"A pure-love ninjutsu warrior?"
Both Sasori and Deidara were completely bewildered, not understanding what that meant. However, they understood the implications of what Menma had said earlier, especially Sasori. The puppeteer's face was filled with shock and disbelief after hearing the description of the effects.
"You mean, the Tailed Beast chakra you gave us cannot only be used for attack, but also provides all-around enhancements to our bodies and ninjutsu?"
"It's like becoming a perfect Jinchuriki who can completely control the Tailed Beast chakra?"
Having lived for so long, Sasori knew a great deal about Jinchuriki. He also knew that ordinary Jinchuriki, because they needed to suppress their Tailed Beasts, weren't very strong. Even when using Tailed Beast chakra, they didn't receive the massive boost Menma described. At most, they were like humanoid Tailed Beasts, or simply unleashed their beasts to fight.
To achieve what Menma described, one had to become a perfect Jinchuriki who could completely control the Tailed Beast chakra. But now, Menma was telling him he could receive complete control over the Tailed Beast's chakra—it was simply unbelievable! Could the person before him actually be a Tailed Beast disguised as a human?
Deidara, on the other hand, wore a look of surprise and delight. "If it enhances the power of my ninjutsu, will my explosions be bigger, fiercer, and more spectacular? If that's the case, wouldn't my pursuit of art be able to take a leap forward, hmm?"
Deidara, who had immediately changed his attitude, exclaimed, "It's so good! Newcomer, I remember your name is Menma, right? I acknowledge your art. I will accept it into your organization and then ascend to a higher realm of art, hmm!"
Seeing that Sasori and Deidara had both agreed to join, Menma smiled beneath his mask and patted their shoulders. "Whether it is or not, you can experience it for yourselves now."
Whoosh!
Under the touch of Menma's palm, golden-red Tailed Beast cloaks rapidly emerged from both of their bodies. A massive chakra fox tail slowly sprouted from behind them. At the same time, Deidara's face, which had been twisted and distorted by Menma's attack, began to heal at a visible speed. The wounds on his cheeks quickly scabbed over and fell off, revealing smooth skin.
"This regenerative ability and physical strength, just as you said!"
Feeling the pain in his face and body disappear and his body surging with power, Deidara looked at Menma with increasing satisfaction, his expression filled with rapture and fascination. "Your art of self-sacrifice is a very beautiful art, only slightly inferior to my fleeting beauty, hmm!"
Compared to Deidara's significantly enhanced state, Sasori's situation was somewhat disappointing. After all, he was in a puppet body; this kind of physical enhancement and recovery was completely useless to him. However, the formed Tailed Beast cloak did indeed significantly enhance his defense and attack capabilities.
After sensing it for a while, Sasori attempted to retract the chakra from his body. As the golden-red chakra shrank into his chakra core, his expression changed rapidly, like a slideshow, finally turning as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Menma, is this your true purpose? Let these Tailed Beast chakra seep into our core bodies. It's both a usable power and a weapon that can kill us!"
"What?" Hearing Sasori's words, Deidara frowned and sensed his body. However, he wasn't condensed into a core and didn't detect anything unusual.
Seeing that Sasori had actually sensed the Nine-Tails' chakra restriction, Menma was slightly surprised. He didn't intend to hide anything. "Such chakra control and acuity, Sasori, you truly deserve to be called the strongest puppeteer. Indeed, this Tailed Beast chakra isn't just a usable power, it's also a restriction that can kill you. After all, I wouldn't feel at ease letting you join my ranks without some restrictions."
"It's a restriction, too. Your art is truly interesting and practical, hmm!" Deidara didn't care about the restriction at all. Anyway, he couldn't beat Menma. If he encountered an order he truly didn't want to carry out, he could just self-destruct and take everyone down with him.
Sasori knew that to survive, he couldn't tell Pain and Konan. He was now completely on Menma's bandwagon, even more so than joining Akatsuki.
"Menma, now you can tell me your purpose, right?"
"Purpose?" Menma shrugged. "The purpose is simple. You're all ninjas who betrayed your villages for your own, easy to control and use. Once things are settled with Akatsuki, you'll be just the right amount of strength for my Four-Star Village."
He needed more capable ninjas under his command. Menma didn't want to have his Shadow Clones do everything himself. Therefore, these rogue ninjas from various villages within Akatsuki were Menma's best choice.
"Strengthening my own village's strength, that makes sense." Sasori had only asked casually, but Menma had actually given him a reason. But it didn't matter; he served whoever he wanted. As long as he could continue creating puppets and pass on his art to future generations, that was enough.
After successfully subduing the Akatsuki's art duo, the three rested briefly, waiting for Sasori to repair his main body, before continuing their journey towards Sound Village. After all, they didn't intend to break ties with Akatsuki yet, and they naturally had to complete the mission Nagato had given them.
Across the border, near Sound Village—
"Who are you people? Our Sound Village doesn't welcome outsiders!"
Looking at the approaching Sound Ninja, Sasori and Deidara, still frustrated by their recent beating from Menma, immediately attacked.
"C1, Clay Spider, Hah!"
"Iron Sand World Method!"
Boom!!! Sizzle!!!
A violent explosion, Magnet Release iron sand piercing through, brought forth the Sound Ninja's shrill screams. These screams alerted Orochimaru, who was unwrapping his bandages in his underground base deep within Sound Village.
"Hmm? I didn't expect the Konoha ninja to arrive ahead of schedule?"
Orochimaru was still in Sound Village. He had recently used the Impure World Reincarnation to acquire a new body and was recuperating there. This body should have originally belonged to Sasuke Uchiha. Unfortunately, Sasuke was taken away by the Four-Star Village, so he had to use a spare body.
Although he hadn't left Sound Village, Orochimaru had been keeping a close eye on the situation in Konoha. He knew that Hashirama and Tobirama had set off that morning with a large group of ninja to wipe him out. He just hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly; it was only noon.
"Luckily, I already had Kabuto take the things and leave first. I should leave now too."
With that, Orochimaru quickly tore off the remaining bandages. He picked up the empty ring engraved on the table and strode outside.
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