Born with a great love for the Uchiha

'There are no unfamiliar faces... Itachi Uchiha, Deidara, and Hidan haven't joined Akatsuki yet... The situation is the same as we knew before...'

"Oh my, the three of you are finally online!"

Upon seeing the appearance of "Uchiha Obito" and others, the grinning White Zetsu broke the silence in the mental space.

"Obito, we were just discussing whether something was wrong on your end..."

The other members of the Akatsuki organization also looked over.

One thing that [Wood Clone] is particularly concerned about is...

Kakuzu's bright green eyes moved over Kisame Hoshigaki and Juzo Biwa, but he carefully avoided making contact with Obito Uchiha.

It's as if looking at it for even a second would trigger some unpleasant memory.

'Kakuzu's reaction... is really interesting... was he beaten by Obito Uchiha?'

[Wood Clone] Keep this information in mind.

Neither Obito Uchiha nor Juzo Biwa spoke.

The honest Kisame Hoshigaki took the initiative to explain.

"We encountered a small problem in the Land of Water, but it has been resolved."

Upon hearing this, the other members of the Akatsuki organization all looked away.

The combination of the Wood Clone Technique and the Impersonation Technique was so perfect that none of the other members of the Akatsuki noticed anything amiss.

Even Pain's onion-shaped Rinnegan couldn't see through the true appearances of Obito Uchiha and the others.

"Now that everyone is here, let's begin the report."

Seeing that "Uchiha Obito" remained silent, Pain first looked at Sasori and the others.

"Sasori, Kakuzu, Orochimaru, you guys start first."

"We have arrived near Sunagakure in the Land of Wind."

Sasori of the Red Sand spoke first, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"The outer defenses of Sunagakure have been thoroughly investigated."

"However, the exact location of the One-Tailed Jinchuriki still needs to be confirmed."

"I've already sent my spies planted within Sunagakure to investigate, and we should have results by tomorrow at the latest."

"The situation in Sunagakure is worse than I thought."

Kakuzu, who was standing to the side, chimed in, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction.

"This country, this village, is just too poor!"

"The number of underground gold exchange shops here is less than in other places."

"I just hope that the Fourth Kazekage's head can be exchanged for more money."

"Kakuzu-kun, don't be careless."

Orochimaru spoke softly, his snake eyes casually sweeping over the location of "Uchiha Obito".

"We are not Obito after all, and we do not have the unpredictable space-time ninjutsu like Kamui. The Sand Village's defensive barrier has always been a problem."

"I think it's best not to alert the Fourth Kazekage and the main force of Sunagakure. We can just quietly sneak into Sunagakure and capture the One-Tailed Jinchuriki."

The capture operation at this time was different from the original situation.

On the normal timeline.

Sasori and Deidara were tasked with capturing the One-Tailed Jinchuriki.

Because Deidara's special clay can create clay creatures with the ability to fly.

The Akatsuki organization maintained the initiative in the battle from beginning to end.

Fight when you want, run when you want.

But now.

Sasori, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu all lack the ability to fly.

If Sunagakure discovers that Akatsuki is attempting to capture the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, the consequences are difficult to predict.

Although Sunagakure has suffered defeats in recent years.

However, they have always been one of the five great ninja villages.

Even the three S-rank rogue ninjas—Sasori of the Red Sand, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu—would be powerless to single-handedly contend with a major ninja village.

More importantly,

The Akatsuki organization has only captured the Seven-Tails so far.

Leaving aside the tailed beasts in Konoha, Iwagakure and Kirigakure still have three tailed beasts in their possession.

If Sasori and his group had alerted Sunagakure by now...

The Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Mist Village will definitely increase their vigilance as a result.

Then the subsequent tailed beast capture plan will definitely encounter even greater difficulties.

That's why Orochimaru made this suggestion.

For now.

Orochimaru was quite satisfied with the Akatsuki organization.

Especially after Black Zetsu sent him a lot of living White Zetsu.

Orochimaru likes the Akatsuki organization even more now!

This organization is full of talented people...

"Orochimaru is right."

Pain, the Deva Path, supported Orochimaru's view.

"This time, we must not act as brutally as we did when we captured the Seven-Tails."

"If Takigakure hadn't been cleaned up so thoroughly, the organization's actions would have been exposed to the eyes of other major powers."

"We only need the One-Tailed Jinchuriki; we don't need to fight the Fourth Kazekage."

Sasori of the Red Sand remained silent.

Kakuzu didn't react at all.

Pain assumed that the two members agreed with his idea and then looked at Obito Uchiha.

"Obito, where are you, Kisame, and Juzo now?"

Pain asked calmly.

"Since Sasori and the others are about to start capturing the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, if you don't make any progress on your end, you should wait for a while."

Tailed Beast Capture Plan.

It's never just about capturing Jinchūriki.

Extracting the tailed beast from the body of a Jinchūriki and sealing it away is also an extremely time-consuming and energy-intensive process.

Last time.

It took the nine members of the Akatsuki nearly three days to seal the Seven-Tails together.

Once Sasori and his team captured the One-Tailed Jinchuriki.

The Akatsuki organization needs about three more days to seal the One-Tailed Beast inside Gaara.

If during this period of time.

The conflict between Obito Uchiha and his group and Kirigakure would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble and even delay the sealing of the One-Tailed Beast.

This is also why Pain made Obito Uchiha temporarily stop his actions.

"Kisame Hoshigaki and Juzo Biwa should have arrived at Kirigakure by now."

"Uchiha Obito" looked at his two true comrades on the other side. The two of them silently released the [Illusionary Body Technique] and their consciousness withdrew from this space.

The Akatsuki members were momentarily stunned.

What are Kisame Hoshigaki and Juzo Biwa doing?!

Just like that, you quit?

And what was the meaning of their arrival at Kirigakure?

"you--"

Pain looked at Obito Uchiha, his onion-like Rinnegan appearing even more profound.

"As for 'me,' I am currently in Konoha."

Gen Uchiha deliberately released the [Disguise Technique], and the illusion formed by the thought wave suddenly twisted before revealing its true form.

A pair of scarlet Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, with intricate, black, corona-like patterns replacing the original windmill scythe.

"Nice to meet you all from Akatsuki. I am Uchiha Gen."

The Akatsuki members stared at the Fifth Hokage as if they had seen a ghost.

Payne, do you know you're keeping a ghost in your house?!

Chapter 169 Humans are foolish creatures who can never understand each other!

The mental space constructed by the [Illusionary Body Technique] was deathly silent.

The Akatsuki members were all on high alert when they saw Uchiha Gen suddenly appear.

"The Light of Konoha!"

Kakuzu's bright green eyes almost popped out of their sockets.