Amegakure.
Inside a certain tower base.
Deva Path Pain, Tobi, Konan, Zetsu, Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori of the Red Sand, Kakuzu, Hidan, and the recently joined Akatsuki's Seiryu, Deidara, all ten members of the Akatsuki were gathered together. The leader of the Akatsuki began to explain the next course of action and the ultimate goal to each member.
"I am grateful that all of you can attend this meeting in person today. Next, I would like to discuss the future of the Akatsuki with everyone..."
"No one wants to hear about the future. I have no intention of considering everything for the sake of the Akatsuki. I have my own ideas, and my own goals..."
Deva Path Pain's speech had just started when the unruly Hidan was the first to jump out and disrupt it.
"Your goal should be to spread the teachings of the Jashin Cult, right? Wanting to acquire enough living human sacrifices to offer to Jashin is not impossible. But the premise is that the Akatsuki must have a future. Only then can the Akatsuki, in turn, help you achieve your goal."
Deva Path Pain looked at Hidan and spoke calmly. He was not angered by the other's defiance.
Hearing this, a thoughtful look appeared in Hidan's eyes, and he did not continue his insolence.
"From your tone, it seems the future of the Akatsuki is very uncertain..." Uchiha Itachi spoke expressionlessly.
"Uncertain is not the right word, but it is true that there is great unpredictability. Because a great mountain lies before us. We need to remove this mountain first. Only then can the Akatsuki have a future to speak of..."
Deva Path Pain responded with a serious expression.
"Everyone should know why the Akatsuki collects the Tailed Beasts. Our ultimate goal is to use the nine Tailed Beasts to create an 'Ultimate Weapon'. Then, using this 'Ultimate Weapon', we will conquer the Five Great Nations and subsequently control the entire Ninja World..."
"Tailed Beasts... weapon... You must be referring to using Tailed Beast Bombs for bombardment, right? Just like what Uchiha Ryun did to the Land of Earth back then..." Deidara instinctively spoke out.
As a person from the Land of Earth, he had some understanding of the country's modern history. When he heard Deva Path Pain's goal, Deidara immediately thought of that incident.
"Correct. However, the power of the 'Ultimate Weapon' we are creating is one hundred times stronger than an ordinary Tailed Beast Bomb. Uchiha Ryun was able to suppress the Five Great Shinobi Nations with his personal martial prowess and four Tailed Beasts. Our Akatsuki can do the same, and we will do even better than him!" Deva Path Pain stated confidently.
"So the 'mountain' you mentioned earlier should refer to Uchiha Ryun, right? From what I know, he controls five Tailed Beasts..." Uchiha Itachi's voice sounded again.
Everyone's expressions turned grave upon hearing this. Their gazes converged back on Deva Path Pain.
"Yes. The reason I have asked all of you to come to Amegakure for this meeting is precisely to join forces and deal with that biggest problem..." After Deva Path Pain finished speaking, most of the members below fell into silence.
"That is the Illusory Sun Dragon God. Are you planning to slay a god..." Sasori of the Red Sand asked with a serious expression.
"God? That kind of title can only scare ordinary people. Who among us here truly fears Uchiha Ryun?" Masked Tobi spoke lightly.
"Exactly! Slay a god then slay a god! The Akatsuki needs exactly this kind of courage and ambition to slay gods. This damn place wasn't a wasted trip after all. I can't wait any longer to let that so-called Dragon God experience my great art!"
Deidara's face was full of excitement at this moment.
"Hmph, a little brat like you? Someone who was subdued by a single glance from the Sharingan, where do you get the confidence to boast like that? Uchiha Ryun possesses the Sharingan. Someone like you would probably be finished with just one glare from him..."
Sasori of the Red Sand mercilessly criticized him. He had seen how Uchiha Itachi subdued Deidara. It really was a matter of a single glance...
"Bastard! Looking down on me, huh? Sharingan, huh? I've already thought of a way to counter the Sharingan's genjutsu! Just you all wait and see!" Deidara slammed the table, his face furious, his gaze toward Uchiha Itachi also containing a terrifying killing intent.
"Hmph, you look like you'll die young."
Kakuzu's cold snort sounded at the right moment. Hearing this, Deidara's face turned red, and he almost erupted on the spot.
These two underlings of Ryun within the Akatsuki were mainly there to stir up trouble. Deidara was not currently part of their faction, so bullying this junior not only carried no psychological burden for them, but they also found it quite amusing, especially since this kid was too arrogant...
"Do not cause internal strife on such an occasion."
Deva Path Pain issued a stern warning.
"This is merely a senior advising a junior. After all, how sinister Uchiha Ryun's eyes are, everyone should have heard something about. When I said he could be finished with one glance, I absolutely did not exaggerate or belittle him. If you think I'm causing internal strife, then there's nothing I can do about it..."
Sasori of the Red Sand's voice was somewhat cold, and the atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became tense.
Hearing Sasori's retort, Deva Path Pain felt his authority had been challenged and was somewhat displeased, but he had no reason to lose his temper.
"Sasori's words may be unpleasant to hear, but they are indeed meant as a warning. Uchiha Ryun's eyes are most likely a pair of genjutsu eyes. In terms of pupil power, he is absolutely the most terrifying. To fight him, one must not look into his eyes. Otherwise, everyone might not even know how they died..." Uchiha Itachi expressed his opinion with a serious expression.
On matters concerning the Sharingan, his words carried the most authority and persuasiveness.
"Mr. Itachi, you also have the Mangekyo Sharingan, right? If it's you, you should be able to look directly at him, correct?" Kisame Hoshigaki politely asked this question.
"Itachi and he both possess the Mangekyo Sharingan. If they really fought, who would win is not certain..." Black Zetsu now began placing a high hat on Itachi.
"If it's just a matter of meeting gazes, it should be fine... Although I am very reluctant to admit it, based on my understanding of him over the years, that guy's eyes are definitely more powerful than mine..."
Uchiha Itachi said something that shocked everyone.
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