The members of the Akatsuki were puzzled as they watched the unmoving leader, Pain, and Shinji, who stood before him with a smirk.
"What are they doing? They've been staring at each other for two minutes now."
"Why hasn't the leader made a move? He's been standing still since this started. Are they dueling with their eyes?"
Of course, except for Nagato in the Land of Rain, no one knew how brutal this mental battle was!
It was a completely one-sided fight!
The opponent's mind easily followed the path of the Deva Path, engaging in a mental battle with Nagato from afar!
Under the endless darkness and evil of the opponent, Nagato was convinced that he would be completely defeated in a matter of minutes! He had no strength to resist!
Truly, the evil of this world, terrifying as ever!
However, Nagato did not give up.
Even if he were to lose in the mental battle, he would still fight back with all his might!
But just as Nagato was about to make a desperate effort, the endless darkness like the ocean inexplicably retreated.
As the overwhelming mental pressure disappeared, Nagato lowered his head and gasped for air...
"What terrifying mental pressure, even with my Rinnegan, I'm no match for him..."
...
After about three minutes of this stalemate, Shinji voluntarily withdrew his mental power and said with a smile, "Relax, I said I haven't made a final decision yet..."
Before he could finish, Shinji suddenly seemed to notice something, blinking involuntarily and then glancing at Sasori and Tobi.
"Unbelievable... hahaha... I didn't expect this. It's not just one puppet, nor just one doll! A coincidental puppet show? Hahaha... hmm! Hmm! Very interesting! I find this very interesting!"
As Shinji laughed uncontrollably, holding his forehead, everyone except for Tobi, who was glanced at, and Konan and Minato, who caught the word "puppet show," were baffled.
"Is this guy crazy?"
However, Tobi felt a surge of panic. That glance from Shinji made Tobi feel completely seen through!
Especially the mention of puppets and dolls, implying that Nagato was his puppet! And it wasn't just about Sasori, but also Nagato!
Minato, who also realized this, had suspected from the moment he joined the organization that the leader was being used by the masked man. Shinji's words further confirmed his suspicion!
Konan, upon hearing this, couldn't help but grow more suspicious of Madara.
In truth, Konan had never fully trusted the masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara. Her trust was solely in Nagato.
The encounter in the last mission had increased Konan's doubts about Madara, though she never showed it and silently gathered evidence in secret.
So, hearing Shinji's words, her suspicions grew. Of course, Konan wouldn't foolishly ask about it in this situation.
Such matters should be inquired about privately.
"That's enough! Angolmanue! What's your answer? Will you join our organization, or..."
"Well, joining an organization to take orders isn't really my thing, but I wouldn't mind playing along."
After a pause, Shinji turned to Minato and continued, "Little Minato has decent skills, barely enough to fight a Kage-level opponent. You guys can work with him. I'm only interested in your endgame."
"Me?" Minato was taken aback. How did he get involved in this? And what did he mean by barely fighting a Kage-level opponent? He was the Fourth Hokage!
Shinji walked over and patted Minato on the shoulder.
"It's an order."
Seeing Shinji's smiling eyes, Minato finally gave up resisting. After all, he owed Shinji two bets, so he'd consider this as repaying one.
"Instead of joining, let's call it cooperation," Orochimaru chimed in opportunely.
"Well, since you can't command me anyway, this arrangement will do. However, if evil, greed, ambition, or purpose changes one day, I will personally end this organization and your lives."
"Hmph, don't say foolish things. The Akatsuki will not change, and neither will its goals," the revived Deva Path said.
"In any case, don't say I didn't warn you. Now, the next matter is..."
Shinji turned and walked towards an elderly man who seemed displeased with his performance.
"...a personal vendetta."
As the blue-haired young man with a smile approached him step by step, Kakuzu was puzzled. Why was this imposing young man coming for him?
A personal vendetta? He had never met him before!
"More than a year ago, on the southern coast of the Land of Hot Water, at an unmanned self-service hot spring inn near the border, there was a murder case. Do you remember, kid?"
"Kid?"
Kakuzu was enraged by this word and laughed furiously, "Where did this brat come from to speak such big words in front of me? Even if you're a newbie, I will..."
Before he could finish, one of Kakuzu's hearts was pierced by a sword shadow as if slicing through tofu. Enraged even further, Kakuzu cursed Shinji for attacking him without honor!
Then, his second heart was also pierced by the sword shadow! Feeling threatened, Kakuzu changed his tune, saying that if Shinji apologized now, he would mercifully spare him.
The third heart was predictably pierced. Kakuzu warned that his patience with newcomers was limited, and if this continued, he would definitely fight back!
When the fourth heart was simultaneously pierced by several sword shadows, Kakuzu began to berate Shinji for not respecting his seniors and for acting rudely even with the leader present!
Seeing Kakuzu inching closer to the Deva Path, Shinji showed no intention of stopping. He pulled out the King's Sword he had been keeping in his pocket for show.
"This last life, I'll take it myself."
As Shinji approached step by step, Kakuzu was in a complete panic. Who could have imagined this young man could so easily take down his four hearts?
"Don't go too far! I'm only sparing you because the leader is here!"
Seeing Kakuzu inching closer to him, the leader of the Akatsuki, realizing it was time, raised his hand and said, "That's enough, Angolmanue. We should be allies now."
"Sorry, but I said this is a personal vendetta."
Hiding behind the Deva Path, Kakuzu angrily said, "Don't go too far! I've never met you! I did kill someone at that hot spring inn in the Land of Hot Water, but those two people had nothing to do with you, right?"
"Indeed, they didn't. But...the inn was mine."
"Are you saying those ridiculous rules at the inn were set by you?"
"Yes, are you ready to die, kid?"
Seeing Shinji about to step forward, Kakuzu was in complete panic, not expecting such a terrifying person behind that broken inn!
"There's no need for regret or apology. There's no such chance with me. And your regret now isn't because you broke the inn's rules, but because you didn't know the inn's owner was me. If it were someone weaker than you, you wouldn't regret it now..."
Seeing Shinji not stopping, Kakuzu, in a moment of desperation, pointed at Konan and said to the Deva Path, "Leader, it's not entirely my fault! It was Angel who gave me the task of collecting funds, which is why I chased the bounty target into that inn! Without such a task, I wouldn't have entered that inn!"
In short, Kakuzu's point was that everything he did was for the organization! So he shouldn't bear the blame alone!
This isn't fair!
"Wait!"
Just as Shinji's sword was about to be raised, the Deva Path raised his hand again to stop him, saying, "Angolmanue, give me some face. Let's end this here. Also, although I don't know what happened, if you did something wrong, apologize, Kakuzu."
"I already said it was Angel who..."
"Kakuzu! Apologize!"
A certain grievance filled Kakuzu's heart instantly.
He had been working tirelessly for the organization, collecting funds without delay, but now he had to take all the blame alone? Wasn't this unfair to an innocent centenarian?
Maybe because she couldn't stand it, Konan stepped forward and apologized to Shinji, "I'm sorry, I think part of this might be my fault. I apologize. Can we end this matter here?"
Seeing Konan standing with the leader to protect him, Kakuzu felt a warmth in his heart, realizing there was still some warmth in the Akatsuki!
Seeing Konan and the Deva Path before him, and feeling that he had shown off enough, Shinji finally relented, putting away the King's Sword.
"Well, I'll spare him this time, but he must compensate for the damages. Not much, just one billion."
Hearing this, Kakuzu sighed in relief. Though a billion was painful, it was worth it to save his life.
"You've got a reprieve, Kakuzu..."
Orochimaru spoke again, showing his presence.
"Do you want to be killed, you damn snake!"
"Such words aren't fitting for someone who was almost killed, Kakuzu..."
"You bastard...!"
Just as Kakuzu was getting furious again from Orochimaru's taunts, he suddenly heard Shinji's light words...
"By the way, isn't this organization supposed to operate in pairs? I want to team up with this guy."
Seeing Shinji pointing at him with a smile, Kakuzu, who had just escaped death, fell silent again.
This guy still wants to kill me!