Before Gusion could reply to Pain, Kakuzu objected. "I think we're not compatible. Better to act separately."
Pain was silent for a moment, realizing Kakuzu's recruitment hadn't been smooth. He turned to Orochimaru. "In that case, Orochimaru, you'll partner with Gusion. Sasori, you work with Kakuzu."
Sasori didn't object to the assignment, just glanced at Kakuzu. "If you delay me for bounty, I'll kill you."
"Heh, just try it."
Kakuzu was emboldened again. He couldn't beat Gusion, but he wasn't a pushover in the organization.
Sasori's puppets weren't much against Kakuzu's ability, and Gusion's abilities were just the right counter.
"Stop arguing."
Pain's deep voice cut them off.
Kakuzu and Sasori looked unhappy, but stopped bickering, showing how much authority Pain held in their eyes.
Gusion sighed inwardly. This was the difference between regular and Sage Eye ninjas. Kakuzu and Sasori were top-level among ordinary ninjas, but in front of super-Kage-level Nagato, his Rinnegan could easily crush them. That's absolute power, no tricks.
Obviously, Kakuzu and Sasori obeyed because they'd witnessed Pain's power. In front of the legendary Sage's eyes, even their pride was subdued.
At this point, Orochimaru looked at Gusion, licked his lips, and said in a deep, hoarse voice, "Gusion-kun, as fellow Konoha-nin, please take care of me from now on."
"I've heard about the three Sannin since I was a kid. I'm glad to meet a fellow villager here."
Gusion replied courteously, "Orochimaru, where should I find you?"
Pain, seeing the harmonious exchange, relaxed, feeling this pair wouldn't have problems.
On the other hand, Sasori and Kakuzu might be dangerous together, but since both were strong—one with eternal art, one with an immortal body—even if they fought, it likely wouldn't be fatal.
Thinking of this, Nagato in the Land of Rain felt tired. He missed the original Akatsuki, when everyone was a revolutionary comrade with a shared dream. Now, it was full of schemers and problem children.
He just hoped Gusion wasn't a troublemaker who'd stir up conflict in the organization.
"I'm in the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields. Once you arrive, I'll send someone to pick you up."
Orochimaru smiled, though his smile was naturally cold and unsettling.
"Zetsu isn't here today—still gathering intel. Once we confirm the details, we'll begin our first Tailed Beast hunt. You should all prepare and meet up in the next few days," Pain instructed. He was starting early on collecting Tailed Beasts because of something that happened years ago, speeding up the Gedo Statue's restoration.
With the prerequisites in place, he wouldn't delay—hoping to unify the ninja world before his body gave out and create eternal peace through pain.
When Pain finished, he dissolved the Astral Projection Technique, signaling the end of the meeting.
Everyone returned to their bodies. Gusion awoke and looked at Kakuzu. "Kakuzu, you're in charge of the money here, right?"
Kakuzu eyed Gusion warily. "What do you want?"
He loved money and was a miser, rarely giving funds to other members.
"Don't be so nervous. Just asking. If I need something later, I'll come to you."
Gusion smiled. He'd be working with Orochimaru and would need a lot of funds for their plans.
He didn't want to run around the ninja world making money—better to ask Kakuzu directly.
"If you want funds, you have to ask Pain. If he approves, I'll give you money," Kakuzu answered, all business, not caring about personal relationships.
Gusion put his hand on his sword hilt and thought, maybe I didn't hit you hard enough earlier? We're all colleagues—what's wrong with a little private funding?
Better to give the money to me and Orochimaru than to Konan for explosive tags.
"…If it's reasonable…"
Seeing Gusion hand on his sword, Kakuzu hesitated and added, "Small amounts don't need approval."
Gusion grinned, walked up and patted Kakuzu's shoulder. "That's more like it. You're the living fossil of the ninja world—the man who fought the First Hokage and survived, a legend among legends. No need to report small things."
Kakuzu's face twitched under his cloth—weren't you just trying to kill me earlier?
But being flattered made him feel a bit better about being slashed earlier. "Don't underestimate Pain. You should know, he's a Sage Eye user—even the Five Kage together can't beat him."
It was a kind reminder—Kakuzu thought Gusion was a bit reckless, not realizing that beating Kakuzu didn't mean much. Against a real eye-technique expert, Gusion's Lightning Release Kekkei Genkai didn't have such an advantage.
"Got it. I'm off to the Land of Rice Fields."
Gusion waved and left the cave.
…
While Gusion was at the Akatsuki meeting, elsewhere—in the Land of Fire, Konoha Village, Uchiha compound—
In a spacious tatami room, father and son sat cross-legged, facing each other.
"Itachi, it seems you're not trusted either."
Uchiha Fugaku looked at his always-proud eldest son, expressionless.
"Father, I didn't come home to talk about this."
Itachi was equally expressionless—maybe it was genetic, as both rarely showed emotion. All of Itachi's smiles were for Sasuke.
Yesterday, he'd returned to the village to report.
But because the mission failed, three ANBU members died, and only he survived. The advisor elders were strongly dissatisfied with his performance.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, couldn't hide his suspicion either. Knowing Itachi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Third had previously agreed to the Uchiha massacre plan, believing Itachi could do it.
But such a powerful Itachi, leading three elite ANBU to hunt Calamity, ended up with three dead and one wounded. The Third suspected Itachi hadn't tried his best.
He had no hard evidence, and since Itachi was so strong and still on the Hokage's side, he didn't punish him too harshly—just stripped him of ANBU duties and put him under house arrest for a week.
In short, Itachi was now dismissed and confined at home—he knew there were eyes watching the compound.
The Third Hokage was clever—he likely suspected Itachi colluded with Gusion. After all, if Gusion was so fast, and Itachi really lost, it would be hard to escape.
Itachi claimed he had used eye techniques to control Gusion but exhausted his chakra and couldn't finish the mission, so he retreated.
Obviously, the Third wasn't satisfied and trusted him even less.
"So what do you want to talk about?"
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes flickered slightly. Was it possible his eldest son, after this punishment, finally understood and wanted to rebel together?
"Father, my last mission was to hunt down Calamity—Gusion."
Itachi said. ANBU missions were secret—even his father didn't know what he did outside.
"Calamity—Gusion? I remember him—a strong ninja."
Fugaku commented. He'd fought alongside Gusion on the battlefield, so he knew his strength. He also worried for his son, since Calamity's abilities were troublesome—even a genius Uchiha could fall if they couldn't control him with genjutsu in time.
Luckily, Itachi had survived, preserving the Uchiha's strength.
"Calamity's defection had hidden reasons, but that's not the point. Through him and Shisui's case, I've fully understood Konoha's darkness."
Itachi said heavily, still grieving over Shisui's death.
"Then let's—"
Fugaku started, but was interrupted.
"No, Father, I've already found the true way forward for our clan, and it's not rebellion."
Itachi didn't mention Gusion's involvement, planning to say the ideas were his own. "To be honest, Father, I've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but even so, I don't think going to war with the village is wise—we'd be wiped out, and outsiders would benefit."
Fugaku was first delighted, then frowned at his son's words. "So pessimistic?"
Itachi nodded. "I don't know if you've awakened the Mangekyō, but even if we combined our power, it'd be hard. I hear Jiraiya-sama is back in the village, and Tsunade-sama is being recalled."
Hearing this, Fugaku's mood darkened. He wasn't stupid—he'd led troops and analyzed strength.
Though the clan often clamored for revolt, he was troubled. Deep down, he doubted they could win. So he always muddled through meetings, delaying the rebellion. But since Shisui's death, the clan's emotions were harder to suppress.
"Itachi, do you have a good solution?"
Fugaku asked. He'd always admired his son's wisdom. Since the clan and village came into conflict, this was their first calm discussion.
"Yes. I've finally figured it out. Please listen, Father…"
Itachi explained the plan he'd heard from Gusion, and Fugaku's eyes grew brighter as he listened. By the end, his Sharingan spun rapidly, faintly revealing the Mangekyō pattern.
Seeing his father's eye change, Itachi sighed inwardly.
His father had also awakened the eye. He'd been too arrogant.
If he'd tried to destroy the clan himself, he might not have beaten his father.
But now, things were different. With a new path, the father and son were united. With two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, the Uchiha had great prospects.
"Itachi, this idea is truly workable. I'll call a meeting of the core clan members to discuss it."
Fugaku said happily, the years of gloom on his face finally gone, even smiling.
As he got up, he patted Itachi on the head. "You've really grown up. After me, you can definitely lead our clan to the top of the ninja world."
…
Uchiha clan's changes were still unknown to Gusion.
After leaving Kakuzu, he'd just napped for a few hours in a safe place, then hurried straight to the Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields.
Orochimaru, as if knowing exactly when he'd arrive, had already arranged for someone familiar to Gusion to meet him at the village entrance.