Chapter 161
After ending the call, Orochimaru leaned back comfortably—only to be met with the hard thud of stone.
"Oh, I forgot I left the Land of Whirlpools," Orochimaru muttered, rubbing the back of his head. He'd smacked it against the cold stone chair and was momentarily dazed.
"Orochimaru..."
A male figure draped in an Akatsuki cloak appeared behind him. His voice was deep, magnetic—void of emotion. It was cold, like death.
"Hiss... Pain? Is something wrong...?" Orochimaru shrank his neck slightly and stood up.
The man behind him was swallowed by shadows. The only thing visible were his glowing eyes—purple, with strange concentric ripples like a blooming onion. Just meeting those eyes felt suffocating.
"You chose to leave the organization before, and that can be overlooked. Now, show me your value," Pain said. He didn't move, just stared. But Orochimaru knew that a wrong answer might get him hunted by both the Land of Whirlpools and the Akatsuki.
"Let me think... Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beasts, right? The stronger the members, the easier it is to capture them. Some of your members have already made contracts with me. When they die, I can resurrect them..."
Pain said nothing, his purple Rinnegan (Samsara) eyes still locked on Orochimaru with chilling calm.
After a tense silence, Orochimaru felt the pressure ease slightly. Pain didn't reply, but he knew he'd passed—barely.
"Orochimaru, you've spent a long time in the Land of Whirlpools. Do you think technology can bring peace?" Pain turned, not waiting for a response.