"Alright then, Tobi, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki Yagura is your responsibility."
Pain gave Tobi a meaningful look before continuing:
"According to our intel, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki Roshi, although he left Iwagakure, still seems to be wandering within the Land of Earth..."
"Kisame, Itachi, you two are responsible for bringing him back."
Kisame Hoshigaki: "Understood, leader."
Uchiha Itachi didn't say anything, just gave a slight nod.
Pain: "As for the Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han from Iwagakure, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata from the Land of Water, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki Fuu from Takigakure, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Naruto from Konoha, the son of the Fourth Hokage... I will handle them myself with the Six Paths of Pain."
"Huh?" Deidara got annoyed upon hearing this and complained: "Leader, aren't you being too greedy? Taking on four Jinchuriki yourself, that's not fair! Hm!"
Pain, expressionless, replied: "There is no fairness or unfairness. I only know that if I take action, success is guaranteed. I don't intend to steal your prey, just to collect all the tailed beasts as quickly as possible."
Hearing this, Hidan mocked with a cold laugh: "Hmph, that's four Jinchuriki. Can you really manage that? Leader, don't overdo it. Be careful not to screw up~"
Since joining Akatsuki, Hidan only knew Pain as the leader with mysterious eyes, but he had never witnessed Pain's true strength.
Ignoring Hidan's mockery, Pain nonchalantly said:
"Alright, according to the plan, disperse!"
Just as everyone was about to leave, Uchiha Itachi's voice suddenly came through: "Wait a moment, leader."
"?"
Everyone paused and simultaneously looked at Uchiha Itachi. It was rare for him to speak up, and the members were curious about what he wanted to say.
Pain: "Is there something, Itachi?"
Uchiha Itachi raised his head slightly, his Sharingan glowing faintly in the darkness: "Can you assign the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki from Konoha to me and Kisame?"
"...Why?" Pain asked after a brief silence.
Uchiha Itachi: "Among the Five Great Nations, Konoha is the strongest. Capturing the Nine-Tails by force will inevitably lead to strong resistance from Konoha. I have a way to capture the Nine-Tails silently."
Deidara smirked: "Heh, Itachi, are you that confident? Why should we believe you? Hm?"
Uchiha Itachi: "Because of these eyes that can see through everything. I think you understand."
"You!" Deidara's face turned red with anger, just about to retort when Pain suddenly raised his hand to interrupt:
"Alright, Itachi, the Nine-Tails is yours. Three days should be enough for you..."
Hearing "three days," Uchiha Itachi frowned: "Three days? That's a bit short..."
"I trust you, Itachi! You can do it," Pain's Rinnegan met Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan: "It's decided. Disperse!"
Land of Wind, around Sunagakure.
Deidara and Sasori were walking in the desert, moving slowly.
Deidara: "Brother Sasori, let's discuss something. Let me handle the capture of the One-Tails Jinchuriki. You can just watch from the side."
Sasori responded coldly: "Hmph, I've already said, I don't mind adding a Kazekage to my collection. The One-Tail doesn't matter to me. My target is the Fourth Kazekage!"