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In a certain cave, several shadowy figures formed a circle.
"Hey, you called us here for something important, right, Kakuzu? If you can't convince me, I won't let you off easy," said a long-haired shadow.
The other figures remained silent, but it was clear they shared the same sentiment.
"Of course I know… Ugo is dead," Kakuzu replied calmly.
At that moment, the entire group fell into silence.
Though Ugo was a newcomer, he had earned their recognition, which meant his abilities were formidable. Considering his bizarre powers, even an ordinary shinobi—let alone a Kage-level ninja—would have found it nearly impossible to kill him directly.
"I remember he could absorb chakra that harmed him and convert it into his own… Who could have killed him?"
"Not long ago, something major happened in Kirigakure. A shinobi defected from the Hidden Mist—did you all know about this?"
Some of the shadows nodded, while others shook their heads.
Kakuzu was somewhat annoyed.
Don't any of these people care about money?
No… Even my obsession with money is for the sake of this organization.
"I recall that mission was handled by the leader himself," the long-haired figure remarked.
Though they all belonged to the Akatsuki, each member had their own tasks. They only worked together for specific objectives, and since they were usually scattered across different regions, it was rare for them to gather in person. That was why they relied on the "Holographic Clone Technique" to hold meetings.
Not everyone had been involved in Pain and Konan's interference in Kirigakure's affairs, so not all of them knew the details.
"What about it?" asked the shadow in the center.
"We took on that mission, thinking it would be easy money. But it turned out the rogue ninja was with Tsunade, and together they stopped us. Ugo died in that battle."
"If Tsunade was there, then there was no helping it… She's practically his natural enemy. Most shinobi are either strong in combat but lack medical ninjutsu, or they're medical ninja with weak fighting skills. Tsunade is an exception, isn't she?" the long-haired shadow mused.
"No. It was Asachi Midorima who killed Ugo," Kakuzu corrected.
"I remember that defector wasn't particularly strong, was he?"
"Wrong. He's very strong. He can use ninjutsu of six different natures, and his combat skills are nothing to scoff at."
"Oh… Mastering two chakra natures is already rare enough. Right now, the most famous shinobi capable of using all elemental ninjutsu is the Third Hokage," the long-haired shadow remarked.
"I know. That's why I think this shinobi is valuable… The bounty is too low. It should be raised by another ten million ryō," Kakuzu quickly added.
That long-haired guy was another anomaly—better not pique his interest.
"Sounds reasonable, but I suggest holding off on targeting him for now," the long-haired shadow said.
"What do you mean?" Kakuzu asked, puzzled.
"How you kill that brat is your business—no one cares. But since Tsunade is involved, things get complicated. The leader just interfered in Kirigakure's affairs. If we attract Konoha's attention now, the major villages will start watching us. Don't forget, our primary goal is the tailed beasts. If these villages become wary, our operations will become much harder," the long-haired shadow explained.
"The only one who knows the truth about Kirigakure is Midorima. Killing him would prevent anyone from linking Akatsuki to the Mist. But you're right about the bounty being too low—that can be discussed," said the figure in the center.
"Then I'll wait until the bounty is adjusted before taking the mission," Kakuzu said, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
"No. First, find yourself a partner. Working alone is inconvenient."
Kakuzu knew that a "partner" was more of a watchdog than a helper.
"I don't mind, but if possible, I'd like my next partner to last longer. I've gone through several already."
"Hmm… Also, don't forget to track the tailed beasts. Whether it's Midorima or other missions, they're just side tasks. Our only real objective is the tailed beasts. They're the foundation of our ultimate goal."
"I know," Kakuzu replied solemnly, though his mind was elsewhere.
He didn't believe Tsunade would stay with Midorima forever.
Once they separated, he would kill Midorima.
A heart capable of wielding multiple nature transformations was a rare treasure.
After the meeting, the Akatsuki members dispersed to continue their missions.
The long-haired shinobi sat at his desk, deep in thought.
He had always wanted Pain's Rinnegan, but since he couldn't defeat the Six Paths of Pain, he had given up. Though he had joined Akatsuki for its vast resources, he wasn't working for free.
Now, his forbidden reincarnation technique was nearing completion, but he needed high-quality test subjects for the final experiments. The recent results, however, had been unsatisfactory.
Some time ago, he'd heard that Pain had obtained a Byakugan.
It was an incredible treasure—no one understood its value better than him. In experiments, it could drastically reduce difficulty and minimize errors.
But due to the "Caged Bird Seal," the Byakugan of the Hyūga branch family would be destroyed upon death. The main family's numbers were limited, and even one disappearance would immediately draw attention, making it nearly impossible to obtain one.
That was why he had failed to secure one during his time in Konoha.
This particular Byakugan belonged to the main family and had become Kirigakure's war trophy.
Unfortunately, Pain had taken it, leaving him frustrated for days.
Today's meeting reminded him of something else.
With his reincarnation technique almost complete, the quality of his test subjects was now critical.
If he could obtain powerful kekkei genkai—like the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyūga's Byakugan—it would be immensely beneficial. But such test subjects were exceedingly rare. This Midorima had defeated Ugo, proving his strength, and his ability to wield multiple nature transformations suggested extraordinary talent.
If he couldn't get his hands on an Uchiha or a Hyūga, was Midorima a viable alternative?
Relying solely on Kimimaro was too risky.
He stood up and called out, "Kimimaro."
A white figure flashed, and a pale-haired shinobi appeared behind him.
"We're going out."
"Lord Orochimaru, just the two of us?" Kimimaro sounded surprised.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, but your partner…"
"This is a private matter. It has nothing to do with Sasori," Orochimaru said, his lips curling slightly as his tongue flicked out. His eyes, however, grew sharper.