"This is troublesome. If the five great nations unite, we might not be able to withstand them," Orochimaru said grimly.
"Pain, how should we respond?" Konan asked.
"It seems we have no choice but to use that kind of weapon," Pain said calmly.
Everyone turned to him in horror.
"Have you really thought this through?" Konan asked, shocked.
"We're out of options, aren't we?" Pain replied.
"But if we use a weapon like that, we'll become the enemy of the entire ninja world," Konan hesitated.
Pain gave a faint smile. "Wasn't our original goal to use force to intimidate the world and bring peace to the ninja system?"
At his words, the room fell into silence.
"The leader is right. Let's use the weapon," Scorpion of the Red Sand agreed.
"I can't wait to see its power," Orochimaru said with a sinister smile, licking his lips.
Konan sighed helplessly. For the sake of peace, sacrifices had to be made.
"How much money have we earned during this period?" Pain asked, turning to the organization's treasurer, Kakuzu.
Kakuzu pulled out a ledger and flipped through the pages. "We've earned 2 billion in mission bounties, 3.5 billion in labor and shares from the Black Zetsu Company, and added to the 1 billion we already had, our total is 6.5 billion."
Pain frowned. "Only 6.5 billion?"
That wasn't enough. A nuclear weapon cost 10 billion. They were short by 3.5 billion.
"I worked six part-time jobs as a bodyguard and earned 900 million," Pain said.
Although Nagato had recovered his body, he still chose to operate using the Six Paths of Pain to increase productivity. That way, he could work six jobs at once—earning in one month what others made in six.
"I've got 300 million," Konan added.
"I don't have much. Around 100 million," Scorpion of the Red Sand said.
"I've been slacking off lately… I only have about 30 million," Biwa Juzo admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
"Haha, I've got 400 million," Orochimaru said proudly.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu quietly tried to hide behind his ledger, mumbling, "You can't see me… I don't exist..."
Everyone: "..."
"Ahem, Kakuzu, how much do you have?" Biwa Juzo asked.
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Kakuzu lowered the ledger slowly, a pained smile on his face. "You know I don't have much..."
Silence.
Kakuzu gave Pain a guilty look.
Pain stared at him, saying nothing.
"Actually... I have 20 million."
Pain: "…"
"Haha, just kidding. I actually have 80 million."
Pain: "…"
"Okay, okay. I really have 120 million."
Pain: "…"
Seeing Pain still silent, Kakuzu started to panic. He could tell the leader knew the truth.
Clutching his chest like he'd lost a loved one, Kakuzu whispered, "Fine... 200 million. That's everything I have."
Pain: "…"
When Pain still didn't react, Kakuzu's pupils shrank in horror.
He knew—the leader knew the real amount.
With no choice, he sighed, "Alright... 500 million. That's everything, I swear!"
His heart felt like it was bleeding. He had gathered that money bit by bit over time... okay, maybe some of it was embezzled. But it was his!
Now he was giving it all up. His legs wobbled with the weight of his broken dreams.
Pain: "…"
Kakuzu couldn't take it anymore. He started jumping up and down in frustration.
"Leader, you can't be serious! This is really all my savings! I swear to the gods!"
Just then, Nagato walked in.
"Kakuzu, have you counted all our savings together?"
Kakuzu looked at Pain, who still stood silently. Confused, he reached out and pushed him.
Pain fell over like a statue.
Kakuzu: "..."
Nagato sighed, "I released control of the Six Paths. No point in using it if it's not making money."
Kakuzu's mouth twitched. "Wait, Chief... when did you stop controlling it?"
"Right after I said I earned 900 million. Didn't you notice Tiandao hadn't moved at all since then?"
Pfft— Konan burst into laughter.
Hahaha! Biwa Juzo slapped his thigh, laughing uncontrollably.
Even Orochimaru and Scorpion cracked smiles.
As trained ninjas, they usually never laughed at anything… unless it was really funny.
Hearing the explanation, and the laughter around him, Kakuzu's face turned pale.
His body swayed—then he fainted.
Just before losing consciousness, one thought flashed through his mind:
"Am I... just a stupid pig?"
Nagato looked at Kakuzu lying unconscious on the floor. "What happened to him?"
The few who knew the truth could barely contain themselves.
"It's fine. He's just asleep," Scorpion said with a chuckle.
"Nagato, adding everything together, we now have 8.7 billion," Konan reported.
Nagato nodded, then fell into deep thought.
The five great nations would launch their attack the day after tomorrow. They only had two days. How could they raise the remaining 1.3 billion?
Suddenly, a flash of gold appeared in Nagato's mind—a shining gold tooth.
Ah Fei.
"If it's him… would he lend me the money?" Nagato murmured.
"Chief, do you have a solution?" Biwa Juzo asked curiously.
Nagato nodded. "I think so. We'll ask Ah Fei and see if he can lend us the rest."
Scorpion gave him a strange look. "Lend? Why borrow? Can't we just rob him?"
Orochimaru nodded. "Exactly. Why borrow when robbery is faster?"
Nagato paused.
"That's not very... noble. We're a serious organization," he said hesitantly.
Scorpion rolled his eyes. "What kind of 'serious' organization wants to conquer the ninja world through violence in the name of peace?"
Nagato: "…"
He couldn't find a response.
Scorpion had a point.
Could Akatsuki really be considered a serious organization?
If not… then what was so wrong about a little robbery?
After some mental gymnastics, Nagato finally gave in.
"You're right... but we'll still try the polite way first. We'll ask Ah Fei nicely. If he doesn't lend us the money..." He paused.
"...then we rob him."
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