"I need an explanation from you."
Hearing Tendo Pain's words,
Uchiha Obito pursed his lips, feeling bitter inside.
The Akatsuki was a product of his collaboration with Nagato.
Nagato operated in the open, while he worked from the shadows.
Among the Akatsuki members, only a few like Itachi and Kisame knew of his existence.
However,
Due to Mei Terumi's deliberate guidance, the Five Great Shinobi Villages now knew of his existence and believed that the Birth of the Trees was his doing.
This was because the Mist Village high officials firmly believed it.
Unexpectedly, Mei Terumi managed to deceive even her own people, making the other villages naturally believe it as well.
Under such circumstances, the attention of other villages shifted towards the organization behind the masked man.
They also knew that the organization's target was the Jinchuriki.
After learning that someone in the organization could use the Birth of the Trees,
the villages with Jinchuriki had to be cautious and started sending investigators to probe this mysterious organization.
This led to the Akatsuki, which had been lurking in the shadows, being detected prematurely by the Five Great Shinobi Villages and receiving focused attention.
This also made Akatsuki's actions across the shinobi world increasingly difficult.
The Akatsuki wasn't just about core members like Kakuzu and Kisame.
It also included many second and third-tier peripheral members who were vital sources of intelligence for the organization.
These members were now being targeted by the Five Great Shinobi Villages because of Obito's failure.
"It wasn't me who used the Birth of the Trees."
"This is a false accusation!"
Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth in anger.
Due to Mei Terumi's actions, not only were the Five Great Shinobi Villages paying attention to the Akatsuki,
but even Nagato began to doubt and be wary of him.
This made Uchiha Obito feel extremely frustrated.
"To capture the Three-Tails, I sent Kakuzu to assist you."
"However, your actions not only led to the Three-Tails losing control,"
"but also prematurely exposed the Akatsuki's existence to the Five Great Shinobi Villages, making future actions extremely difficult."
"What do you have to say about this?"
Konan stepped forward, staring coldly at Obito.
"I..."
Uchiha Obito opened his mouth but found no words to defend himself.
Because what Konan said was mostly true.
The Akatsuki was still in the process of raising funds and recruiting combat personnel.
It wasn't time to be exposed yet.
"Kisame is seriously injured and crippled. What do you plan to do about that?"
Seeing that Obito was speechless, Konan pressed further.
"Don't worry, I'll heal him."
Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth.
"That's for the best."
Konan narrowed her eyes and stepped back behind Tendo Pain, having obtained the information she wanted.
"Since you've been exposed, you will officially join the Akatsuki from now on."
Tendo Pain spoke again after Konan finished.
He had no objections to Konan taking the lead because her decisions were his decisions.
"I understand."
Uchiha Obito nodded.
Since he had been exposed, there was no other choice.
"Tonight at 7 PM."
"Prepare for a meeting!"
Tendo Pain finished speaking and turned his gaze to the crowd below the tower.
Uchiha Obito nodded and entered the Kamui space, leaving the area.
At night, precisely at 7 PM.
In a massive cave,
ten ghostly figures appeared on the fingers of the Gedo Statue.
"He is the new member."
Tendo Pain spoke first.
"Hello everyone, you can call me Tobi."
Under Obito's guidance, Spiral Zetsu greeted enthusiastically.
"Welcome, welcome."
The white half of Black Zetsu clapped happily, playing his role as the enthusiastic greeter.
Uchiha Itachi glanced at Obito, his eyes narrowing.
Monitoring this person who called himself 'Uchiha Madara' was one of Itachi's main reasons for joining the Akatsuki.
Due to the failure of the mission in the Mist Village and the exposure of his identity,
he was now officially joining the Akatsuki?
After some thought, Itachi guessed the reason for Obito's appearance.
"Where's Kisame?"
"Is he dead?"
Kakuzu, noticing Kisame's absence, looked at Obito with schadenfreude.
He had been sent by Konan to help capture the Three-Tails, so he knew about Tobi's identity in advance.
Present were Pain, Tobi, Itachi, Juzo Biwa, Sasori, Black Zetsu, and him.
Apart from Konan, who was usually absent, Kisame was missing.
"Don't worry, he'll appear next time."
Pain glanced at Kakuzu and continued:
"The Five Great Shinobi Villages are now aware of our organization."
"From now on, we must act cautiously and avoid direct confrontation with them."
"Currently, our main tasks are to recruit combat personnel and raise funds."
"Understood?"
Pain looked around after speaking.
Due to the continuous failures in capturing the Three-Tails, Pain decided to expand the core members of the Akatsuki from ten to twenty.
"Yes."
The Akatsuki members responded in unison.
Seeing everyone nodding, Tendo Pain spoke again.
"Now, report on your mission status."
"Starting with Sasori..."
"..."
After everyone had reported,
Tendo Pain looked at Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu understood and projected a photo in front of the Akatsuki members.
A tall man with a full beard.
It was Shishou in disguise.
Black Zetsu addressed the group:
"This person possesses deadly poison and toxic insects. He can also use the Flying Thunder God Technique and Wood Release, and has a giant insect summon. His overall strength is formidable."
"The failure to capture the Three-Tails was due to his interference."
Flying Thunder God and Wood Release!
Hearing Black Zetsu's introduction, both Uchiha Itachi and Juzo Biwa were shocked.
Deadly poison?
Even Sasori, who had remained silent after his report, finally reacted.
The First Hokage's Wood Release and the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique.
Possessing either one would be enough to dominate the shinobi world, but someone having both?
Juzo Biwa was deeply shocked, thinking he should stay far away from this person next time.
If Shishou saw that Juzo Biwa was still alive, he would lament the 'butterfly effect.'
In the original timeline, Juzo Biwa died blocking a Tailed Beast Bomb with his executioner's blade during the Three-Tails incident.
But in this world, due to the butterfly effect caused by Shishou, Juzo Biwa had been chasing Orochimaru with Itachi and was still alive.
Flying Thunder God and Wood Release.
This person is definitely related to Konoha. I need to find out more about him.
Uchiha Itachi remained expressionless but made a decision.
If I could make him into a human puppet...
My precious collection would grow by another piece.
Sasori looked at Shishou's photo with some greed.
After Black Zetsu finished the introduction, Tendo Pain continued:
"If any of you obtain information about this person, do not act rashly."
"His strength far exceeds yours, and even in pairs, you won't be his match."
"Find his location and inform Konan and me to personally recruit him."
Hearing this, apart from Obito, Kakuzu, and Black Zetsu, who had faced Shishou, everyone else was surprised.
They didn't expect the Akatsuki leader to plan to act personally.
Could this person's strength really be that formidable?
Sasori thought with some displeasure.