The meeting was nearing its end.
"Those who agree to replace the plan with the Bai Mo Plan, stay put.
Those who disagree, take half a step back."
Pain's gaze swept over the people below.
After his words fell, no one moved.
It could be said that Bai Mo's speech had almost convinced everyone.
Among them, Sasori had the most neutral impression of Bai Mo.
That was also because Sasori had transformed himself into a human puppet and inherently had no strong desires or pursuits.
Facing a change in plans, whether for or against, he was too lazy to argue.
The most crucial person to convince, of course, was Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu might be evil, but it was certainly not stupid.
Bai Mo had laid out the pros and cons, and the choice was obvious.
As for whether Black Zetsu believed what Bai Mo said.
Black Zetsu felt it was highly credible.
First, if the other party intended to deceive, what would be its purpose?
Second, according to Bai Mo, if they wanted to find Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, that task would inevitably be given to it and White Zetsu, and they would be the first to know the truth of the matter.
"Hey, so what do we do now?"
Deidara asked.
"Kakuzu is responsible for preparing Amegakure's economic development plan, Black and White Zetsu are to collect 'materials,' and the rest of you present have no specific tasks.
You can assist Kakuzu, or you can continue doing whatever you normally do, whether it's training or developing ninjutsu, it's up to you."
Bai Mo knew that before Shippūden began, the Akatsuki Organization didn't have many major movements.
So there was no need to deliberately assign tasks.
However, according to Bai Mo's estimation, the others would most likely not assist Kakuzu.
These people really didn't like group activities.
Most likely, they would each go research ninjutsu, train, and so on.
After all, there was the pressure of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
"Alright then..."
Deidara was thoughtful.
Bai Mo's description of the "Ōtsutsuki" made Deidara feel a sense of crisis again.
Deidara was already working hard to defeat Itachi's Mangekyō, and now he felt that what he had done before was not enough.
Wait, Itachi?
"What about Itachi and Kisame? They weren't here today, who's going to tell them about this?"
Deidara asked again.
"I'll tell them myself. The next mission is for their team anyway; I can tell them on the way."
Bai Mo said.
"Are you referring to the Land of Waves mission?"
Kakuzu, who had been silently observing, spoke up.
When Bai Mo had just said that the others had no tasks, Kakuzu was still confused as to why the Land of Waves mission Bai Mo mentioned earlier wasn't given to him.
Unlike before, Kakuzu would have suspected Bai Mo of being contradictory or trying to deceive him.
But now, Kakuzu was just wondering if Bai Mo had talked too much and accidentally overlooked it.
He didn't expect to hear about it here.
"The Land of Waves is a central node between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire. If it's just about getting Gato's money, then you can go, Kakuzu.
But if we want sustainable development, it's best to have people from both Konoha and Kirigakure go."
Bai Mo briefly explained.
"Konoha and Kirigakure, what a coincidence, that team has two... never mind, contact me when you need my help..."
Kakuzu said this, then suddenly thought of something and looked at Pain, "Leader, does he have a ring? Otherwise, how will we contact him?"
"Suzaku and Nanto, who are acting with him, can assist with communication."
Pain said indifferently.
"Alright."
The meeting was completely over.
After everyone dispersed, Konan stopped Bai Mo.
"Since you already know Uchiha Itachi is a spy, are you still planning to act alone with them?"
Konan valued Bai Mo's safety greatly.
Bai Mo's life was now the future of Amegakure and the Akatsuki Organization.
"This was already part of the plan. For a spy, you either eliminate them or utilize them; you can't keep them hanging there in secrecy forever.
If something is discovered, it will put us in a passive position instead."
"So you didn't let us deal with him or expel him; that was your purpose?"
Konan frowned slightly.
"As long as our interests align and we have a common enemy, then anyone can become a 'teammate.'
So don't worry about my safety. Even if I were an ordinary person without chakra or ninjutsu, I could still handle him."
Bai Mo smiled confidently.
What he said was not just theory, but a reality that had occurred countless times in the future ninja world.
It was the underlying logic of how people and factions interact.
The higher the intelligence, the calmer and more rational a person is, the easier they are to get along with, and the less dangerous they are.
Currently, the only one who had truly attacked him was Hidan.
If he were truly an ordinary person, he could pass Pain's test, and every other Akatsuki member's test, but Hidan, with his abnormal brain, might have just ended him.
Even the somewhat eccentric Kakuzu was capable of weighing and thinking, knowing that Bai Mo's "brain" was more useful than his "heart."
Moreover, he was not an "ordinary person."
"Alright then, be careful. Nagato will assign them both a mission."
After Konan finished speaking, she also left.
After flying a distance, Konan raised her hand, and a bundle of yellowish paper flowers was taken from her sleeve.
Bai Mo had taken this out and "given" it to her two days ago when he was organizing the items he had brought.
The faint chakra remaining on this bouquet clearly indicated that she had left it.
~
Three days later, on the border of the Land of Fire.
Two figures wearing straw hats were sitting in a dango shop, eating dango.
"What's so good about these mochi dango? Why does everyone like them so much?"
Bai Mo, holding a cup of oden, walked over from next door and sat opposite the two.
"Are you the new strategist the Leader mentioned?"
Kisame Hoshigaki's dead fish eyes stared at Bai Mo.
"That's right. I believe you've already received the mission Zero assigned to you..."
"Assist you and fulfill all your requests."
Uchiha Itachi suddenly spoke, interrupting Bai Mo.
Before Bai Mo appeared, Uchiha Itachi was still considering whether to use genjutsu to investigate this "strategist" later.
After careful consideration, he abandoned the idea.
According to the situation Pain described when contacting them with his ring, all other Akatsuki Organization members had unanimously approved this strategist.
If he rashly chose to attack, he might expose his identity as a spy.
For ninja to gather intelligence, genjutsu was the simplest and most direct method, but not the only one.
Anyway, they would need to spend some time together, so he would have plenty of opportunities to slowly investigate.
So Uchiha Itachi spoke, indicating his friendliness.
Kisame Hoshigaki respected Uchiha Itachi more, and seeing Itachi's attitude, he didn't say much either and also indicated to Bai Mo that he would obey orders.
"Good."
"Last time, you two were on a mission and didn't attend the meeting. We'll set off later, and once we're alone, I'll explain everything to you again."
What Bai Mo meant by "explain everything again" was naturally to selectively choose and omit information.
Hearing Bai Mo say this, both of them also became curious.
After quickly finishing their dango, the three set off.