At this moment, on this battlefield, only Juzo Biwa, the honest one among them, was still holding on.
However, his battle with Tobi looked downright comical.
Tobi stood where he was, hands on his hips, exuding an air of complete nonchalance.
"Juzo, you still haven't hit me yet? I'll give you one more chance."
Juzo Biwa burned with anger, "Cut the crap! This time, I'll definitely hit you!"
As soon as he said it, he gripped his executioner's blade tightly and charged at Tobi once again without hesitation.
But, as expected, this swing also hit nothing more than an afterimage that was no different from air.
He had experienced this same thing countless times already. No matter how he swung his sword, Tobi just stood there motionless in the same posture.
And yet, no matter how many times he slashed, he couldn't land a hit on the figure in front of him. It was as if the person before him was just an illusion.
However, he could clearly feel chakra reactions coming from that "illusion," proving that the masked man was indeed real.
Unable to hold back, he shouted, "What the hell are you? Human or ghost?"
Tobi spread his hands, "Of course I'm human, Juzo. If you really can't hit me, then stop trying. Why don't you just join Akatsuki already? I told you before, you and our organization share fate."
Juzo was furious. He swung and missed again before panting out, "Stop slandering me! Even if all my comrades fall, I'll never betray them!"
Tobi sighed, "You're too stubborn. You value your comrades too much. But tell me, Juzo, does Kirigakure really see you as one of them? Or just as a convenient pawn?"
"Only comrades in Akatsuki are truly worth living and dying for."
At that moment, off to the side, Raiga Kurosuki was attempting to escape. Tobi casually pointed in his direction.
"See that? While you're still fighting, someone else is trying to run away. Who exactly are you fighting for?"
As Konan's explosive tags caught up to Raiga, blossoming into a firework-like explosion, Raiga also fell.
But Juzo's gaze remained firm.
"I haven't forgotten for a moment, I fight for the Mizukage-sama. You guys are indeed strong, and I'm no match for you... but even so, I still choose to keep fighting."
Tobi couldn't help but shake his head.
Indeed, later on, when the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were defeated by Might Duy, Juzo, dragging his heavily wounded body, returned to Kirigakure, wanting to continue serving the village.
But Hozuki Mangetsu, who had also survived, betrayed him, pushing all the blame onto Juzo. Kirigakure didn't even give him a chance to explain and immediately branded him a rogue ninja. Only then did he choose to leave.
Unlike the other Akatsuki members, Juzo didn't join for power or ideology, he just wanted a place that would accept him.
That was why he truly saw all of Akatsuki's members as comrades he could entrust his back to, even Itachi, who had only just joined.
Thinking of this, Tobi said, "Juzo, even if you still want to fight, it's meaningless now. Look around you."
Juzo had long since noticed his surroundings. By now, all the Akatsuki members had finished dealing with their own enemies and were closing in, surrounding him completely.
With their combined power, if they could so easily handle his comrades, they could easily deal with him too.
Yet, none of them struck. It was as if they were waiting for Tobi's decision.
Juzo looked at him in confusion, "So you really plan to invite me? But... why me? What's so special about me?"
If this had been before, when outside groups wanted to recruit him, he wouldn't have found it strange. He was, after all, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. In any organization, that was top-tier status.
But now, seeing that every Akatsuki member was monstrously strong, he no longer had that kind of confidence.
Tobi said, "Honestly, I didn't plan on recruiting you at first. But since we happened to meet, I'll give you a spot. There's no point resisting. If you really want to serve the Mizukage, then first you should survive. Only by living can you make yourself truly useful."
Juzo was stunned. Unexpectedly, Tobi's words actually made sense. He couldn't win anyway, if he died now, it'd just be for nothing.
That was a reason even he couldn't refuse.
So he asked, puzzled, "If that's really the case, and you're willing to let me join, I don't mind... but what do you gain from this?"
Tobi nearly laughed. If Juzo actually joined Akatsuki, would the Mizukage still trust him?
Once he boarded this ship, there'd be no turning back.
Tobi stretched his hand into his Kamui space, pulled out an Akatsuki cloak, and tossed it to Juzo, "Then put this on. Akatsuki is a very tolerant organization. No matter your intentions, we won't make things difficult for you."
"The only condition... is that you wear our uniform."
Juzo looked at Tobi like he was an idiot, 'Is there really such a dumb organization out there?'
Still, he didn't care much. It was just a piece of clothing, what's the big deal about putting it on?
So, without hesitation, he slipped on the Akatsuki cloak, instantly becoming one of them.
After that, Tobi ignored Juzo and instead walked toward Kakashi and Terumi Mei, who had been standing aside watching the whole thing. His voice carried a teasing charm.
"You two, want to join us as well?"
"I don't have child-sized uniforms right now, but I'm sure the headquarters has them ready. You won't have to go without clothes."
Terumi Mei had been in shock since the start. In her eyes, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were overwhelmingly powerful and unbeatable. Yet to Akatsuki, they were treated like a joke.
She couldn't figure out Tobi's true intentions. Her expression kept shifting, she neither dared to agree nor to refuse.
Kakashi, however, knew Tobi all too well. Without hesitation, he turned his head and said flatly, "I'm not joining."
Terumi Mei saw how boldly Kakashi spoke and suddenly found some confidence herself, "Me neither!"
Tobi didn't get angry, "Kids these days... so difficult. Forget it. You'll both come along with us anyway, to witness the fall of your Mizukage."
Terumi Mei snapped back irritably, "You're the problem child! Your whole family's the problem children!"
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
Who was he calling a problem child, really? If we're talking about trouble, was there anyone in the world more problematic than Obito?
Still... was the turmoil in Kirigakure caused by Akatsuki, or by Obito himself?
That was part of Konoha's intelligence mission too, so he really should go take a look.
As he thought about it, Kakashi suddenly realized, didn't this mean he was once again tagging along with Obito on an S-class mission?
When would he ever become truly independent?
Kakashi showed a lifeless expression. Even through the mask, it was clear to see.
At the same time, a wicked thought surfaced in his mind.
When he became Head of the Anbu someday, if he wanted to promote one of his subordinates... could he just send them to Akatsuki for a quick visit and have them automatically earn an S-rank mission record?
But then he remembered, his future Hokage would be Minato-sensei, who clearly knew the truth. There was no way Minato would let him exploit the system like that.
That idea was doomed to fail before it even began.