33 New recruits

"!!!"

Juzo Biwa spun around, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his massive blade. He stared down the mysterious masked man who had appeared from nowhere, his senses screaming danger.

"Who are you!?"

"I am here to offer you a way out of this hell," Obito responded, his voice calm and even. "A place to belong."

"Hmph! I have no need for that! I despise men like you who hide behind masks and riddles!"

Juzo wasted no more words. He immediately swung the colossal Executioner's Blade, slashing toward Obito with incredible speed. Obito made no move to dodge, simply standing there as the blade approached.

Does he underestimate me? He seeks death! Juzo put all his strength into the swing. The blade cut cleanly into Obito's body, yet the expected spray of blood and gore never came. The Executioner's Blade passed harmlessly through the masked man's form, meeting no resistance. It was like swinging at empty air.

"What is this sorcery??"

Juzo was shocked. He finally realized that the person before him was no ordinary shinobi. He looked Obito up and down carefully, and in the thick, oppressive fog, he could just make out the flash of a scarlet eye.

"A Sharingan? Are you one of the Uchiha? Did Konoha send you?!"

"No. I do not belong to any country or hidden village. I have established my own organization and seek to recruit strong, like-minded companions to change this cold, hypocritical world with me."

"So, what do you say? Are you interested in joining?"

Juzo was stunned by the man's grandiose speech. What is this man? A lunatic? His words were cryptic, his promises vague. After a moment, Juzo firmly refused. "I'm sorry, I'm not interested in your organization. Do not bother me again. Go find someone else!"

"Hehe…" Obito sneered. "Juzo, do you not wish to change this world? You, more than anyone, should know that this world is fundamentally broken!"

Juzo scoffed. "Hah, I know that. But how can empty talk of changing the world ever be realized by just a few people?"

Obito's voice was full of conviction. "Follow me, and it will be. Join us, and you will understand everything."

Juzo was taken aback by his confidence. "Are you serious, my friend?"

Obito nodded. "You have nowhere else to go. Why not come with me to see our organization for yourself? Then you can decide whether to stay or to leave."

"Hmph. Is everyone in your organization as insane as you are?" Juzo sheathed the Executioner's Blade. "You've piqued my curiosity. Fine. I will go with you and see what this is all about."

The goal achieved, Obito stopped his pitch and turned to walk away. "Come with me. I will take you back." The two figures, one in front and one behind, walked farther and farther, gradually disappearing into the thick, gray fog.

On the other side of the world, Pain's Deva Path and Sasori of the Red Sand had arrived in a dense, dark forest.

"is Orochimaru here?"

"Yes, he is," Sasori replied, his voice a dry rasp from within his puppet. "These are the coordinates my subordinates sent. Chief, leave Orochimaru to me. I will make him understand the price for prying into the secrets of the Akatsuki!"

"Do not be careless. From what I know, Orochimaru's character is unpredictable. It is difficult to get a read on him. That we found his location so easily suggests he may have some other motive."

Just as Pain finished speaking, a gust of foul, cold air swept through the trees. From the shadows, a figure emerged, walking slowly toward them. He had long, black hair that reached his waist, and his long, serpentine tongue darted out, tasting the gloomy air.

"Tsk tsk tsk… Our first meeting. Shall I introduce myself?"

"Hmph. Spare us the theatrics. I know who you are," Sasori replied, his voice grating. "I have a great deal of information on you."

Orochimaru licked his lips greedily. "Oh my, is that so? I am honored."

"Tsk!" Sasori snorted with disdain. "I know for a fact that you have been investigating the Akatsuki!"

Orochimaru calmly placed his hands on his hips. "I see. So you are here to silence me? In truth, I also know a great deal about you. You are the genius puppeteer who murdered the Third Kazekage—Sasori of the Red Sand."

"And although you hide within that grotesque puppet shell, Hiruko, your true power lies in the human puppet of the Third Kazekage."

"Oh? Your investigation was very thorough," Sasori said, a murderous intent seeping into his voice. Anyone who knew his secrets and was not under his control could not be allowed to live. He swung the sharp, poison-tipped tail of his Hiruko puppet. "I was certain no one knew about the Kazekage. How did you find out?"

Orochimaru purred, "Tsk tsk. As for me, when I become interested in something, I simply cannot help but get to the bottom of it. I can't help myself. It is simple curiosity."

Though he was chatting "amiably" with Sasori, Orochimaru's golden, slitted eyes were fixed on the silent figure of Pain. The Rinnegan… he thought, a thrill running through him. There can be no mistake! Those patterns, those concentric circles… they are exactly as the legends described!

"Hehehe…" Orochimaru no longer bothered to hide his avarice. He was practically vibrating with excitement. "I am very curious about your Akatsuki. I truly wish to get to know it… intimately."

For a moment, the wind howled, mirroring the storm of ambition in Orochimaru's heart.

"Humph!" Sensing Orochimaru's enthusiasm, Sasori snorted coldly. "I do not care what you are interested in. You are destined to die here today."

"That remains to be seen. It is just as likely that I will be the one to capture you, Scorpion. I will extract every last secret about the Akatsuki from your mind!"

"Hahahaha, you are quite bold! You have a face that is naturally irritating, Orochimaru. I must kill you today!" Sasori declared harshly, then turned to Pain. "We agreed you would not interfere."

"I know," Pain replied, turning his back expressionlessly, leaving the stage to Sasori.

"Very good. Then… Orochimaru, I have grown tired of this charade. Let us begin!"

Poof!

With a burst of thick smoke, Sasori shed his Hiruko shell, revealing his true form—a puppet body of his own creation.

"Though I could have dispatched you with Hiruko alone, I want you to experience what it feels like to be utterly and completely defeated!"

Sasori threw out a scroll. It unrolled in mid-air, and with a flash of chakra strings, the human puppet of the Third Kazekage soared into the air before him. The flexible chakra lines controlled its every movement. In Sasori's hands, the Third Kazekage puppet moved with the same deadly grace as when he was alive.

"Hehehe… The feeling of complete defeat? I am truly looking forward to it."

"You will find out soon enough. Savor it!"

"Thousand-Armed Manipulation Force!"

Sasori waved his hand, and a seal on the puppet's arm activated. Thousands of wooden arms burst forth, swarming toward Orochimaru.

"This is my first time fighting a human puppet. How interesting. This ugly thing is quite convenient for concealing mechanisms." Orochimaru's lithe body jumped back and forth, easily dodging the thousand-armed assault.

"You're quite nimble, but… it is not over yet!" Sasori's finger twitched, and the thousand arms suddenly split apart, releasing a massive cloud of purple, poisonous gas.

"Poison?" Orochimaru smiled playfully. "Though I am immune to all poisons, so it matters not whether I dodge, I do so enjoy countering my opponents' attacks!"

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Orochimaru formed a seal with one hand and blew a powerful gale from his mouth. In an instant, all the poisonous gas was blown away without a trace.

"This time, it is my turn to attack!"

As he finished speaking, Orochimaru's neck stretched to an inhuman length, his head snapping forward with its mouth wide open, aiming to bite down on Sasori's neck.

"...!" Sasori's voice was filled with disgust. "What a repulsive creature. Are you even human anymore?" He did not dodge, allowing Orochimaru to bite him.

"Hmm? Could it be that you…?" Orochimaru took a few chomps and realized something was wrong. He immediately retracted his neck. "I see. It seems I am not the only one who enjoys modifying his own body. Scorpion, you are already a puppet. How are you any different from me?"

"I never thought that you, once so famous in the Sand Village, would…? Haha, you have fallen so low."

"You call this depravity? As expected, just like your techniques, you are a man without any taste." Sasori raised his hands, lifting the Third Kazekage puppet high into the air. "The opinions of ordinary people are meaningless to me. The only thing that matters is elevating my art to its pinnacle!"

"Orochimaru, open your ugly snake eyes and witness what true art is!"

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"

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