Sasori stared at Kabuto from inside his puppet shell.
"You inherited everything from Orochimaru? His power isn't something you can simply claim as your own."
Kabuto raised one hand and formed a seal. "Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation."
The stone floor cracked beneath them as the rock around the hall twisted upward and began moving as though it were alive. After several seconds, Kabuto released the technique, and everything settled back into place.
Sasori was silent for a moment. "Senjutsu... You actually learned it."
"Am I qualified now, Senior Sasori?"
A white snake emerged from beneath Kabuto's robe and coiled around his shoulder, raising its head toward Sasori. Sasori gave it a brief glance before looking away.
"Suit yourself."
"Then it's settled," Pain said. "Kabuto will take Kisame's place and work with Uchiha Itachi."
Kabuto turned to Itachi. "I look forward to working with you, Senior Itachi."
Itachi gave him a brief glance but said nothing.
"The members of the Akatsuki did not gather here because of trust," Pain continued. "Each of you has your own purpose, so disagreements are unavoidable. But as long as you wear that cloak, you will obey the Akatsuki's orders."
No one objected.
"The Ninja World has changed. Tejima Shinichi is now known as the new God of Shinobi, and Konoha possesses four tailed beasts. For now, we will leave Konoha alone. Once the other tailed beasts are in our hands, I will deal with him myself."
Deidara grinned. "Then don't leave me out. A battle like that deserves to be seen."
Hidan rested his scythe over his shoulder. "I don't care what people call him. If he bleeds, I can kill him."
"The Five-Tails is already in our possession," Pain continued. "Shinichi captured the Four-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails, while the Nine-Tails remains sealed inside Naruto Uzumaki."
That left four targets outside Konoha.
"Our next objectives are the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails. We will also capture the Three-Tails once it has reformed."
Kakuzu crossed his arms. "And after that?"
"We attack Konoha," Pain replied without hesitation. "We will take the remaining tailed beasts, and anyone who stands in our way will be removed."
"Deidara and Sasori, you will go to Sunagakure. Your target is Gaara, the One-Tail's jinchūriki."
"Understood," Deidara replied, while Sasori gave a slight nod.
"Kakuzu and Hidan, you will head to Kumogakure. You are responsible for Yugito Nii and Killer B, the jinchūriki of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails."
"Fine," Kakuzu said.
Hidan grinned. "Two sacrifices at once. Now that sounds interesting."
"Itachi and Kabuto will go with you," Pain continued. "They will act as a separate team and step in if either capture fails."
"Understood," Kabuto replied. Itachi remained silent.
"Does anyone object?"
No one answered.
"Once the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails are secured, we will wait for the Three-Tails to reform. After that, we move against Konoha. The operation begins tomorrow."
The meeting ended, and the members gradually left the hall. Obito remained in the shadows, watching Kabuto leave. Black Zetsu had brought him into the Akatsuki as Kisame's replacement, but Obito was not convinced that was his only purpose.
Not long afterward, Obito found Kabuto alone.
"What are you really after?"
"The Akatsuki intends to move against Konoha once the other tailed beasts are captured," Kabuto said. "When that happens, Tejima Shinichi will be the greatest obstacle."
"I have no intention of facing him alone. But with the Akatsuki's power behind me, I believe I can deal with him."
Obito laughed. "You think you can deal with Tejima Shinichi?"
"You don't seem convinced, Madara."
"No one understands Wood Release better than I do, and I know exactly how strong Shinichi has become. He is already approaching Hashirama's level." Obito's laughter faded. "In the current Ninja World, no one but me can face him directly. Certainly not you."
"With my current strength alone, perhaps not," Kabuto admitted. "That is why I came to propose an alliance. The Akatsuki needs more power, and I have something you will find useful."
"And what could you possibly offer me?"
"Something that will make it very hard for you to turn me away."
Kabuto moved through several hand seals before pressing his palms together.
"Edo Tensei."
The floor split open, and a coffin rose between them. Its lid fell away, revealing a man with long black hair and red armor. Obito's laughter stopped the moment he saw the face.
Uchiha Madara.
'His body should have been hidden in a place known only to me. How did Kabuto find it?'
Kabuto stood beside the coffin. "Now do you understand?"
"Where did you find the body?"
"It took me nearly two years," Kabuto replied. "Orochimaru's research gave me somewhere to begin, and the information I gathered as a spy helped me narrow down the location."
"That would not have been enough."
"No, it wasn't. I also had access to a few special channels."
"Special channels?"
Kabuto offered no explanation. The coffin had already shown Obito that he knew far more than he should.
"Unfortunately, Madara is the only shinobi of this level I can summon. The First and Second Hokage are still beyond my reach. If I had Hashirama as well, I would have no need for the Akatsuki. I could attack Konoha myself and confront Tejima Shinichi."
Kabuto needed the Akatsuki's strength, but Obito could not simply refuse him. His Edo Tensei was useful, and he already knew too much.
Obito remained silent for a moment before answering.
"Very well. We will cooperate."
"That is all I wanted."
Kabuto released the technique, and the coffin sank back into the floor. He left soon afterward, leaving Obito alone.
Once he was gone, space twisted around Obito and he disappeared with a single name on his mind.
'Black Zetsu...'
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