Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 220: Taking Over the Akatsuki

"Art is an explosion! Hah!"

Boom!

A massive explosion rang out, adding yet another circular crater to the already battered and cratered ground, as if a meteor shower had passed through.

Standing on a clay bird, Deidara nodded in satisfaction at his masterpiece. "Sasori's puppets sure look amazing when they explode. Indeed, an instant explosion is the most exquisite form of art! Hmm!"

"Deidara!!!"

From within the smoke, Sasori's furious roar echoed once again.

At this moment, he looked utterly miserable. Not only was his puppet body shattered, but even his real body, preserved as a human puppet, was now in pieces. His heart was currently housed in a simple puppet.

Given his strength, it shouldn't have come to this.

One misstep led to another.

Deidara's sudden betrayal and the use of C4 Karura had left him severely injured without the chance to fully display his power.

Surviving was already lucky enough, let alone counterattacking.

Holding on until now was his utmost effort.

At this moment, Deidara, while manipulating his hands, shouted, "Sasori! Have you thought it over? Are you interested in switching sides and joining me?"

Sasori had never been this angry before.

Dodging, he coldly replied, "Deidara! I underestimated you, betraying the leader. But are you sure you want to persuade me by starting with C4 Karura?"

"Come on~~ You're so strong, Sasori. I had to give it my all. Besides, everything's fine now. Hmm." Deidara's carefree voice came from above.

Sasori's eyes darkened.

His painstakingly accumulated puppet army was almost entirely destroyed.

He wanted nothing more than to turn Deidara into a human puppet on the spot.

But the current situation was unfavorable.

Sasori had to suppress his anger, scan the surroundings, and plan his escape.

However, Deidara knew his senior partner well.

After another clash, Deidara suddenly smirked and formed a seal with one hand. "Sasori, as a fellow artist, I've given you another chance. Hmm."

As he spoke, Sasori found himself unable to move. Looking down, he saw two gigantic clay centipedes swiftly emerge from the ground, wrapping around most of his body.

The container holding his heart was pressed against the centipede's back.

Sasori was forced to surrender.

He looked up at Deidara and, with a cold tone of confusion, asked, "Deidara, have you considered the consequences of betraying the leader?"

Everyone in the Akatsuki knew that Pain possessed the legendary Rinnegan.

People had challenged him before, but they all failed.

Sasori couldn't understand why Deidara would betray Pain when he was living well.

Especially since Pain had Zetsu's intelligence network covering the entire ninja world.

No matter how far Deidara fled, he would eventually be caught.

And the only outcome for traitors in the Akatsuki was death.

Hearing this, Deidara nonchalantly shrugged. "Compared to betraying Pain, I'm more worried about betraying the clan leader."

"The clan leader? What do you mean?"

Just as Kakuzu was about to continue questioning, a holographic figure suddenly projected from his "Jade" ring.

'You're finished.'

Sasori gave Deidara a look and was about to report to the projected leader.

However, as he began to speak, he realized the figure wasn't the leader.

Sasori found the person familiar.

Until Deidara descended with pride, introducing the man as his artistic mentor, life coach, and clan leader, the legendary Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Sasori finally recognized him.

His heart skipped a beat, considering the possibility.

Even if Pain was invincible...

Facing a foe from another era, the renowned Hagoromo Gengetsu, what would be the outcome?

"Pain is dead. I'm now in charge of the Akatsuki."

After surveying the situation, Hagoromo Gengetsu spoke.

"So, Sasori of the Red Sand, what's your choice?"

Sasori was silent.

Beside him, Deidara urged, "Sasori, what's there to hesitate about? We can still be an artistic duo. Don't tell me you're truly loyal to Pain. That would surprise me. Hmm!"

Sasori glanced at Deidara and finally spoke, "If Pain is dead, what about Konan?"

Sasori had joined the Akatsuki because Konan had defeated him.

He found her Paper Release to be a beautiful form of art.

Asking about Konan's situation wasn't due to deep feelings.

It just crossed his mind suddenly.

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't hide the truth. "Before he died, Pain made a deal with me, allowing Konan to leave. She's no longer part of the Akatsuki. I don't care where she went."

Sasori understood.

After a while, he nodded. "Alright, I'll join. But I have one condition."

"Speak."

Sasori, expressionless, looked at Deidara, who was approaching without any awareness, moved aside, and addressed Hagoromo Gengetsu. "I won't team up with Deidara again."

Hearing this, Deidara felt like he'd been struck by lightning. "Sasori! We're both artists striving for greatness. We're a perfect pair; we can't be separated! Hmm!"

Sasori coldly smiled, ignoring him.

Over the years, the biggest loss he'd suffered was from a fellow artist.

Going through it again?

He feared he might strike first.

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at Sasori, then at Deidara. To prevent any private conflicts, he agreed, "Fine."

Sasori sighed in relief.

Deidara felt a bit melancholic.

Thus, the artistic duo parted ways.

The Akatsuki had a total of ten members.

With Pain, Itachi Uchiha dead, Orochimaru defected, Konan gone, and Zetsu now following Obito Uchiha, Hagoromo Gengetsu had five Akatsuki members under his control.

One last member remained.

At Sasuke's location, the once beautiful mountain hot spring had become ruins.

After defeating Kisame, Sasuke was dealing with the lingering Amaterasu flames to prevent the mountain and surroundings from burning down.

When he returned, he found Hagoromo Gengetsu's holographic figure in front of the bound Kisame.

Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at Sasuke, nodded, then continued to address Kisame. "The Rinnegan and Gedo Statue are now with me. I'll carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan. Will you continue to follow the so-called 'Madara Uchiha' or join me?"

Kisame had joined the Akatsuki because he agreed with 'Madara Uchiha's' ideology and the Eye of the Moon Plan.

He hadn't expected Hagoromo Gengetsu to know this and even seize the related assets.

Witnessing Hagoromo Gengetsu's power, Kisame thought the plan might succeed more under him than 'Madara Uchiha.'

He wanted to see the world as he envisioned if the plan succeeded.

So.

Kisame looked at Hagoromo Gengetsu, then at Sasuke Uchiha.

Retracting his gaze from those Sharingan eyes.

After some hesitation and thought, he looked at Hagoromo Gengetsu and slowly nodded.

Thus, the Akatsuki takeover was complete.

Hagoromo Gengetsu immediately ordered, "The Akatsuki now has a mission."