Chapter 63: Akatsuki's Team Assignments!
Sasori of the Red Sand truly was a master of provocation.
Although one had to admit his real body was indeed handsome, right now he was wearing the ugly Hiruko! Didn't that also insult his own aesthetics!
Zabuza Momochi instantly flew into a rage, gripping the Executioner's Blade and glaring furiously at Sasori, "Bastard, what did you say!"
Sasori sneered, "I said you guys are too ugly..."
"Sasori!"
Pain, standing on the finger of the Gedo Statue, loudly interrupted Sasori's words. He continued coldly, "Every member must have their own partner. This is not something you can refuse!"
"..."
Hearing Pain's words, Sasori said no more.
"Heh heh heh..."
Zetsu spoke sinisterly from the side, "If Sasori really doesn't want to, it doesn't matter. I've also found a newcomer suitable to be his partner."
During this period, Zetsu hadn't been idle.
Even something as major as Akatsuki expelling Uchiha Obito wouldn't affect Zetsu's level of dedication.
To achieve the Eye of the Moon Plan, Akatsuki had to replenish enough manpower. Therefore, Zetsu had always been trying to find ways to scout powerful ninjas.
Coincidentally, Zetsu actually found an expelled genius ninja in Iwagakure (Village Hidden by Stones). Apart from having a somewhat explosive temper, his strength was truly formidable.
"Then after the teams are assigned, send a team member with Sasori to make the trip!"
Pain nodded, agreeing with Zetsu's suggestion, then looked towards Uehara Naraka, "Uehara, introduce the newcomers to everyone!"
"Okay."
Uehara Naraka stopped the irate Zabuza Momochi and said softly, "This is Kirigakure's (Village Hidden by Mist) Seven Ninja Swordsman Zabuza Momochi, the current wielder of the Executioner's Blade. The previous wielder of the Executioner's Blade was Mr. Itachi's partner, Jūzō Biwa-senpai."
Hearing Jūzō Biwa's name, Uchiha Itachi's gaze slowly lifted, glanced at the Executioner's Blade handle in Zabuza Momochi's hand, then lowered his head again.
Just based on the identities of 'wielder of the Executioner's Blade' and 'killer of the Fourth Mizukage', Uchiha Itachi wasn't particularly opposed to Zabuza becoming his partner.
After all, the previous wielder of the Executioner's Blade, Jūzō Biwa, had sacrificed himself to save his life.
Uehara Naraka extended his finger, pointed at Mangetsu Hōzuki behind him, and continued softly, "This is Mangetsu Hōzuki. He became one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen at just thirteen this year. Like Mr. Itachi, he's a rare genius ninja..."
After speaking, Uehara Naraka let out a mischievous laugh, "What's interesting is, Kirigakure's prominent Hōzuki clan also only has two members left. Mangetsu also happens to have a younger brother who hates him to the bone..."
"Oh?"
Everyone present instantly became interested.
Kakuzu even asked bluntly without taboo, "Did this kid named Mangetsu Hōzuki also kill his entire clan?"
Uehara Naraka shook his head, "Not exactly. The decline of the Hōzuki clan was due to the persecution by the Fourth Mizukage Yagura."
Pain raised the question he was most concerned about, "Uehara, can you confirm he won't be a Kirigakure spy?"
"He won't."
Uehara Naraka glanced at Mangetsu Hōzuki. After seeing Mangetsu nod slightly, Uehara chuckled lightly, "What Mangetsu wants most is to revive the Hōzuki clan. After his younger brother grows up, he will use his brother's hatred towards him, becoming the whetstone on his brother's path of growth..."
As he spoke these words, Uehara observed everyone's expressions and continued softly, "This secret is enough to ensure he doesn't dare betray us. Besides, I imagine you seniors wouldn't harm Suigetsu Hōzuki, and wouldn't want to miss a good show of brothers fighting each other, right?"
"Hmph, interesting."
Kakuzu nodded, crossing his arms.
The others also nodded one after another. These people wouldn't have any interest in the revival story of a declining ninja clan.
If they encountered Suigetsu Hōzuki one day in the future, they wouldn't choose to kill him ruthlessly either.
The drama of brothers fighting...
Was quite worth watching.
Only Uchiha Itachi's expression changed slightly, then immediately returned to normal.
If possible, Uchiha Itachi really wanted to curse right now. Why did that Mangetsu Hōzuki's story sound somewhat similar to what he planned to do?
Soon, someone else noticed this issue.
Konan walked over, looked at Uchiha Itachi, and said, "Why do I feel this newcomer's story is somewhat similar to Uchiha Itachi's story?"
"Itachi is different."
Zetsu quickly shook his head, speaking up to explain on Uchiha Itachi's behalf, "He personally killed all of his own clansmen!"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi, somewhat worried about being exposed, reached up to touch his eye socket and said gravely, "Mr. Hōzuki and I are not alike. I am merely waiting for my younger brother to grow up, then use his life to test my strength."
Mangetsu Hōzuki originally had some favorable impression of Uchiha Itachi. Hearing his words now, his face instantly filled with displeasure, "There are actually people who want to kill their own younger brother?"
Damn it, this heretic!
Younger brothers are such cute creatures, yet he actually wants to kill one!
"It's normal for our thoughts to differ..."
Uchiha Itachi looked up coldly, his crimson eyes fixed on Mangetsu Hōzuki, "I aspire more to possess even greater power. For that, I would not hesitate to pay any price, even everything I have."
Uehara Naraka: "..."
Just getting the point across should be enough, why is this guy Itachi Uchiha still acting?
If one day in the future, someone really killed Uchiha Sasuke, wouldn't you fight desperately to annihilate their entire family?
Mangetsu Hōzuki looked at Uchiha Itachi with disgust and said gravely, "I don't want to team up with this kind of person!"
"Coincidentally, I am also unwilling."
Uchiha Itachi lowered his head, hiding his eyes.
From his true inner feelings, Uchiha Itachi actually quite favored Mangetsu Hōzuki as his partner; two 'bro-cons' together would surely have much in common.
However, Uchiha Itachi also worried that after spending a long time together, Mangetsu Hōzuki would discover his secret.
After all, they both doted on their younger brothers. Perhaps even just a glance towards a younger brother might expose his true attitude.
Just as Uehara Naraka was about to introduce Kisame Hoshigaki, Zetsu suddenly interjected, "Since it's like this, then let Kisame Hoshigaki become Uchiha Itachi's partner?"
This was his and Obito's goal.
They had to find a way to make Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi form a team, thereby allowing Kisame Hoshigaki to monitor Uchiha Itachi's every move.
Uehara Naraka glanced at Zetsu in surprise and said softly, "Mr. Kisame was originally the teammate that traitor Uchiha Obito found for Uchiha Itachi. I have some doubts about his loyalty, therefore I'd like to suggest he first remain an intern with me for a period..."
If this guy Black Zetsu still insisted on Kisame and Itachi partnering, then he would choose to agree.
"Kisame is a newcomer I found for Akatsuki."
Zetsu quickly interrupted Uehara Naraka's words and said gravely, "Uchiha Obito definitely deceived Kisame too. Now Kisame Hoshigaki absolutely wouldn't want to see that person Uchiha Obito again, right?"
"Correct!"
Kisame Hoshigaki revealed his mouth full of shark teeth and chuckled lightly, "If I encounter that masked guy next time, I'll let him know the price of deceiving me!"
"..."
Uehara Naraka was silent for a moment, then looked up at Pain and suggested, "Then, according to Zetsu-senpai's meaning, should we directly arrange Mr. Zabuza and Mangetsu Hōzuki as one team, and Mr. Kisame Hoshigaki and Uchiha Itachi as another team?"
"Acceptable."
Pain didn't mind either. He glanced again at Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku behind Uehara and said softly, "Uehara, as for the two kids you brought..."
Konan's palm rested on Uehara Naraka's shoulder as she proposed, "It seems these two kids don't have much combat power. Let them follow Naraka for the time being!"
(End of Chapter)
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