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Midorima was very curious about where all the money Akatsuki had saved up since its founding had gone.
There was a theory that in the comics, when Konan single-handedly fought Obito, she prepared six hundred billion explosive tags. The money for these tags came from the organization's funds.
Even if one explosive tag cost just one ryo, that would require six hundred billion ryo. Moreover, explosive tags were expensive; six hundred billion ryo wouldn't be enough.
However, there was another explanation for the source of the six hundred billion explosive tags—Konan herself was skilled in using paper-related ninjutsu, so these explosive tags might have been created using her own chakra.
Midorima didn't agree with this.
Not to mention the immense amount of chakra needed to produce such a vast number of explosive tags, just selling them for money would have prevented Kakuzu from being so stingy that he carried Asuma's body all the way from the Fire Temple to the bounty exchange.
So, Konan was indeed a "spendthrift," and there should be little dispute about that.
"Next is the matter of missions. For a 'shinobi organization,' making money is the top priority. Therefore, I hope everyone can complete as many missions as possible. We need to build Akatsuki's reputation in the underworld to secure more commissions, ultimately monopolizing warfare until the major shinobi villages have no missions left to take. Additionally, there is the mission of finding the 'Tailed Beasts'... Although we cannot capture them for now, we must identify the Jinchūriki and their current status. This will facilitate our subsequent actions."
Pain's gaze swept over the others again. "Do any of you have questions?"
Itachi raised his hand.
"Speak," Pain said.
"I have some personal matters to attend to and need to leave Akatsuki temporarily," Itachi said casually, surprising the other members.
Akatsuki wasn't an organization one couldn't leave, but what happened to those who left was another matter.
If one was strong enough, they could afford not to care about Akatsuki's attitude—they could simply stand their ground. Conversely, less powerful members might be killed outright.
"Mr. Itachi, although I have cooperated with Mr. Midorima before, we aren't really compatible. If you wish to leave because of this, I assure you, I will try to minimize such situations," Kisame interjected.
Sasori couldn't help but laugh, simultaneously glancing sideways at Midorima.
Midorima, annoyed, rolled his eyes and launched a sharp counterattack: "Although you speak very politely, what I like are beauties like Sister Konan..."
Some things had to be clarified, especially since Kisame's words were ambiguous and would certainly lead to misunderstandings.
Konan was very exasperated.
She hadn't expected Midorima to bring her up.
What did that mean? Was she old?
She glanced at the skin on her arm; it wasn't much different from before.
'That guy Yoshida's mouth is really something. Next time, I'll deduct 50% of his pay.'
Konan made a decision in her heart.
"It has nothing to do with that. I said it's a personal matter. The Leader and Konan should know about it," Itachi said.
"Is that so?" Seeing Pain nod, Kisame knew it had nothing to do with him. He felt relieved but also somewhat regretful.
Akatsuki teams operated in pairs.
From Pain's perspective, this was for "mutual supervision," but for the two people working together, both hoped the other wouldn't hold them back, and secondly, that their personalities would be compatible.
"Yoshida Shin's" strength wasn't bad, but he was too good at slacking off. If he could run, he absolutely wouldn't fight, which was very incompatible with Kisame's own combat style.
When acting with Sasori, "Yoshida" didn't run, because Sasori used puppets and couldn't move quickly. So, he chose another combat method—large-scale, indiscriminate attacks.
According to Sasori, he had been both flooded and buried alive. His experiences were so tragic they could "make listeners weep and hearers grieve."
"But if that's the case, doesn't that leave me alone?" Kisame frowned.
"No, we have a new member joining. Let's take this opportunity for him to meet everyone." Pain looked at Konan, who nodded and walked out of the cave. Before long, she returned with a haggard-looking, long-haired middle-aged man who greeted everyone somewhat awkwardly.
When Midorima saw the middle-aged man, he felt a headache coming on.
This... the storyline is completely messed up.
How did Mui join Akatsuki? This is just too bizarre. Clearly, they had no prior connection.
"My name is Mui. I was formerly the warden of Hōzuki Castle. Now I join Akatsuki. To gather the Ten-Tails as soon as possible, I am willing to sacrifice everything," Mui said, trying to sound relaxed, but he couldn't hide the exhaustion on his face.
Kisame, meanwhile, frowned, his eyes darting towards Midorima.
The destruction of most of Hōzuki Castle was their doing. He never expected to meet the warden here, and worse, as his new partner.
Midorima ignored Kisame's look. He was considering the reason for Muui joining Akatsuki—needless to say, it was probably Obito "selling dreams," luring Mui in, possibly even setting up a situation, much like how Madara orchestrated Rin's death.
"Since we have a new member, one person will have to operate alone for now. Therefore, I hope we can have another new member join before Itachi returns," Pain said.
Kisame's face fell.
Needless to say, finding a new member was his task; the others certainly wouldn't bother.
After Pain held the "disbandment meeting," the Akatsuki members went their separate ways.
Midorima had finally obtained the "First Hokage's cells" and now had time to study them carefully.
He needed to find a secluded place to practice Wood Release.
After all, among the various ninjutsu, Wood Release's power was considerable, with many high-damage techniques. The drawback was that these techniques required vast amounts of chakra, which he might find difficult to muster.
So, the cells of Jūgo were crucial.
Because he possessed the [Cell Laboratory], he had the potential to utilize Jūgo's cells. The problem now was, where was Jūgo?
While camping, Midorima brought up his desire to operate alone. Sasori strongly agreed.
"I acquired some good corpses in Kusagakure and plan to turn them into puppets. You probably don't want to watch me process those bodies, do you?"
Midorima quickly shook his head; he had no such hobby.
"However, I need a favor from you."
"Huh?"
"I've got my eye on a wealthy merchant. Come with me to get some pocket money... Transforming puppets is very expensive," Sasori said.
Midorima blinked. "Didn't we just hit one not long ago?"
"It's all gone."
"..."
Midorima remembered that sum was a full ten million ryo. How could it be gone just like that?
'Are you building a Gundam or something?' Midorima silently insult him.
"By the way, even though we're splitting up, you won't go missing again, will you?" Sasori remembered something and was very concerned.
Having been stood up by Orochimaru frequently in the past, Sasori had some reservations about "operating separately."
"Uh... that probably won't happen. I'm a real homebody, the dead-stay-at-home type," Midorima said, regardless of whether Sasori understood, uttering a phrase that was fitting yet puzzling to Sasori.
'Dead-stay-at-home? An abandoned house?' Sasori frowned, utterly confused.