Sasori's threat silenced Deidara and Hidan in an instant. Within the Akatsuki, the reputation of Discipline Committee Member Konan carried enough weight to crush any insubordination.
"Well, it's your fault for not letting me have my freedom in Konoha, Sasori-danna! Un!" Deidara muttered under his breath, sounding thoroughly aggrieved.
Ever since he had witnessed the shocking spectacle of the 'Giant Mushroom Cloud' from a distance, Deidara had been clamoring to meet the existence capable of displaying such 'Ultimate Art' in Konoha. He was desperate to exchange insights on the nature of Art.
If Sasori hadn't held him back, Deidara likely would have returned to Konoha on his own.
Sasori replied grumpily, "That was Pain-sama's order. If you have a problem with it, go take it up with him."
Konoha was a Great Ninja Village, not some roadside public restroom you could just waltz into whenever you pleased. Despite the damage done to village, they still needed to be cautious.
Deidara instantly withered at the suggestion.
It was a strange dynamic. He didn't fear Itachi, the man who had defeated him head-on and dragged him into the Akatsuki, nor did he fear anyone else in the organization. Yet, he was genuinely unnerved by Pain, followed closely by Konan.
In Deidara's eyes, seeing Pain was like standing before a strict Homeroom Teacher, while running into Konan was like being caught by a strict Discipline Committee Member.
"Is it fun over in Konoha?" Hidan asked eagerly. Of everyone present, Deidara was the only one who bothered to pay attention to him.
Hidan had joined the Akatsuki not long ago and hadn't been assigned a partner yet, so he had missed the trip to Konoha.
"You want to know?" Deidara instantly perked up, hooking a finger at Hidan with a mischievous grin. "Come here, I'll tell you."
He leaned in close to the immortal cultist, and the two of them squatted there, muttering incessantly. Their whispered conversation was peppered with terms like 'Low-level Art', 'Mid-level Art', and 'Ultimate Art'.
These two were the type to feed off each other's manic energy, their moods came on quickly and vanished just as fast.
Before long, several figures gradually appeared in the cavern. It was Pain, accompanied by Konan.
"It appears everyone has arrived," Pain said as he surveyed the group, his voice plain yet commanding.
Deidara and Hidan immediately wiped the grins off their faces. They stood solemnly beside their respective partners, acting as if they were taking things seriously.
"Before the assembly begins, I have an announcement," Pain's authoritative voice echoed through the limestone cave. "Because Itachi went to Konoha without authorization, he has been slain by his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha."
"This is his Ring."
As he spoke, Pain opened his hand, revealing a Ring lying quietly in his palm.
The news drew varied expressions from the Akatsuki members. Some looked shocked, some appeared to have anticipated it, and others remained indifferent. Among them, Deidara had the strongest reaction.
It wasn't because he had the best relationship with Itachi, but because he craved revenge. He had been ruthlessly humiliated by Itachi's Genjutsu in the past, and he had been biding his time, looking for an opportunity to use his 'Art' to teach Itachi a lesson and redeem himself.
However, one thing remained consistent: Itachi's strength was unanimously acknowledged by the Akatsuki. His fierce battle record, nearly instant-defeat Orochimaru in a head-on confrontation, forced them to admit his power.
"What a pity," Kisame's unique voice rasped slowly. Although he had known this news early on, he felt a pang of regret every time he thought of his partner.
'Itachi-san... I initially wanted to witness that true world with you.'
'Unfortunately, you won't be able to see it.'
"Leader, are we going to avenge Itachi?" Deidara was the first to speak up. Even though he didn't like the Uchiha, Itachi was still a member of the Akatsuki. They could bully their own internally, but outsiders absolutely could not touch them. "If we're going to settle the score with that Sasuke, count me in."
However, the answer he received was blunt.
"No," Pain rejected the idea flatly. "That man did not join the organization sincerely, nor did he identify with our ideals. His true identity was a spy from Konoha."
"Is that so?" Deidara nodded, saying nothing more.
If Itachi was a traitor, then there was no need for revenge.
However, he secretly committed the name Sasuke Uchiha to memory. If the chance arose, he would show this Sasuke his 'Art'.
'A son pays his father's debts, so a brother pays for his brother's karma.' That was only fair, right?
"A spy from Konoha killed by a Konoha ninja. How amusing," Hidan scoffed.
"That is quite normal," Kakuzu interjected, his voice irritated by Hidan's flippancy. "Ninja villages aren't always united. Only an idiot brat like you would find that strange."
"Bastard, you want to fight?"
"It looks like I'll have to claim a bounty again." Kakuzu pulled a bingo book from his pocket, licked his finger, and flipped through the pages. He found the column with Hidan's name and shook his head. "Your bounty is only down to 5 million ryo. What a pity."
"After all, this is already the fifth time this month."
"Are you looking down on me?" Hidan was furious. He held up three fingers. "Three days. Do you believe I can pump the bounty back up to fifteen million ryo in just three days?"
After all, recent and frequent threats are given higher bounties. But someone is inactive for awhile or doesn't make any big scenes, then Daimyo's, Nobles and Villages use that money for something else.
Kakuzu didn't look up. "Is that so? I'll wait and see."
"Enough. The topic of Itachi Uchiha ends here." Even though Pain was just a puppet, Nagato, the main body controlling him, was starting to get a headache. His members were strong, certainly, but their brains were not their best feature.
"Now, let us move on to the first main topic of this assembly."
"Is it finally time?" Deidara looked eager to try something out. The two mouths on his palms stuck out their tongues, drooling with excitement. "Where are we going to play this time? I've recently developed a new 'Art'. I call it 'Number 18'."
"Deidara, we are not going on a field trip," Konan glared at him. "Listen to Pain seriously and don't interrupt casually."
This noisy behavior was just like a child's. In fact, Deidara was currently only a little over fifteen years old. Combined with his flighty personality, he really was just a kid.
"Yes, yes, Konan-san," Deidara straightened his posture immediately.
This was the lady that even Sasori didn't dare to provoke. As soon as the Discipline Committee Member spoke, the whole room went instantly silent, she was more effective than the Leader.
Pain nodded and continued. "By right, the organization should have a total of ten official members. Among them, Orochimaru betrayed the organization, and Itachi was recently taken out. Currently, couple rings are vacant. Therefore, I have recruited a few new members." Pain's words caught the attention of the entire Akatsuki.
"Fresh blood injected again?" Kakuzu pulled out his bingo book once more. "I wonder how much they are worth."
Deidara chimed in, "Recruited personally by the Leader? Their strength must be impressive."
Sasori asked. "Was Orochimaru's Ring retrieved?"
"I have a suggestion."
An abrupt voice rang out, startling everyone present. Without them noticing, there was now an extra person, no, two... no, three people standing there.
"Can we switch to a brighter location in the future?"
The owner of the voice gradually revealed his form. The first thing that caught the eye was a striking shock of blond hair.
He spread his hands and continued, "Meeting in a pitch-black place like this... it makes me feel like we're a villain organization. Not to mention we could get illnesses like rheumatism. I know someone who got a serious case of it. He lost his eye and arm. Cannot even walk without a crutch."
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