In a pitch-black room, the oil lamp on the table suddenly flickered to life. Moments later, several afterimages appeared one after another in the surrounding seats.
At that moment, an expanded meeting of Akatsuki's second generation members was underway.
The first generation had been the Amegakure shinobi recruited during Yahiko's leadership. However, after Yahiko's death, those original members either perished at Iron Mirror Mountain or left the organization. Even those who wished to stay were gradually removed by Nagato due to their lack of strength.
The newly formed second generation consisted entirely of S-rank rogue ninja from various villages.
According to the man known as "Madara," if they intended to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan, the organization's members could not be weak.
None of those gathered were physically present. Through the Astral Projection Technique, every ring bearer projected an illusion of themselves into this designated location.
Thanks to this technique, members scattered across the shinobi world could assemble instantly whenever necessary.
Shadowy figures occupied the room. Though their appearances were obscured, certain features remained visible, such as hairstyles and eyes. Because of this, Nagato's Rinnegan stood out particularly clearly in the darkness.
Everyone's attention was unconsciously drawn toward those eyes.
They could all sense the chilling indifference contained within them.
This was Akatsuki's leader, Pain, code-named Zero.
The Rinnegan alone was enough to earn recognition of his strength. Furthermore, although some of the more rebellious members had never personally experienced it, they had all witnessed Zero in battle before.
Danzo glanced at those eyes, and a trace of greed flashed through his own.
This was already the second time he had seen the Rinnegan.
The first had been during the ambush at Iron Mirror Mountain, an operation that ultimately ended in failure.
His emotions were complicated.
On one hand, he felt relieved. Since he no longer needed to travel to Amegakure personally, his safety was somewhat guaranteed.
The masked man's explanation sounded convincing enough, claiming that Nagato did not know the truth behind Iron Mirror Mountain. However, Danzo was far from certain.
He genuinely feared that if he ever stepped into Amegakure, he might be beaten to death on the spot.
Yet without going there, obtaining the Rinnegan was impossible for the time being.
The situation had reached a deadlock.
Pain's gaze swept across the assembled members.
Konan stood at his side as his subordinate. Moving clockwise around the room were Zetsu, Sasori, Pakura, Fugaku, Biwa Jūzō, Kakuzu, and Danzo.
Nine people in total.
His eyes lingered briefly on each member before finally settling on Danzo.
"I've received information that the Eight-Tails neither died at the hands of the Fourth Hokage nor was brought back to Konoha. Danzo, do you know Konoha's reasoning behind this?"
The Fourth Hokage naturally referred to Hayashi.
Ever since he had become Hokage, almost no one referred to him as Konoha's Lightning Flash anymore.
Of course, that was not the important point.
The real issue was that Hayashi had infiltrated Kumogakure alone and attacked the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Yet instead of killing him or taking him back to Konoha for extraction, he had chosen to release the Three-Tails.
Although Kumogakure suffered tremendous losses, they had effectively gained possession of a Three-Tails for free.
As for who would benefit more in the long run, that remained uncertain.
Because of this, even Pain found Hayashi's actions somewhat puzzling.
From Akatsuki's perspective, however, the outcome was advantageous.
The failed Konoha Crush Plan led by Fugaku had already proven that Konoha was not an easy target.
The Nine-Tails could be dealt with later, but if the Three-Tails were also being held in Konoha, Akatsuki's plans would almost certainly face serious complications.
They would have been forced to attack Konoha again.
That was something Nagato had no desire to do.
Instead, Hayashi had struck Kumogakure and conveniently handed the Three-Tails back to them.
To Nagato, it almost felt as though fate itself was helping him.
Am I truly the chosen one?
The reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths?
The Child of Prophecy?
The thought strengthened his growing conviction that he had become a god.
Hearing the question, Danzo's expression remained calm. Even if it had changed, the blurry projection would have concealed it.
Meeting Pain's gaze without hesitation, he answered evenly:
"I don't know why Hayashi made that decision.
"However, if I had to offer an explanation, it would probably be similar to why the First Hokage kept only the Nine-Tails and distributed the other Tailed Beasts."
The First Hokage had retained the Nine-Tails while effectively selling the other Tailed Beasts to the various villages.
Was it because Konoha lacked the resources to keep multiple Tailed Beasts?
Of course not.
It was because he was powerful enough that he simply didn't need them.
If he had not worried about the possibility of weaker descendants in the future, he likely would not have kept even the Nine-Tails.
There was also another hidden reason.
The Nine-Tails had once been Madara's summoning beast and was the only remaining thing in the shinobi world that still maintained a connection to him.
As for why the First Hokage kept it, perhaps only he truly knew.
Naturally, such matters would never be discussed openly.
Even Uzumaki Mito had never learned the full truth.
Danzo's answer immediately attracted considerable hostility.
His implication was obvious.
With Hayashi in Konoha, the village was effectively invincible.
Wasn't that simply encouraging everyone present to unite against Konoha?
The hidden message was clear:
No one could defeat Hayashi alone.
If they wanted any chance of success, they would need to gather together and challenge him as a group.
Just how much does he hate Konoha?
And how much does he hate Hayashi?
Fugaku silently wondered.
Danzo's resentment over Hayashi becoming Hokage seemed immense.
Even after abandoning the village and becoming a rogue ninja, his bitterness had not diminished in the slightest.
It was almost as though he would rather see Konoha destroyed than allow an Uchiha to lead it.
In Danzo's eyes, the Uchiha were thieves stealing what rightfully belonged to him.
If given the choice, he would rather watch Akatsuki burn everything down than see an Uchiha sit in the Hokage's seat.
As expected, Pain's expression grew colder after hearing the answer.
However, he chose not to pursue the topic.
Turning toward Zetsu, he issued a new order.
"Zetsu, locate the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki's current whereabouts."
Ever since Hayashi's attack on Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage had immediately relocated Killer B to a secure location.
"Understood," Zetsu replied.
Pain continued.
"From this day onward, the Eye of the Moon Plan officially begins."
Previously, the organization had been incomplete. Their activities largely revolved around earning money, and the structure itself had remained relatively loose.
Today marked the true beginning of Akatsuki's grand plan.
"As for team assignments..."
Before he could finish speaking, Danzo interrupted.
"Before assigning missions, I believe I should be given a new partner."
The room instantly fell silent.
Everyone's attention shifted between Kakuzu and Danzo.
Nearly every Akatsuki member was an S-rank rogue ninja whose bounty alone was worth a fortune.
Kakuzu, meanwhile, valued money above almost everything else.
He was particularly fond of killing his own partners, taking their hearts, and collecting the rewards associated with them.
This was hardly the first time he had done so.
White Zetsu had even secretly opened a betting pool on how long Danzo would survive.
Kakuzu himself had wagered that Danzo wouldn't last a month.
Unexpectedly, Danzo had survived long enough to attend this meeting.
That alone was proof that Konoha's former Shadow was no ordinary individual.
Danzo had managed to stay alive through a combination of Izanagi and Kagami Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan.
The price, however, had been steep.
One Sharingan and a Mangekyō ability had allowed him to destroy two of Kakuzu's hearts.
After losing two hearts, Kakuzu wisely backed off, intending to settle the score after replenishing them.
The difference between them was obvious.
Kakuzu could replace lost hearts.
Danzo could not replace lost eyes.
He originally possessed only seven Sharingan embedded in his arm.
Four had been consumed during the events in Konoha.
Another was lost during his clash with Kakuzu.
Only two remained.
That was hardly surprising.
The Uchiha Clan still existed, meaning Danzo had never had the opportunity to amass a large collection of Sharingan.
The few he possessed had been gathered painstakingly over many years.
Faced with his current situation, one could only wonder what the old man was feeling.
Late at night, when staring up at the stars, did he ever feel the urge to cry?
Of course he did.
After everything that had happened, Danzo could only sigh inwardly.
Life had become truly difficult.