Whoosh!
Konan frowned deeply and decisively withdrew in a flash.
The news of Naruto's death had to be reported to Pain immediately.
Not only was Naruto the Akatsuki's second-in-command, but he also housed the Kyubi. The Akatsuki's Biju Capture Plan required every single Biju, with no exceptions. This was a matter of utmost importance.
"Want to run?"
Sasuke snorted and prepared to chase after Konan.
However, the black-robed figure stopped him in time and said, "Sasuke, hold on. Following her might lead us straight to the Akatsuki's headquarters. Then, we can wipe them out in one fell swoop."
"Taking them down one by one is safer. If this is a trap, then..."
Before Sasuke could finish, the black-robed figure replied calmly, "Don't worry, I'm here."
"Okay!"
Those four words from the black-robed figure were like a shot of adrenaline, completely dispelling Sasuke's concerns.
There was no denying it, the black-robed figure's overwhelming strength made Sasuke feel invincible!
Swoosh!
Two figures swiftly pursued Konan.
It wasn't long before they saw her enter a towering structure.
"There's definitely an unusual presence here. This must be the Akatsuki's base."
The black-robed figure said thoughtfully.
Sasuke nodded and charged in without hesitation.
After chasing all the way to the top of the tower, Sasuke kicked open the door and saw Konan reporting to a man with short orange hair.
"Leader, Naruto is dead."
Konan reported.
Hearing this, Pain narrowed his eyes slightly, "Naruto is dead? How is this possible? "
He knew Naruto's power well. After all, few in this world could rival him. So how could he suddenly die?
Moreover, he wondered who were these two intruders now standing at the entrance.
Konan continued her explanation, "Earlier, when you sent me to the village's entrance, I encountered Uchiha Sasuke, Itachi's younger brother, and this black-robed figure. Sasuke has come to avenge Naruto. As for Naruto's death, it was caused by the poison we gave him."
"Poisoned to death? How could Orochimaru's poison have such a flaw? Damn it."
Pain, focused on Naruto's situation, ignored Sasuke and the cloaked man for the moment. After all, Kyubi was far too significant to be distracted by these interlopers.
Pain quickly formed a series of hand seals and growled, "Magic Lantern Body Technique!"
This is one of Rinnegan's abilities. Akatsuki's members transmitted Chakra-based thought projection, which Pain would amplify and project as phantoms in a specific location. This technique was often used for Akatsuki meetings, as it allowed for more efficient and covert communication.
After the seals were complete, several colorful, glowing illusions appeared in the room.
Among them was none other than Uchiha Itachi.
"Damn it!"
Even if Itachi were reduced to ashes, Sasuke could still recognize him instantly.
Not only Itachi, but also Kisame, Hidan, and Kakuzu, all of whom Sasuke had seen outside the entrance of Otogakure, were among the projections.
Seeing his enemies made Sasuke's blood boil.
Yet no matter how much he cursed and raged, Itachi's projection remained entirely unmoved.
The black-robed figure stopped him and said, "Sasuke, this seems to be a special remote communication technique used by the Akatsuki's leader. These are not their actual bodies, nor can they hear you."
Hearing this, Sasuke calmed down slightly.
Suppressing his anger, he decided to watch and see what tricks Pain had up his sleeve.
"Itachi, I've heard that Naruto has been poisoned to death?" Pain asked bluntly.
Itachi froze for a moment, his expression showing hesitation.
While Kisame, who acted together with Itachi, remained composed, the other members, upon hearing this for the first time, burst into an uproar.
"What? Naruto-kun was poisoned to death?"
"How is this possible!?"
"What is going on?"
"Naruto-kun can't possibly die, this joke isn't funny at all!"
The chaos of voices echoed. Pain raised his hand to silence the group, fixing his gaze back on Itachi, "Itachi, answer me."
Instead of responding, Itachi asked, "Leader, where did you hear this news?"
He never expected that Pain would actually ask such a question.
'The only person aware of Naruto's death was Sasuke. Could it be that Sasuke had found the Akatsuki to seek revenge?'
'If so, this could ruin everything.'
Right now, Itachi needed to confirm the source of this information before deciding how to respond.
Pain's expression remained unchanged as he said coolly, "Zetsu overheard this while gathering intel on the Biju."
Konan's face changed slightly. She didn't understand why Pain would lie to Itachi.
Similarly, Sasuke was puzzled, 'What on earth was this guy playing?'
"So it's Zetsu."
Itachi murmured, formulating a plan.
"Leader, rumors are unreliable. Of course, Naruto-kun is still alive." He replied confidently.
"Oh? If he's alive, why isn't he here for this meeting? I recall he is always together with you."
Pain pressed, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Itachi continued to explain, "Naruto-kun is currently in seclusion, contemplating and working on a new technique. When he completes his training, he will return to prove his presence."
Pain nodded slightly, "That would be ideal. But the poison in Naruto's system will take effect soon. Doesn't he care about this matter?"
Itachi's expression remained unchanged, "Before entering seclusion, Naruto-kun specifically instructed Kisame and me to remind him when the time comes, so he can retrieve the antidote from the base in time."
"Very well. If that's the case, there's no issue. The meeting is adjourned."
Pain formed a hand seal, releasing the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
As the projections vanished one by one, Pain turned to Sasuke and asked coldly, "Now, tell me… who should I believe?"
"Damn you, still lying even now!"
Though Itachi's explanation was seamless, Sasuke couldn't fathom why Itachi and Pain were putting on such a show.
'What is their motive?'
After a moment of fruitless thought, Sasuke declared coldly, "I saw Naruto die right before my eyes. I can't be mistaken. I don't need your belief, you'll all die by my hands anyway!"
Pain said coldly, "I see you have some strength. If Naruto-kun is fine, you might as well join the Akatsuki. The poison has another forty days before taking effect, and I don't think Orochimaru's poison will have such a big flaw. By then, it will be clear who is lying and who is telling the truth. If Naruto-kun dies, it won't be too late for you to take revenge. What do you think?"
"Shut the he..."
Before Sasuke could curse, the black-robed figure's voice suddenly resonated directly in his mind.
This method, bypassing the ears, was a technique Sasuke had experienced before, a secret art known as Transmission that the black-robed figure could use.
"Sasuke, the person before you is not real but a remotely controlled puppet. Devious as he is, this guy likely hasn't revealed his true location to anyone. To exact true revenge, you must endure for now. I will analyze the fluctuations from this remote control and pinpoint the mastermind's location. Once we capture him, extracting his memories will allow us to eliminate the Akatsuki completely."
Hearing this, Sasuke's expression remained unchanged as he replied to Pain, "Fine. Waiting forty days is nothing to me!"
Small patience prevents big mistakes.
This temporary endurance was all for the sake of a thorough and complete revenge.
Sasuke had no intention of leaving any of his enemies alive to hide in the shadows for the rest of his life. That would be a regret he couldn't bear.