You look like a talented person, joining the Jashin Cult?

Gojo Satoru looked at Uchiha Ruri before him, scratching his head with a look of surprise and slight awkwardness. A helpless smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he muttered softly, "Oh my, I'm just a Shadow Clone, little brother. Asking me this is truly beyond my expectations; it's both fresh and amusing. You must realize that although I am your Shadow Clone, we share the same consciousness and memories. Your confusion is, in fact, my own."

Uchiha Ruri blinked with interest, responding with a mysterious and playful smile, "Look at you, acting like a mature Shadow Clone now—how can you still be acting like a child? Especially since I, the original, have transformed into a woman. To help us better adapt to various situations, shouldn't you consider changing your identity for a bit of fun? For instance, why not experience life as a woman?"

Upon hearing this, Gojo Satoru was instantly stunned. His eyes flashed with surprise and bewilderment, seemingly caught off guard by this sudden proposal.

In the depths of his memories, he was the fearless and peerless Gojo Satoru. Although he was a Shadow Clone, he had not endured the various trials Gojo Satoru had experienced, nor had he suffered that famous waist-severing pain.

Yet, at this moment, faced with this brand-new challenge of gender transformation, he found himself at a loss.

However, Gojo Satoru's personality was never lacking in openness and spontaneity. He quickly adjusted his mindset, smiled slightly, and accepted this seemingly absurd yet fun-filled proposal.

He formed hand seals, and a strange ripple of power swirled around him. His once short, dashing hair began to change, cascading down from his shoulders like a waterfall, smooth and lustrous. The features of his face also softened with a uniquely feminine charm, completing the process of gender transformation.

At this very moment, Gojo Satoru appeared before Uchiha Ruri in a brand-new female form.

Gojo Rin widened her eyes, staring at the scene in utter astonishment. Her bright eyes reflected the Gojo Satoru who had just shifted from male to female, and she couldn't help but blurt out, "My big brother has actually turned into a woman?"

Her tone was laced with incredulous excitement and novelty, and she jokingly added, "Big Sister!"

Gojo Satoru chuckled softly and waved at Gojo Rin, as if already accustomed to such startling changes.

To the side, Uchiha Ruri's eyes glinted with cunning. Observing their interaction, she confidently proposed a bold idea: "In that case, let's play along. After joining the Akatsuki, we'll modify your persona. You'll be positioned as a caring big sister. This way, not only can you integrate into the organization, but you can also achieve unexpected results while carrying out missions."

As it turned out, Uchiha Ruri had orchestrated a grand plan. She intended for Gojo Rin, Uchiha Hanabi, and the now-female Gojo Satoru to join the infamous Akatsuki together and fight alongside Pain and the others.

She envisioned more than just a simple recruitment; she hoped to subtly change or influence the direction of Akatsuki's operations. She even aimed to use their special identities and relationships during the future battle for Konoha to orchestrate a unique "Pain's Bag of Rice" incident.

This plan required precise layout and clever strategy; they needed to penetrate the enemy camp while demonstrating enough power and wisdom at critical moments to achieve their goals.

Amidst the laughter and conversation, Uchiha Hanabi quietly moved behind the newly transformed Gojo Satoru. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, clearly harboring intense curiosity about Gojo Satoru's new image.

She reached out and cautiously touched Gojo Satoru's chest, which had become fuller due to the transformation, a subtle and satisfied smile appearing on her face.

She lowered her voice, speaking with a tone of teasing and appreciation, "Wow, Teacher Gojo's feel is really super great now. Compared to the original male body, this soft and comfortable touch is truly incomparable."

Gojo Satoru was slightly taken aback by these words, then couldn't help but laugh.

Though Gojo Satoru kept her smile, she decided to return the joke in the same manner.

She feigned dissatisfaction, lightly touched Uchiha Hanabi's chest, and teased, "Hanabi, it's still as flat as a board here. It seems we all have room for growth; you really are too weak."

Uchiha Ruri witnessed this series of interactions between Gojo Satoru and Uchiha Hanabi and couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head, pretending to be serious, though her eyes betrayed her amusement: "I tell you two, how did you turn such profound Six Paths Level ninjutsu into this? It was meant to be an important means for tactical deployment and strategic disguise, yet it's become a tool for 'experiencing life' with each other."

Gojo Satoru withdrew her hand, a faint smile on her face. Not minding the joke at all, she agreed, "The original is right, but this just goes to show the flexibility and diversity of ninjutsu. Even Six Paths Level ninjutsu can play unexpected roles in different situations."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Hanabi still had a trace of melancholy on her cheeks. She glanced at Gojo Satoru's chest and whispered, "Tsk."

The mysterious Masked Man sped through the silent night, racing toward Yugakure.

Finally, a few kilometers away from the village, he successfully caught up with the Akatsuki team led by Konan.

"Ah, Senior Konan, I'm here. Sorry, I'm late."

Though the Masked Man's voice was muffled by his mask, the playful tone indicated he didn't care much about the matter.

Kakuzu turned his head at the sound, his face full of impatience. His brows furrowed as he complained, "Newbie, why are you so slow at the bathroom? Did you have to take a dump for that long?"

His words were crude, completely unaware that the late companion before him was no ordinary recruit.

Standing to the side, Itachi Uchiha had a profound look in his eyes, knowing deep down that things were not so simple.

The tragic memories of the Night of the Uchiha Massacre were still fresh; it was that very event that had driven him to join the Akatsuki.

This suddenly appearing Masked Man was no mere nobody; he was highly likely the key figure behind many of the upheavals—Madara Uchiha (Obito).

What normal person takes tens of minutes in the bathroom? Squatting in the forest, is he really that thick-skinned?

As one of the core members of the Akatsuki, Konan was well aware of this person's identity—Madara Uchiha, that is, Obito.

The addition of Madara undoubtedly brought more uncertainty to the already complex Akatsuki. Therefore, when he appeared among the trainee group as a recruit, Konan's internal vigilance and repulsion surged.

Facing Hidan's ignorance and Itachi's silence, Konan suppressed her internal disgust and said to the Masked Man calmly, "I hope you can arrive at the meeting point on time next time. The Akatsuki has strict discipline; we cannot tolerate any delays."

This sentence was a reprimand to the recruit on the surface, but in reality, it was a warning to Madara Uchiha, implying that all his actions would be under close surveillance.

"Yes, yes, I really should improve my efficiency. This time, it was because I passed a bustling market and remembered the love for Three-Color Dango that Itachi-kun once mentioned, so I specifically picked up a few portions, hoping to add a touch of warmth to our tense mission schedule."

The Masked Man—actually Obito—explained while showing the Three-Color Dango in his hand, a local specialty he had quickly purchased at a nearby shop.

Itachi Uchiha's gaze fell upon the familiar snack. His expression didn't fluctuate much, but a ripple stirred deep within his heart.

He remembered that when he was young, Izumi Uchiha had once made similar Three-Color Dango for him. It was not only a sweet memory of his childhood but also a deep longing for his family and kin.

He nodded slightly, his voice calm and restrained: "Indeed, Three-Color Dango has a delicate texture; it is truly a beautiful memory of childhood. Thank you for your concern."

Kakuzu, the veteran ninja of the Akatsuki, demonstrated his strict and pragmatic style at this moment.

He reminded, "Newbie, the spirit of being considerate to teammates is worth praising, but in this organization, completing the mission is what is paramount. For the next operation, please be sure to plan your schedule in advance to ensure we are not delayed by trivial matters again."

Konan chose to remain silent for the moment, saying, "Let's go. Recruiting the new member is the most important thing; you can eat the dango on the road."

"I'll remember for next time, seniors!" The Masked Man followed the group toward Yugakure.

The next day.

On an ordinary afternoon, the sun lazily spilled over the streets and alleys of Yugakure, where villagers were busy with their daily routines.

Just then, Hidan appeared abruptly before an ordinary villager passing by. Dressed in ninja attire with a mysterious smirk hanging from his lips, he looked every bit the part of a traveling con artist.

"Hey, brother, looking at your sharp brows and bright eyes, plus your unique bone structure, you're definitely a rare talent seen only once in a century!" Hidan put on a warm front, patted the man on the shoulder, and invited him with a look of sincerity, "I think you should consider joining our Lord Jashin's Jashin Cult!"

The villager stopped in his tracks, clearly bewildered by this sudden question. He stared blankly at Hidan for a moment before coming to his senses, scratching his head, and asking naively, "Jashin Cult? Sounds a bit fresh. Does this sect offer any special benefits?"

Upon hearing this, Hidan's face lit up with excitement, his eyes gleaming as if he had found the perfect moment for a sales pitch: "Haha, brother, you asked the right person! The benefits of the Jashin Cult are incredibly generous! First, you only need to bravely stab your own heart to feel the sublime pleasure of communicating directly with Lord Jashin! Look at this blade of mine; this isn't just any weapon, it's a divine artifact dedicated to sacrificial rituals. It looks priceless, and only noble Jashin Cultists can possess one!"

As he spoke, Hidan didn't forget to pull out his blood-stained weapon to show off, deliberately waving it in the sunlight to make it cast an eerie glow.

The villager looked at the weapon in Hidan's hand, stunned at first, then filled with confusion. He fell into deep thought, and after a long while, he squeezed out a sentence: "...So, the benefit is that I get to stab myself, and then I get a knife that looks expensive but is actually just used to stab myself?"

The surrounding air instantly froze, and Hidan's smug face stiffened. After a moment, he squeezed out an awkward but polite smile: "Ahem, well, brother, your understanding is slightly off, but the general idea is about the same... In short, this is the only path to truth and eternity. It's absolutely worth more than the price!"

The villager's face was covered in black lines, speechless. He could only sigh silently in his heart: I'm afraid I've run into a high-level pyramid scheme recruiter...

The villager shook his head slightly, a trace of disdain on his face: "Forget it, I refuse."

His words blocked Hidan's bizarre proposal, clearly rejecting him.

The playfulness on Hidan's face instantly solidified, replaced by a touch of gloom and cruelty.

He hooked his lips into a strange arc, like a cunning fox: "Oh? It seems you don't intend to cooperate. In that case, I'll just have to use you as a gift for Lord Jashin."

The villager rolled his eyes, secretly muttering to himself: Crazy.

He turned to leave, intending to return to the village and tell the other villagers about this smooth-talking pyramid schemer so they could stay alert.

Hidan had no intention of letting him go. A flash of cunning crossed his eyes, and with a flicker of movement, he blocked the villager's path.

Intending to try one more time to get him to join the cult, he feigned mystery and whispered: "Don't you really want to know the secrets of Lord Jashin? As long as you are willing to cooperate, I guarantee you will get everything you want."

The villager stopped and looked at Hidan with some curiosity. He thought to himself, Is this pyramid schemer crazy? He's actually using Lord Jashin as a front.

However, he didn't want to miss this opportunity; after all, exposing this scam would be a contribution to the village.

So, he deliberately feigned interest: "Oh? Then tell me, what exactly is the secret of Lord Jashin?"

Hidan smiled triumphantly, as if he had already seen the villager take the bait.

He began to make things up, telling absurd stories in an attempt to lure the villager into believing his nonsense.

The villager listened with great interest, nodding in agreement from time to time. Just as Hidan's throat grew dry from talking, the villager suddenly changed his tone: "So that's how it is. The secret of Lord Jashin is indeed extraordinary. However, I think you should go back and look in a mirror first. Does anyone looking like you actually resemble a follower of Lord Jashin?"

Hidan froze, his face immediately turning gloomy. He hadn't expected this villager to dare mock him like this.

If it weren't for the fact that he was the only one in the Jashin Cult, would he ever be ridiculed by an ordinary person?

"Then I'll just have to use you for a sacrifice." Hidan's large blade swept across the villager's neck; blood sprayed out, and the man collapsed to the ground, dead.