Chapter 69 - Operation Snake Beater

After Ren finished explaining the Hollow caste, he went on with the next topic "Now that everyone is up to speed, let's talk about the main reason for meeting here, Dosu here finally found the position of one of the main hideout of Orochimaru

And Dosu says "Finally hunting down criminal syndicate bore its fruit, I found some information that gave the vague position of this hideout, it is located on an island in the middle of an ocean somewhere possibly off the coast of the Land of Waves".

Hearing that Ren nodded and said "Now we will all go there in case Orochimaru is there, of course minus Itachi that will return to spy Akatsuki, by the way how much time is left before they begin?" and Itachi replies "They are waiting for the Sanbi to reform so another half year and they start collecting them"

Then Ren continued to plan "So I'll teleport us to the hideout in the Land of Wave, then we move to the coast and we'll search for Orochimaru's hideout, once found we will scout it, and then plan an attack, but remember that it will possible that some test subject and people force to work for him are there, so try to not kill unless forced"

Next Ren with a grin took something from his pocket and said "Now let's end this meeting, you can take any room upstairs to rest....Oh Itachi this is a gift for you" and threw him a rectangular 5x7 framed photo, and his grin grew bigger "This come directly from my collection so, to remind you what are you fighting for...."

As the framed photo was flying Haku, Zabuza and Dosu who already knew this side of Ren were already facepalming, while Peri took out his camera, meanwhile Itachi grabbed the photo, took a glass of water, and started drinking while turning the photo around to look at it.

Then as soon as he saw the photo, there was no change in his expression, but the water that he was drinking burst out like he was using the Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Bullet Technique) causing a rainbow to appear soon after, while a fast series of flash coming from Peri and Ren camera were produced with Ren yelling "Gotcha!".

The photo that Ren gave Itachi is of course the one of Naruto and Sasuke's kiss, but what happened next shocked not only Ren but also the others, Itachi activated his Sharingan and the Tomoe started rotating forming the three spiralling curves around the pupil, then the framed photo started burning in the black flames of Amaterasu, and vanished from existence, before the eyes returned normal.

Then Ren like nothing happened took out another and said "Oh sorry I must have given you the wrong one, this is the real gift" this time he directly showed the photo and this time, when Itachi saw it he let out a small smile, this was one of the first blackma...memories photo he took, it was the one were Sasuke was secretly smiling at one of Naruto's classic pranks, this time Itachi took the photo and put in a hidden sealed scroll then he said "Now it's time to go back to my meeting point with Kisame, if something change I'll inform you"

After that Itachi went out, while Dosu, Zabuza and Haku went upstairs, what nobody other than Peri noticed was that before going upstairs Haku gave to Ren a small film roll, before finding a room for himself.

The next day Ren in his full Shihakusho (Garment of Dead Souls) mask included meet with the others that were already waiting for him, Peri in his Agent P mode, Zabuza who also put on the Shihakusho, but his was a sleeveless one, and his forehead protector changed from the Kiri's one to the one of the Baransa, on it there is engraved the number 3 and a Marigold, Haku too put on the Shihakusho and changed his protector, on it there was the number 2 and a Pasque flower, while Dosu reclutantly put on his too but he with Ren's help modified his Kyōmei Supīkā, and added a hidden blade for close combat, and on his protector he has engraved the number 10 and a Daffodil.

Seeing Ren come Dosu said in an annoyed tone "You're here, I still do not understand why we have to change, the way we dress, and whats with the number and flower on the protectors?"

And Ren replies with "The same attire is to prevent friendly fire in the chaos of the battle, as for the numbers and protector, they are meant as tribute to the Shiningami of the past, they were organized in 13 divisions all with different specialities and duties, the number represent the division and the flower the initial meaning, for example Haku's number 2 stand for the second division whose main duty was, stealth, assassination, detention, ect., and the insignia the Pasque flower means ,seek nothing."

Curious Zabuza ask "And mine what it means?" and Ren replies "3rd division, where the most all rounder Shinigami went, and the Marigold signifies, despair, and before you ask Dosu's one is the daffodil that signifies, mystery, egoism and Peri's Iris signifies, courage and Itachi the number is the 6th and he has a Camellia that signifies, noble reason, now can we move on?"

Then once again the check that they have everything and then gave an ok sign, so Ren says "Come closer" and starts using the Bakudō #87. Sentan Hakuja (Thousand-Coil White Snake) and teleports everyone to the hideout in the Land of Wave, once there they move closer to the coast and buy a boat and starts moving in a random direction.

Once away from the coast Ren turn to Dosu and says "We are far enough, you can start" and so Dosu closes his eyes, put both arm in the water and says "Hankyoutei (Echolocation)" and sends many sound waves all around himself to determine the location of objects using reflected sound, and searching for the island where Orochimaru hideout is located.

After a few minute Dosu open his eyes and says "Found it!, It is a few kilometer south of here, or at the least there is an island, that isn't on the maps", and so they head toward the direction of the island found by Dosu.

They soon reach their destination, a big rocky island,with 3 big pointed mountains, once the island was in sight, Ren stopped the boat and took out his trusty black powder and used the Bakudō #58. Kakushitsuijaku (Footprint-Attentive Pursuing-Sparrows), to scout the island with his now enhanced spiritual sense.

Once done he turns to his comrades and says "Good news, this is the island we were searching for I felt more than a thousand signature, bad news I do not know who is exactly there, but no one is a threat, so let's start the phase one of the Operation Snake Beater".