Inside the exam space, the members of the Akatsuki organization slowly recovered from their shock and turned to look at their leader, Pain.
None of them had expected that the man with the Rinnegan—revered as the eyes of God—would be so unhinged.
To go up against the entire ninja world…
He truly lived up to the name of leader!
Kakuzu nodded with satisfaction, acknowledging Pain's position from the bottom of his heart.
As an ancient war veteran who had survived since the Warring States Era, Kakuzu had always believed Pain was too restrained. He had overwhelming power, yet had no desire for money—an unforgivable contradiction in Kakuzu's eyes.
Yet despite that, this man still managed to build a force like Akatsuki.
Kakuzu clicked his tongue, amused by the irony. He'd lived long enough to see everything.
He himself had long transcended human limits—becoming a monster bound by grudges. As long as all four of his hearts weren't destroyed simultaneously, he could not die.
A fact he had kept hidden.
Kakuzu began methodically analyzing the question, eliminating all possibilities that didn't align with his logic until he was left with what he considered the most absurd choice.
"If I had to die, I'd say... let's rule out option D."
Behind the crowd, Uchiha Obito and Zetsu exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Akatsuki... destroyed?
With us still here? Ridiculous.
If anything, the D option must be referring to them—or, at most, include Uchiha Madara.
Which meant... Option D was definitely correct.
So when Kakuzu confidently eliminated D, the two looked at him again and shared a silent conclusion:
"Kakuzu is a fool. Avoid him at all costs."
Elsewhere, Uchiha Itachi's face twitched when he saw option D.
Was I exposed? Did someone discover my identity?
His expression grew colder, alert and calculating.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru observed it all with a playful smile.
He had no intention of answering the question—nor did he expect anyone from Akatsuki to trust him if he did.
He wasn't one of them anymore. Whatever happened, he didn't care.
And if Akatsuki was destroyed, wouldn't that make it easier to obtain the Rinnegan from Pain, or Sharingan from Itachi?
It was an opportunity.
Orochimaru had already begun scheming. He would find a way to mark each member and collect their corpses after they died.
Then there was… that other goal.
He licked his lips, an eerie glint in his eye.
The No. 1 prodigy of Konoha... I will have his body. My immortality is assured.
…
"If we have to choose, then eliminate option B," Zetsu suggested calmly. "With our strength, defeating the entire ninja world is nothing. The so-called Shinobi Alliance is just a formality."
It was true—no one knew more about the world's power balance than him.
Zetsu commanded 100,000 White Zetsu clones—each at least Chūnin level, with some even shadow-tier.
The Five Great Nations? The Moon's survivors? Mere insects.
If not for the plan to revive Mother, the world would have been crushed long ago.
"So we're down to options A and C," he concluded.
…
Outside the space, the entire ninja world erupted in disbelief.
"They want to overthrow the ninja world?"
"Hahahaha! Who wrote this script?!"
"Did they overdose on fertilizer? That's delusional!"
"They think they can topple us? My Konoha alone can destroy them!"
"They're just frogs at the bottom of a well."
"Orochimaru included, they barely number seventeen—and they want to start a war?!"
…
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Nara Shikaku, who was frowning in thought.
"What do you think is the correct answer, Shikaku?"
Everything spoken in the exam space was broadcast to the villages. Every word Akatsuki spoke was heard loud and clear.
Their method of elimination seemed childish to Sarutobi.
He already knew the answer.
So did another person—Uchiha Itachi.
"What do you think, Lord Third?"
"The answer is D."
A rare smile appeared on Sarutobi's face.
Itachi was his undercover agent. Considering option D, it was obvious to Sarutobi that Itachi and Konoha played a role in destroying Akatsuki.
An inside-out takedown.
"Then I agree with your judgment."
…
Back in the exam space, Pain stared at the remaining two options:
A. The dream of achieving peace in the ninja world.
C. Akatsuki members undressing in battle leading to their deaths.
Peace…
That was Yahiko's dream. It was his legacy.
Pain's hand tightened into a fist.
He will realize that dream.
"I choose C," Pain announced. "The answer is C."
…
"What?! He chose C?!"
"Did he lose his mind?!"
"That Rinnegan must be draining his brain!"
All across the ninja world, people exploded in laughter.
Akatsuki destroyed because its members… undress?
Preposterous!
How could the fate of elite S-rank ninjas be tied to something so ridiculous?
"Take off their clothes and they die? Are you joking?!"
"That's the dumbest rule ever. He's trolling, right?"
Some ninjas rolled their eyes.
"If you ask me, it's definitely D. That guy in the wheelchair is too young. Kakuzu clearly misled him."
"I bet it's A. Peace in the ninja world? Please—ask the Fourth Raikage, ask Ohnoki. They'll laugh in your face."
"Konoha is the strongest. We dictate peace—not them."
"Forget it. The results are coming!"
"Let's see the punishment for answering wrong!"
…
[Correct Answer. Would you like to view the analysis?]
"Yes."
The moment the space confirmed the answer, silence spread across the lands.
Most had loudly voiced their opinions earlier—none of which matched C.
Now their faces stung with the slap of reality.
"What?! It was C?!"
"No way! So... undressing really equals death?!"
"I demand an explanation! I need that analysis now!"
Countless shinobi across the world cried out, desperate to understand.
But the exam space was deaf to their voices. It would only respond to the participants inside.
Inside, Pain raised his head, arrogance in his tone.
"When you've stood atop the world long enough, you learn… that the most impossible answers are usually the correct ones."
Behind him, the Six Paths of Pain stood silently.
Seven pairs of Rinnegan glared at the others.
His lips curled into a cold smile.
"Do you want to see the analysis?"
Gulp.
Zetsu's face broke into a nervous sweat.
Obito's palms grew damp.
Itachi's Sharingan spun into the Mangekyō.
"Space…" he called out coolly, voice unwavering.
"…Show me the analysis."