At the border of the Land of Wind, a barren desert stretched out.
Xingye walked alone through the desert, his Byakugan scanning everything around him in all directions.
According to the intel Kisame had provided, Sasori of the Red Sands often operated in this area, mainly gathering intelligence and making puppets.
"Sasori of the Red Sands," Xingye murmured to himself. "Your Puppet Technique is indeed impressive."
"But today, it will be the reason you lose."
Just then, the system's notification rang out.
[System Notification: Target detected] [Sasori of the Red Sands, four kilometers ahead] [Chakra traits: Puppet Chakra, Poison Technique Mastery]
A cold glint flashed in Xingye's eyes.
"He's here."
Xingye changed direction and headed for the target's location.
Four minutes later
Xingye arrived at an oasis and saw someone making a puppet.
His entire body was wrapped inside a puppet, concealing his face, but long red hair spilled out from within.
It was none other than Sasori of the Red Sands of the Akatsuki.
Sasori was carefully carving the puppet and hadn't noticed Xingye approaching.
"Sasori," Xingye called out, "your Puppet Technique is truly ingenious."
Sasori abruptly looked up at Xingye.
"Who are you?" Sasori asked coldly.
"I'm Uchiha Xingye," Xingye replied.
Sasori's pupils contracted slightly. "Uchiha Xingye? The Uchiha prodigy who showed off his strength at the Five Kage Summit?"
Xingye nodded. "That's right."
"Sasori, I know what your mission is."
Sasori sneered. "You know my mission? Then do you know how powerful the Akatsuki is?"
"I know the Akatsuki is strong," Xingye said, "but I also know you aren't truly devoted to it."
Sasori fell silent.
Xingye continued, "Sasori, what you seek is eternal art."
"You believe that only an incorruptible body can be called art."
"But do you really believe an incorruptible body is eternal?"
Sasori's expression changed.
Xingye went on. "Sasori, I know about your past."
"When you were in the Land of Wind, you closed off your heart after your parents were killed."
"Ever since, you've sought an incorruptible body, believing that was the only way to attain eternity."
"But the Akatsuki isn't the place where you'll realize that ideal."
Sasori remained silent. Xingye actually knew about his past.
"Sasori, I'll give you a choice," Xingye said.
"Let's fight now."
"If you can defeat me, I'll let you kill me."
"But if I defeat you, you'll join me."
A glint of fighting spirit flashed in Sasori's eyes. "Interesting."
"Then let me see just how strong the Uchiha prodigy is."
Sasori formed Hand Seals, and ten puppets burst out from the sand dunes, surrounding Xingye.
Each puppet had a different specialty: some excelled at poison, others at offense or defense.
"Uchiha Xingye," Sasori said coldly, "my Puppet Technique isn't so easy to deal with."
Xingye looked at the ten puppets and said calmly, "They're certainly strong."
"But your Puppet Technique has one fatal weakness."
Sasori sneered. "A weakness? You're saying my Puppet Technique has a weakness?"
Xingye nodded. "That's right."
"You need Chakra Threads to control your puppets."
"Cut the threads, and your puppets are nothing but scrap metal."
Sasori flew into a rage. "Impossible! There's no way you can see my Chakra Threads!"
Xingye smiled faintly. "Is that so? Then let me prove it."
His Mangekyō Sharingan slowly opened as his Byakugan scanned every puppet in all directions.
Through the Byakugan, he could clearly see the Chakra Threads attached to each puppet.
"Found them." A cold glint flashed in Xingye's eyes.
Lightning Release: Chidori!
Xingye vanished in an instant and reappeared in the middle of the puppet formation.
The Chidori precisely severed the Chakra Threads controlling all ten puppets.
The puppets instantly lost control and collapsed onto the sand dunes.
Sasori was stunned. "You saw my Chakra Threads?"
"Byakugan," Xingye said calmly.
"No matter how powerful your Puppet Technique is, you still need Chakra Threads to control your puppets."
"Cut the threads, and your puppets are nothing but scrap metal."
Sasori's expression changed. He had never faced an opponent who could see Chakra Threads before.
"Uchiha Xingye," Sasori said coldly, "you really are strong."
"But I have an even stronger Puppet Technique."
Sasori formed Hand Seals, and his body began to glow.
Hiruko!
Sasori's puppet form began to change, becoming even larger and more powerful.
Hiruko was Sasori's main puppet, with tremendous offensive and defensive capabilities.
"Uchiha Xingye," Sasori said, "witness my true art."
Hiruko's tail stabbed toward Xingye, moving like lightning.
Xingye didn't dodge. He immediately activated the second form of Susanoo Healing.
Orange Chakra Armor enveloped Xingye, blocking Hiruko's tail.
Boom!
Hiruko's tail slammed into Susanoo Healing with a thunderous crash.
Susanoo Healing shuddered slightly but remained unharmed.
Sasori's pupils contracted. "Susanoo Healing? The Uchiha's Absolute Defense?"
"Sasori, your Puppet Technique is indeed impressive," Xingye said calmly.
"But against Susanoo Healing, your attacks are meaningless."
Sasori roared, "Impossible! My art is invincible!"
Hiruko launched an all-out assault, sending countless poisoned needles, poison gas, and poison liquid at Xingye all at once.
Xingye didn't panic. The pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan shifted.
"Sasori, do you think poison can defeat me?"
Amaterasu!
Black flames surged from Xingye's eyes, completely engulfing Hiruko.
Hiruko's poison gas, poison liquid, and poisoned needles quickly vanished in the flames of Amaterasu.
Sasori was stunned. "What kind of flames are these? Why are they so strange?"
"This is Amaterasu, the inextinguishable black flame," Xingye said.
"Once ignited, it keeps burning until its target is completely consumed."
Sasori's expression changed. Amaterasu's flames were slowly burning through Hiruko's shell.
"Damn it," Sasori cursed. "Uchiha techniques are so irritating."
Sasori tried to use his puppets to block Amaterasu, but the black flames pierced straight through them and continued spreading toward his real body.
Xingye looked at Sasori and said coldly, "Sasori, do you understand my strength now?"
"Keep resisting, and you'll only make yourself suffer."
Sasori was silent for a moment, then dispelled Hiruko's form.
A red-haired young man stepped out of the puppet.
This was Sasori of the Red Sands' real body.
"Uchiha Xingye," Sasori said calmly, "you really are strong."
"I admit I can't defeat you."
Xingye nodded. "Then are you willing to join me?"
Sasori pondered for a moment before finally saying, "All right. I'll join you."
Xingye smiled faintly, and the flames of Amaterasu went out.
"Sasori," Xingye said, "welcome aboard."
"Next, I need you to do three things."
"Go ahead," Sasori said.
"First, return to the Akatsuki and keep playing your part."
"Don't let the others realize you've betrayed them."
"Second, secretly gather information on the Akatsuki, including its plans, base locations, and members' movements."
"Third, when the time comes, I'll have you work with us to bring down the Akatsuki from within."
Sasori nodded. "Understood."
Xingye continued, "There's also Deidara's death."
"I'll report to the Akatsuki that 'Deidara died in battle against me.'"
"That will make the Akatsuki wary of me and help us prepare for the battles ahead."
Sasori nodded. "All right."
"Sasori, things will be dangerous for a while," Xingye said.
"The Akatsuki won't be easy to deal with. You'll need to be careful."
"Don't worry. I, Sasori of the Red Sands, won't be killed so easily."
Xingye nodded. "Good. Then go back."
"I'll contact you and pass along information."
Sasori turned and left, his figure gradually disappearing into the desert.
[System Notification: Sasori of the Red Sands successfully subdued] [Acquired traits: Subjugation (Blue), Puppet Technique Mastery (Red), Poison Technique Mastery (Purple), Artistic Perception (Blue)] [Plundered from Sasori: Puppet Chakra (Blue), Chakra Control (Green), Perception (Green)]
Xingye was delighted. Puppet Technique Mastery was a red-grade trait, worth a fortune.
"The Akatsuki," Xingye murmured, "is down two more members."
"Next is the fourth target."
Based on the information Kisame and Sasori had provided, his next targets should be Hidan and Kakuzu.
The two made a powerful team: one was an immortal devotee of Jashin, and the other a bounty hunter with five hearts.
Xingye decided to head for the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers to track them down.
Xingye vanished into the desert, setting off to find Hidan and Kakuzu.
Akatsuki Base
Underground base, Amegakure.
Obito stood before an illusionary projection, watching the entire process of Xingye subduing Sasori. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
"Sasori's been subdued too," Obito murmured. "Uchiha Xingye, you really are threatening my plans."
Black Zetsu emerged from behind Obito. "Obito, Xingye is indeed very powerful."
"He not only possesses the Otsutsuki Bloodline, but also the Mangekyō Sharingan and a Rinnegan Prototype."
"And he's already subdued Kisame and Sasori. Half the Akatsuki's members are on his side now."
Obito nodded. "I know."
"But the Akatsuki still has Hidan, Kakuzu, the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, and others."
"They're strong enough to deal with Xingye."
Black Zetsu sneered. "Then let them try."
"If Xingye can really defeat every member of the Akatsuki, then he'll deserve to become its new leader."
A murderous glint flashed in Obito's eyes.
"No. I won't let Xingye get his way."
"I'll deal with this problem myself."
Black Zetsu sneered. "That's up to you, Obito."
"But I suggest you be careful."
"Xingye is even stronger than you think."
Obito was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I know."
"I'll make every possible preparation."
Before you continue