Rock Lee, Neji & Shino = Konoha ownage.

Zetsu telling Spiral-Face having Sasori's ring doesn't guarantee him a spot, got me thinking that he'll either have to defeat another Akatsuki member, or prove himself to them like all of the other members have done. Itachi's killed his entire clan, Sasori killed his own Kazekage and took over an entire country with his puppet army, and Kisame's killed countless Feudal Lords. I'm guessing this new guy will have to prove himself, since I don't think Akatsuki can afford losing yet another member.

Also, someone asked about Orochimaru's ring. He still has it. In the episode directly following the Konoha Invasion, and when Itachi makes his debut, Orochimaru is talking in the cave with Kabuto about Itachi's great power, and it pans out and shows his original body's arm, with the ring still on the finger. Right after that, it shows Itachi and Kisame's rings, as they were in the small dining shop in Konoha.