"World peace? Ridiculous! Laughable!"
Killer B scoffed as he glanced through the intelligence report in his hands.
If the Akatsuki were truly a peace organization, then what did that make the Hidden Cloud Village? What nonsense!
Villains always found some high-sounding excuse. Collecting Tailed Beasts had nothing to do with peace it was obviously about world domination.
Standing to the Hokage's left, Jiraiya actually began to argue. "Maybe they lost their way. It's possible they're not inherently bad just misled."
Killer B was just about to lash out, but before he could speak, Onoki nodded in agreement with Jiraiya.
"No wonder you're one of the Five Great Commanders of the Leaf, one of the legendary Sannin. I feel the same," said the elderly Tsuchikage, sighing in admiration.
Even Lady Chiyo from the Hidden Sand, who had looked grimly at the report just moments before, brightened and agreed, "It could very well be the work of a manipulator behind the scenes."
She pointed to a photo of Kakuzu. "This one predatory eyes, vicious aura clearly the schemer."
Onoki nodded again. "They say this monster once fought the First Hokage. If that's true, he's the likely mastermind."
"Yeah, his whole vibe is off compared to the rest of the Akatsuki," Black Earth chimed in.
As the Tsuchikage's granddaughter, she usually wouldn't have a voice in such a high-level meeting, but she couldn't help herself.
Onoki then shattered the intel sheet labeled "Deidara" and floated above the ground. "Also, the Leaf's report is wrong. Deidara isn't a rogue ninja."
Chiyo wanted to say the same about Sasori, but his case was far more complicated. She could only sigh quietly.
With a flick of chakra, Onoki extracted the "Deidara" file from in front of each delegate and said solemnly, "I will write to him. Deidara will come back if spoken to with respect."
Killer B snorted in disbelief.
"I'll write one too!" Lady Chiyo stood up. "Sasori is my grandson. If he's still willing to turn back, I ask that he be given a chance."
Jiraiya also felt the urge to write one, though he held back for now. He decided he'd send his letter privately after the meeting.
Killer B's expression darkened. This again?
He slammed his blade into the ground, embedding it deep. "Lord Hokage, notify me when the real fight begins."
These fools were hopeless. With a scowl, he turned and strode away.
Watching the scene unfold, Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, stroked her chin thoughtfully. This Akatsuki group... was starting to seem a bit complicated.
At the Edge of the Rain Village
Pain stood on a high ledge, gazing down at the vast encampment of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
War had finally reached the borders of the Rain.
The moment their location was exposed, this day had become inevitable.
"Nagato, what should we do?" Konan asked, her voice laced with worry. "The village ninja have been pleading with me to let them fight, but..."
But they weren't strong enough. The Rain's forces were no match for the five great nations. Any engagement would be a massacre.
Even the sharpest blade dulls when burdened with attachments.
Rain pattered gently on Pain's outstretched hand. He remained silent for a long time before speaking.
"Konan, tell me why haven't they attacked us yet?"
He didn't wait for her reply. His Rinnegan focused sharply on the command tent at the heart of the enemy camp.
"They don't fear Rain. They don't even fear Akatsuki. They're afraid of a god without shackles."
"You mean... they can't afford to destroy Rain completely."
Pain nodded. "Without this village, I'd become a shadow they could never catch. I could sneak into any of their territories and destroy them from within."
He clenched his fist as water slipped through his fingers. "My power is already enough to fulfill Yahiko's dream."
Konan nodded in agreement. Compared to the later 'world of pain' philosophy, she always preferred Yahiko's original vision of peace.
And if Nagato now embraced that, she would follow.
"So what next? Do we negotiate with the Leaf?" Konan asked, pulling a letter from her sleeve the one from Jiraiya.
It was a heartfelt plea from their former teacher, asking them to abandon the Akatsuki's path and promising Rain special privileges and protection.
Pain took the letter and glanced at it, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Master Jiraiya is still naïve. That will be the death of him."
He handed the letter back.
"First we fight. Then we talk."
Konan tilted her head.
He sighed and explained, "Even if we do negotiate, we can't let the Leaf dictate the terms."
"We already have six Tailed Beasts. With the Rinnegan, we are stronger than any village."
"Which means... we now stand at the top of the shinobi world."
"We write the rules now."
Konan looked at him in surprise. "Nagato... you've changed so much."
He nodded. "Ever since I drove those two away, my thoughts have been clearer. Absorbing the Tailed Beast chakra... it's helped my body recover."
"Call the Akatsuki. The war begins now and we need to talk with our comrades, too."
Konan's body scattered into a flurry of paper as she vanished into the rain.
Rain Village — Atop the Tower
The Akatsuki assembled in person for the first time no holograms this time.
"Tsk, this old man said I'm not a rogue ninja?" Deidara held the letter in one hand and laughed as he read it aloud. "Too bad, old man. Your art isn't even close to our leader's."
He flicked the page, letting it burn to ash.
Unlike their previous dark and ominous settings, this meeting was held in a sleek, high-tech office designed in Rain's industrial style. A large round table sat at the center.
Konan was already there, meditating silently.
Sasori tuned up his puppets. Kakuzu counted his cash. Hidan mumbled some bizarre prayer over a bone carving.
"This place lacks artistic soul," Deidara grumbled, nudging Sasori. "Why's the boss being so secretive? It's just us now not those traitors."
Sasori glanced at him sideways. Deidara wasn't exactly the brightest. Still, he replied, "This war concerns Rain as a nation. The boss needs to know where each of us stands."
Kakuzu snorted without looking up. "I don't care if it's Rain or Akatsuki. As long as there's money to be made."
"And if we're fighting the Leaf? Even better. Hope that damn strategist shows up this time."
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