Discovery

"Perfect works of art!" Sasori of the Red Sand gazed at the Human Puppets that looked no different from living people, his eyes filled with fanaticism.

"Directly altering a living creature’s Bloodline Limit—this is simply unheard of, utterly inconceivable!"

Yota smiled faintly. After he had brought out the Shikotsumyaku materials, Sasori of the Red Sand had already largely thrown his lot in with Yota. Once he saw the Munch-Munch Fruit’s modification abilities, Sasori of the Red Sand decided to become Yota’s subordinate. What? Tobi? Sorry, we’re not acquainted!

Of course, just like Orochimaru, what Sasori of the Red Sand truly wanted was undoubtedly to turn Yota into a Human Puppet. But Yota did not care. As long as his strength could still keep Sasori suppressed, he would be Yota’s most loyal subordinate.

After staying here for several days, all of Sasori of the Red Sand’s puppets had been upgraded through Yota’s Munch-Munch Fruit. Even the puppet Sasori of the Red Sand himself inhabited had been remade by Yota using a Shikotsumyaku ninja. Not only had its defense greatly increased, but more importantly, it had regained its vitality. After Sasori of the Red Sand transferred his core into this Human Puppet, he looked no different from a normal person and could even be injured and bleed.

Naturally, all of its combat power had been retained. Both Sasori of the Red Sand’s Puppet Technique and the Shikotsumyaku itself could be used perfectly.

Yota had also obtained quite a few good things from Sasori of the Red Sand, most importantly his research on the human body. It further advanced Yota’s own modifications, so it could be called a win-win situation.

"Come to think of it, in the Pirate World, aside from Imu, whose true strength is unknown, I should be considered the strongest, right? It’s about time to look for my third Devil Fruit. But before that, should I kill Obito first?"

With one Kamui eye, Yota had a one hundred percent chance of killing Obito.

As he was thinking about it, Orochimaru walked in.

"Mr. Yota, it seems a group of unwelcome guests has arrived outside. They have surrounded our base!"

Yota was slightly startled. As he spread out his Observation Haki, he immediately sensed several powerful life signatures.

"Someone actually came after us… It seems Kirigakure has some guts after all."

Sasori of the Red Sand’s eyes lit up slightly. "Perfect. I can test these new Human Puppets I made… Perhaps I’ll gain a few more new additions to my collection."

"Then let’s go have a look." Orochimaru licked the corner of his lips, a glint flashing faintly in his snake-like eyes. "They know our strength and still came after us. The ones who came this time are probably no ordinary people."

Especially since only a few had come. They were clearly bold because they had confidence in their skills, Yota thought to himself.

With so few people, their quality was naturally higher. Otherwise, where would they find the confidence to face a bunch of fiends like them who had crushed the Kaguya Clan?

Sasori of the Red Sand was the first to head out, eager to test his creations, with Orochimaru following behind. Yota naturally did not want to fall behind either, and the three left the underground base one after another. This time, they did not bother concealing themselves and directly wore Akatsuki cloaks.

"This should be that group’s base." An unremarkable-looking Mist Ninja scratched the strange rat beside him. Its nose looked like a chrysanthemum.

It was a special kind of Star-nosed Mole, a ninja beast. Besides its exceptionally sharp sense of smell, it possessed another trait: even in soil or underwater, it could still detect scents. In a place like the Land of Water, it was an excellent tracker.

"Alright, you should leave first." Ao stared with his Byakugan, a wary expression in his eyes. "It looks like they’re coming out."

The Mist Ninja looked at Mei Terumī and Mangetsu Hozuki. The remaining few were all renowned ninja as well. Knowing he would be no help in the coming battle, he promptly retreated.

At that moment, the three Akatsuki members emerged.

"Quite lively, isn’t it?" Yota swept his gaze across them and immediately recognized the gorgeous Mei Terumī, the eyebrowless Zabuza Momochi, and Ao with one Byakugan.

As for Ringo Ameyuri, Jūzō Biwa, and Mangetsu Hozuki, they had appeared too little in the manga for him to remember them.

However, seeing the Executioner’s Blade, Lightning Blade, and Hiramekarei in their hands, he knew that the three were among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Their strength was naturally not weak.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Sasori of the Red Sand glanced at them, his expression turning slightly serious.

The strength of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist varied greatly. The weaker ones were merely elite jōnin, while the stronger ones could contend with a village’s Kage.

Generally speaking, their strength was related to the swords they wielded—the stronger they were, the more likely they were to obtain better weapons. Usually, the strongest swordsmen wielded either Samehada, the Lightning Blade, or Hiramekarei.

In other words, the swordsmen who possessed the Lightning Blade and Hiramekarei might not be much weaker than Sasori of the Red Sand. Furthermore, since the others stood alongside them, they had to be at least at the elite jōnin level.

If Sasori of the Red Sand had encountered them alone a few days ago, he would have immediately prepared to flee. He had some confidence in a one-on-one fight, but in a group battle… he had confidence in that too. At the very least, he could still run away.

However, having just upgraded his works of art, Sasori of the Red Sand was brimming with confidence. Without hesitation, he said to Yota and Orochimaru, "Leave these people to me. It’s the perfect chance to test my new works of art."

Orochimaru and Yota had no objections, but in Yota’s view, Sasori of the Red Sand would most likely suffer a setback. Mei Terumī’s Lava Release and Boil Release were natural counters to group battles, especially against delicate puppet mechanisms. One spray of acidic mist, and every mechanism inside would melt away.

Even Sasori of the Red Sand’s trump card, the Third Kazekage’s Magnet Release, would not work very well. After all, there was a Lightning Blade on the other side.

Naturally, Sasori of the Red Sand did not see it that way. With a casual clap, he summoned two puppets—the Kaguya Clan ninja, no less.

"So, you were behind what happened to the Kaguya Clan after all?" Mei Terumī narrowed her eyes as she looked at the two pale-faced Kaguya ninja, keenly noticing that they no longer possessed any signs of life.

Although she wore a smile, her aura had faintly become dangerous.

"Enough nonsense. Capture them first, then talk." Ringo Yurui bared her teeth. When she kept her mouth closed, the young girl looked somewhat cute. Unfortunately, when she opened it, she revealed the shark-like teeth distinctive to Kirigakure, making her appear rather ferocious.

The moment she finished speaking, she swung both hands, and lightning descended from the sky.

Sasori of the Red Sand snorted coldly. The two Human Puppets instantly rushed forward, masses of exoskeleton growing across their bodies like armor and blocking the lightning.