"By the way, I'll be staying here. One of you must remain within my sensory range at all times. If either of you sneaks away, don't blame me for breaking my word!"
Sasuke declared with a snort. Then, he turned on his heel and descended the stairs, casually picking a room to settle in.
In fact, Sasuke wasn't concerned about Konan or Pain escaping, but staying nearby was necessary.
According to the black-robed figure, analyzing the wave signals required being within a one-kilometer radius.
Watching Sasuke and the black-robed figure stride out of the tower's summit, Konan scoffed coldly, "So arrogant!"
Turning to Pain, she asked, "Leader, why did you let them go?"
Under normal circumstances, Pain would have eliminated such insolent individuals without hesitation.
So Konan wondered if Pain really did see Sasuke as someone worth recruiting.
Pain explained calmly, "Uchiha Sasuke is of little concern. It's the black-robed figure by his side I can't see through. Even with my Rinnegan's abilities, I cannot perceive what lies beneath his cloak. Such a dangerous figure is not to be underestimated."
Hearing this, Konan immediately showed a look of realization.
'Indeed, the black-robed figure was too mysterious, looking like an expert.'
'If we act rashly and are countered by the other party with a surprise move, it would be a costly mistake.'
"Leader, I'll monitor them and gather information on them as soon as possible."
Konan volunteered.
Pain nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Even if the black-robed figure is bluffing, it doesn't matter. Itachi's response seemed fine on the surface, but it was inconsistent and less composed compared to before. Sasuke's fury doesn't seem fabricated either. Perhaps there's already an issue within our ranks."
"What do you mean?"
Konan inquired.
Pain's voice turned cold, "The Biju Capture Plan is of utmost importance. We cannot afford any disruptions. If there's a traitor, they must be purged."
"Zetsu!"
At Pain's call, the ground rippled as a figure emerged… It was Zetsu.
"Leader, your orders?"
Zetsu asked, bowing slightly.
Pain thought for a moment before instructing, "Follow Itachi and Kisame. Be careful not to be discovered. Don't bother searching for Naruto's seclusion site. Instead, focus on sensing any disturbances in the Kyubi's Chakra. If there's any trouble, report to me immediately."
"Understood."
Zetsu replied, then slowly merged back into the ground.
Konan was puzzled and asked, "Why not question them directly? Wouldn't that be faster?"
Pain shook his head, " Itachi is meticulous. Today's meeting will undoubtedly make him more vigilant. A direct interrogation would yield nothing."
"Moreover, if Itachi isn't lying, my attitude might alienate him and create internal strife. Monitoring from a distance is the better strategy. If Naruto truly has been poisoned, the Kyubi's seal will weaken and eventually break, triggering a chaotic outburst of Chakra. Itachi won't be able to deny it, and we can take that opportunity to seal the Kyubi directly."
"I hadn't realized you'd thought it through so thoroughly. I'm reassured now. I'll take my leave."
Konan turned and exited the room.
As someone who had grown up alongside Nagato, she marveled at how far he had come. She couldn't afford to fall behind and needed to share his burdens wherever she could.
Only Pain was left in the top of the tower again. He tapped the table and murmured, "This is getting interesting..."
"Interesting? Of course, it's interesting."
Just then, a playful voice was heard.
A vortex of air spiraled into existence, revealing a figure clad in an orange mask adorned with spiraling patterns, leaving only a single Sharingan eye visible.
"Uchiha Madara, why are you here?"
Pain asked without lifting his gaze, seemingly unsurprised.
After all, the Biju Capture Plan was told to him by the masked man in front of him.
The masked Madara chuckled darkly and said, "With such intriguing developments, how could I not show up? Tell me, do you think Itachi is lying, or is Sasuke?"
"What's there to guess? They're all ants. Once the plan is complete, none of it will matter."
Pain's tone was as cold as ever.
Hearing this, the masked Madara restrained his mischievous laughter and replied in deep tone, "Yes, once the Eye of the Moon Plan succeeds, everything will come to an end. I truly look forward to that day."
Though he wasn't the real Uchiha Madara but Uchiha Obito, he had inherited Madara's will. His sole desire was to see the Eye of the Moon Plan come to fruition. For that goal, he had gone so far as to orchestrate the Uchiha Clan's massacre and commit countless atrocities.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the base, Sasuke selected a room and was about to sit cross-legged for training.
The black-robed figure let out a soft exclaim, "Spatial fluctuations... Another strong presence has appeared. It seems the Akatsuki is really full of hidden talents."
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke was puzzled.
The black-robed figure explained, "Someone just used Space-Time Ninjutsu to appear at the top floor. Their Chakra is formidable, though not enough to concern me."
"Then it's fine."
Sasuke said, dismissing the matter. As long as the black-robed figure could handle the situation, it wasn't worth worrying about.
With over forty days ahead, Sasuke focused on enhancing his strength and further mastering his Mangekyo Sharingan. The black-robed figure's pills allowed him to use his Mangekyo Sharingan without any strain, so he aimed to unlock its full potential.
Beyond Susanoo, he intended to fully develop the unique Dojutsu granted by his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Only through this preparation could he ensure he was powerful enough to kill more of his enemies when the time came for vengeance.
"Nothing to worry about? Well, you've brought me to this room, and now it's late. I'm feeling a bit tired. Tell me, my future little husband, how do you plan to arrange this?"
The black-robed figure teased with a chuckle, "There's only one bed here, and you're sitting cross-legged on it. Could it be you're doing this intentionally, hoping to become my official husband right away?"
Hearing this, Sasuke visibly froze. He quickly jumped off the bed, looking somewhat awkward and said, "My apologies. I was thoughtless. I'll meditate on the floor. I won't disturb your rest."
How could Sasuke be in separate rooms from the black-robed figure in the enemy's territory? However, sharing a room with such teasing tension was proving to be a headache.
Sasuke decided he could get through the night by focusing on training.
"What a pity…" The black-robed figure remarked playfully, lifting the edge of her robe to reveal long, pale legs.
"Pfft!"
Sasuke, who is sipping some water, spat it out violently and quickly averted his eyes, "You should get some rest. I'll be training."
After saying this, he fixed his gaze inward, suppressing his emotions, and began meditating.
He didn't dare continue the conversation. The black-robed figure's behavior was becoming increasingly unpredictable, and Sasuke feared it might escalate.
It wasn't that Sasuke had any impure thoughts, but at his age, his body was a tempest of youthful energy. Maintaining control wasn't easy. If something did happen, how would he face the consequences?
"Humph, coward."
The cloaked man let out a soft snort, pulled her robe back into place, and lay down on the bed.
However, while things seemed harmonious in Sasuke's room, elsewhere, Itachi showed a bitter expression.