"You should know the Third Kazekage's strength very well. Unless you catch him off guard with poison, you'll be at a serious disadvantage if you fight him head-on."
"With me there, you just need to focus on dealing with his guards and any shinobi who come to help."
"Just you alone?"
"Of course not. We need a helper."
Lan said, "A helper strong enough."
"A helper?"
Sasori frowned. "In Sunagakure, who can we trust?"
"We don't need trust."
A cold smile curled at the corner of Lan's mouth. "We only need common interests, or rather... a common enemy."
"Who do you want to find?"
"Pakura."
Lan said a name.
"Pakura, the Scorch Release user?"
Sasori could not help laughing. He shook his head and said, "She's the Third Kazekage's trusted subordinate. How could she possibly help us?"
"Trusted subordinate?"
Lan gave a snort of derision. "Do you really think she's content to stay the Third Kazekage's dog forever?"
"Her family also died on the battlefield because of the Third Kazekage's expansion policy."
"I've observed her. The way she looks at those miners is cold, but there's also numbness and sorrow in it. The fact that she never truly attacks those miners is proof."
"Most importantly, only if she helps hold off those guards will we have a chance to face the Third Kazekage directly."
Sasori fell silent.
He was thinking over Lan's words.
Pakura...
That female shinobi known for her cold ruthlessness.
Make her betray the Third Kazekage?
It sounded like a fantasy.
But Lan's analysis did seem to make some sense.
And, just as Lan had said, they truly did need a powerful combat force like Pakura.
"...Fine."
After a while, Sasori nodded. "But before she agrees, you absolutely cannot expose me."
"Of course."
Lan nodded and smiled.
"Next,