Su Xiao’s consciousness blurred for a mont, and when his vision returned, he found himself in a secluded cave.
The cave wasn’t large, with a high-suspended oil lamp in the center, which prevented the cave from being dim.
Su Xiao’s body seed sowhat translucent, like an image projected by a projector, slightly swaying with the flickering firelight.
Su Xiao was alone in the cave, but before long, two projections appeared.
"I an, why are we gathering again? Didn’t we gather three days ago?"
An annoyed voice ca through.
"Shut up, or I’ll kill you."
"Huh? If you’ve got the guts, kill ."
"Tch."
Without a doubt, these speaking are Hidan and Kakuza of the Undead Duo.
"Who’s this guy?"
Hidan’s illusion glanced towards Su Xiao.
"A newcor."
Another projection appeared, this ti it was Heavenly Dao of the Pain group, the apparent leader of the Akatsuki Organization.
"A newcor? It’s been a while since we’ve had a newcor."
Kakuza glanced at Su Xiao and said no more.
"Hey, you over there, the newcor."
Hidan looked at Su Xiao with interest.
"What is it?"
"Of course, are you interested in joining the Evil God Sect, the Evil God Sect..."
Hidan began his incessant introduction to the Evil God Sect, very eager to recruit Su Xiao into the sect. He did this every ti there was a new mber, but without exception, he failed.
"Not interested."
Su Xiao’s tone was sowhat indifferent, fitting well with the Akatsuki Organization’s style.
"What, are you looking down on the Evil God Sect? Where are you, tell , and I’ll co kill you."
Hidan is considered relatively ’lively’ within Akatsuki, known for his boldness, chattiness, and arrogance.
"Idiot."
Su Xiao no longer looked at Hidan, who was a quirky character entirely at odds with Akatsuki’s solemn style.
"What!! I’m so angry, where are you? I’ve already heard the Evil God’s command; I must kill you!!"
Hidan shouted angrily. He wasn’t genuinely coming to kill Su Xiao; it was just his nature.
"We just got here, and I hear you shouting, Zombie Duo."
Kisa’s voice ca in as he and Itachi arrived.
"Who are you calling the Zombie Duo?"
Kakuza, caught in the crossfire, was displeased, murderous intent flashing in his green eyes.
"As united as ever, huh."
A slightly amused voice ca in; Deidara and Sasori had also arrived.
"Dead fish, who did you just call Zombie Duo?"
"Hmm? Dead fish?"
Kisa and Kakuza had been at odds for quite so ti, both long wanting to have a fight.
This ’harmoniously united’ scene could perhaps only happen in the Akatsuki Organization, where comrades never stray far from threatening each other.
Konan, standing beside Heavenly Dao, felt a bit of a headache; the scene before her was a daily occurrence in the Akatsuki Organization.
"Dead fish, I heard your last mission failed?"
"It wasn’t a failure, just setting a long trap to catch the big fish."
"Is that so? I heard the target has already fled to the Land of Thunder, isn’t the line a bit too long."
Kisa locked eyes with Kakuza, his dead fish eyes eting Kakuza’s green ones. Su Xiao almost saw sparks flying between them in the air. Too bad Bubu Wang wasn’t here; otherwise, Bubu Wang would surely have brought out the popcorn.
"Quit arguing."
Heavenly Dao spoke up, causing Kakuza and Kisa to stop arguing. The Akatsuki’s leadership wasn’t by election; it was ruled by strength.
"What’s the matter this ti? Are we starting that plan? The One Tail is..."
Just as Deidara was about to speak, Heavenly Dao raised a hand to interrupt him.
"No, this ti it’s just that a new mber is joining."
Everyone present turned to look at Su Xiao.
"Bai Ye, new mber."
Su Xiao spoke, only revealing his na.
"Is that all?"
"Yes, Kakuza, try to secure funds quickly; our expenses have been significant recently."
Heavenly Dao looked towards Kakuza.
"No problem."
"Good. Itachi, recently observe Orochimaru’s movents; he knows about our plans, and if you can eliminate him, do it."
"Okay."
Itachi replied but remained silent afterwards.
"Sasori, stay. The rest of you, leave."
Su Xiao deactivated the Phantom Lantern Body Jutsu, and with light and shadows flickering before his eyes, his consciousness returned to his body.
The Phantom Lantern Body Jutsu was very practical; the gathering locations were decided by Nagato, and other mbers were unaware of the position, thus preventing any information leaks.
"Is it about to start?"
A smile appeared on Su Xiao’s face. If he wasn’t mistaken, the plan to capture the Jinchuriki would start with the One Tail, executed by Deidara and Sasori.
Continuing to head toward the River Country, Su Xiao needed to quickly rendezvous with those two unknown partners.
Although he vaguely guessed who those two partners might be, Su Xiao couldn’t be entirely sure. Among the three teams, the one he least wanted to join was the Undead Duo because those two guys were the busiest, with the most assignnts, and Kakuza frequently ran to the bathroom to exchange corpses for money at the black market.
...
A day later, inside the River Country, near a suspension bridge.
Below the suspension bridge was a rapid river. This bridge was called the Absolute Mo Bridge, and though it looked simple, a major event had occurred here.
During the Second Ninja War, a dium-scale battle had unfolded here.
The battle began when the White Fang of Konoha assassinated Sasori’s parents, driving Chiyo from the Sand Ninja Village nearly to madness, leading to this dium-scale battle with Konoha, giving the place its na, Absolute Mo Bridge.
Sitting on a boulder beside the suspension bridge, Su Xiao was maintaining the Dragon Slash.
A gentle breeze blew, lifting a few leaves.
Crackling sounds of wood friction echoed. Su Xiao stowed away the maintenance tools and sheathed the Dragon Slash, aware that the person he was waiting for might have arrived.
A tall figure crawling on all fours approached. The arrival was peculiar, a bald man wearing a black cloth mask, dressed in the Akatsuki uniform.
"Been waiting long? Sorry, sothing ca up on the way."
A low and hoarse voice ca; the person was Sasori, though this appearance wasn’t Sasori’s real one. This four-legged burly man was a puppet nad Scarlet Stream Tiger, with Sasori’s actual body concealed inside.
This was why Scarlet Stream Tiger crawled on all fours; otherwise, Sasori would be lying face-up inside.
Sasori apologized upon arrival for a reason; he disliked waiting for or being waited on by others, and today, surprisingly, he was late.
"It’s fine, so you’re my partner? Mister Red Desert Scorpion?"
"Correct, although the Akatsuki usually works in pairs, the leader considered your situation special and important, so temporarily assigned you to our team."
Upon hearing Sasori’s words, Su Xiao felt a twinge of tension.
"Important role?"
"You’ll understand later. I’ll take you to et the other partner."
Sasori maneuvered Scarlet Stream Tiger in a crawling direction, yet Su Xiao didn’t move.
"Is this so kind of test?"
Su Xiao looked toward a distant forest where soone was following.
"Think what you want; I hate waiting, so make it quick."
Sasori remained stationary, without intention to attack.
"Hmm."
Su Xiao stood up, directly used Shave to dash into the forest, startling the tracker inside, who quickly turned to flee.
Voom~
Soundwaves spread through the forest, leaves scattering, blade aura slicing through. The battle ended in under five minutes.
Su Xiao erged from the forest, dragging a half-dead man, blood dripping from the man’s body as Su Xiao walked slowly toward Sasori.
The man’s limbs were completely severed, his chest densely covered with knife wounds, appearing to have suffered unimaginable pain, his eyes glazed over white.
Sasori squinted slightly, making a rough estimate of Su Xiao’s combat effectiveness in close quarters.
Su Xiao tossed the tracker at Sasori.
"Consider this a greeting gift."
Sasori looked at the dying tracker with so confusion, not quite grasping the aning of a greeting gift. This was rely his test for Su Xiao, but Su Xiao quickly clarified for Sasori.
"If I’m not mistaken, this is a Sound Ninja Village ninja, perception-type, with strength ranging from Chunin to Jonin, capable of blocking others’ senses. Preliminary judgnt identifies a weaker Bloodline Limit, with signs of modification. Based on current power dynamics, this one belongs to Orochimaru. Did he send soone to tail you? Do you have a grudge with him?"
Listening to Su Xiao’s introduction, a smile appeared within Scarlet Stream Tiger.
"Seems I have a reliable partner. Co with to et the other partner; that guy’s nearby collecting clay."
User Comments
0 comments from readers