The S-rank rogue ninjas all leaned in, their interest piqued.
"It wasn't the Hokage," Zetsu's raspy voice echoed from within his flytrap-like appendages. "Lord Third and Jiraiya were present at the time, but the one who faced Orochimaru head-on, drove him into a corner, and ultimately captured him alive... was someone else."
Zetsu paused, drawing everyone's gaze. "It was a genin who just graduated from Konohagakure this year. A boy named Tejima Shinichi."
The holograms of those who hadn't heard the news flickered with shock.
"Huh?!" Hidan shouted, his face twisting in disbelief. "There must be a problem with your intel! A newly graduated genin captured Orochimaru alive?!"
Deidara dropped his argument with Sasori, his brow furrowing beneath his blonde fringe. "Zetsu, are you sure you didn't get it wrong? We all know Orochimaru's strength! Even for us..."
He trailed off, but his meaning was clear. Even for these people, defeating Orochimaru was one thing; capturing him alive was a completely different level of difficulty.
"There is no mistake," Zetsu said calmly. "This news has been confirmed by multiple sources and is now circulating among the higher-ups of the ninja world. The most crucial point is... that boy, Tejima Shinichi, possesses the power that the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, once used to pacify the chaotic era."
He paused. "Wood Release."
The atmosphere in the cavern froze.
"Wood Release..." Kakuzu whispered, his green eyes narrowing as dusty, bitter memories of his assassination attempt on the First Hokage stirred.
Kisame grinned, turning his head toward the silent figure beside him. "Itachi... it seems Konoha has produced another genius like you. At the exact same age, too..." He chuckled darkly. "...defeating Orochimaru."
Several gazes shifted toward the Uchiha.
Itachi ignored Kisame's teasing. His three-tomoe Sharingan spun lazily as he looked up at Pain. "So, the Leader summoned us because he's worried Orochimaru will leak organization intelligence?"
"Correct." Pain's Rinnegan locked onto Itachi. "When Orochimaru defected, he took the 'Sky' ring with him. Moreover, he knows too much about our plans. The organization is still in its dormant stage, and our tailed beast collection has not yet begun. If Konoha learns of Akatsuki's existence, or our true goals, the Five Great Nations will go on high alert."
Pain paused, the phantom glow of his hologram shimmering. "If that happens, the difficulty of collecting the tailed beasts will increase drastically. The plan would be hindered."
It was a valid concern. Capturing the tailed beasts was an act of war that would shake the very foundation of the ninja world. If their intentions were exposed prematurely, the Five Great Ninja Villages would never sit idly by. Akatsuki would face the united wrath of the entire continent.
"Ha! So are we going to directly attack Konoha?!" Hidan laughed, his voice thick with bloodlust. "Crush that traitor along with the entire village! That way we can save our plan! What a great idea!"
"Shut up, Hidan," Kakuzu scolded his partner. "All of us mobilizing to attack Konoha head-on? That would be equivalent to announcing our existence, our strength, and our exact intentions to the entire world."
Hidan choked on his next words, snorting in dissatisfaction, but he didn't argue further.
"Therefore, we must infiltrate Konoha and deal with Orochimaru quietly." Pain looked toward Itachi and Kisame. "This mission is assigned to you two."
Itachi's expression remained perfectly neutral as he gave a slight nod. "Understood."
Kisame grinned, resting a hand on Samehada's hilt. "Acknowledged."
"Wait," Sasori's gruff voice suddenly echoed through the cavern, drawing confused looks. "Regarding this Tejima Shinichi... the organization's 'Sky' position happens to be vacant right now. Since he defeated Orochimaru, does he not have the qualifications to take this position?"
Sasori's suggestion caused several gazes to flicker with interest. Even Itachi's Sharingan shifted slightly.
"Impossible." Konan stepped forward, her cool, even voice immediately rejecting the proposal. "According to Zetsu's intelligence, Konoha's higher-ups already view Tejima Shinichi as a confirmed candidate for the next Hokage. The prestige and status he gained after this incident surpass even Orochimaru's peak reputation. Under these circumstances, the possibility of him betraying Konohagakure is almost zero."
Just as Konan finished speaking, another voice urgently chimed in.
"I also object!"
Sasori looked toward the source of the voice in confusion.
Zetsu.
It was the first time any of them had seen the intelligence gatherer take a hard stance on a member's recruitment. Zetsu avoided Sasori's gaze, a flash of genuine panic gripping his dark half.
'That boy is the reincarnation of Asura...' he thought frantically. 'He possesses that maddening power to form bonds out of thin air and turn people's hearts. If Tejima Shinichi joined Akatsuki and spent day and night with this group of ninjas...' Zetsu didn't dare think further. What would become of Akatsuki then?
"Even if he's being groomed as a future Kage, so what?" Sasori pressed, indifferent to their objections. "Wasn't Deidara also viewed by Iwagakure as a future Tsuchikage candidate? Yet he ultimately chose his own path. Why couldn't Tejima Shinichi make a similar choice?"
The living proof of a Kage candidate turning his back on his village was standing right next to him; nothing was more persuasive than that.
"Hey! Sasori!" Deidara shouted, waving his arms defensively. "Don't compare me to some Konoha brat! I'm only interested in art! Whoever wants to be Tsuchikage can have the damn hat!"
Pain scanned the arguing group, his rippled gaze lingering on Zetsu for a moment before he spoke over the noise.
"The discussion regarding Tejima Shinichi ends here. However..." He paused, recalling the conversation he had recently held with the masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha. "To prevent future unexpected interference similar to this Orochimaru incident... preliminary attempts at tailed beast recovery will begin."
A dangerous energy rippled through the gathered members.
"Oh?" Kakuzu asked. "Is the plan starting ahead of schedule?"
"No," Pain replied smoothly. "Without exposing the organization, find the jinchuriki who are traveling alone or poorly protected... and capture them."
The corners of Kakuzu's mouth twitched beneath his stitched mask. "I see. Then we will soon have our first tailed beast."
"Who is your target?" Pain asked.
"I have an informant in Takigakure. I've been monitoring the movements of the Seven-Tails jinchuriki, Fu."
Pain nodded slowly. "Very well. The Seven-Tails capture mission is officially assigned to you and Hidan."
The Leader's hologram began to fade. "Meeting adjourned. Begin your preparations immediately. Dismissed."
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