Since the previous leader of the Akatsuki fell, the new figurehead—Nagato—awakened the Rinnegan, inheriting the will to bring peace through power and became known as Six Paths Pain.
But after the Fourth Great Ninja War, the entire shinobi world united, shedding their hatred and forging an era of peace. Thus, Option A was proven incorrect.
Option B was a distraction. The question was set before the Fourth Ninja War, while the Allied Shinobi Forces only formed during that war. The timing made the option invalid.
Also, in the Fourth War, Kabuto and Madara clashed with the Allied Forces—clearly not aligning with the "weak and weak" phrasing.
Option D sought to confuse. While Akatsuki did suffer betrayal, internal deception wasn't the direct cause of the group's downfall.
Option C painted the truest picture.
> "Zero Burial, Jade Maiden, Three Talents, Big Dipper, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise—all perished.
Their iconic red cloud cloaks destroyed. When Vermilion Bird died, he still wore his."
This… was the correct answer.
---
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
It felt like bombs detonated across the minds of everyone watching.
Especially for the Akatsuki members.
They stared, stunned, as their codenames appeared—each attached to a sentence of death.
Warriors used to bloodshed and danger…
Now looked upon their own deaths while still alive.
What kind of terrifying power could do this?
Orochimaru's slit-pupils narrowed to a needle's edge. He silently reread the analysis several times.
His codename—Kong Chen.
He found no hint of how someone of his strength had fallen, let alone that all Akatsuki members had perished!
---
Shock!
Shock!
Shock!
Across the ninja world, the analysis ignited a wave of awe.
A power that foretells death? Predicts the future? Alters destiny?
No one believed the Akatsuki—after seeing their own demise—would continue down the same path.
And this was only the first question!
What would the next four reveal?
Why did the ninja world achieve peace after such a brutal war?
Why did the war break out at all?
Akatsuki was created to maintain peace—so what changed?
Who was this mysterious Kabuto?
How did he and another hold back the entire Shinobi Alliance?
Each unanswered question added more pressure to continue.
They had to know more.
Someone in the crowd finally voiced it aloud:
> "Now I really want to know what kind of reward or punishment this exam space gives!"
---
At the gates of Konoha, the words pierced the silence and stirred curiosity.
If this test was real, and the revelations were true, then what sort of reward was worth so much truth?
S-rank jutsu?
Eternal youth?
Wealth beyond compare?
Or something even greater?
---
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned cold.
> "Summon Danzo and the two advisors—immediately."
This analysis held too much weight.
Enough to shake Konoha's foundation as the top Hidden Village.
If there was an enemy powerful enough to unite the entire world... they needed to know now.
And the deceiver referenced in Option D—clearly linked to this future menace.
Sarutobi realized the Akatsuki were far beyond what he and Itachi could manage alone.
Two shinobi holding back the entire shinobi world?
What chance did Konoha alone have?
He muttered to himself.
> "Kabuto… the same name as that repeat Genin from our village.
Could it really be him?"
He sighed.
> "What a shame. If only someone like that had been truly nurtured in our village…"
---
At Root, Danzo's eyes finally widened with recognition.
So this was the Akatsuki…
The ones he once helped Hanzo the Salamander betray.
Those black cloaks with red clouds—they were still in Amegakure?
His pupils flashed with murderous intent.
> "If they cannot be used by the darkness of Konoha…
Then they have no right to exist."
---
Elsewhere, Hidan and Kakuzu couldn't contain their confusion.
They were immortal, weren't they?
How could they die?
> "Was it just because we lost our cloaks?" Hidan asked, flabbergasted.
> "That's ridiculous," Kakuzu muttered. "Still… I'll prepare four extra cloaks for my hearts. Just in case."
---
Pain, watching their reactions, spoke up.
> "Exam space—can you reveal the fourth and fifth options?"
A cold voice replied:
> [Insufficient authority.]
[If all answers are correct, the reward includes a related video.]
Video?
Obito, Black Zetsu, and Itachi visibly tensed.
That space… not only foresaw the future—it could play videos of it?
Unacceptable.
They couldn't let Akatsuki answer every question correctly.
Two questions remained. They still had room to act.
If Itachi had his chakra, he would've already cast a massive genjutsu across the arena.
---
Pain clenched his fists, but then relaxed.
> "A video reward… then I must answer every question correctly."
Only then would he know which of them was the traitor.
He turned to the sky, his voice resolute.
> "Exam space—
Proceed to the next question."