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Not long after, Kagaya received another summons from Pain.
At the Akatsuki's base.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Colorful projections appeared one by one.
"Juzo has been killed," Pain announced first, once everyone was present. It seemed that after a few days, Pain had learned of the news.
"As expected, pairing up with a kid was too much for him, huh?" Kakuzu remarked with a hint of disdain. It was clear that Kakuzu held a condescending attitude toward Kagaya, the young ninja.
"No, I think Kagaya-kun is likely quite strong," Orochimaru countered, defending Kagaya. As an extremely rational person, Orochimaru wouldn't underestimate someone based on appearances.
Sasori sneered.
"If you think he's so great, why don't you partner with him, you filthy snake?"
Orochimaru closed his eyes, shaking his head with a slight air of regret.
"While Kagaya-kun is impressive, I still prefer Itachi."
Kagaya spoke up for the first time. "The opponent was the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. Juzo died to a Tailed Beast Ball. Also, I'm not here to listen to your sarcasm, so shut up."
"Oh my, quite the temper," Orochimaru said with a light chuckle.
Pain interjected appropriately, cutting off the group's verbal sparring.
"Another person was killed as well."
Zetsu glanced at Kakuzu beside him.
"Rather than being killed by an enemy, it's more accurate to say he was killed by one of our own."
Kakuzu replied nonchalantly, "He was too slow and dragged things out."
Zetsu looked at the others.
"Please, everyone, judge for yourselves."
With that, an image appeared before the group.
In a desolate wasteland, a large man in an Akatsuki robe was locked in combat with an unknown ninja. Kakuzu appeared behind the man, observed for a moment, and without a word, summoned a black creature that opened its mouth.
"Fire Release: Head Engraving!"
A massive explosion followed.
The image ended there.
Sasori commented, "That was deliberate."
Orochimaru added, "Intentional."
Kakuzu looked at the two, speaking as if it were obvious.
"He could've dodged."
Orochimaru crossed his arms.
"Your relationship with your partner wasn't exactly great, was it?"
Kakuzu's voice turned cold.
"So what?"
Orochimaru pressed further.
"You've wanted to kill him for a while, haven't you?"
Kakuzu's words carried a trace of anger.
"So what?"
Orochimaru replied casually, "Nothing. It's quite common."
Pain took over the conversation.
"The Akatsuki operates in pairs. Since both of you have lost your partners, Kakuzu, how about teaming up with Kagaya?"
Kakuzu pointed at Kagaya.
"If he's too weak, I might accidentally kill him. As long as he's prepared for that, it's fine."
Kagaya responded calmly, "I don't need a teammate who'd turn on me."
Kakuzu mocked, "That's because you're too weak. Don't blame me."
Kagaya's scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan fixed on Kakuzu.
"I'm more worried that I might not hold back and end up killing you. That wouldn't be good."
"What did you say, punk? Want to test that after we team up?"
Kagaya glanced at Pain.
"If the leader doesn't mind losing a member."
Truthfully, facing Kakuzu now would be unwise for Kagaya. He'd need to forcibly activate his Mangekyo Sharingan again to have a chance at winning.
But if winning wasn't the goal, Kagaya's speed alone could keep him undefeated.
Kakuzu had mocked him repeatedly, and Kagaya wasn't one to tolerate it endlessly. Once or twice, he could let it slide, but any more, and he'd had enough. If it came to it, they'd fight. Kagaya was confident he wouldn't lose.
Seeing their attitudes, Pain realized pairing them was a bad idea and spoke up.
"The Akatsuki needs new members. We'll discuss this again once they arrive."
The meeting ended there.
In the Land of Water, Kagaya opened his eyes. It seemed he'd be without a partner for a while.
'Keeping me in the Land of Water—was that Pain's idea, or yours, Obito?'
Kagaya took out a conical hat he'd acquired over the past few days, put it on, and headed toward the Mist Village, slowly vanishing into the distance.
If Kagaya were attacked by the Fourth Mizukage again, he'd leave the Akatsuki. While he needed the organization to help him achieve his revenge, he could only exact that revenge if he stayed alive. He couldn't ignore his own safety.
In the Mist Village, the Fourth Mizukage, thanks to the powerful self-healing abilities of his tailed beast form, had barely survived Kagaya's attack.
Carrying Kubikiribōchō, he returned to the Mist Village.
As he entered the Mizukage's office, an Anbu ninja knelt on one knee and reported.
"Lord Fourth, during the days you were recovering from your injuries, Terumi Mei and her faction have grown stronger again."
The Fourth Mizukage's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, waving a hand to dismiss the Anbu.
The Blood Mist era was an extremely cruel regime, massacring the village's kekkei genkai ninja without mercy.
Such a brutal rule couldn't last forever. Inevitably, someone would rise to oppose it.
Currently, the largest faction opposing the Fourth Mizukage was led by a woman named Terumi Mei.
They had significant support. On the surface, they were still subordinates of the Mizukage, but in reality, their relationship with him was much like the Uchiha's relationship with the Leaf Village's leadership.
It was merely a superficial superior-subordinate dynamic.
This was why Obito had decided to abandon the Fourth Mizukage as a pawn.
First, Obito's control over the Fourth Mizukage was initially driven by his desire to vent the pain of Rin's death—a form of revenge. This led to the Blood Mist era. After so many years, Obito had largely vented his anger.
Second, Terumi Mei's opposition faction had grown stronger unnoticed. Obito, preoccupied with the Uchiha stone tablet and the Akatsuki, had neglected the Mist Village. By the time he realized it, Terumi Mei's faction was too powerful to eliminate. Obito didn't want to act personally or expose the Akatsuki's terrifying strength too soon.
Thus, Obito decided to discard the Fourth Mizukage as a pawn.
It wouldn't be long before Terumi Mei overthrew him.
The attack on Kagaya was Obito's final use of the Fourth Mizukage.
Until he was overthrown, Obito wouldn't use this pawn again. He only needed the Mizukage to recruit new members for the Akatsuki.
As for the candidate, he had already chosen.
Momochi Zabuza.