In the center of the rocky Sunset Valley, Ryun alone faced the members of the Akatsuki organization.
In the distance, Orochimaru stood with his arms crossed, putting on an attitude of someone watching a good show.
"Aren't you going to help your disciple?"
A deep voice suddenly sounded from the void. Orochimaru's expression changed, and his snake-like pupils constricted involuntarily.
A spatial vortex abruptly appeared beside him, and the figure of masked Obito materialized quietly.
"I will not participate in this battle. You fight your fight. I am just watching, that is all. I will absolutely not intervene, and I will absolutely not enter the fray..." Orochimaru raised his hands, adopting a posture of surrender.
"It was that guy's deliberate request, wasn't it? How truly arrogant..."
Masked Obito coldly swept a glance at Orochimaru, then his body once again transformed into a vortex.
As long as he confirmed Orochimaru would not act, there was no need to waste time here. Furthermore, leaking less of his personal intelligence was beneficial; it gave him a better chance to defeat Uchiha Ryun.
"What a powerful spatial ability. Hehe... Ryun-kun, what kind of ability will you use next, and how will you defeat such an opponent? I'm so looking forward to it..."
Orochimaru's entire body was trembling with excitement, he was in a state of extreme exhilaration.
At the central battlefield.
"Before we begin, I want to ask, what did you do to Uchiha Shisui?"
Before the leader of the Akatsuki could speak, Uchiha Itachi couldn't wait to ask this question.
For many days and nights, he had clung to a sliver of hope, fantasizing that Shisui-nii might one day appear alive before him... Asking this question clearly would allow him to give up hope completely, to sever this line of thought.
Ryun glanced at him indifferently, then turned his gaze back to the Deva Path Pain.
"I am asking you a question!"
Uchiha Itachi repeated in a heavy tone, but Ryun still paid him no attention. This disregard made Uchiha Itachi feel profoundly humiliated.
As a genius of the Uchiha clan, he was always the one who disregarded others. But today, he rarely encountered arrogance from someone else. It infuriated Uchiha Itachi so much that he was about to take action on the spot.
"Itachi, wait, I still have something to say..." At the critical moment, the Deva Path Pain reached out a hand to stop him.
"Pfft, hahaha..." Deidara couldn't hold back his laughter.
Seeing Uchiha Itachi, the one in Akatsuki who loved acting aloof the most, encounter someone even more arrogant and pretentious than himself, Deidara felt immensely pleased just looking at Itachi's gritted-teeth expression!
'That cocky guy met someone even cockier. Itachi completely can't keep up the act now, hahaha!!!' Deidara inexplicably felt a bit of goodwill towards Ryun, feeling that this Dragon God seemed much more agreeable.
"I remember you were killed by me, so why are you now able to stand opposite me? Little sister Konan, shouldn't you give me a reasonable explanation?"
Ryun asked a question he already knew the answer to, simultaneously directing the question towards Konan, who looked ill at ease.
"It was my order for her to retrieve the body. Matters between us men need not involve women..." The Deva Path Pain stepped forward to explain.
"I want to hear her explanation, not yours..."
"Furthermore, you yourself said these are matters between men, yet you had a woman retrieve your body for you? Were you too afraid to face me?"
The moment the Ninja World's top trash-talker spoke, he immediately provoked Nagato, who was controlling the Deva Path.
"You..."
"I'm sorry!"
Before the Deva Path's words could fully leave his mouth, Konan was the first to speak.
Looking at Konan bowing in apology beside him, the ripple pattern in the Deva Path's eyes constricted slightly.
"I hid the truth from you. I apologize here... However, next, I will still fight you with all my strength for the sake of my friend..."
"This is my stance, Ryun-kun!"
After speaking, Konan looked directly into Ryun's eyes, completely unconcerned about the so-called unseeable visual jutsu of the Sharingan.
Seeing Konan so firmly standing on his side, Nagato couldn't help but show a satisfied smile. He had never worried that Konan would betray him.
'The leader was killed by Ryun? And it seems the White Tiger has some unclear relationship with Uchiha Ryun...'
These doubts arose in the hearts of the Akatsuki members. They all wanted to know the story of love and hate behind this...
"Fight me with all your strength? Is that your explanation..." Ryun nodded expressionlessly. For a moment, no one could discern his mood.
"Our Akatsuki organization truly hopes to cooperate with you. It's just that you refuse to accept this peace proposal. So we can only use force to compel you to comply, Ryun-kun..." Konan had now regained her aloof demeanor, becoming the 'White Tiger of Akatsuki' once more.
"Is this your goal then? Capturing the four scattered Tailed Beasts, gathering these people, you think you have the ability to fight me?" Ryun looked at the Deva Path and asked coldly.
"Put away your arrogance... Whether or not we have the ability to fight will only be known after we fight." The Deva Path retorted expressionlessly.
"Hehe..."
Ryun couldn't help but let out a light laugh, then looked seriously at the Deva Path. "Since you're so confident, why don't we make a bet..."
"What bet?" The Deva Path frowned subconsciously.
"Since you think you can win, let us use the outcome of this battle to decide our future destinies!"
Ryun's words caused the Deva Path to visibly pause for a moment.
"If you win this battle, then I will unconditionally give you the five Tailed Beasts, including the Nine-Tails, to help you achieve your grand ambition of dominating the Ninja World in one move."
"And if I lose?" The Deva Path suddenly became very interested in this bet.
"If you lose, then the Akatsuki organization must unconditionally submit to me. This includes that Tailed Beast container and the four Tailed Beasts, and even the entire Land of Rain will be incorporated into the Land of Rice's sphere of influence."
As soon as Ryun finished speaking, many faces in Akatsuki showed astonishment. Only Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sand faintly curled the corners of their mouths.
"I cannot represent all members, nor can I use them as a bet. But I can agree to your bet individually. However, your side's stake is a bit light. You need to add one more condition..."
"If you lose, not only must you offer the five Tailed Beasts, you must also submit to me. Only then is it an equal bet!"
As soon as the Deva Path finished speaking, the sound of some people sucking in their breath could be heard around them.
To dare demand the submission of the current number one strongest in the Ninja World, this leader's courage was truly not ordinary!
"Hehe, you guy, you really dare to say it..." Ryun was amused by his words, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sand.
"Since the leader dares to use himself as the stake, then I will join this bet..." Kakuzu's serious voice suddenly rang out.
"Add me as well..."
Sasori of the Red Sand hurriedly responded. He regretted in his heart that he failed to grasp the meaning of Dragon God's glance in time, letting that bastard Kakuzu get ahead.
"And me..." Hidan, wearing a sour expression, still weakly raised his hand.
"I join too!" Konan had already weighed the pros and cons in her heart, finding that it didn't seem like a loss whether they won or lost, so she made her decision readily.
"Count me in!" Kisame Hoshigaki finally raised his hand to declare his stance at this time.
Ryun's gaze shifted from Kisame to Deidara.
"Tch, although being treated as a bargaining chip is annoying, since you've all decided, count me in too..." Deidara crossed his arms, pursed his lips, and stated his position.
Black Zetsu: "I also..."
"Since you are all so confident, then I will give you this chance. If I lose, I will likewise submit to Akatsuki, and my status will forever be beneath yours..."
Ryun not only interrupted Black Zetsu's following words but was actually willing to raise the stakes himself.
Black Zetsu had originally fantasized that there might be a chance to have a heart-to-heart with the Dragon God, causing his declaration to be a step too slow. Whether he could still stand behind him in the future, whether those heart-to-heart words could still be said, was now uncertain...
The one who was ignored throughout was also Uchiha Itachi. Ryun never once looked at him from beginning to end. This blatant, selective disregard made Uchiha Itachi feel angry.
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