Recruiting Members! Hidan

"In that case, let's end this meeting here."

With that, Pain Deva Path had Konan hand two identical scrolls to Uchiha Ye and Uchiha Itachi, after which his Magic Lantern Body vanished from everyone's sight.

Opening the scroll, Uchiha Ye couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

It was nothing else but the three exclusive ninjutsu of the Akatsuki organization: the Magic Lantern Body Technique, the Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals, and the Shapeshifting Technique!

"Give me a few days to repair my puppets!"

Closing the projected mission scroll, Sasori of the Red Sand said this to Uchiha Ye.

Uchiha Ye replied, "Fine, as it happens, I also need time to familiarize myself with these ninjutsu."

If it weren't for the Akatsuki rule requiring missions to be carried out in pairs, he would have actually preferred to complete this task alone.

Walking out of the Akatsuki base and just after parting ways with Sasori of the Red Sand, Uchiha Ye suddenly stopped before the stairs.

In front of him, Orochimaru stared at him with a greedy expression, licking his lips as he said, "A body with the Sharingan—it truly looks perfect no matter how I look at it!"

"Since I can't have Uchiha Itachi, getting you will do just fine!"

These words made Uchiha Ye's entire body tense up.

Orochimaru was not like Sasori of the Red Sand, whose strength had yet to reach its peak.

Even if he wasn't as powerful as his "Eight-Headed Serpent" form from the original story, his strength was still quite formidable even among Kage-level ninja.

He was an enemy that Uchiha Ye would need to go all out to deal with.

And this was even after his fruit development progress had reached 50% following his battles with Uchiha Obito and Sasori of the Red Sand.

"Heh, I couldn't ask for more!"

Uchiha Ye also grinned, "Only on the edge of death can one truly grasp the essence of strength. Perhaps after a battle with you, my power will grow significantly!"

As his fruit ability improved, his Observation Haki naturally needed to be honed as well.

And that required battles against the strong.

"Heh heh, brat, you're arrogant enough!"

Seeing Uchiha Ye's fearless demeanor, Orochimaru's eyes darkened.

"Then let me see just how much strength you really have!"

As he spoke, his neck elongated toward Uchiha Ye, his foul-smelling maw snapping shut with vicious intent.

His speed was a notch faster than Sasori of the Red Sand.

He truly lives up to the name of the Sannin!

Facing the serpent head, Uchiha Ye felt a chill in his heart. He elementalized his body to dodge, simultaneously reaching out to grab Orochimaru's neck with a searing, scorching heat.

"Sizzle!"

The burning palm instantly scorched the neck, but there was no joy on Uchiha Ye's face.

Sure enough, the next moment, Orochimaru dissolved into a puddle of mud.

A Mud Clone!

Orochimaru reappeared in the distance, but before he could make another move, a low voice suddenly came from behind him: "Orochimaru, is your skin itching for a beating again?"

It was Sasori of the Red Sand, who had returned.

The appearance of Sasori of the Red Sand caused Orochimaru to freeze in his tracks.

If it were just Uchiha Ye, Orochimaru wouldn't have been particularly wary.

But with the addition of the somewhat troublesome Sasori of the Red Sand, things were different.

He could no longer touch Uchiha Ye.

"You're quite lucky, Ye-kun..."

Orochimaru chuckled, his expression showing a hint of reluctance, but he dissolved into a puddle of mud and vanished completely.

With Uchiha Ye and Sasori of the Red Sand united, he wouldn't gain anything here.

"Brother Sasori, thank you!"

After calming his aura, Uchiha Ye thanked Sasori behind him.

"I felt something was off with Orochimaru's gaze during the meeting earlier. Sure enough, I guessed right—that guy was planning something against you!"

Sasori, manipulating Hiruko, spoke with a hint of caution, "Orochimaru is indeed no simple character; it would be hard for me to deter him alone. It's also thanks to your own exceptional strength that we managed to force him back!"

Uchiha Ye smiled, "It's still thanks to you, Brother Sasori; otherwise, I fear I would have been in for a bitter fight today."

Sasori remarked that it was just a small favor.

Four days later, in the Land of Hot Water!

"Yo, little brother, I see you have excellent potential. Any interest in joining our Jashin Cult?"

On a tree-lined boulevard, Uchiha Ye and Sasori of the Red Sand were stopped in their tracks by a man with gray, slicked-back hair, wearing a stylish hooded cloak and wielding a long scythe.

"The Jashin Cult?"

Uchiha Ye's lips curled upward at the mention. He exchanged a glance with Sasori of the Red Sand beside him and tilted his straw hat slightly. "What kind of cult is that?"

The man with the slicked-back hair answered immediately, his voice unbridled and arrogant: "You won't be held accountable for killing people; in fact, it only makes Lord Jashin more excited. How about it? Sounds great, right? Want to join?"

Uchiha Ye stepped forward, a brilliant smile on his face. "That sounds truly wonderful..."

Just as the man's face lit up with joy, thinking he had recruited a new member, Uchiha Ye's tone suddenly shifted. "But I refuse!"

The man's joy instantly froze, turning into a sullen scowl. "Hey, you bastard, are you playing with me?"

Uchiha Ye shook his head, staring at the man before him. "A serial killer, a Jashin cultist—Hidan, it's you, isn't it?"

Hearing this, the man remained unfazed, instead spreading his arms with fanatical fervor. "Serial killer? What are you talking about! I am offering sacrifices to Lord Jashin; it's a standard part of my religious duties!"

"Fine, since you won't join, I'll just offer you to Lord Jashin instead!"

With that, he swung his large scythe and charged at Uchiha Ye.

He really couldn't be judged by the standards of a normal person!

Squelch!

Uchiha Ye was sliced in half at the waist without reacting. The man was about to celebrate, but upon closer inspection, his smile froze, and he retreated in shock.

Uchiha Ye's body had actually turned into molten lava, flowing downward.

The severed area healed rapidly, while the scythe in the man's hand had already melted and deformed from the heat.

"Brother Sasori, cover me. I'll be the one to test out someone with such bizarre abilities!"

Hearing this, Sasori of the Red Sand, who had been planning to use his poison, immediately stopped.

To him, it didn't matter how strange an ability was.

In the face of his poison, all living things were equal.

Of course, their leader, Pain, was the exception!

But since Uchiha Ye wanted to take the lead, he didn't mind stepping aside.

"Kid, that's a pretty strange ability you've got there!"

The man with the slicked-back hair looked at Uchiha Ye and licked his lips.

"You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Hidan!"

A flash of light crossed Uchiha Ye's eyes as he spoke each word clearly.

That's right!

This gray-haired man was none other than Uchiha Ye's target—Hidan!

"Knowing so much about me, it seems you came prepared!"

Hidan swung his scythe, his gaze sharpening as he closed in with a serpentine movement. The sweep of his large scythe was truly like the beckoning of the Grim Reaper, too swift to easily dodge.

Clang!

But the strike was still blocked by Uchiha Ye.

His right arm was scorching hot, gripping the scythe with immense force. The blade turned bright red and began to melt.

This made Sasori of the Red Sand think to himself, The temperature seems to have risen quite a bit since he fought me last time.

His growth rate is truly astonishing, Ye!

Uchiha Ye held the scythe firmly, making it impossible for Hidan to pull away. Hidan gritted his teeth and immediately abandoned the weapon, attempting to retreat.

But Uchiha Ye had already closed the distance, his burning red arm thrusting forward violently: "Hellhound!"