Chapter 278: Invitation from Akatsuki

"Is this the place?"

In the drifting mist, a deep, hoarse voice spoke.

"It should be here. Zetsu's intelligence shouldn't be wrong."

A man with a robust figure, seemingly carrying a Greatsword on his back, said.

"Hmph, that guy's intelligence may not be reliable..."

"He said Orochimaru was in the Sound Ninja Village in the Land of Rice Fields, but when we got there, the village was destroyed, wasting our time for nothing."

As the dust settled, the appearance of the newcomer gradually became clear, revealing Sasori hidden within his puppet, speaking with his hoarse voice.

"It's not entirely wasted..."

"After all, isn't that legendary Ninja Scarlet Yu, who can stand against ten thousand, also here?"

Emerging from the dust, seeing the white-haired youth in the hotel room with two little kids by his side, Biwa Juzo's ferocious and bizarre face couldn't help but show a smile.

"I wonder who it is..."

"So, it's the renowned Sand genius Puppetry artist Sasori of the Red Sand, and one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Biwa Juzo..."

Looking at Sasori of the Red Sand and Biwa Juzo who suddenly barged into the hotel room, Yu remained calm and leisurely, while the two boys, Haku and Kimimaro, standing beside him, adopted a cautious and guarded stance.

"To recognize both of us at a glance..."

"It seems you are the rumored Scarlet Yu..."

Hearing Yu effortlessly reveal their identities, Sasori and Biwa Juzo appeared somewhat surprised.

"And... Konan."

"I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."

However, ignoring the questions from Sasori and Biwa Juzo in front of him, Yu's gaze passed directly over them and landed on another figure slowly walking in behind them, saying with a hint of playfulness, "Speaking of which... I have to thank you for 'helping out' here last time."

"Is it you?!"

Upon entering the room, just as someone mentioned her name, Konan couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment after finally seeing the appearance of the white-haired youth in front of her.

"What's this? Do you two know each other??"

Seeing Konan, who was usually reserved and taciturn, react in such a way, Sasori and Biwa Juzo couldn't help but scrutinize the two of them with some suspicion.

"So, you're Scarlet Yu..."

Unexpectedly, the youth she had rescued a few days ago here turned out to be their target for this operation. Sensing the peculiar gazes of Sasori and Biwa Juzo, Konan couldn't help but lightly gnash her teeth. "You're quite cunning... It seems you recognized my identity early on."

"It's really a misunderstanding, Konan."

Never would he have thought that he would offend the only beautiful female ninja of the Akatsuki Organization on their second meeting. Yu wore an innocent expression. "How could I have known that you were targeting me for your mission? Speaking of which, last time I was deeply moved by your kindness..."

"Enough! I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense..."

As Yu's words became increasingly absurd, Konan's usually cool demeanor slightly flushed, and she interrupted him coldly, "Enough chatter. Our purpose for being here today is simple: to invite you to join our organization."

Invite me to join Akatsuki?

Upon hearing Konan's straightforward explanation of their intentions, Yu raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, but upon careful consideration, he immediately understood.

Indeed, during this period, the Akatsuki Organization's combat members were not yet at full capacity and were still in the phase of expansion and recruiting new members. There was truly no reason to overlook someone as powerful as him.

Moreover, Yu had just left his original ninja village. Although Konoha had not issued a wanted notice labeling him as a defected ninja, given his past achievements and exploits, his current relationship with the Five Great Ninja Villages could be described as extremely hostile.

"That makes sense... in that case..."

"It seems I've become quite the catch in the eyes of the Akatsuki Organization..."

With a change of mind, Yu had already analyzed the current situation and couldn't help but let a slight smile appear at the corner of his mouth.

"Inviting me to join your organization..."

"Sorry, I'm not interested at the moment. Perhaps there might be an opportunity in the future."

After sorting out his thoughts, Yu calmly smiled and directly refused.

Seeing Yu reject their invitation without even considering it, Sasori, Biwa Juzo, and Konan, three members of the Akatsuki Organization, immediately changed their expressions. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became as heavy as cement.

"To refuse our invitation without even knowing the name of our organization..."

Even the calmest people have a temper, let alone the unruly S-ranked rogue ninjas of the Akatsuki Organization. Biwa Juzo spoke, slowly reaching out to grab his Executioner's Blade on his back. "Although you have quite the reputation in the ninja world, you're being a bit too arrogant, aren't you?"

As one of the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Biwa Juzo not only was the first owner of the Sever-sword Executioner's Blade but also ambitious and ruthless. He once wielded the Executioner's Blade on the battlefield, drenching it in blood, earning a cruel reputation across nations.

"Arrogant? If you insist on seeing it that way..."

Feeling the intense killing intent continuously emanating from Biwa Juzo in front of him, Yu's handsome face remained calm and composed. "I would say you can interpret it as a confidence in controlling everything."

Indeed, while the ninjas of the Akatsuki Organization were undoubtedly powerful, Yu now not only possessed four Devil Puppets but also had mastered Sage Mode, stepping into the realm of Devil Fruit awakening.

Apart from the nominal leader of the Akatsuki Organization, who possessed the legendary Rinnegan, the Six Paths of Pain, Yu didn't believe that the other ninjas could pose any threat to him.

"Hmph, there's no need to waste words with such an arrogant brat. I have no patience for it."

Hearing Yu's seemingly arrogant words, at this moment, Sasori hidden within his puppet Hiruko gradually extended a metal stinger dipped in deadly poison from behind him. His cold and hollow eyes stared at Yu in front of him. "Scarlet Yu, is it? I heard you stole Sand's Puppetry Jutsu and are even hailed as the strongest Puppetry artist by those ignorant fools... Excellent."

"Then today, I'll show you what true eternal art is! What the pinnacle masterpiece of Puppetry Jutsu looks like!!"

Hiruko: Back Stinger!!

With a hint of barely concealed fury, Sasori of the Red Sand's steel tail stinger, dipped in poison, had already shot out like lightning from behind him, piercing towards Yu in front of him. This steel poisonous stinger, resembling a scorpion's tail, not only could extend freely but also caused poisoning and fatalities with just a light scratch.

"The pinnacle masterpiece of Puppetry Jutsu?"

"Are you referring to these boring toys?"

Having already foreseen Sasori's attack with his Observation Haki's advanced sensory ability, Yu disdainfully curled his lips in the face of the incoming venomous stinger. With a slight tilt of his head, he narrowly avoided this potentially lethal ambush.

"If that's the case... then you're disappointing me, Sasori of the Red Sand!"

With casual words, in the blink of an eye, Yu's hand, hardened with Armament Haki, grabbed the steel stinger of Hiruko before it could retract. Then, with a sudden burst of force, he fiercely swung it away.

"This guy... He actually caught the stinger of Hiruko with his bare hand?"

Seeing Yu in front of him catching the poisonous steel stinger of the Crimson Flowing Snake with just one hand, Sasori, hidden within Hiruko, widened his eyes in astonishment. But then, he felt an immensely violent force surge through. Despite the bulky size of Hiruko, it couldn't resist being grabbed by Yu and thrown up to the ceiling!

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