Chapter 12: Are You Sure About That?

Konan and Sasori stood there in the middle of the desert, both staring at the small card in their hands like it had personally offended them.

Bold red letters stared back at them:

"Ninja Mercenary for Hire."

They exchanged a glance—equal parts confusion and disbelief.

"Ninja… mercenary?" Sasori said slowly, as if trying the words for the first time.

Konan tilted her head slightly, suspicious. "That's… not a thing."

Zeldris shrugged, utterly unbothered. "It is now."

He motioned lazily. "Flip it over. Back has the juicy stuff."

Sasori turned the card and read aloud:

"Zeldris — A freelance operative from the ninja world. Available for assassination, espionage, infiltration, sabotage, and birthday parties. Price negotiable."

He blinked. "…Birthday parties?"

Zeldris gave him a cheeky wink. "Hey, kids love explosions."

Konan frowned faintly, the closest she ever came to showing emotion. "You're saying you'll take any job… for the right price?"

Zeldris gave a casual nod, hands in his pockets. "As long as I get paid, I don't care if it's a demon or a D-rank mission."

"And if you ever need me," he added with a grin, "just crush the card. I'll know."

Sasori squinted. "How?"

"Trade secret," Zeldris replied, tapping his nose. "But let's just say, I've got… connections."

In truth, the system would alert him instantly whenever someone activated a card. He had even set up sound effects—though only he could hear them.

(He was currently using a dramatic "dun-dun-DUNNN.")

Konan silently channeled a bit of chakra into the card—testing it.

Nothing.

No surge, no feedback. Just a plain card.

Still… her gut told her this guy wasn't bluffing.

She looked up again, eyes cool and focused.

"Our organization isn't so different from yours. You sure you won't reconsider?"

Zeldris smiled politely. "Tempting. But no thanks. I'm more of a 'contract-based relationship' kind of guy."

Konan didn't push.

Instead, her gaze shifted to Sasori.

Sasori met her stare… then turned to Zeldris with a slight smirk.

"I've made up my mind."

"I'm joining Zeldris."

Zeldris blinked, surprised. "Oh? That was fast."

Sasori shrugged. "I want to see what you mean by 'eternal art.'"

Zeldris chuckled. "Ah, the curiosity angle. I respect that."

He turned to Konan with a mock-apologetic tone. "Sorry. Looks like you got beat to the punch."

"Recruiting's a brutal game."

Without waiting for a reply, he gave a casual wave and began walking, Sasori falling into step beside him.

After a few steps, Zeldris looked back.

"If anything comes up that's too much for your Akatsuki pals to handle… crush the card. First consultation's free."

He winked, turned, and strolled off.

Konan stayed behind, watching them disappear into the distance.

Her fingers curled slightly around the card, knuckles tightening.

"…Zeldris," she whispered.

She hadn't failed many missions.

But this one? Sasori had slipped right through her fingers like sand.

And not because she wasn't good enough—but because someone else got there first.

Someone terrifying.

She remembered the moment clearly—the effortless slaughter of the Third Kazekage.

A Kage-level threat, neutralized like a minor inconvenience.

That kind of power doesn't belong to a mercenary.

With a burst of paper wings, she shot into the air, her silhouette vanishing into the clouds as the sun dipped low over the horizon.

She needed to report this.

Now.

Zeldris wasn't just strong—he was a problem.

Meanwhile, down below, Zeldris walked along a dune trail with Sasori trailing beside him, arms folded like always.

After a stretch of silence, Sasori finally asked:

"So… what exactly is your plan?"

Zeldris paused.

Scratched his cheek.

Then grinned sheepishly. "Honestly? I kinda made all this up on the spot."

"…What."

"Yeah," Zeldris said cheerfully. "Just wanted to get paid, have some fun, maybe take down a few tyrants. Freelance life, y'know?"

Sasori stared at him, horrified. "You don't even have a plan?!"

Zeldris patted him on the shoulder. "I do now. You're here. That's step one."

Sasori opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed.

This man had no structure. No chain of command. No objectives.

Was this really his life now?

Apparently so.

"Fine," Sasori muttered. "I'm already here. I'll stick around. But you'd better pay well."

"Oh, that reminds me," Zeldris said, snapping his fingers. "You owe me five million ryo, by the way."

Sasori froze.

"…For what?"

"The recruitment fee," Zeldris said casually. "Limited-time offer."

Sasori's eye twitched.

He's actually serious.

This wasn't a leader—this was a con artist with superpowers.

Still… he didn't argue. Not yet.

He was curious. Curious about Zeldris. About this weird new path. And about what he might gain from it.

They continued walking.

Then Zeldris suddenly stopped, eyes narrowing as he turned to face the west.

Sasori tensed.

He felt it too.

At least a dozen chakra signatures—fast, coordinated, closing in.

Sasori's eyes narrowed. "More visitors?"

Zeldris gave a slow smile, the kind that didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh yeah."

"Looks like things are about to get fun."

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