Chapter 158: Eager...

Hearing what Senshi said, Deidara nodded earnestly.

Until just now, he had always believed that his explosive art was uniquely perfect. But after witnessing Karin's near–ultimate form of explosive art, he was forced to admit that his own art still had tremendous room to grow.

At that moment, an unprecedented desire rose up inside him – the urge to push his art to new heights.

Senshi, too, was in high spirits.

He had just gotten a 300-million-ryō commission from Sasori, plus a 500-million-ryō commission from Deidara.

On top of that, he had recently received 900 million ryō from Orochimaru and Kabuto, and another 200 million from Konan. Once he fulfilled all those tasks, he would hold a total of 1.9 billion ryō, equivalent to 1.9 million employment points.

Not only that, his Wood-Style clones were scattered through dozens of black markets around the ninja world, continually taking on missions and earning points.

Meanwhile, his mercenary group's star members kept funneling him more employment points as well. Senshi calculated inwardly that he might manage to accumulate three million employment points in one go, allowing him to do thirty sets of one-hundred draws.

That round of gacha might well unlock the system's advanced lottery feature. At the thought of it, the corners of his mouth curled up and a hint of anticipation gleamed in his eyes.

His train of thought soon shifted, however—he remembered the "Destroyer Armor" he had pulled from a draw earlier.

Undoubtedly, the Destroyer Armor was powerful, yet for him it felt somewhat redundant. After all, he already had plans to collect the Infinity Stones, so that armor would just be superfluous equipment.

Hence Senshi decided to show the Destroyer Armor to Sasori. In Senshi's view, Sasori—having already "mechanically ascended" into a puppet user—was exactly the best fit for it.

If Senshi could pitch the Destroyer Armor to Sasori, he could secure a sizable commission and also give Sasori even stronger motivation to rake in more funds.

Under Sasori's somewhat puzzled gaze, Senshi slowly produced the gleaming silver Destroyer Armor.

"This is… a puppet?" Sasori asked, sounding uncertain.

There was a sliver of curiosity in his eyes, but clearly he hadn't realized the armor's true worth yet. Karin and Deidara, also curious, came over to see. The three of them gathered around the Destroyer Armor, peering at it in fascination.

Senshi nodded, speaking with a hint of mystery in his tone:

"That's right, it's a puppet—but it's no ordinary puppet."

Sasori's interest was piqued, and he pressed, "What's so special about it?"

With a calm smile, Senshi explained, "Sasori, this puppet is called the 'Destroyer Armor.' It can be used in three different ways. The first is to give it commands so it can act on its own."

He then gave the order to the armor: "Destroyer, cut down ten trees."

As soon as he spoke, the Destroyer Armor moved.

Boom!

With one arm swing, it snapped a tree so thick it would take two people to encircle it, making a muffled crash.

Buzz!

Immediately afterward, the front panel on the Destroyer Armor's face expanded and morphed into two cannon barrels.

Scarlet energy beams erupted from them like razor-sharp blades sweeping forward.

Crack! Crack!

Within moments, nine of the trees were sliced through. Their trunks were sheared so cleanly it was as if they'd been melted by high heat. Seeing this left Sasori, Deidara, and Karin wide-eyed, faces brimming with shock.

"That destructive power…" Sasori muttered, an intense glint in his eyes.

Deidara, meanwhile, clenched his fists in excitement. "Incredible! That level of destructive might is the ultimate expression of art!"

Karin tilted her head thoughtfully. "If this armor were used for missions, the efficiency would definitely skyrocket, wouldn't it?"

When Sasori heard Senshi's words, his eyes shone as well; he even felt a "thump" in his heart.

As someone who'd "mechanically ascended," Sasori's understanding and research into puppets was already at a peak. Even so, he wouldn't have been able to create such an advanced puppet as Destroyer, capable of autonomous action.

What's more, Senshi had just mentioned that the Destroyer had three modes of operation. Even just the first left Sasori awestruck, so the next two stirred his curiosity even more.

He couldn't wait to ask, "Senshi, apart from letting the Destroyer act on its own, what's the second way to use it?"

Senshi smiled confidently. "The second way is for the puppet master to directly control the Destroyer. I'm sure there's no need for me to explain that to you, Sasori."

Sasori nodded, a knowing look in his eyes.

As a puppet user, he was already used to controlling an entire puppet ensemble through his Hex Rejuvenation Core.He knew full well that a puppet's power depended not just on how it was built, but also on the puppet master's skill. A puppet like his "Sanshouo" or "Hiruko," for example, performed entirely differently in Sasori's hands than it would in Kankuro's—even though he meant no offense to the "Number One Puppet Master" in the ninja world.

Senshi continued without pause, "As for the third method, that is to wear the Destroyer as armor yourself. It has both offense and defense, boasting extremely high defensive power, and it can also adjust its own size and weight very flexibly."

With that, Senshi began manipulating the Destroyer Armor. Before their eyes, it rapidly expanded, and in no time, it matched the scale of Susanoo. Following the ninja world's naming conventions, one might call this giant form "Kuisanoo," or "Puppetsanoo."

"Puppetsanoo" charged through the forest, occasionally releasing scarlet energy beams from its eyes. Wherever it went, whole patches of trees toppled, and deep gouges tore through the ground. Its destructive force even surpassed most Tailed Beasts. It was like a giant beast wrought of steel, crushing anything in its path.

Sasori: (O_O)???

Deidara: (O_O)???

Karin: (O_O)???

Even though all three of them had seen plenty, they gaped in shock at the sight. Sasori in particular felt an irrepressible longing as he stared. "Hiruko," "Sanshouo," and so on all felt outdated by comparison—only a puppet like Destroyer was worthy as the final pursuit of a puppet master, the epitome of perfect art! He was even picturing how amazing it would be if his Hex Rejuvenation Core–based body could put on the Destroyer Armor…

He secretly made up his mind that whatever the cost, he would add this Destroyer Armor to his collection, since it was not only a puppet but also a crucial step toward the next level of his art.

Thinking this, Sasori couldn't help asking, "Senshi, this puppet… how much is it?" His voice trembled with restrained excitement.

Yet Senshi shook his head with regret. "Oh no, Big Bro Sasori, you've misunderstood. This puppet isn't for sale—it's a family heirloom of mine. I only brought it out to show you."

Sasori: (O_O)???

He froze in place, his mind blank for a moment. A family heirloom? So if it was truly Senshi's ancestral treasure, he obviously couldn't force Senshi to sell it to him.

But Sasori was just too new at dealing with Senshi and didn't yet know his style. Had Orochimaru or Hiruzen Sarutobi been in his place, they'd have known at once it was all about naming the right price.

Just then, Karin realized Senshi's motive. She stepped up beside him with a tone of "family pride," saying, "Senshi, if this puppet really is an heirloom passed down by our Uzumaki ancestors, we'd better put it away for safekeeping, lest any shady types get ideas."

Senshi gave two light coughs and nodded solemnly. "Right, it is a treasure from the Uzumaki ancestors, so it should be kept secure."

Immediately afterward, he changed his tune, looking gently at Sasori. "But after all, it's a puppet. Seeing as you're the greatest puppet master in the ninja world, letting you examine it in detail is a mark of respect and trust."

Karin instantly cut back in, feigning concern. "Senshi, I think it's still best to put the Destroyer puppet away. Sasori's already had it on view for quite some time, and things might get awkward if this goes on."

Senshi waved a hand lightly, speaking in a laid-back tone: "Sasori is part of the family. It won't hurt for him to look a bit more. After all, to see that our ancestral puppet art flourishes, I've even considered, perhaps, painfully putting the Destroyer puppet up for sale for him to use and study."

With an exaggerated expression of shock, Karin covered her mouth. "What? Senshi, you want to sell the Destroyer puppet to Lord Sasori for 5 billion ryō? But it's a family treasure! You absolutely can't sell it!"

Sasori: How much?! (ΩДΩ)!!!

That price stunned Sasori. Five billion ryō? In his mind, Asuma Sarutobi's bounty was only 35 million or so, meaning 5 billion was enough to buy 140 Asumas. That was downright ridiculous.

Hearing Karin's words, Senshi pretended to be upset: "Karin, Sasori's one of ours. Why not sell him the Destroyer puppet?"

Karin shook her head firmly. "No way, no way! The Destroyer puppet is an heirloom—we definitely can't sell it!"

Senshi declared decisively, "We can sell it! If it were for an outsider, sure, I might not part with it for under 5 billion. But Sasori's part of the family, so we can do 10% off!"

Karin's eyes widened, her voice rising. "Ten percent off? So only 4.5 billion? Absolutely impossible!"

Seeing her performance, Senshi chuckled inwardly. If there's a Festival Gala and Karin isn't starring, I'm not watching.

Continuing the act, he turned to her with a show of conflicted emotions. "After some soul-searching, I made a decision that goes against our ancestors. I'll let Big Bro Sasori have the ancestral Destroyer Armor at 20% off!"

Karin sprang up, grabbing Senshi's arm and shaking him hard. "What, 20% off? 4 billion ryō for the Destroyer Armor?! Are you insane, Senshi? It's a family treasure!"

Senshi fondly patted Karin's head, looking like he was "resolving himself," as though going against his ancestors.

As a living legend of the black market, Senshi could finish moral struggles with record speed.

Taking a deep breath, he said solemnly, "For the sake of the ancestral puppet art! So that the Destroyer Armor won't remain hidden and unappreciated, I've decided to give it to family for 30% off!"

Karin nearly collapsed, hugging Senshi's leg. "Senshi! Get a grip! That's 30% off—3.5 billion! You're trampling on our inheritance!"

Sasori just stood there watching, feeling simultaneously astounded and speechless. He'd already realized Senshi and Karin were working in tandem, but the Destroyer Armor was so tempting that he couldn't help seriously pondering how many tasks he'd have to do to come up with 3.5 billion. Also, which planet had the Uzumaki "ancestors" come from, to have such an outlandish heirloom?

While Sasori's resolve wavered, Karin did her best to keep "persuading" Senshi.

"Senshi! Senshi! Snap out of it! How could you—"

But halfway through her speech, she suddenly giggled.

Senshi shot his assistant a glare, thinking, This is tens of billions we're talking about, how can you laugh now?

Fortunately, Karin recovered swiftly, once more sporting a grief-stricken look, and lamented, "Senshi, this is your ancestral puppet! Selling it for 3.5 billion means losing 1.5… that's insane!"

Putting on a grave face, Senshi said, "I understand your feelings, Karin. But Sasori's not an outsider—he's family! So I've decided, I'll sell Big Bro Sasori the Destroyer Armor at 40% off! I'm not doing it for profit, only for the sake of the family!"

"Huh?! Forty percent off? 3 billion?!"

Karin faked a swoon, flailing like she might pass out. "We can't sell it, no! Boo-hoo-hoo!" She half sobbed, half clung to Senshi's leg.

Watching this, Sasori could no longer hold back. Drawing in a deep breath, he exclaimed, "Fine, 3 billion it is! I'll place an order!"

He had faith in his own skills. Right now, as a puppet master who'd ascended and upgraded his Hex Rejuvenation Core twice, he could run missions day and night. There'd definitely be enough mission commissions in the ninja world for him to earn 3 billion eventually. Then, that ancestral Destroyer Armor—his "dream puppet"—would be his.

No sooner had Sasori made his desire plain than Karin abruptly turned off her sobbing mode. She switched to a "business professional" demeanor, giving Sasori a polite smile: "Sasori, how much deposit would you like to pay? If you don't have enough funds right now, I can offer you a private loan. You can hire me to lend you 100 million, and pay back 120 million in a year. Given your reliability and skill, I can offer you an unsecured loan."

Senshi: (O_O)???

He was astonished. Wow, Karin's really got the hang of it. She hasn't just learned from me—she must've picked up all kinds of ideas from Snake Bro and the Senshi Bank. This kid's outdoing me.

Sasori: (O_O)???

A bit dazed, he asked, "I heard the Senshi Bank in the village provides interest-free loans?"

Karin nodded, her tone regretful. "Yes, but there's a limit. Not even you could borrow 100 million at once from them." She paused, flashing a professional smile again. "So how about my private lending service? Sure, the interest is higher, but it's more flexible—borrow and repay any time."

Sasori's gaze drifted over to the metallic Destroyer Armor, shining imposingly not far away. His heart fluttered. It really was too perfect—a dreamlike ultimate puppet any master would long for. To avoid any unexpected changes and forestall any attempt by Senshi to raise the price, Sasori decided to put down a partial deposit and officially reserve it. Steeling himself, he told Karin, "Karin, I'll pay you 120 million as your fee to raise me 100 million right away."

On receiving that job, Karin's eyes gleamed with excitement, her face unable to hide her joy. A commission of 120 million meant 60 scratchcards. By the time Sasori gathered the total, she'd pocket 60 scratchcards in one shot. That was a massive windfall.

While Karin fetched chest after chest of coins from her Kamui dimension, Senshi couldn't help feeling slightly emotional. Karin had truly grown up. She was no longer the silly, clueless girl who used to ride piggyback on him. Now, with a casual conversation, she could earn 120 million from Sasori, while he himself just sat back and gained half of that, 60 million, in employment points.

Senshi felt quietly triumphant: "Indeed, building a mercenary group and cultivating subordinates like Karin, Kakuzu, and Dandan is absolutely the right path to generating employment points!"

At that thought, Senshi quickly checked Sasori's synergy rating. One glance and he nearly burst out laughing—Sasori's synergy score exceeded the 45% threshold. Hardly surprising, since Senshi had not only upgraded his Hex Rejuvenation Core but also displayed the top-tier Destroyer puppet. If that didn't get him to the passing line, nothing would.

Then Sasori piled the chests Karin passed him in front of Senshi, speaking very seriously: "Senshi, here's a deposit of 100 million. I insist you sell me that Destroyer Armor."

Senshi beamed, "Don't worry, Big Bro—I'll hold onto the Destroyer Armor for you." He paused, voice turning a bit suggestive. "But Sasori, I do have a suggestion. How about formally joining my mercenary group? Once you're a member, for every 2 million you earn, you can claim one of these special scratchcards."

No sooner had he said that than Karin stepped up, producing a box of scratchcards. She enthusiastically advertised, "Sasori, these are the Senshi Mercenary Group's exclusive scratchcards! Scratch one to get the corresponding prize. There are all sorts of rewards—ninjutsu, ninja tools, or even direct chakra enhancements!"

To boost Sasori's confidence, Karin casually scraped one of the cards.

[Complete "Icha Icha Paradise" collection ×1]

The scratchcard promptly turned into a beautifully packaged set of books. She glanced down, looking perplexed: (O_O)???

What even is this?

She'd scratched tons of cards but never seen anything so odd. Instantly, Senshi snatched up the collection of "Icha Icha Paradise."

"Karin, these books are beyond your depth. You're still a kid—out of your league. Next time you pull something like that, just give it to me."

Karin tilted her head, still clueless, but nodded obediently. She was only fond of cookbooks; other reading material didn't interest her. Sasori, meanwhile, was quite intrigued by these scratchcards.

"Every 2 million I earn, I get one card? Interesting."

Having learned about the benefits of joining Senshi's mercenary group, Sasori unhesitatingly agreed to join. After all, it would not only empower him further but let him gather the money to buy that dreamlike Destroyer Armor more quickly. He nodded and said firmly, "I request to join Senshi's mercenary group."

Senshi was thrilled inside but kept a straight face. "Welcome aboard, Big Bro Sasori! Rest assured, I'll hold onto the Destroyer Armor for you. Once you have the 3 billion, it'll be yours!"

[A new member has joined! Sasori's synergy rating with you has reached the required level, so he is now formally a member of your mercenary group!]

Seeing Sasori successfully join, and upon learning of the group's perks, Deidara couldn't sit still any longer. He eagerly asked, "Senshi-nii, may I join your mercenary group, too?"

Senshi glanced at the group interface and shook his head with mild regret. "Not for now, Deidara. You need to further perfect your art before you can meet the standard for joining."

Truth be told, Deidara's synergy rating with Senshi already exceeded 35%.

Hitting 45% wouldn't be a big hurdle, but Senshi wasn't in a hurry to bring him in, because Deidara still had a lot of untapped potential. Hearing that, Deidara raised no objection. In his mind, a higher bar made perfect sense.

Even Big Bro Sasori had had to gain huge enhancements to his puppetry before successfully joining. Deidara nodded and said resolutely, "I'll work even harder to improve my art, Senshi-nii!"

Meanwhile, Sasori's gaze stayed glued to the Destroyer Armor, admiring it to no end. In his eyes, it represented the ultimate manifestation of puppet-based art. Unfortunately, he couldn't pay the entire sum now and had to settle for a deposit first, but he was still full of excitement and a touch of regret.

He murmured, "If only I'd done missions for money like Kakuzu back in the day. Had I started earlier, maybe I'd have been able to buy this dream puppet by now."

At that point, Deidara posed a curious question: "Senshi-nii, you and Karin came looking for me and Big Bro Sasori—did you have a mission in mind?"

Senshi nodded and smiled. "Yes. I was planning to invite you both to head to Iwagakure to capture two Tailed Beasts. You're quite familiar with the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, so could you join us for this task?"

Without hesitation, Deidara patted his chest. "No problem! Senshi-nii, I'll give it my all!" Tailed Beasts in Iwagakure might be formidable, but that wouldn't keep him from pursuing perfect art. Besides, the Akatsuki's bounty for capturing Tailed Beasts started at 100 million per beast. Taking down two of them meant a big commission for him and Sasori. The thought alone fired Deidara up.

Sasori, too, looked forward to it. Normally calm, he couldn't help urging, "If we're off to Iwagakure to capture Tailed Beasts, let's not waste time. The sooner the job's done, the sooner we get paid."

Deidara agreed, "Exactly! Big Bro Sasori is right—let's go now!"

Those two guys—one needed 500 million to enhance his explosive art, and the other needed 3 billion to buy the Destroyer Armor—so at this moment, nobody was more eager than they were.

~~~

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