"…"
Orochimaru narrowed his snake-like eyes.
As expected—
He couldn't stay in Akatsuki much longer.
What he sought—
Was the truth of life.
Immortality.
Joining Akatsuki?
Just a means.
A way to gain resources.
But Akatsuki's ultimate goal—
"The Tailed Beast Deterrence Plan."
Absolute obedience.
Collective will.
That ran completely counter to his personal research.
And now—
They were forming two-man teams.
Mutual surveillance.
Restriction.
Control.
…Unacceptable.
After a moment of thought—
Orochimaru sneered inwardly.
"Playing savior with a bunch of lunatics…"
"…is far less interesting than dissecting tailed beasts."
It was time—
To plan his exit.
Among the current members—
Aside from Pain and Konan—
Only Jūzō Biwa truly believed in this so-called peace.
A deserter from the Bloody Mist—
Seeking a new world.
…
At that moment—
Pain's gaze shifted toward Orochimaru.
A chill ran through him.
His thoughts halted instantly.
"…"
"Continue."
Pain spoke calmly.
"Share your intelligence."
Silence fell.
Then—
Zetsu spoke first.
"I have confirmed information."
"One week ago—"
"The Uchiha clan… was exterminated."
…!
Aside from Orochimaru, Pain, and Konan—
Everyone reacted.
Orochimaru already knew.
He had his own intelligence network.
As for Pain and Konan—
They had been informed earlier.
By "Madara."
"What?!"
Jūzō's voice rose.
The name "Uchiha"—
Meant something.
Even in the Mist.
Comparable to the Hōzuki clan.
Kakuzu frowned.
"Are you sure?"
Zetsu nodded.
"Confirmed."
"Only one child survived."
"…What a waste."
Kakuzu sighed.
"The Sharingan is priceless."
"If I'd known earlier…"
"I might've picked up a few pairs."
Sasori spoke next.
"…Who did it?"
A simple question.
But heavy.
Everyone looked at Zetsu.
No hesitation.
"It was one of their own."
"Uchiha Itachi."
"…"
Silence.
The name—
Echoed in their minds.
Searching.
Recalling.
Then—
Pain spoke.
"Uchiha Itachi…"
"…will be your future comrade."
"…So that's the new member?" Kakuzu raised a brow.
Jūzō chuckled.
"People say the Mist produces the most rogue ninja…"
"But in terms of quality—"
"Seems Konoha wins."
A man who slaughtered his own clan—
And that clan being the Uchiha—
He was qualified.
More than qualified.
The others glanced at Orochimaru.
Sasori smirked slightly.
"Congratulations."
"Meeting a fellow countryman."
"…Heh."
Orochimaru chuckled.
Unbothered.
But inside—
He was surprised.
He knew about the massacre.
He knew the reason.
But—
Itachi joining Akatsuki?
That changed things.
And perhaps—
It was an opportunity.
After all—
He had long coveted Itachi's body.
Especially now—
With the Uchiha gone—
The Sharingan was rarer than ever.
His interest…
Peaked.
Pain continued:
"Konoha has long been corrupt."
"The conflict between the Uchiha and the higher-ups…"
"Was inevitable."
"Itachi may have wielded the blade—"
"But the ones behind it…"
"Were undoubtedly Konoha's leadership."
Konan added calmly:
"Whether it's internal conflict or clan extermination…"
"Both benefit our plans."
"Indeed." Pain nodded.
"Konoha has been weakened."
Hearing this—
As a former core member of Konoha—
Orochimaru couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
"That old fool…"
"Has he grown so weak…"
"That he can't even suppress internal conflict?"
"At this rate—"
"Konoha will fall under your leadership."
"If destruction is inevitable…"
"…then it might as well be by my hands."
A thought formed.
A plan.
Faint—
But growing.
Pain spoke again.
"Itachi has seen the darkness of Konoha."
"He will understand our ideals."
"He will walk our path."
The others nodded.
Outwardly—
Unified.
The room fell silent once more.
Originally—
There were other bits of intelligence to share.
But compared to this?
Irrelevant.
"Anyone else?" Pain asked.
Silence.
"…Then this meeting is concluded."
"Dismissed."
The projections began to flicker.
Then—
"Wait."
Orochimaru spoke.
"…I recall something."
Kakuzu snapped.
"You 'recall' important intel now?"
Pain glanced at him.
Silencing him instantly.
"…Speak."
"…Heh."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
He hadn't intended to share this.
But—
He needed to prove his value.
To keep the funding flowing.
After a brief pause—
He spoke.
"The night after the Uchiha massacre…"
"Konoha's Root organization…"
"…was destroyed."
…!
Even Pain and Konan reacted this time.
Another bomb.
Dropped.
Pain turned to Zetsu.
"…You missed this?"
White Zetsu spoke quickly.
"We heard it."
"But couldn't confirm its authenticity."
All eyes turned back to Orochimaru.
"It's real."
He said firmly.
In truth—
He couldn't be 100% sure.
But every informant in Konoha—
Reported the same thing.
One fact was certain:
Root…
Was gone.
"…Who did it?" Pain asked.
Orochimaru answered—
Without hesitation.
"Shenyue Yuan."
"A civilian ninja from Konoha."
"But during his Academy days—"
"He was said to rival Itachi."
"One of Konoha's twin prodigies."
Jūzō let out a low whistle.
"…So Konoha still has monsters."