Kisame's mention of healing prompted Itachi to indicate it wasn't going smoothly. To make matters worse, Black Zetsu's earlier warning about a crisis had captured everyone's attention.
Pain frowned, glancing at Itachi. He was confused about what this spy was up to, then shifted his gaze to Kisame standing beside him.
"With your combined strength, even if the infiltration failed, you shouldn't have been injured. What happened?"
Itachi was a Hidden Leaf spy, and Kisame was there to monitor him. Pain and Konan already knew from Black Zetsu that Kisame was effectively Obito's man. Assigning Itachi the task of investigating and capturing the Nine-Tails was also a way of telling him they wouldn't be targeting the fox for the time being.
Hearing Pain's question, Kisame forced a strained smile and uttered a name.
"It's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
As he spoke, Kisame glanced at Itachi out of the corner of his eye. "He's a perfect Jinchuriki, just like Yagura, but his strength is far more terrifying. Even when the elder brother and I attacked together, we could only barely hold our own. We escaped in time to avoid getting killed."
"However," Kisame added, "during the operation, we discovered two interesting guys..."
Hearing Kisame say that even the two of them combined weren't a match for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kakuzu frowned. "You two combined weren't a match? The Jinchuriki's strength is that strong?"
As someone who had partnered with Itachi before, Kakuzu knew very well that the Uchiha's strength was no less than his own. Sasori also looked at Itachi curiously, wanting to confirm if Kisame was telling the truth. After all, Itachi—with his Sharingan genjutsu—hadn't even made a move against his current partner, Deidara, before instantly defeating him. And now, this powerful figure and his equally formidable partner had been forced to flee in disarray by a Jinchuriki?
If that was true, Sasori realized he'd have to be a hundred times more careful when facing Jinchuriki in the future. He'd stop pretending and just drag Deidara along to handle it.
"Hmph," Deidara scoffed. "Your genjutsu is completely ineffective against a perfect Jinchuriki. Losing is normal, hmm!" Deidara had never been convinced by Itachi's instant-kill victory. His explosive art had failed because of that damned genjutsu, and he was prepared for genjutsu targeting the Sharingan this time. He believed he wouldn't lose even if he fought Itachi again.
Compared to the others' surprise at Kisame and Itachi's defeat, Konan and Pain were more curious about the two interesting guys Kisame mentioned. After all, they'd been constantly recruiting various excellent ninjas. But right now, they needed to appease the group of members who were astonished by the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's strength.
Pain spoke up. "Don't be too surprised. As the strongest Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki is undoubtedly the strongest of all Jinchuriki. If Itachi and Kisame abandon the mission and refuse to capture it, I will personally take over."
"It's not necessary." Itachi refused immediately, expressionless, offering no reason.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Kisame spoke up to help his partner. "This time it was just carelessness. Itachi and I plan to take revenge ourselves, so we won't trouble you, Boss. However, I still need to report to you about those two interesting fellows."
Kisame grinned, revealing his sharp shark teeth. "Those were two Hidden Void Village ninjas who could use Tailed Beast chakra. One of them was a shadow clone who knew space-time ninjutsu and wore a mask. He was incredibly powerful; Itachi and I had a lot of trouble dealing with him. The other was a Yuki clan ninja who knew Ice Release. After being enhanced by Tailed Beast chakra, I had quite a good time with him too~"
Kisame had barely finished speaking when a chilling killing intent emanated from Zabuza, who was standing not far away.
Kisame looked over and immediately recognized the Executioner's Blade behind Zabuza. His expression turned to surprise. The Executioner's Blade?
Itachi, standing nearby, also looked over, a look of reminiscence on his face. He seemed to be thinking of Juza Biwa, who had died saving him.
Pain, meanwhile, remembered his task of introducing the new recruits. Coincidentally, both Zabuza and Menma—the two newcomers—wore different things. One wore a Hidden Void headband, and the other, claiming to be a shadow clone, wore a Hidden Void mask.
Furthermore, Zabuza wasn't a Jinchuriki, yet he could still use Tailed Beast chakra, manifesting a single tail. As for Menma, he was even more terrifying. His Tailed Beast chakra not only manifested eight tails, but he could also withstand a Shinra Tensei. This was one of the reasons Pain didn't believe Menma was a shadow clone. He had never heard of a shadow clone being so resilient.
"Two newcomers joined us today," Pain announced, "and they have quite a connection to the Hidden Void Village ninja Kisame mentioned who can use Tailed Beast chakra." He turned to look at Menma and Zabuza beside him. "Gentlemen, please introduce yourselves. From now on, we'll be colleagues."
The Akatsuki members followed Pain's gaze, carefully observing Menma and Zabuza with varying expressions.
Menma smiled and said, "Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Menma."
Zabuza followed suit in a cold voice. "Zabuza from Hidden Void Village."
Upon hearing the name Zabuza, Kisame's small eyes narrowed, and his nonchalant smile vanished. "It's actually Lord Zabuza, the Demon King. My apologies. I never expected that after defecting from Kirigakure, you would actually join a newly established small village."
This was a senior who knew the Fourth Mizukage had problems and dared to take rebellious action. Kisame still admired him greatly. Compared to his superior, Fuguki Suikazan, who betrayed his Nation's intelligence, Zabuza was the only true ninja in Kisame's eyes.
"Hmph." Zabuza sneered. "The Ice Release ninja you speak of is my subordinate. Dare to bully my subordinate? I'll have to teach you a lesson later!"
Thinking of Haku being bullied by Kisame back in Konoha, and how even his boss's shadow clones couldn't protect him, Zabuza felt a surge of anger, wanting to chop off several heads.
"My subordinate... can use Tailed Beast chakra, and has shadow clones..." Itachi glanced at Menma with hostility, finally understanding why he felt a sense of familiarity toward him. He immediately threatened, "Stop your petty tricks and stay away from Sasuke Uchiha."
Itachi's threat once again drew inquiring glances from everyone. They were like weasels in a melon patch, just waiting to feast on the melons.
"Heh..." Faced with Itachi's threat and the gazes of the crowd, Menma smiled indifferently. Then, looking around, he said, "I can lend the chakra of Tailed Beasts to others. If you need it, you can come to me. By the way, Hidden Void Village is my territory. Please don't deliberately cause trouble, lest you lose your lives—it's not worth it. Of course, if you'd like to be my guest, you're very welcome."
Menma's blunt, even arrogant, words drew frowns from the crowd. Weren't they all powerful, lawless S-rank wanted criminals? Pain had already been behaving arrogantly toward them, and now a newcomer wanted to do the same?
Seeing that Menma had offended everyone with just a few words, Pain had no choice but to speak again. "Alright, enough of this discussion. Kakuzu, come back after you've finished your business and team up with Zabuza as a duo. Sasori and Deidara, the same goes. Later, Menma will join you to hunt down Orochimaru and retrieve the ring he took."
"Partners? I hope you live a long life." Kakuzu was the first to disconnect and disappear.
"Understood." Sasori glanced at Menma before severing the connection as well.
Deidara, meanwhile, muttered something about showing Menma true art. Itachi wanted to say something, but Pain on the other side abruptly withdrew his ninjutsu.
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