Sound Three

The next day, news that Sasuke had fled the leaf arrived in Sunagakure. While still in his underground laboratory, Gaara smiled. This took a huge weight off of his shoulders.

'Well…, They should've woken up by now…"

Getting up from his seat, he walked over to a sealed door and slowly opened it. Inside, three members of the sound four were sitting inside a dark room. Sadly, Jirobo hadn't made it.

"Good morning! I hope that your injuries aren't inconveniencing you in any way!"

"What have you done to us…?"

Sakon's barely visible figure spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. Ever since he had woken up, he hadn't been the same… person…

"Akon and Ukon, I believe. First of all, nice to meet you, my name is Gaara…"

"Shut up! What have you done to me!"

Tayuya rose up from the shadows and attacked Gaara with full-force. Out of the three, she was the one with the least injuries.

"Now now, let us relax… shall we, Tayuya?"

As his words trailed off, Gaara allowed Shukaku's chakra to permeate the entire room, making Tayuya unable to move. The killing intent from a tailed beast was just too much for her to take as she fell to her knees.

"Tell us… Why can't I feel any loyalty towards Orochimaru anymore…?"

"Kidomaru! I said not to speak about it! Orochimaru-sama is still with us!"

"Sakon… I can't believe you… Ever since I woke up, I couldn't feel a trace of Orochimaru's will… What has become of us?"

Hearing their conversation, Gaara felt furious towards Orochimaru. He had brainwashed these people to such an extent, that even after perfecting their curse-marks, they still couldn't let go of the past…

Clearing his throat, Gaara spoke calmly.

"I have perfected your curse-marks. I've removed all traces of Orochimaru's will and got rid of all side-effects, such as body-dysmorphia. You're welcome."

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

"...!"

They couldn't believe what Gaara was saying… If it was true, then what would happen to them? They were mere tools, meant to serve their lord!

"I can give you a much better life than the one Orochimaru offered you… If you become my subordinates, I will make sure to train you into people that'll be able to take on Orochimaru himself with no fear."

"...!"

Hearing Gaara's words, the sound three remained silent.

"Also, I forgot to mention… If you refuse, I'll kill you on the spot. Your injuries must be hurting… right? Especially you, Sakon. Ukon is probably not even waking up… If you agree to serve me, I will heal you up and train you personally."

"Also, I won't treat you like tools. For your information, I am the next in line for the position of Kazekage, and I can allow you to live normally in my village. How does that sound?"

Although Gaara didn't want to be this domineering to his future subordinates, he knew that this was the only way. These types of people first listened to strength and then reasoning. In that order.

"I accept you as my master."

Getting up from his corner, Kidomaru walked up to Gaara and bowed on one knee, showing his loyalty.

"I swear to never betray you, and serve you with my life."

Kidomaru was naturally smart. Unlike Sakon, he was level-headed and understood the situation. The way Orochimaru treated them… Was inhumane. Although he didn't fully trust this person, he knew it couldn't be worse.

"Kidomaru! What if Orochimaru finds out and comes for us!?"

Sakon's words made Kidomaru flinch. Even Tayuya was speechless, not daring to speak anymore.

"Then I'll personally kill him. If you attack my subordinate, you immediately become my enemy."

Silence.

Hearing Gaara's arrogant statement, the sound trio was speechless. They had never seen a person who didn't see Orochimaru as a threat.

"I… I also swear to serve you with my life, master."

Prostrating herself next to Kidomaru, Tayuya also gave up. This man brought her a feeling of security, one she hadn't felt in a long time.

"You two…"

"You're the only one left, Sakon."

"..."

After a while, Sakon also bowed down.

Seeing the three make vows, Gaara felt better. Before he did anything, he wanted verbal confirmation from them.

"Ok, you three have chosen well. Now, as you may understand, I still don't fully trust you as my subordinates. Although I've removed Orochimaru's will from your bodies, who's to say that you still don't have some left in your heart?"

"For that reason, I am going to implant a seal into your curse marks. Although I find it unethical, until you've demonstrated your loyalty through actions, I won't remove it. This seal will make sure that if you betray me, you'll die on the spot."

"Geh…"

Sakon was startled but remained silent. The three of them knew this was necessary if they wanted to gain the trust of their new master.

"Alright then, I'm going to start, so don't move..."

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A few hours later, the problem had been resolved. After finishing, Gaara knocked them all out and had them transferred to a hospital, where they would get their injuries healed.

In the meantime, Gaara entered another room, where an autopsy table lay. On it, Kimimaro's body was resting.

He had all sorts of seals that only Gaara could read all over his body. Essentially, Gaara had sealed his corpse so that it would not decay or rot.

'Once I obtain the Rinnegan, you will be my first puppet.'

Although he wouldn't pass down one of the Rinnegan's abilities down to Kimimaro, he was still useful, especially if he controlled him through the Rinnegan. It was basically like gaining an immortal Kimimaro, that could be reconstructed at any time.

'I'll let you sit here for the time being… Just you wait…"

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Special thanks to Frozoka Swaggins!

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