Seeing who it was, Senshi realized this wasn't just nobody but rather one of the ninja world's "Art Masters," Sasori of the Red Sand.
Just now, Sasori had taken a jab at Orochimaru, and originally, Senshi wanted to help "Snake Bro" and stir Sasori up a bit. He knew exactly how to get under Sasori's skin—just say "Art is an explosion, Deidara's motto," the same way you'd needle some IMP with a "Wanna wear Daedric boots?" kind of line. After all, in Sasori's artistic vision, art should be eternal, not a transient moment.
However, Senshi refrained for fear of further "corrupting" Karin. One can study good for three years yet learn bad in a day. Karin already had a sly streak and was cooking stir-fry with Susanoo—quite outlandish. If he also added those questionable ideas to her repertoire, it might get out of control.
Senshi, however, didn't realize he wasn't much better than Karin. While she used Susano'o to cook, he used Lightning Release to electrocute fish—both equally bizarre in their own ways.
At the moment, Senshi chose not to provoke Sasori by debating "artistic philosophies." Instead, he eyed this Akatsuki member with great interest. A daring thought sprang to mind:
"Flesh is weak—ascend to machinery!
How about recruiting Sasori the puppet as my partner?"
Once that idea hit, it began spiraling uncontrollably. Hidan might have immortality, but if you pushed that body too far, it still needed time to recover. Plus, while Hidan couldn't really die, he did get tired, so Senshi had to keep electrifying him with Lightning Release to "recharge" him. Using "lightning pillars" to jolt him had its drawbacks—several times Hidan passed out, foaming at the mouth, completely unresponsive to any further electric prodding.
But a puppet has none of those problems—it never gets tired. If it wears out, you just replace some parts. Moreover, Sasori had another advantage: he hated wasting time. He detested waiting around, which fit perfectly with Senshi's plan for endless, round-the-clock missions. The more Senshi mulled it over, the more convinced he became that Sasori was a perfect fit.
Hence, without much ado, he simply came out and asked:
"Sasori, do you need to sleep? Do you experience fatigue? Can you do missions 24/7, without rest?"
Sasori: (゜ロ゜)!!
Hearing Senshi's words, Sasori's entire puppet body felt dumbstruck. "What on earth is he asking? And why such bizarre questions, right off the bat?"
While Sasori's mind buzzed with question marks, Karin turned her curious gaze on the strangely dressed Sasori. "Is Senshi targeting this weirdo? If anyone could pull that off, only Senshi could."
Had Karin known what was on Hidan's mind, Hidan would likely raise a timid hand. He'd been worked to the bone many times, too, collapsing with foam in his mouth—but he was still forced to keep going.
Although Orochimaru could be thick-skinned and shameless, Sasori had just mocked him, so of course Orochimaru would return the favor by throwing Sasori under the bus. After Senshi asked, Orochimaru eagerly explained Sasori's situation:
"Sasori uses a puppet body, so he doesn't experience biological fatigue. Nor does he need normal human sleep to recover his energy. He only requires three to four hours of rest before resuming work fully refreshed."
Upon hearing that, Senshi was deeply disappointed. "He still wastes three to four hours a day on something as trivial as rest? That's worthless!" In Senshi's mind, a proper ninja should treat mission work as a form of self-care, with low-intensity battles like yoga sessions.
"Sasori converted himself into a puppet, yet he still needs that much rest? What was the point? Four hours of sleep a day? Even that sickly Uchiha Itachi can go three days without sleep to grind missions with me!"
Realizing Sasori wasn't living up to his perfect-partner fantasy, Senshi shot him a look of disdain, shaking his head.
"No, nope, this won't do. You're way behind Hidan and Kakuzu."
In Senshi's imagination, Sasori seemed like the perfect partner. But reality was far less kind. Sasori's actual specs failed to meet that "ideal teammate" standard.
While Senshi and Orochimaru whispered to each other, Sasori grew furious. From a distance, he saw them conversing as though he were some lamb waiting to be slaughtered—analyzing him top to bottom—and it utterly enraged him. Sasori was also confused: "What on earth are these two plotting?"
Finally convinced Sasori had no future as a partner, Senshi lost all interest in that "useless trash." He pulled out two bottles that Orochimaru had been craving: one containing a pair of Sharingan, the other a pair of Byakugan.
The moment Orochimaru saw them, his eyes lit up. Carefully, he took the bottles, beaming with joy:
"As expected of the black market's top mercenary—your speed is as impressive as ever. It hasn't even been long, but you brought me the Byakugan and Sharingan I needed."
While speaking, from behind Orochimaru emerged a snake's head spitting out a sealing scroll. Orochimaru handed it to Senshi:
"Your payment of two hundred million ryō is sealed inside this scroll. Take a look."
Senshi accepted the scroll. Plucking Karin off his back, he passed it to her:
"Karin, do your thing!"
Having his little assistant act as a human "money counter," Senshi was delighted. Upon receiving Orochimaru's payment, a system prompt rang in his ear:
[Commission Completed!]
[Client: Orochimaru]
[Objective: Obtain suitable Byakugan and Sharingan]
[Reward: 200 million ryō]
[Mission Rank: S-rank]
[Bonus: 200,000 Employment Points!]
Two hundred million ryō and 200,000 points—an endless windfall! Orochimaru was equally satisfied. Hiring Senshi usually turned out win-win. This time, he'd used Danzō's money. It was a win. Senshi hadn't disappointed him, bringing exactly what he needed—another win. And now that Orochimaru had the perfect body, he could use those bloodlines to their fullest. It was a massive victory.
Senshi had similarly "won big." The bloodline limits came from Tobi's stash, costing him nothing. Finishing the job netted him 200k Employment Points—who knew how many treasures he might draw? Senshi, looking pleased, said:
"Snake Bro, keep refining that Yamata-no-Orochi power. I know plenty more goodies that'd suit you!"
Between the lines, that meant, "Keep making money—lots—and I'll supply anything you need!" Orochimaru's money plus Senshi's goods made for an unbeatable duo.
With that, Senshi waved goodbye. Behind him and Karin, a dark-red, vortex-like portal appeared. A moment before leaving, Karin peeked over Senshi's shoulder to make a silly face at Orochimaru. Having traveled with Senshi for so long, she had grown mischievous.
At the moment, Senshi wasn't in a rush to capture the Tailed Beasts in Kumo; he returned to Amegakure instead. The ninja academy, the refugee camps—lots of projects awaited. Above all, his "Will of Rain" needed thorough dissemination.
Orochimaru watched them leave, sighing, "Sasori, you're lucky you came out unscathed from Senshi."
Sasori replied icily, "Do you assume he can handle me? I'm nothing like a coward such as you. Along the path to eternal art, I fear nothing!"
Once again, Sasori went straight for the throat with personal jabs at Orochimaru. Orochimaru shot him a cold look. That Sasori still needed daily rest didn't mean the concept was wrong, just that his technology wasn't perfected yet. If Orochimaru aided him with his own research, Sasori could well end up "blessed" with the ability to work 24/7 without rest. Then Sasori would understand the terror of Senshi's non-stop mission schedule.
For now, Orochimaru had the Sharingan and Byakugan he'd long coveted. He didn't want to linger. He told Kabuto, "Pack it up. We're heading back."
Hearing this, Kabuto set about sealing up their belongings in a scroll. Sasori called after them,
"Wait! Going back? Our mission hasn't made the slightest progress—how can we just leave?"
Orochimaru nodded. "Yes, we're leaving."
Sasori sneered, "Orochimaru, are you so terrified of Senshi that you've lost your mind? Our mission is incomplete, and you want to run?"
Orochimaru gave a sinister laugh. "The moment that man took on the job, it was over. I have no desire to waste time here. I'm returning to my research. Enough chatter."
Without a shred of hesitation, he walked off. Sasori looked on, dumbfounded. "Has Orochimaru lost it? Kumogakure has two perfect jinchūriki, and he's convinced Senshi alone can manage it?" Sasori suspected Orochimaru had gone insane.
He'd heard of Senshi, knew he was strong, but didn't believe any single ninja could handle two perfect jinchūriki. Watching Orochimaru and Kabuto depart, Sasori decided to stay and observe how things developed. He guessed Senshi might show up eventually, and he wanted to see that power for himself.
Truth be told, Senshi had accepted Orochimaru's Tailed Beast mission, but it wasn't urgent—and he'd headed back to Amegakure for other tasks. By the time he returned, the Ame might be thriving with ninjas who embraced his "Will of Rain." Over the years, the Five Great Nations had fought to their hearts' content, leaving small countries and villages in ruins. War had uprooted countless families. None would have imagined a day when a village actually welcomed refugees wholeheartedly.
And Nagato, Konan—they realized again how terrifying Senshi was. By himself, he could fund an entire village's finances. He'd poured enormous sums into the Ninja Academy and the refugee shelters, yet still acted as if he was flush with money. Indeed, the Uzumaki clan—renowned for fūinjutsu—had been coveted by many forces in the ninja world, leading to the destruction of Uzushiogakure and the Land of Whirlpools after the Third Great Ninja War. The surviving Uzumaki were scattered, but now news spread that a new star of the Uzumaki was gathering clansmen in Amegakure.
…
Konoha, Uchiha Compound.
Sasuke had been training alone for a while. Suddenly, he noticed Naruto sitting nearby, chin on his hands, looking pensive. "Naruto, what're you daydreaming about?"
Naruto, hearing Sasuke's question, told him today's rumor: "I heard from some folks in the village that Teacher Senshi is taking in more Uzumaki clan survivors in the Ame. Probably loads of Uzumaki clan members are heading there?"
Sasuke silently digested this. Mentally, he resolved that, like Senshi-sensei, he too would one day revive his own clan's glory.
…
Land of Vegetables, A certain mountain village.
Here, many of the villagers had bright red hair—the Uzumaki survivors who had escaped here after the Land of Whirlpools fell. Yet even here, they faced discrimination and lived in hardship.
One day, a senior figure among them—Uzumaki Takumori—gathered all the clan descendants.
A five or six-year-old red-haired boy peered at Takumori anxiously. "Takumori-ojisan, are we distributing food again? I've been starving for days…only one meal a day."
Despite the Land of Vegetables having fertile land suitable for farming, the best soil had been claimed long ago. As destitute refugees, they could barely survive.
Suddenly, a smaller child fainted from hunger. Takumori hurriedly said, "Feed him something quickly. Soon, we won't go hungry anymore."
Following Takumori's words, Uzumaki Haruko gave a small piece of flatbread to the unconscious child. Yet Takumori's last statement startled Haruko—she was just five and a half, with memories full of nothing but hunger and death. Before coming here, she and her parents had wandered endlessly. Her father fell ill; her mother starved soon after; then her sister. On the brink of death, Haruko herself was saved by Takumori-ojisan, a skilled Low Ninja of their clan, who brought them to this village. But they still had no guarantee of enough food to keep everyone alive.
Not just Haruko—all the Uzumaki there felt the same. Thus, Takumori's next words struck them like a miracle:
"Children, my kin—our days of suffering may soon see hope."
A teenage boy named Uzumaki Yūtai asked, "Takumori-ojisan, did our ally Konoha decide to help us?" Everyone's gaze turned hopeful. By right, Konoha should have extended a hand, but its higher-ups had taken no such action.
Takumori shook his head. "Not Konoha—Amegakure. We have a clansman named Uzumaki Senshi…"
He went on to explain astonishing news:
In the Ame, they had a relative named Uzumaki Senshi, a legendary black-market ninja said to have unbelievable power. Most importantly, Senshi was opening Amegakure to any and all Uzumaki survivors.
Wide-eyed, Haruko asked timidly,
"Takumori-ojisan… If we go to the Ame, we'll really get food? And can even attend a Ninja Academy?"
The words "food" and "school" made all the Uzumaki children stare at Takumori with bright, hopeful eyes, fearing they might have misheard. He nodded solemnly:
"Yes—once we arrive at Amegakure and meet Lord Senshi, we'll all get food. All school-age children can enroll in the Ame's Ninja Academy."
At that, Haruko and the other children cheered. Some shouted, "Long live Lord Senshi!" Takumori-ojisan was also overjoyed, though he worried about the long journey from this mountainous corner of the Land of Vegetables to the Land of Rain. They lacked enough food and protection, so who knew how many would survive the trip. Countless scattered Uzumaki faced the same predicament. Even so, Senshi's existence gave them a ray of hope. Despite the hardships, they set off for Amegakure.
…
Konoha, nightfall.
A dark and windy moonless night, everything silent. Danzō had been tormented by the "Konoha F3," desperate to change his situation. He'd paced his Root office for ages, still no solution. It only deepened his hatred for Orochimaru:
"Damn that Orochimaru…running off with the money! If he ever falls into my hands, I'll show him the meaning of cruelty."
Yet ranting was futile—he needed a plan. Then his gaze fell on someone standing nearby: Senshi's Wood Clone. Spotting this, Danzō formed a bold scheme. After all, Senshi's prowess towered over the current ninja world; even his Wood Clone was fearsome. He had once commissioned Senshi to ensure his safety. So what if Danzō went and stole a huge fortune somewhere? The local shinobi would try to kill him, forcing Senshi's clone to intervene to keep him alive, making Senshi the prime target and pitting him against them. Perfect "bug abuse" to exploit Senshi's guaranteed protection.
Full of excitement at his brilliance, Danzō acted immediately—mask on, no subordinates, leaving Root alone. Why bring anyone? Senshi had to protect him anyway, and it was a shady errand besides.
Beneath the night sky, Danzō dashed through the woods like in bygone days. Senshi's Wood Clone trailed behind, strolling casually. Senshi was puzzled: "What is Danzō up to? World's so big—did he go traveling on a whim? Or is he fleeing Konoha after failing to handle the one billion fiasco?"
He followed along, soon seeing Danzō run quite far indeed. No fear of draining his chakra, the old codger crossed the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Springs, and made it all the way to the Land of Lightning. Among Konoha's adversaries, Land of Lightning's Kumogakure was the biggest thorn. Evidently, Danzō planned to use Senshi's "nuclear deterrent" to teach them a lesson.
Within Land of Lightning territory, Danzō consulted some intel sheets, verified his path, and pressed on. His destination: a treasury in the Land of Lightning. He'd steal the money, shift the blame, and walk away rich. Soon, Senshi and Danzō arrived at the site. Around it, Kumo-nin stood guard.
Danzō strutted up to the treasury, immediately spotted by the guards. They barked:
"Halt! This is a restricted treasury. No unauthorized personnel!"
Behind his mask, Danzō wore a cruel smile, speaking icily:
"I'll give you one minute. Open the vault and clear out. Anyone still here after one minute—dies!"
The Kumo guards traded bewildered looks, the commotion drawing their captain, Odoi. He assessed the masked intruder, then asked his men: "Why the fuss?" They replied:
"Captain, some drunk came causing trouble. He just said—"
Odoi understood. "Drive him off!" A shinobi dashed forward, about to expel Danzō. Yet before he got close, Danzō lunged and struck him in the stomach, knocking him flat.
"Bastard!" Odoi yelled, "He's here to cause trouble—take him down!" The other guards all leaped at once. Danzō didn't resist; he wanted them furious, so they'd threaten his life, forcing Senshi to step in. With Senshi's Wood Clone so strong, these guards would be destroyed instantly…right?
Except as fists hammered him, Senshi didn't budge from his vantage in a tree. He saw clearly that Danzō was trying to "exploit a bug." Danzō wanted Senshi forced into action. Yet as long as they weren't actually trying to kill Danzō, there was no need for Senshi to intervene. Meanwhile Senshi couldn't help but marvel:
"Truly worthy of being Konoha's Root, the Dark Elder. Look at him endure a beating without uttering a sound!"
Gritting his teeth, Danzō endured the barrage, equally mystified: "Dammit, Senshi—why won't you step in?" By his logic, Senshi ought to have unleashed a thunderous strike by now. Could it be that he wasn't yet in enough danger? Perhaps he hadn't been hurt seriously enough.
Hence, Danzō snarled at the Kumo guards:
"What's wrong with you? Didn't you eat breakfast? You call this punching? You call yourselves ninja?!"
~~~
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