The Akatsuki Organization's New Recruit

"Demi-God" Hanzo of the Salamander was powerful, cautious by nature, and possessed a body modified to release deadly poison, a refined chain-sickle martial art, formidable Fire Release techniques, and summoning jutsu.

The title of the Three Ninja—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—was first spread from his lips.

He was a man who respected those with potential and strength, but as he aged and weakened, like most dictators, he grew senile and did things that ruined his reputation.

Hanzo of the Salamander allied with Danzo, betrayed his word, and schemed against the promising youth of Amegakure, driving Yahiko to suicide.

This act became an indelible stain on Hanzo's life and the reason for his death.

This time, the person Gaara sought was the one who had killed Hanzo of the Salamander.

The leader of the Akatsuki Organization, Nagato Uzumaki, who controlled the Six Paths of Pain!

At present, Akatsuki was still in its early stage of capital accumulation. That is, the first step of the "Three-Step World Domination Plan" that Nagato had cooked up in a fit of chuunibyou.

As for hunting Tailed Beasts, profiting from war, ruling the world, and such—he hadn't yet dared to bring those up with the other Akatsuki members.

Gaara was indeed lucky. On the third day of his arrival in Amegakure, he met the right person.

A hunched "old man" wearing a black coat with red clouds.

After experiencing "Shadow Breaking the Firmament," Gaara had also learned the whole truth from his father and personally felt the existence of "love."

Thus, his personality had undergone a subtle change.

"Sasori of the Red Sands?"

Gaara bowed slightly in greeting.

"Hm? You know me?" A hoarse, frail voice came from the hunched figure.

"I'm from the Land of Wind, just like you."

Gaara's expression was a bit odd.

The figurines Wang Yan had given him each had their own characteristics, and most concealed the personalities and stories of the characters.

The figurine of Sasori of the Red Sands before him was the most interesting.

It had a two-layer structure. When you took off the black coat with red clouds, it revealed an old man's form—but that was just a false shell, completely discardable.

If you dismantled it one layer further, you'd see his true appearance.

Red hair similar to Gaara's own, a delicate and handsome face that looked like a boy who had just become a Genin.

"Hehehe... Little one, you've got guts. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Sasori's tone turned dark. He flipped his mood like turning a page, needing no emotional buildup at all.

"I actually admire you, Senior Sasori of the Red Sands... After all, assassinating the Third Kazekage isn't something just anyone can pull off. You know, he was called the strongest Kazekage in history."

Gaara was neither servile nor overbearing. He didn't act like a greenhorn youth but rather like a bloodthirsty warrior who had crawled through battlefields for years.

In truth, the memories from those three years in "Shadow Breaking the Firmament" had been brought back to the real world, making him seem far more mature than his appearance suggested.

Hearing this, Sasori's pupils slightly constricted. His neck turned stiffly, making a creaking sound like a mechanical puppet without oil.

"Just who are you? Why do you know about that incident back then?" Sasori's tone was still as cold as before, but no longer carried that murderous aura.

"Son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Jinchuriki of the One-Tails Shukaku."

Gaara bowed slightly to show his stance.

Though his personality had changed a lot, the stubbornness in his bones remained. Even if Rasa, thinking from the Kazekage's position, tried his best to stop him, he couldn't shake Gaara's resolve.

When Gaara left Sunagakure, the two had even fought.

But Rasa felt some guilt in his heart and held back a little during the battle, allowing Gaara to escape successfully. He even earned the record of "a 12-year-old tying with a Kage-level fighter."

If Akatsuki investigated Gaara's situation, they would naturally fill in the blanks themselves, imagining the Jinchuriki couldn't bear the oppression and became a Rogue Ninja.

"I see."

Sasori's eyes were icy. "So-called Kages are the coldest people in the world. In their eyes, family bonds are probably far less important than their own power."

Having lost both parents at a young age, Sasori of the Red Sands, upon hearing Gaara's identity and story, saw a bit of his younger self in him. His tone softened considerably. "You want to join Akatsuki?"

"Yes. I hope Senior Sasori can be my guide." Gaara's expression was serious, not joking.

Once the Nine-Tails collection plan began, Gaara, as a Jinchuriki, staying in Akatsuki would be practically asking for death.

But if he didn't reveal his Jinchuriki identity, the others would still find out quickly, which would only bring unnecessary attention and wariness.

"Akatsuki doesn't take in trash. I'll only give you a chance to meet the leader. The rest is up to you."

Sasori of the Red Sands said this in a faint tone, then fell silent. He pressed his left index finger to his temple and stopped moving.

Gaara sensed the flow of Chakra and the shift in the wind.

The other party seemed to be conversing with someone.

A moment later, a blurry silhouette descended before him.

"So you're the newcomer who wants to join Akatsuki? Show me everything you've got. If you're not serious, you'll die."

As soon as the voice fell, the silhouette twisted instantly.

In a flash of lightning!

A pitch-black rod, as if it could absorb even light, thrust toward Gaara's right eye!

No time to react, no chance at all.

Even an Earth Release Chakra Shield would be pierced in an instant.

Because this was a Black Rod—a creation of Yin-Yang Release! It housed the Rinnegan's "Outer Path Power," capable of disrupting others' chakra, with an even stronger effect on Tailed Beasts.

In short, it was a Tailed Beast bane, a Jinchuriki's mortal enemy!

Snap!

A hand formed of sand seized the Black Rod, halting it cold in its tracks.

"Not bad. Not bad at all."

Nagato, watching through Pain's projected clone's shared vision at Gaara's expressionless face, couldn't help but praise.

He'd originally seen the other as a One-Tails Jinchuriki walking right into his lap—kill him, seal One-Tails Shukaku, and be done with it. But after witnessing Gaara's performance now, he suddenly felt a pang of reluctance to waste such talent.

A Jinchuriki's life force was intertwined with their Tailed Beast; extracting the beast would kill the host.

But Nagato had the Rinnegan and mastered Yang Release Ninjutsu, allowing him to extract the Tailed Beast while keeping Gaara alive.

He realized that the power the Red-Haired Youth relied on deep down wasn't the Tailed Beast at all, but the sand packed inside that gourd—otherwise, he wouldn't have instinctively used it to defend.

One-Tails Shukaku didn't matter much to Gaara.

"From today on, you are the eleventh member of the Akatsuki Organization."

Nagato's word was law, sealing Gaara's identity.

Reincarnator 007 completed the Novice Mission, earning 2000 Reward Points and one B-Rank Destiny Gem.

"Excuse me, how many points to revive my mother?"

Gaara asked instinctively in his mind.

"4000 Reward Points, one B-Rank Destiny Gem."

A cold, emotionless voice echoed deep in his mind.

Nagato Uzumaki sat in his wheelchair, face pale, lips cyanotic, but his tone burned with fervor: "For the peace of the ninja world, the Akatsuki Organization is expanding recruitment. Ten Recommendation Tickets for one ring, title of your choice. Also, please leave a five-star review. Thank you."