Next, Uchiha Hikaru and Saya took out the barbecue ingredients they'd ordered from the Akimichi clan and stored in the refrigerator for more than a day, placing everything neatly on the table.
Hikaru pressed a button located along the table's edge.
The center segment sank downward, revealing a built-in grill. A burst of Fire Style chakra ignited the charcoal beneath it.
The simple mechanism immediately drew Sasori's attention. He stared with visible confusion.
This device wasn't controlled by chakra threads. It wasn't shaped by puppetry joints. It didn't even react to chakra flow.
So how did it move?
Hikaru noticed the puppeteer's curiosity instantly, predicting his question before Sasori even opened his mouth.
"This was invented by Orochimaru," Hikaru said. "It uses circuits and mechanical controls. All you have to do is press a button."
Sasori froze. "…No chakra required?"
Saya nodded. "Mm. It runs on electricity, not chakra."
Sasori had the sudden, powerful urge to dismantle the table on the spot just to see how it worked internally. But reason told him Hikaru would beat him senseless (๑˘Д˘๑) so he reluctantly forced himself to sit still.
"If you're interested," Hikaru added, "just ask Orochimaru later. I'm sure you two have a lot you could talk about."
"But for now—let's eat. This is the Akimichi clan's specialty barbecue."
…
An hour later, more than twenty kilograms of meat had been reduced to nothing, and even the two bottles of red wine Biwa Jūzō had been ogling were completely gone.
Hikaru even taught him how red wine could be mixed with soda, and Biwa Jūzō's worldview expanded violently in real time (｡>▽<｡)
After eating and drinking, everyone looked deeply satisfied—except Kakuzu, whose expression was stone-cold as he mentally calculated the horrifying cost of the meal, each number stabbing him like a kunai straight to the heart.
This meal…
How many ryo…
How many ryo…!?
From start to finish, Sasori sat stiff and silent on his bench, suffering in obvious agony. His puppet body couldn't eat. He had no stomach, no tongue, no taste buds.
For the first time, he felt the drawback of abandoning flesh.
But his obsession with immortal puppetry still outweighed appetite, so he endured, sipping the "chicken-soup-for-the-soul" encouragement Hikaru occasionally gave him.
"Did Orochimaru really find a way to achieve immortality?"
Sasori asked this quietly, half-doubtful, half-hopeful.
Hikaru only smiled in a mysterious way and told him to ask Orochimaru personally when the time came.
Once the table was cleared and everyone sat again, Hikaru finally looked at the group.
It was time.
He had fed them. He had dazzled them. Now came the real purpose.
"You have two choices."
"One: join Konoha. I'll place each of you in departments appropriate for your skills."
"Two: join Konoha first—but then be transferred into the Ninja Association."
Nagato raised an eyebrow, confused.
"…What is the difference?"
Everyone looked equally puzzled—except Konan, who immediately understood. As Secretary-General of the Ninja Association, she could hear the nuance.
"The first option means you become official Konoha ninjas," Konan explained.
"The second means you join the Ninja Association—co-founded by Konoha and other villages—but to join, you need a village identity to endorse you."
"Like Nagato and me—we are officially registered as ninja of the Hidden Rain Village. But all of you are different. Unless you reconcile with your original villages, the only way to join the Ninja Association is to first become Konoha shinobi."
Everyone fell silent in thought.
Deidara and Biwa Jūzō were the first to speak.
"If that's how it is," Deidara said, "I won't join Konoha. I'll go back to Iwagakure. I defected mostly out of anger anyway. I just want my status restored, then I'll join the Ninja Association."
Hikaru nodded. No problem—Deidara's choice wouldn't interfere with his plans.
Biwa Jūzō raised his hand next.
"Same for me. I was just a deserter. Kirigakure no longer enforces the Blood Mist policy. If they're willing to take me back, help me contact them, Hikaru. I'd rather resume my identity as a Mist ninja first."
Hikaru nodded again. Mei Terumi would soon need manpower for her political purge—Biwa Jūzō would help a lot.
Next was Sasori, and his answer was different.
"I'll join Konoha," he said simply. "I assassinated the Third Kazekage. Rasa was his student. He'll never forgive me. I can't return to Sunagakure."
"But I have one condition. I want to join the Scientific Ninja Tools Research Institute."
Hikaru almost smirked. The bait had worked. Mentioning Orochimaru earlier had been intentional—Sasori was too curious to resist.
Though Hikaru had only explained the mechanics of joining Konoha earlier, Konan's added details subtly revealed another option: registering under the Hidden Rain Village before joining the Association.
A small tug-of-war between them…
but they were going to be family, so Hikaru didn't mind. He understood Konan wanted more strong shinobi in her home village.
If she only prioritized Hikaru in everything, he'd look like a total love-struck fool (〃∀〃)ゞ
Konan had expected Sasori's choice. Still, a faint disappointment appeared on her face before she smoothed it away.
Just wait, Hikaru… I'll make you see how reliable I am, and then I'll squeeze you hard later (￣^￣)
Then she and Hikaru both looked toward Kakuzu.
"Kakuzu," Konan said. "You handled Akatsuki's finances. What will you do now? Konoha already has the Red Queen handling economic matters."
"Will you return to Takigakure—or join Konoha?"
Under the table, Hikaru's hand had already found Konan's thigh, tracing teasing circles. But his gaze stayed serious.
"Kakuzu, it's your choice. But remember—Konoha has the strongest economy in the ninja world. Consider carefully."
Kakuzu frowned deeply.
Konan wasn't wrong—Konoha had the Red Queen, a terrifying economic genius comparable to him.
But Hikaru also wasn't wrong—Konoha's sheer scale dwarfed the Hidden Rain.
Ten long minutes passed in silence.
Konan clenched her Akatsuki robe, stiffening, trying to suppress her anxiety.
She didn't want Kakuzu to leave.
She didn't want to lose a valuable asset.
She didn't want her future village—her future family—to weaken.
Her expression tightened.
The next words Kakuzu spoke would decide everything.
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Send Power Stones
Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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