Pain found out about Sasori having spies working for Orochimaru through his own secret investigations.
After all, even though everyone in the Akatsuki organization was part of the same group, they all had their own goals and thoughts.
It wasn't strange for Sasori to hide some news from the organization, playing his own game.
Simply put, the goal of the Akatsuki organization was to collect the tailed beasts.
Other than that, they could do whatever they wanted.
It was like office workers doing their main job well, and then being free to start any side business.
Of course, while it was allowed, it wasn't actively encouraged.
However, the Akatsuki organization would also use any useful information and manpower it could get, since it was free to do so.
Sasori was very careful and cautious, even Deidara, who spent every day with him, only saw his real face once or twice.
So, he had spies in many villages. After his death, the spells that sealed the memories of those spies would probably be undone.
They would try to use the remaining known information as much as possible.
"I don't want to do a mission with that Uchiha kid, no way!"
Deidara immediately crossed his arms in front of his chest, firmly rejecting the idea.
Even though hunting down Orochimaru wasn't an easy task, he would never work with Sasuke.
In fact, he didn't like working with any of the Uchiha red-eyed rabbits.
None of them.
Just thinking about those almost perfect eyes, that eye skill that was almost a form of art in itself, made Deidara feel uncomfortable.
He was always pursuing the perfection of his own art, and he considered the Sharingan eye skill to be a form of art as well.
But in every way, the Sharingan eye skill was unbelievably perfect.
Even though he didn't want to admit it, his own art was being outshone.
He was annoyed, very annoyed.
"I understand."
"He's only two or three years older than me, what right does he have to boss me around?"
"I can take care of Orochimaru myself."
Sasuke was also happy to reject the idea of them teaming up.
Deidara would provoke them from time to time. Itachi was used to it and didn't bother to pay attention, but Sasuke would actually fight him.
Going on a mission with someone like that was worse than having Zetsu secretly watching him in the dark.
Although being watched all the time was a bit disgusting.
"Why do you guys always argue? Are you kids?"
Hidan made a helpless face and covered his face, then looked at the two of them with a fanatical expression.
"But, if you came to believe in the Jashin Cult with me, maybe you'd get along better."
"Lord Jashin..."
Before Hidan could finish, the two of them immediately rejected the idea in unison.
"No."
"I don't want to, no way!"
"You two rejected me so quickly! You'll be punished by Lord Jashin!"
Itachi watched the three of them without saying a word. Kisame showed his pale teeth and chuckled beside him.
"Sasuke seems more lively than Itachi, doesn't he?"
"..."
Itachi frowned slightly and sighed softly.
Just fitting into the Akatsuki organization through arguing wasn't very useful. This was a place where the strong survived and the weak died.
Sasuke had definitely become stronger in terms of ability, but against Orochimaru...
Itachi pursed his lips slightly. Although he should trust Sasuke, he couldn't help but worry.
Orochimaru was different from ordinary people.
"Stop arguing, you three be quiet."
Whether it was Kakuzu and Hidan arguing, or Deidara and Sasori arguing, it still seemed like a possible internal conflict that could be stopped.
After all, Kakuzu and Sasori were older, although they weren't exactly mature.
But Deidara, Hidan, and Sasuke, if they got together, 80 percent of the time it would end up as a childish argument.
Did people in their twenties all have this problem?
The three of them didn't continue arguing after hearing this, and after making faces at each other, they honestly quieted down.
"Sasuke, you go and deal with Orochimaru alone."
"Deidara, you'll get a new mission after a week of rest."
In fact, the Akatsuki organization wanted to give Sasuke some slightly more difficult tasks to test his strength.
They couldn't let him slack off so easily anymore.
Obviously, the most suitable task in the near future was the matter with Orochimaru.
If he could take care of it, great. If he failed, they would deal with it later. If he died at Orochimaru's hands...
Then it would only prove that he wasn't strong enough, and that he hadn't been able to reach the peak of the Akatsuki organization's efforts for so long.
"Missions aren't a problem, one hand is enough to work with the clay, no way."
Deidara muttered, holding out his hands. The color of the reattached hand was clearly different.
He didn't know how well it would work, but he still had another hand anyway.
Besides the arm, Deidara was also a little worried about the condition of the clay he used.
He would worry about it next week.
Pain gave the others some more instructions and then announced that the meeting was over.
Everyone disappeared and left.
However, after everyone had left, Itachi remained.
Pain's image hesitated slightly. He didn't seem to expect that Itachi would have something to say.
But he still stayed to talk to Itachi for a few words.
Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at his sword, pausing thoughtfully.
Although he didn't express much about Sasori's death, they weren't particularly close.
But because Sasori died, he realized for the first time.
Even though the people in the Akatsuki organization were strong, even though they seemed immortal, there would always be some kind of special accident or weakness.
Whether you were strong or weak, there would always be some kind of trouble.
"...Never mind."
Sasuke frowned slightly and couldn't help but take a deep breath. People's desires were endless, and there was nothing he could do.
Then, Sasuke pulled out a map of the nearby area from his clothes.
The Land of Waterfall and the Village Hidden in the Grass weren't too far apart, in fact, they were quite close.
The people of the Uchiha Clan who had been settled were also in that area.
Sasuke hesitated for a moment, but he still gave up on the idea of taking a look at the clan's land.
He was in Akatsuki now, and if he went back rashly, he would only bring trouble to his family.
Sasuke pursed his lips expressionlessly, not knowing if he was talking to himself or to Zetsu, who was lurking in the shadows.
"Let's go."
Then, a gust of wind stirred in the trees, and fallen green leaves and branches flew up in the breeze.
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