"Oh, the plan sounds good."
After listening to Pain's explanation, Itachi responded blandly with a disinterested tone.
"Don't you think this plan has a lot of feasibility?"
Hearing Itachi's indifferent words and observing his perfunctory expression, Pain grew displeased.
This Blood Moon guy seems really annoying...
"Yeah, the feasibility is indeed good. The plan is also very well thought out."
Noticing Pain's tone rising slightly, Itachi remained expressionless as he gave a half-hearted compliment.
Pain stared at Itachi deeply. This Blood Moon guy seemed like another unreliable one—not someone who shared their vision.
---
"So, are you willing to join our organization?"
By now, Pain's interest in Itachi had waned significantly.
Perhaps this was one of those moments where the conversation was just too out of sync...
Konan quietly observed from beside Pain, saying nothing.
"What does joining your organization entail, and what role would I have?"
Itachi asked indifferently, his interest in the Akatsuki organization having diminished.
He had changed...
Initially, his plan to infiltrate the Akatsuki was merely a means to sabotage Obito.
But plans often couldn't keep up with changes—Kakashi had stepped into the fray.
Now, he and Obito no longer seemed like they were even in the same league.
Someone like Obito could just be left to Kakashi; there was no reason for a "boss" like him to personally take action.
After all, the king rules over the pawns; a leader assigns tasks to their subordinates.
That was Itachi's current mindset. He had changed, yet he hadn't. Deep down, he was still that simple, straightforward youth...
But he had also evolved.
Once Kakashi successfully transplanted Hashirama's cells, Itachi knew he had to prepare to evolve his Sharingan into the Rinnegan.
He no longer had the patience to mingle with these early-stage players.
That's right—the crux of it was that he had grown stronger. His vision had expanded, his goals elevated to a whole new level.
---
"Joining our organization means you'll perform tasks regularly to earn money for sustaining the group. You'll also gather intelligence on the nine-tailed beasts, all in preparation for our ultimate plan."
"As for you, you'll start as a provisional member. This year, our active roster is full. If anyone dies, that'll be your opportunity to step up. The tasks for provisional and official members are essentially the same—everything is done in pursuit of our ultimate goal."
Pain's explanation left Itachi with a peculiar look in his eyes.
Such words could bring Wall Street capitalists to tears.
Not only did they pay wages, but they also expected their members to work hard to make money for the organization.
Of course, what truly puzzled Itachi wasn't that part—Obito hadn't dared to phrase things like this when recruiting him.
What perplexed him was the absurdity of being brought in with such fanfare, only to be assigned a provisional member status. Was this a joke?
---
"Your organization's tasks mostly involve bounty hunting and taking jobs from other villages, right?"
Itachi asked, his tone laced with curiosity as he observed Pain.
"Yes, it seems you're quite familiar with us," Pain replied with a nod.
"Then why should I, as a bounty hunter who gets to keep all the money I earn, join your organization where I'd risk my life for you, only to hand over everything I make? Don't you think your pitch is a bit ridiculous?"
Itachi's tone carried a tinge of sarcasm as he addressed Pain.
Unless he was out of his mind, he couldn't possibly fail to see the imbalance here.
The same lifestyle—one where he keeps everything he earns versus one where he hands it all over. Why would he choose the latter?
"If you have so many questions, are you joining or not?"
Konan's cold tone interrupted the silence.
---
"What happens if I don't join?"
Itachi asked playfully, clearly unimpressed by Konan's attitude.
Pain, meanwhile, was still mulling over Itachi's words.
He realized that Itachi had a point.
Originally, bounty hunters kept everything they earned.
Joining the organization offered no tangible benefits. Instead, members were treated as underlings, forced to hand over their earnings.
Worse still, the Akatsuki members weren't just underlings—they were also disposable pawns.
Facing powerful Jinchuriki, anyone with mediocre abilities would just be cannon fodder.
Pain finally grasped the reality: Itachi wasn't a rogue ninja on the run, seeking refuge. He wasn't desperate for a safe haven.
Moreover, Pain knew that joining the Akatsuki meant more than being a subordinate—it often meant becoming a sacrificial pawn.
What Pain needed were those who sought peace or rogue ninjas.
---
Instead of being someone who's used to freedom and keeps their head tied to their belt.
...
"The Akatsuki isn't a place where you can come and go as you please."
Before Pain could respond, Konan shot a cold glance at Itachi and spoke.
She was utterly fed up with this Blood Moon.
From the very beginning, his attitude had been irritating—acting like a flirt, asking all sorts of questions. Now he was still behaving like this, dragging things out endlessly.
Were the two of them here to entertain him or what?
"Oh? So you're saying you're forcing people to join now?"
As Konan's words revealed her true intentions, Itachi's expression grew indifferent.
He was already calculating whether he could leave Akatsuki unscathed if a fight broke out right now.
Indeed, even with his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, he hadn't entertained the idea of defeating the Rinnegan—not even a non-original one.
...
"Enough, Konan. Let him go. If our paths are different, there's no need to force them to align. Since our dreams don't match, let's not push this."
Unlike the furious Konan, Pain spoke magnanimously.
It almost felt like they were playing good cop, bad cop.
But Pain thought differently from Konan. Forced alliances are meaningless. Even if they coerced Blood Moon into joining today, what would it accomplish? He'd just find an excuse during a mission to slip away. After all, the sky's the limit for a bird in flight.
And if a fight broke out here, wouldn't it damage his office?
As a leader, he needed to set an example—leading with frugality and honor.
Yes, Pain and Konan weren't on the same wavelength.
Pain already knew this negotiation had failed. Their persuasion tactics and operational approach had clear flaws.
As for Blood Moon, letting him walk didn't mean they wouldn't kill him later.
After all, he already knew their plans and had wasted so much of their time. They'd have to claim his 30-million bounty to make up for it.
"But!"
Hearing Pain's words, Konan was furious.
Blood Moon refusing to join the Akatsuki felt like a slap in her face.
She thought about how, during his first mission, Itachi had already caused trouble.
When they finally had a second mission, Blood Moon ghosted them—for almost a year!
Now he finally showed up, but he was nothing like the image she'd described to Pain.
This made her feel restless and incompetent, as if her abilities had fallen short.
And now, not only had he shredded the intelligence she painstakingly gathered, but he'd also humiliated her. He was about to just walk out, leaving her trampled on and disgraced.
Konan had never felt so humiliated in her life, which only fueled her rage.
At first, she had a good impression of Blood Moon because he helped her stall Jiraiya. She even said good things about him to Pain. But now, looking back, it felt like she had been played and mocked.
Her kindness had been treated like dirt...
...
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