"What?" Hearing the news so suddenly, Temari trembled all over, a look of horror appearing on her face.
But a moment later, she regained her composure and asked sternly, "What do you mean?"
The fact that Akatsuki was subordinate to the God of Time and Space was certainly shocking, but on further thought, it seemed only natural. Otherwise, there was no way to explain why so many powerful ninja had gathered together.
Shin gave her an approving look and smiled. "It's simple. How about we make a deal? I have a contract here. Sign it, and I guarantee that Gaara will return to Sunagakure alive."
Hearing his voice beside her ear, Temari startled and quickly turned around. Shin had somehow appeared at her side again, holding an ancient-looking sheet of paper covered in dense, tadpole-like writing.
"What is this?" she asked warily.
"A contract of sale," Shin replied bluntly.
"Hm?" Temari's gaze sharpened as she fell silent. She took the contract and examined it carefully before asking, "May I ask what will happen if I refuse to sign?"
Shin smiled. "Simple. Gaara will never return to Sunagakure, and the new Kazekage will be one of my people. Other than that, nothing much. But if that happens, it'll be hard to say how much of Sunagakure will remain after the great upheaval to come."
"The new Kazekage? One of your people?" Temari asked in confusion.
Shin shrugged. "Ah, you didn't think Akatsuki was the only thing I'd developed in the Ninja World over all these years, did you? My influence is beyond your imagination. I don't mind telling you that more than a third of Sunagakure's upper ranks are my subordinates. Of course, I normally don't interfere with their actions. Some of them don't even know the truth themselves; only when