Uchiha the Madman: He embodies truth and obliterates reality.

"Humph."

Obito smiled and said, "It's a wise choice. Joining Akatsuki won't let you down."

Then, Obito turned to Black Zetsu and instructed him, "Black Zetsu, take them to see Pain, the leader of Akatsuki, and then Pain will assign them tasks."

"Understood, Fei," Black Zetsu replied in a hoarse voice.

"hooligan?"

Upon hearing Black Zetsu's words, Hidan brandished his scythe, pointing it at the masked man, Obito, and asked, "Is that your name?"

Yuki and Sansui also turned their gazes to Obito, feeling somewhat puzzled. This mysterious masked man's name was so casual? It was unbelievable. It was more like a nickname than a name.

Obito looked directly at the three of them and said calmly, "I am Tobi, an official member of the organization. From now on, you can call me Tobi. I hope you will take care of me as our fellow Akatsuki members."

"Hey! You're being too polite!" Hidan clapped his hands and said with a smile.

Youmu and Sanshui exchanged glances and echoed, "Likewise, we also hope that Senior Afei will take good care of us."

"Ah."

Obito nodded, waved his hand, and shouted, "Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, you two take these three to see the leader, Pain! Juzo Biwa, stay here."

When Obito called his name, Juzo Biwa stood respectfully beside him.

Black Zetsu replied to Obito's command, "Understood, Tobi."

The White Zetsu, who was one with Black Zetsu and attached to the same body, couldn't help but complain, "Ugh! More work? Seriously! This is so troublesome!!"

"Shut up! Have you forgotten what I told you? Less talk, more action."

After scolding White Zetsu to behave, Black Zetsu then looked at Hidan and the other two: "You three come with me, I'll take you to see the leader of Akatsuki."

"Yo-ho!! The leader of Akatsuki? This is really making my heart race." Hidan said excitedly, slinging his scythe behind his back.

Yu Mu and San Shui began to speculate in their hearts. The leader of Akatsuki... could he be the one with the Rinnegan that the masked man, Afei, mentioned? That... the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths, could we finally see it today?

Black Zetsu led the three of them through layers of buildings to a conference room deep inside, where they found Pain, the leader of Akatsuki.

Black Zetsu stepped forward and said respectfully, "Leader, these three are the new members."

Upon hearing this, Pain turned to face the group, his purple Rinnegan eyes standing out prominently.

When Youmu and Sanshui saw the purple Rinnegan on Pain's face, they were both astonished.

Recalling the masked man they had just seen, whose powerful aura was almost comparable to that of the leader before them, it seemed that Akatsuki possessed quite a few skilled members. Perhaps Akatsuki was hiding even more secrets unknown to the public. Since... the leader possessed such legendary eyes, Akatsuki might indeed have a way to resolve the crisis.

Although Hidan didn't know much about the Rinnegan, the aura of power emanating from Pain was undeniable. The Akatsuki leader exerted an immense sense of pressure on Hidan.

Hidan thought to himself: The leader of Akatsuki... is indeed powerful. Perhaps he can really resolve the meteorite incident.

"You're the new members?"

Pain's Rinnegan swept over the three of them, then he said expressionlessly, "I am Pain, the leader of Akatsuki. Now that you have joined Akatsuki, you will all be comrades from now on."

Upon hearing Payne's words, the three of them readily agreed.

Pain gave orders to the three newly joined Akatsuki members: "You can go and rest for now. As for the mission, after Sasori returns from purchasing the supplies, you will help Konan tally the supplies they bought."

"Just... tallying supplies, boss?" Hidan seemed intrigued.

If we only do things like this, how can we offer sacrifices to the evil god? Even if the world is about to end, the offerings to the evil god must not cease!! We must spread our teachings more.

This is really troublesome! Should I quit Akatsuki now? Hidan thought to himself.

Pain saw through Hidan's thoughts and added, "After this, Akatsuki will need to discuss cooperation with the five great nations and their respective ninja villages to save the ninja world. In this process, we will need you all to contribute your efforts to the organization."

"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Hidan shouted, clenching his fist with enthusiasm.

Along the way, I might kill quite a few people as sacrifices to the evil god. There's no need to leave here.

The other two, Yumu and Sanshui, looked at Feidan, knowing perfectly well what kind of person he was: This guy is hopeless, all he thinks about is killing people.

"If all goes well, you will safely weather this meteorite impact crisis."

After offering words of encouragement to the three, Pain's cold eyes turned to Black Zetsu. "Black Zetsu, take the three of them to rest! Send Akatsuki's clothes to their rooms later so they can change."

"Yes."

Black Zetsu bowed his head in obedience, and then led the three of them away.

...

...

After Black Zetsu and the others left, only Obito and Juzo Biwa remained in the room.

Obito's Sharingan, visible through his mask, looked at Juzo Biwa and asked, "Juzo, I asked you to recruit four people, where's the last one?"

"Where is he?" Obito asked coldly.

Juzo Biwa dared not hide the truth and hurriedly said, "Ah... I tricked Deidara into coming to Akatsuki, and he's resting in his room right now."

"What is his attitude towards joining Akatsuki?" Obito asked Juzo.

"Hmm...Deidara seems somewhat resistant to joining Akatsuki." Juzo Biwa then added, "But don't worry, I'll go and persuade him to join the organization..."

Before Juzo Biwa could finish speaking, Obito interrupted, "Take me there, I want to find him myself."

After realizing what was happening, Pipa Juzo quickly said, "It's Lord Madara, I'll take you there right away."

Then... guided by Juzo Biwa, Obito stopped at the door of a room.

"Lord Madara, please allow me to accompany you," Juzo Biwa said to Obito.

Obito shook his head and said, "No need, I'm enough on my own. You just came back from a mission, you should rest first."

"Yes, I understand, Lord Madara. I'll take my leave now." Juzo Biwa bid farewell to Obito.

Obito looked around the room, his mind set on testing the power of his Mangekyou Sharingan with both eyes fully equipped. Since retrieving Kakashina's eyes, Obito had clearly felt that his eye power had increased dramatically.

As expected... Madara was right. The Mangekyou Sharingan can only unleash its true power when both eyes are present.

Standing at the doorway of the room, Obito had already made up his mind.

If Deidara were convinced to join Akatsuki, that would be fine! Then I wouldn't use the Mangekyou Sharingan's eye techniques.

But if he resists, I will make him know the true power of the dual divine might!

Inside the mask, Obito's three-tomoe eyes suddenly transformed into the Mangekyou Sharingan, which is a pattern resembling a three-wheeled windmill.

Chapter 46 The Showdown Between Two People

Pushing open the door, Obito entered the room and saw a blond boy dressed in casual clothes and wearing a headband from Iwagakure. He was about the same age as Itachi, probably only thirteen years old!

When Deidara saw Obito, his excitement was palpable.

"Finally, someone's here! Hmm." Deidara's eyes flashed with fighting spirit.

Obito looked at the boy in front of him and revealed his identity: "Deidara was originally a genius ninja from Iwagakure, the prized disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, but he defected from the village for some unknown reason."

"Hmph, you actually know me."

Let's not even mention Obito; the mere mention of Deidara fills him with resentment: "It's all that old man's fault! He doesn't approve of my art at all!! He says my art is affecting the village. He wants me to ban art in the village! That's blasphemy against art! Disrespect!"

"I'll blow that old man and the entire Hidden Stone Village to smithereens sooner or later! I'll make them completely acknowledge my art!! Yes!" Deidara roared angrily.

"Art?"

Obito didn't understand Deidara's so-called art, but that didn't diminish Deidara's immense strength. Bringing him into Akatsuki would strengthen the organization, giving them the leverage to negotiate with the other ninja villages of the Five Great Nations. That was enough.

Obito coldly questioned Deidara, "Now that you're here, why don't you join Akatsuki?"

“It was your people who said there was real art here, that’s why I came,” Deidara said, shrugging.

"But after I got here, I realized you were deceiving me. There's no real art here at all. Hmm!"

Deidara said, pulling out a clay figure from his person. He brought the clay to his hand, and a mouth appeared on his palm. "I'm only interested in art. I knew nothing about Akatsuki before. If you want me to join Akatsuki, defeat me first."

"If the Akatsuki can't defeat me, then there's no need for them to join, right? Hmm." Deidara chuckled, inhaling clay into his mouth as his chakra began to merge with it.

"Ah... I will grant your request to be defeated." Obito's words revealed absolute confidence in his own strength.

"Hmph! You've got quite the nerve."

Deidara chuckled with his eyes closed, then opened his hand, took a lump of explosive clay from his pocket, and fed it to the mouth on his hand, creating a bird from it. "I don't want to blow this place to smithereens! Hmm. Let's go outside and fight!"

"drink!"

Deidara shouted, formed hand seals, and threw the flying bird in his hand into the air.

With a bang—

A wisp of white mist flashed by.

In just a moment, the small bird in the air suddenly grew larger.

"Let me see what this person, Xiao, is capable of!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Deidara jumped onto Asuka's back. The bird beneath him flapped its wings, rushed out of the room into the corridor, and then flew out of the Akatsuki base.

"Then I will grant your request."

Seeing this, Obito's heart stirred. "Since you're so determined to fight, then let me test your mettle, Deidara!"

Asuka carried Deidara to the outside of the Akatsuki base.