Show of Force

However, Deva Path Pain merely glanced at Kakuzu in the end and did not stop the two from arranging a fight.

As for Obito Uchiha, he practically wished Kakuzu would have a fierce battle with this mysterious Black Shadow Ninja so he could learn more about his abilities. So when Kakuzu looked toward him, he gave no response at all.

Seeing that neither of the two big shots had anything to say, Kakuzu immediately swelled with confidence. "Junior, since you’re courting death, then come and try me!"

Without another word, Yota pointed toward the gate and walked out. Kakuzu snorted coldly and followed him out.

Throughout the entire process, only Sara watched him with worried eyes. Everyone else showed no reaction.

Black-and-White Zetsu, however, secretly sent a White Zetsu clone after them to watch the battle.

Five minutes later, Yota returned, carrying Kakuzu like a dead dog and casually tossing him aside. "Looks like you, Senior, aren’t much of an old wave after all. This new wave has smashed you dead on the beach."

"I really wonder how you fought Hashirama Senju back then. Did you throw shuriken from eight hundred meters away?"

Kakuzu lay on the ground, his Chakra completely drained, wearing an expression as though he doubted his entire life.

Obito Uchiha’s Kamui intangibility and attack immunity had already shocked Kakuzu. Yet this Black Shadow Ninja’s Dark Release was even more outrageous. It could effortlessly devour Five Elements Ninjutsu. Every attack of his that landed on the man only became nourishment. How could Kakuzu, whose attacks mainly relied on Five Elements Ninjutsu, possibly fight under those circumstances?

After barely two minutes of fighting, Kakuzu had been swept up by Dark Release, drained of all his Chakra, and dragged back like a dead dog.

"Alright, it seems this dispute has come to an end." Deva Path Pain spoke blandly, utterly unconcerned. "Kakuzu, the Immortal Ninja—I’ve heard your name before. But it seems you do not have a partner yet."

If Yota had not brought Sara over, Kakuzu should have partnered with Yota. But now that both sides had each brought someone, there was one extra person again.

"Hmph, this old man does not need any partner." Kakuzu slowly climbed to his feet and snorted.

"You are the weakest one here, so naturally you need a partner. Besides, with a partner, you won’t be able to slack off on missions." Deva Path Pain spoke without hesitation, showing Kakuzu no respect whatsoever.

Kakuzu flew into a rage. "This old man was merely careless for a moment…"

"Alright, leave finding newcomers to me." Obito interrupted everyone, but his gaze turned toward Sara. "Still, not just anyone can casually join the Akatsuki. Black Shadow, what can this newcomer you brought do?"

A strange expression appeared on Yota’s face. "Well? Why don’t you try her? If you don’t use that Mangekyo of yours, you might really be unable to defeat Sara."

"Hmph!" Obito Uchiha’s face darkened with anger. "I am Uchiha… and you expect me not to use the Mangekyo Sharingan in battle?"

He had wanted to say that he was Madara Uchiha, but after considering how both Kakuzu and Yota had already seen through some of his bluff, the word "Madara" never left his mouth.

Moreover, though he spoke with great force, anyone who listened carefully could hear his lack of confidence. After all, ninety percent of Obito’s strength rested on Kamui. Hearing that he could not use his Kamui Mangekyo, he immediately lost some nerve.

If his mask were torn off during battle, he would no longer be able to keep up the act at all.

Sara, who had been somewhat worried, found herself gaining confidence when she saw Obito falter. She shot him a smug glance, nearly making him burst with anger.

"Fine. Since you are unwilling to fight, I acknowledge her joining the Akatsuki." Deva Path Pain said in his usual cold tone, then took out several rings.

"These are Chakra rings I created. Wearing them will allow us to communicate with one another. Go choose one each."

Obito Uchiha grunted and casually took a ring. Yota, Black-and-White Zetsu, Sara, Kakuzu, and Konan each took one as well.

This time, since the Akatsuki did not know how many people they would recruit, the rings were not given messy names like Azure Dragon or Jade Maiden. They only had numbers like 1, 2, 3, and 4 engraved on them, so anyone joining later could simply be assigned one in order.

"Alright, this meeting ends here. From now on, we will not need to come in person. We can hold meetings directly using the Projector Technique."

"As for now, our Akatsuki can take on war missions from smaller countries. Black Shadow and Kakuzu, leave that to you. If you need intelligence, ask Zetsu directly."

"Madara, didn’t you say you were going to continue looking for newcomers? You can get moving now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Deva Path Pain’s figure flickered and vanished from the base. Konan glanced at everyone, spread a pair of wings, and flew away.

The others found each other equally unpleasant to look at. Naturally, they soon left as well.

These small-country war missions meant little to Yota, but they could give Sara some training and let her gain combat experience.

Of course, that also meant her Wood Release could no longer be concealed. After Obito Uchiha learned of it, he became deeply suspicious and paid Sara extremely close attention.

Unfortunately, even Black-and-White Zetsu had no way to evade Yota’s Observation Haki, which did not belong to the Chakra system at all. Several White Zetsu sent to monitor Yota ended up being taken by him.

White Zetsu was a type of spore organism—in other words, it could be called a parasitic organism. In the eyes of Yota, a master of human modification, it had endless uses. Naturally, the more the better.

"Wood Style: Tree World Descent!"

A massive forest erupted from the ground. Before the hundred-plus ninjas could react, they were swallowed by the woods, their Chakra drained as they were hung upside down among the trees.

"That guy… he’s the Akatsuki’s Wood Release ninja!" Several Rogue Ninjas wore terrified expressions. "I’m not doing this job anymore! I surrender, I surrender!"

"Hehe, honestly, there isn’t even one who can put up a fight." Sara crossed her arms, looking utterly pleased with herself.

"Who was it at the beginning that was flustered and teary-eyed, saying she would absolutely never go to the battlefield?" Yota, still dressed in black, mercilessly mocked her.

Sara’s face reddened as she clenched her fists. "How was I supposed to know these ninjas were all so weak? I thought I was just a rookie!"

"Besides, I wasn’t even a ninja before. It was all because of you that I couldn’t even be Queen anymore!"