"Demi-God" Hanzo of the Salamander was immensely powerful and cautious by nature. His modified body could release deadly poison, and he possessed refined chain-sickle Martial Arts, powerful Fire Release techniques, and summoning techniques.
The title of the Three Ninja for Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had spread from his mouth.
He respected powerful people with potential, but after he grew old and weak, he became like most dictators: senile and muddleheaded, doing things that utterly ruined his reputation.
Hanzo of the Salamander joined forces with Danzo, betrayed his trust, and plotted against Amegakure's outstanding young people, driving Yahiko to suicide.
That incident became a stain Hanzo of the Salamander could never wash away in his lifetime, and it was also why he was killed.
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!
The current Akatsuki was still in its primitive stage of capital accumulation. In other words, it was the first step of the Three-Step World Domination Plan that Nagato had dreamed up on a whim during one of his chuunibyou episodes.
As for hunting Tailed Beasts, profiting from war, and ruling the world, he had not yet dared mention any of that to the other Akatsuki Organization members.
Gaara's luck was indeed good. On his third day in Amegakure, he encountered the right person.
A hunchbacked "old man" wearing a black with red clouds trench coat.
After experiencing "Shadow Breaking the Firmament," Gaara learned the full truth from his father and personally experienced the existence of "love."
Thus, his personality had undergone subtle changes.
"Sasori of the Red Sands?"
Gaara dipped slightly and gave the other party a bow.
"Hm? You know me?" An old, feeble voice came from the hunchbacked man.
"Like you, I come from the Land of Wind."
Gaara's expression was somewhat strange.
The figurines Wang Yan had given him each possessed their own characteristics, and most hid the characters' personalities and remarkable experiences.
The Sasori of the Red Sands figurine in front of him was the most interesting.
It had a double-layered structure. After removing the Black with Red Clouds coat, it took the form of an old man, but that was merely a false outer shell that could be discarded entirely.
Peel back another layer, and one would find his true appearance.
Red Hair like Gaara's own, a delicate and handsome face—he looked like a youth who had only just become a Genin.
"Hehehe... little brat, you've got guts. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Sasori's tone became somewhat gloomy. He truly changed his face as easily as turning a page, without needing to build up any emotion at all.
"I've always admired you, Senior Sasori of the Red Sands... After all, assassinating the Third Kazekage isn't something just anyone can accomplish. You should know that he was called the strongest Kazekage in history."
Gaara was neither servile nor overbearing. He did not look like a young man fresh out of the gate at all; instead, he resembled a bloodthirsty warrior who had struggled through battlefields for years.
In truth, the memories of those three years in "Shadow Breaking the Firmament" had returned with him to the real world, making him far more mature than he looked.
At this, Sasori's pupils slightly constricted. His neck turned stiffly halfway around, making creaking sounds like a mechanical puppet without oil.
"Who exactly are you? Why do you know about what happened back then?" Sasori's tone remained as cold as before, but he no longer carried that killing intent.
"The son of Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the Jinchuriki of One-Tails Shukaku."
Gaara bowed slightly, making his position clear.
Although his personality had changed considerably, the extremism in his bones had not diminished in the slightest. Even if Rasa had considered matters from the Kazekage's perspective and done his best to stop him, he could not shake Gaara's resolve.
When Gaara left Sunagakure, the two had even fought.
However, Rasa felt somewhat guilty. He held back slightly during the battle, allowing Gaara to escape successfully and even earn the record of "drawing with a Kage-level powerhouse at the age of twelve."
If the Akatsuki Organization investigated Gaara's situation, they would inevitably fill in the blanks themselves: a Jinchuriki unable to endure exploitation, becoming a Rogue Ninja.
"I see."
Sasori's gaze was icy. "Those called Kage are the coldest-blooded people in the world. In their eyes, family may be far less important than their own power."
After hearing Gaara's identity and experiences, Sasori of the Red Sands, who had lost both parents at a young age, saw traces of his younger self in him. His tone became much gentler. "You want to join the Akatsuki Organization?"
"Yes. I hope Senior Sasori can guide me there." Gaara's expression was solemn, not at all joking.
Once the Nine-Tails collection plan began, Gaara, as a Jinchuriki, remaining in the Akatsuki Organization would be almost equivalent to seeking death.
But if he did not reveal his identity as a Jinchuriki, they would still quickly discover it, instead drawing needless attention and wariness.
"The Akatsuki Organization does not take in trash. I'll only give you one chance to meet the leader. The rest depends on your own performance."
After Sasori of the Red Sands spoke in an eerie tone, he said nothing more. He merely pressed his left index finger to his temple and remained still.
Gaara sensed the flow of Chakra and a change in the wind.
The other party seemed to be speaking with someone.
A moment later, a phantom whose features could not be seen descended before him.
"You're the newcomer who wants to join the Akatsuki Organization? Show me everything you have. If you don't get serious, you'll die."
As soon as the voice fell, the phantom twisted instantly.
In a flash!
A pitch-black rod, as though it could absorb even light, stabbed toward Gaara's right eye!
There was no time or opportunity to react.
Even an Earth Release Chakra Shield would be pierced through in an instant.
Because this was a Black Rod! A creation of Yin-Yang Release! It contained the Rinnegan's Outer Path Power, capable of disrupting others' Chakra and even more effective against Tailed Beasts!
It could be said that this was the nemesis of Tailed Beasts and the mortal enemy of Jinchuriki!
Smack!
A hand formed from sand seized the black rod tightly, preventing it from advancing another inch.
"Not bad. Very good!"
Nagato watched Gaara's expressionless face through the shared vision of Pain's phantom clone and could not help praising him.
Originally, seeing that the One-Tails Jinchuriki had delivered himself to his door, Nagato had thought he could simply kill him and seal away One-Tails Shukaku while he was at it. But after seeing Gaara's performance, he immediately developed an appreciation for his talent.
A Jinchuriki's life force was connected to that of the Tailed Beast. Once the Tailed Beast was extracted, the Jinchuriki would die.
But Nagato possessed the Rinnegan and controlled Yang Release Ninjutsu. He could extract the Tailed Beast while preserving Gaara's life.
He realized that the power the Red-Haired Youth relied on deep down was not the Tailed Beast, but the sand inside his gourd. Otherwise, he would never have instinctively used it for defense.
One-Tails Shukaku was not important to Gaara.
"From today onward, you are the eleventh member of the Akatsuki Organization."
Nagato's Word is Law, and he assigned Gaara his identity.
Reincarnator 007 completed the Novice Mission and received 2,000 Reward Points and one B-Rank Destiny Gem.
"May I ask how many points are needed to revive my mother?"
Gaara asked inwardly without thinking.
"4,000 Reward Points and one B-Rank Destiny Gem."
A cold, emotionless voice echoed deep in the mind.
Nagato Uzumaki sat in a wheelchair, his face pale and his lips bluish-purple, yet his tone was fervent. "For peace in the ninja world, the Akatsuki Organization has decided to expand its recruitment. Ten Recommendation tickets can be exchanged for one ring, and you may choose any title you want. Also, please leave a five-star review. Thank you."
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