In the forest, Shinji and Hidan, having removed their disguises, strode forward openly along the path.
Although outsmarting thin air had been rather embarrassing, as long as I'm not embarrassed, then the embarrassed one is someone else.
So Shinji never mentioned it again.
But as they walked, a figure suddenly appeared and blocked their way.
"Hey! A good dog doesn't block the road. Get lost!"
Wearing the black cloak embroidered with red clouds, Pain's Deva Path replied expressionlessly, "Hidan, formerly of Yugakure. Later murdered and defected, joined the Jashin cult, and approximately one month ago slaughtered every other member of the cult."
Hidan looked a little surprised that the other party recognized him and immediately gave him a once-over.
"I get it—you want to join our Jashin cult, don't you?"
"Hahaha! Good eye! What's your name, brother? How many people have you killed? Are you willing to devote your life to Lord Jashin?"
Inside a tree disguised by Konan's Paper Technique, Nagato silently lowered the 'script' he had been holding, faced with Hidan's enthusiastic interruption.
He had originally intended to seize the initiative by dramatically revealing the other party's identity.
Back when he personally 'persuaded' Kakuzu to join the Akatsuki, he had used the same tactic.
But who would have thought the other side wouldn't follow the script at all? Instead, he tried to recruit him into the cult first, completely throwing him off.
"What's wrong, Nagato?" Konan asked with concern from beside him.
"Nothing. It's just been too long since I've dealt with someone who doesn't use their brain, so I didn't react in time."
After reassuring Konan, Nagato immediately shifted his perspective back to the Deva Path.
"My name… is Pain."
"Hidan, disciple of Jashin. Akagi Shinji. I now represent the Akatsuki in inviting you to join."
"Tch. What Akatsuki? Never heard of it. Sounds like some third-rate organization from a tiny country. Might as well join my Jashin cult instead."
Hidan muttered dismissively, completely uninterested.
Shinji, on the other hand, was genuinely surprised.
Logically speaking, they had been extremely low-key. Even when they stirred things up in other people's territory, they had never once left their names behind.
How did the Akatsuki know his and Hidan's names?
And last time, he had just had a conflict with Kakuzu and Konan. Kakuzu had even threatened to make him pay the next time they met.
Yet now the Akatsuki was here to recruit him—and the one who came was Pain's Deva Path.
That meant Nagato should be somewhere nearby.
Just as Shinji was thinking about how to deal with the trouble in front of him, Nagato gripped the armrest of his 'wheelchair' hard, feeling extremely displeased.
Who exactly is the third-rate organization here?
When it came to the mercenary business, the Akatsuki's presence was firmly established, holding the top position year after year without question.
What ignorance!
"Sigh. Why am I getting angry at an idiot…"
No longer wanting to talk to Hidan, Nagato controlled Pain to look at the other man instead. "What is your answer?"
Shinji didn't immediately refuse or make a move. Instead, he said, "I have a few questions."
"Does your organization have a stitched-up freak who looks like everyone owes him millions, and also… hmm, a beautiful big sister with wings?"
Pain: "…"
Nagato glanced at Konan beside him, then continued controlling the Deva Path. "Once you join, you will naturally find out."
"Actually, even if you don't say it, I already know. You're even wearing matching outfits—who would believe there's no connection?"
"Do not spout nonsense! This is the uniform of the Akatsuki. Anyone who joins must wear it."
Close one!
Nagato had nearly failed to maintain his mysterious and dignified image.
He was even starting to feel that making this trip had been a complete waste of time.
"Alright, alright. I get it. I get it, okay?"
"Get your—"
Pain's lips moved slightly, stopping himself mid-sentence, then said impatiently, "Are you done asking? If you're done, then—"
"How did you learn our information?"
Pain's voice immediately took on that enigmatic, magnetic tone. "The Akatsuki… is omnipotent."
In order to maintain the aura, Nagato really put in the effort.
But the truth was that Zetsu had found some experimental materials in the destroyed Jashin cult base, which included partial information about Hidan and Shinji.
Obviously, he couldn't say that if someone asked—that would be way too low-tier!
Nagato had even been considering how to respond if the other side pressed further, how to preserve his persona while demonstrating the Akatsuki's power and mystery.
To his surprise, Shinji simply responded with an "Oh," and moved on.
"Next question—what are the benefits in your organization?"
"What…?"
"Benefits. Like how many hours a day we work, what the job entails, how much you pay, whether there's social insurance and housing funds—don't tell me you don't understand that. And you're out here trying to start a business?"
Nagato froze. If not for the fact that the other party looked completely serious, he would've thought this guy was messing with him!
"Well, the benefits…"
"Damn, you're not some shady company, are you? Not a word about benefits—what is this, a scam? Let's go, Hidan."
Before leaving, Shinji didn't forget to play his role to the end. He shot Pain a vicious glare, then spat on the ground. "Bad luck."
That short combo of Talk-no-Jutsu completely stunned Nagato. Even the Deva Path stood there stiffly, like a plant.
"So we're just leaving? I feel like that guy looked pretty strong. Since that Akatsuki thing doesn't have much future, why not recruit him into our Jashin cult?"
As he spoke, Hidan actually started getting excited.
Shinji quickly grabbed him, stopping him from turning back.
If you cracked this guy's head open with a chisel, it'd probably be stuffed full of canned herring.
What kind of rotten idea was that?
He'd made it so obvious he wanted to shake the guy off—how could Hidan not see that?
That said, when it came to instinct, Hidan really was different from normal people.
He'd actually sensed that Pain was no ordinary person at a glance—and even wanted to take him in as a subordinate.
For that alone, Shinji almost felt like giving him a thumbs-up!
But Shinji wasn't envious in the slightest.
What was there to envy?
He traded his brain for it!
"Wait!"
Hearing this, Shinji not only didn't stop—he sped up instead. In the blink of an eye, only a blurry figure remained in the distance.
Nagato immediately sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth in irritation.
Without another word, the Deva Path rose into the air and intercepted Shinji and Hidan at even greater speed.
"We haven't finished discussing the benefits. Why the rush to leave?"
"Ah, Lord Jashin just sent word. We've got deliveries to make."
The more outrageous the lie, the more smoothly it came out. Shinji didn't care whether the other party believed him or not. In the end, his Talk-no-Jutsu just wasn't polished enough—he'd embarrassed himself showing it off.