Chapter 176: Akatsuki's Goal Shift and Pain's Determination

"What kind of task is it, boss, that you're in such a hurry? I was just about to tease the kid some more, hmph!" Deidara pouted in displeasure.

Pain: "This mission concerns the future direction of our organization. In short... it's very important."

Upon hearing this, the members fell silent, then followed Pain to the Gedo Statue.

The fingertips of the Gedo Statue were where the Akatsuki members customarily held their meetings.

In an instant, Pain, Konan, Zetsu, Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Kakuzu, Hidan, Sasori, Deidara, and nine figures stood on the fingers of the Gedo Statue, quietly waiting for Pain to speak.

Just as Pain was about to speak, Tobi suddenly jumped up, laughing: "Hehehe, seniors, let me join this meeting too."

Hidan glanced at Tobi with disdain: "Huh? Tobi! What are you, a trainee member, doing up here!"

Tobi: "None of the seniors said anything, and you're the one starting on me, Hidan. Don't forget you joined the organization after me, so technically, you're my junior, hmph!"

Hidan: "Tch! Who cares, I'm stronger than you!"

Kakuzu: "Shut up, Hidan. You're just hard to kill. In my eyes, you're the most useless, especially with that stupid ritual of yours – long and smelly…"

Hidan angrily retorted: "Kakuzu! What did you say?"

Kakuzu: "Stop yapping. Speak again, and I'll kill you!"

Kisame Hoshigaki chuckled: "The immortal duo is arguing again. I'm not used to a day without your bickering. But Tobi, why are you so eager to join the meeting today? You usually never attend voluntarily…"

Tobi: "Hehehe, Kisame-senpai, I just want to listen today…"

Tobi turned to Pain: "Boss, you don't mind me joining this meeting, right?"

Pain remained silent for a moment, then slightly nodded.

Seeing the leader's approval, the members said no more.

By rules, Tobi was not qualified to attend formal meetings.

Usually, Pain didn't call him for meetings, and Tobi also never joined voluntarily.

After all, each meeting's content was relayed by Pain from Tobi's real identity, Obito, to Nagato, and then to the members.

But today was different. This meeting was solely initiated by Nagato, and Obito was not informed beforehand.

He was very curious about what Pain intended to discuss.

Although Obito could eavesdrop from the shadows, he didn't want to. He preferred to confront Pain directly, also as a form of intimidation.

Meetings could happen, but before the meeting, the agenda must be clarified to him.

This unexpected meeting made Obito somewhat displeased.

Pain seemed to understand Obito's intent but was unmoved. He directly began as the leader: "From today, Akatsuki… will change its organizational goals."

"Previously, our objectives were divided into three phases."

"Phase one was to amass wealth by establishing the first war mercenary organization, recruiting mercenaries to monopolize the ninja business market. Phase two was to collect the tailed beasts, wage wars while settling them. Phase three… was to conquer the world."

"I used to think that doing this would bring peace to the world, but now... my thoughts have changed."

"Konan's child, Akatsuki's birth, has given me another idea."

"Now, I want to skip phases one and two..."

"Directly start from phase three, to conquer the world!"

"We don't have time. Not for any other reason; I just want my child to grow up in a peaceful world, without war or pain…"

"Go, collect the tailed beasts, starting now…"