"Pain, do you have a candidate for the next official member?"
Located in the Land of Rain, the Hidden Rain Village, situated in the center of the three great nations of Fire, Earth, and Wind.
In an iron tower that symbolized the pinnacle of the ninja village's power, equivalent to Konoha's Hokage Building.
Obito, wearing a new mask, walked to the deputy's seat and asked Deva Path Pain, who was seated in the main seat.
Nowadays, Hanzō of the Salamander is dead. Pain is the leader, proclaiming himself "God."
Konan, as his deputy, is revered by the villagers of the Hidden Rain as an "Angel."
The two jointly govern the Hidden Rain Village, bringing the entire village into a period of oppression yet peace.
Before Pain could speak, Konan, sitting opposite Obito, spoke slowly:
"Sasori of the Red Sand, formerly of the Hidden Sand Village and known as the 'Genius Puppeteer,' destroyed a village a week ago to test the power of his new puppets. This is enough to prove his strength."
Obito nodded.
He had heard of this person.
At this time, Pain, in the main seat, finally spoke:
"The task of recruiting Sasori will be handled by Konan. But even with Sasori, we only have four official members. The efficiency is too low."
In order to capture the nine Tailed Beasts, the Akatsuki's plan requires at least ten official members.
Currently, the official members are only Pain, Konan, and Kakuzu.
Even with Sasori, that's only four.
Such efficiency made Pain quite dissatisfied.
"Don't be anxious. The power of the Tailed Beasts is beyond imagination. We need to recruit more powerful members as much as possible, otherwise it will only hinder the plan."
Obito's apparent selflessness was, in fact, part of his own little scheme.
Although Madara had entrusted the "Eye of the Moon Plan" to Obito and told him to control Nagato at the right time to use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to revive him.
Obito never intended to revive Madara.
The Eye of the Moon Plan would be executed, but it didn't have to rely on Madara.
What Obito needed to do now was to accumulate his own power and complete the Eye of the Moon Plan himself.
Therefore, he also needed time.
Hearing "Madara" say this, Deva Path Pain also calmed down, but he asked a question:
"Is there no suitable candidate from the Hidden Mist Village?"
Pain and Konan both knew that the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village, Karatachi Yagura, was controlled by this man before them.
They were present when he controlled Karatachi Yagura.
Only after confirming the powerful ocular power this man possessed did the two of them become completely certain that this masked man was the legendary "Uchiha Madara."
"There are indeed a few, but their strength is somewhat lacking. But it's fine to use them temporarily."
Several figures of Jōnin-level and above masters from the Hidden Mist flashed through Obito's mind. A few seconds later, another figure, engulfed in flames with Mangekyō triangular windmills flickering in its eyes, broke into his mind.
After a fierce jump in his heart, Obito crossed his arms over his chest and said again:
"That's all for today's meeting. If anything comes up, I will notify you again."
After speaking, Obito's body became intangible again and vanished without a trace.
If it were a head-on battle, Obito was honestly no match for Nagato.
But as long as the opponent did not figure out the principle of Obito's Kamui, he was, to a certain extent, invincible.
This was also the reason why Nagato, although he had never truly witnessed Obito's strength, allowed him to be a core member of the Akatsuki.
...
...
The entire Hidden Rain Village was under the surveillance of Nagato's Raining Tiger at Will Technique.
Obito's Kamui, however, could accurately find a location that the rain could not cover.
"How has that guy Mingyue been lately?"
Standing under the eaves of an empty post station, Obito asked coldly.
From the ground next to him, a pitcher plant slowly emerged. Black Zetsu, as always, spoke in that gender-neutral, low tone:
"Unexpectedly quiet. For over a month, he has basically stayed in the Kaguya estate without going out."
White Zetsu said with a grin: "My clone and he are getting along well, no need to worry."
"A man who dares to kill the Hokage's son and daughter-in-law and steal the Scroll of Seals while the Nine-Tails is rampaging will absolutely not remain silent forever. White Zetsu, do not let your guard down."
Obito glanced coldly at the unreliable White Zetsu through the eye hole of his mask.
To Obito, Mingyue, this guy who knew his true identity, was a thorn in his side.
If it couldn't be pulled out, it would remain stuck in his heart, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
"There's no need to worry so much, right? Obito. Although he knows your true identity, don't you also hold his weakness?"
White Zetsu comforted him:
"Under such circumstances, he wouldn't dare to act rashly either."
"Hmph, that's not for sure."
Obito said coldly: "If there is even the slightest possibility of threatening the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan, I must eliminate it. Find a suitable opportunity, and I will definitely kill him."
Obito's figure disappeared again in the distorted space of Kamui.
White Zetsu joked: "Killing a classmate after killing a teacher? You're becoming more and more like Madara, that guy Obito~"
Black Zetsu remained silent.
He didn't care about the dispute between Mingyue and Obito.
But if it jeopardized the progress of the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan, this old schemer could not sit idly by.