Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand were on the verge of a heated debate over their ultimate artistic philosophies when a tall figure suddenly stepped between them.
Deidara scratched the back of his head sheepishly and chuckled.
"Alright, alright, since Kakuzu is here, I'll let it slide." He stepped aside, while Sasori, after a brief two-second stare at Kakuzu, retracted the tail of his puppet, Hiruko.
Ignoring Deidara's eccentric passion for explosions, Kakuzu turned his gaze to Sasori.
"Sasori, I know your story, but before you officially join the organization, you must understand something. Your parents' deaths were connected to both me and Sakumo Hatake, but that was war. In war, everyone fights for their own side. If you're looking for the true culprit, perhaps you should blame Konoha. Or, if you can look even further, you'll realize it wasn't Konoha's fault either, but rather the world itself."
"Yahiko must have already told you—Akatsuki's true goal is to seek real peace. Here, you will have a stage to showcase your artistry, but there will also be times when killing is necessary. However, mindless slaughter is not tolerated. If you can't accept that, staying in this organization will only bring you pain."
For Sasori to join Akatsuki, Kakuzu needed to make sure he was ideologically prepared, otherwise, the consequences could be severe. The choice was now in Sasori's hands. If he couldn't let go of his past grievances, he was free to walk away. Kakuzu would not stop him.
Sasori remained silent for a few moments before looking at Kakuzu through Hiruko's eyes.
"It doesn't matter. I'd like to see what kind of peaceful world you claim to be building."
His tone carried little resentment. The loss of his parents had devastated his childhood, leaving only his puppet artistry to accompany him. To that end, he had even transformed himself into a puppet. In a way, he was no different from Kakuzu or Orochimaru—they had all achieved a form of immortality.
Kakuzu couldn't say for sure that Sasori had truly let go of his hatred, but as long as no one provoked him, he wouldn't cause any trouble. Keeping him within Akatsuki was far safer than letting him roam unchecked.
With a nod, Kakuzu signaled Sasori's official acceptance into the organization. He glanced at Yahiko and the other five core members before turning to the three newest recruits. Then, he addressed everyone present.
"There's one more person I need to introduce to you all. He has a keen interest in our organization's structure and will be a strong contender for the position of leader."
Yahiko and the others immediately tensed.
"Someone vying for the leadership of Akatsuki right from the start? Sounds like an extraordinary ninja," Yahiko murmured, his mind racing through the list of powerful figures he knew in the ninja world. Nagato and Konan exchanged glances, each wondering who this mysterious individual could be.
...
A long-awaited moment arrived as a figure slowly emerged from the shadows. Steady steps carried him forward, clad in Akatsuki's signature black cloak adorned with red clouds. As his full appearance became visible, the reaction among Akatsuki's members was immediate.
"T-This is…"
"No way, it's actually him?!"
"Of all people, I never would have expected him to be our next leader…"
...
Yahiko and the others were equal parts stunned and alarmed. The sheer unexpectedness of his presence shook them to their core.
When someone walks through darkness, and you can't quite make out their face, but a sinking feeling forms in your gut, it can only mean one thing—
Where there's blame to be placed, he will always be there.
The Shadow of the Shinobi World, Danzo!
...
As the room fell into stunned silence, Danzo merely cast a sidelong glance at them before closing his eyes. He wasn't surprised by their reaction. After all, he was Danzo.
"Lord Kakuzu, what's the meaning of this…?" Yahiko finally broke the silence, his voice filled with hesitation.
Kakuzu raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Enough. Let's move on to the mission briefing. Akatsuki's current investigative target is the Otsutsuki Clan. While I lack concrete information, I can confirm their traces exist on this planet."
"They may not be actively destroying the shinobi world now, but one day, they will descend upon it. To prevent the calamities they will bring in the coming decades, I reformed Akatsuki—to begin our investigation and prepare accordingly."
"Space-time ninjutsu will be essential in this endeavor." At this point, Kakuzu turned his gaze toward Nagato and the masked youth standing beside him. "I've given you both the Flying Thunder God technique. Additionally, Nagato, you must further develop your Rinnegan. In theory, it should possess space-time abilities."
"Understood, Lord Kakuzu. I will do my best," Nagato replied with a firm nod.
Beside him, the masked youth also spoke. "Understood."
Though his words were few, the weight behind them was enough.
"That's all. As for who will lead Akatsuki, that's for you all to decide. I won't interfere." With that, Kakuzu turned and left the meeting room.
...
The moment Kakuzu stepped out, silence engulfed the room.
Danzo opened his left eye, scanning the faces around him. He cleared his throat, preparing to speak first.
"I assume you all heard Lord Kakuzu's briefing—"
"Oi, oi, oi!"
Before Danzo could finish, an irritating voice interrupted him. Annoyed, he turned toward the source.
Hidan, his scythe resting on his shoulder, sauntered over with a smug grin. He jabbed a finger at Danzo.
"What's the deal, Kakuzu? Bringing this guy in here? I thought Akatsuki was an organization where everyone's Kage-level. Does he even qualify?"
It was clear—Hidan had no intention of acknowledging Danzo's authority.
Hearing such blatant disrespect, Danzo's face darkened with anger.
"Did you not hear Lord Kakuzu just now? I will be Akatsuki's leader. Are you questioning—"
Before he could finish, a sharp pain spread across his face. The next thing he knew, his body spun around from the force of the blow.
Hidan smirked. "Tch, what a pain. You think you can be my leader with that level of strength? My Lord Jashin would never allow it."
He had no patience for hierarchy or decorum—his response was a swift slap to Danzo's face. The impact left Danzo momentarily dazed, his cheek burning from the sting.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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