Sasori of the Red Sand responded swiftly, launching five sharp needles from under his cloak, aimed directly at Ye Zi and Konan. As the needles flew toward them, Konan frowned and prepared to dodge. However, in the corner of her eye, she noticed a sudden flash of light, accompanied by a faint chirping sound.
Ye Zi could see the faint green glow on the tips of the needles, indicating they were poisoned. He extended his right hand, unleashing five thin streams of lightning from his fingers. The lightning precisely struck each of the needles mid-air, knocking them to the ground.
Sasori was momentarily taken aback by Ye Zi's ability to deflect the needles so easily, his eyes narrowing coldly.
Ye Zi leaped down, closing the two-hundred-meter gap between him and Sasori. The lightning around his hand slowly dissipated as he faced Sasori and spoke calmly, "Now can we have a proper conversation?"
Konan, partially transformed into paper, landed beside Ye Zi.
Sasori's gaze briefly swept over their outfits before stopping at Ye Zi's mask. He had no interest in the Akatsuki organization, a group he had never heard of, and sensed that these two weren't to be taken lightly. Not wanting unnecessary conflict, he had no desire to start a fight without reason.
"There's nothing to talk about. I'm not interested in your organization," Sasori replied, his voice deep and aged, and he directly rejected the offer.
"Don't be so quick to refuse. Joining Akatsuki will benefit you," Ye Zi countered.
"Benefit?" Sasori sneered, "Like turning you into a puppet?"
"That's not an option," Ye Zi replied with a cold glint in his eyes. "But if you enjoy making puppets out of people, then joining Akatsuki will suit you even more."
Sasori let out a dismissive laugh, "I have no interest in an organization I've never heard of, nor do I have time to waste on idle chatter. If you don't want to die, stay out of my way."
Despite Sasori's harsh words, Ye Zi remained unfazed. "What will it take for you to join?"
Konan glanced at Ye Zi. The words she had been preparing to say vanished. This guy was surprisingly persistent.
"You think I'll repeat myself?" Sasori suddenly opened his strange mouth and fired nearly a hundred fine needles toward Ye Zi and Konan, creating a web of deadly projectiles.
A flicker of annoyance flashed in Ye Zi's eyes. His body transformed into a streak of lightning, vanishing from the spot, while Konan summoned sheets of paper that formed a shield in front of her.
The needles struck Konan's paper shield but only managed to penetrate slightly before losing momentum. The needles hung from the shield like pins in a cushion.
As the needles were blocked, Ye Zi reappeared beside Sasori, his sword, "Chijin," poised at Sasori's still-open mouth.
"So fast!" Sasori thought, surprised as he looked down at Ye Zi, who now had the sword's sharp tip inside Sasori's strange mouth.
Looking down at Sasori's uneven jaw, Ye Zi said calmly, "You were able to kill the Third Kazekage, proving your strength. Akatsuki needs powerful people like you. Join us."
Konan dispelled her paper shield, and the fallen needles clattered to the ground. Watching Ye Zi extend his sword into Sasori's mouth while still trying to recruit him, Konan was speechless.
Sasori, his eyes wide with shock, didn't reply immediately. Instead, he activated the scorpion-like tail hidden in the back of his puppet body. It burst through his cloak, aiming to impale Ye Zi from behind.
Sensing the movement, Ye Zi's annoyance deepened. He had grown weary of these recruitment attempts always turning into meaningless battles. If he were powerful enough, he wouldn't need to waste time convincing troublesome individuals like Sasori.
Suddenly, Ye Zi extended his left hand, grabbing the puppet's tail mid-strike. "I assume creating this puppet wasn't easy. I'd rather not destroy it just to make you join Akatsuki."
"You've got some skill," Sasori sneered, subtly moving his left hand.
Before he could make his move, Ye Zi's body unleashed a surge of electricity, sending a powerful shock through Sasori's puppet. The heat from the attack caused the thick beard covering Sasori's face to ignite and burn.
Though Sasori hadn't fully converted his body into a puppet, the sudden electrical charge paralyzed him momentarily. However, he still managed to activate the mechanism hidden in his left hand.
With a sharp whoosh, a wooden missile embedded with several cylindrical rods flew toward Ye Zi's feet, exploding and releasing a deadly rain of needles.
"Annoying guy," Ye Zi muttered, his figure flickering as he dodged the lethal barrage, retreating a hundred meters away. He coldly observed Sasori's puppet body, knowing that the true Sasori was hidden within. Ye Zi held back, as Sasori was meant to be a valuable asset for Akatsuki.
"Need any help?" Konan asked calmly.
"No need," Ye Zi responded.
Sasori, ignoring his burning beard, coldly asked, "How did you know I killed the Third Kazekage? Even those idiots in Sunagakure haven't figured it out."
Seeing that Sasori was finally willing to talk, Ye Zi maintained his lightning aura and answered, "Akatsuki has its own intelligence network. Learning who killed the Third Kazekage wasn't difficult."
"So you're saying your organization's intelligence is better than that of a village?" Sasori questioned.
"You could say that," Ye Zi replied, his sword still ready for action.
Sasori stared at Ye Zi, pondering. "Recently, Sunagakure suffered heavy losses when Shukaku was released by an unidentified person. That person was you, wasn't it?"
Ye Zi's expression remained stoic. "Yes."
"Haha."
Sasori suddenly let out a derisive laugh. "Looks like Akatsuki isn't some nameless group after all. During wartime, managing to release Shukaku and escape unscathed… there's no advantage for me in fighting someone like you."
"So, you're willing to join us?" Ye Zi asked.
"I didn't say that," Sasori replied coolly.
Growing impatient, Ye Zi frowned. "If you weren't so skilled, I would have dealt with you already."
Sasori scoffed. "All I want is to keep killing and making more puppets. I don't have time for you."
"Killing, huh?" Ye Zi's cold smile deepened, and his aura became even more menacing.
"Akatsuki is in need of killers like you. Join us, and you'll have plenty of opportunities. We'll even provide resources to help with your puppet-making."
"And if I refuse?" Sasori asked, his gaze steady.
"Then there's no choice," Ye Zi's voice turned icy. "Anyone who refuses to join Akatsuki only meets one end."
Sasori paused before saying, "Fine, I'll join but I have one condition."
"Speak," Ye Zi replied.
"I want to kill someone," Sasori said, his scorched puppet mouth twitching as if smiling.
"Who?"
"White Fang of Konoha: Hatake Sakumo."
Sasori's calm tone carried a chilling murderous intent.
Ye Zi remained silent for a moment.
"Fine," he agreed, "but not yet."
Check out the patreon and get 49 chapters in advance -> SaintXI
Currently on Chapter 263 - The Next Tailed Beast Targets