"Asura Path: Sasori, huh?"
The Red Sand Sasori actually quite liked his new body.
Sasori understood in his heart that his puppetry skills were far from reaching such a level; such puppets were not creations that could be achieved through simple puppetry.
However, what Sasori didn't know was this:
The reason why this Asura Path puppet could become such a powerful puppet was that an important component of it was Sasori's original body, as there was still Sasori's own active heart within the Asura Path, providing Chakra to this puppet.
In the entire Ninja World, no one was more suitable to become the Asura Path than Sasori.
Because Sasori himself excelled at puppetry, having turned his body into a human puppet, with everything preserved within that cylindrical heart puppet core.
Sasori's puppet core was also infused with Yin-Yang Release by Akihara Kagura, which could also be used to modify the Asura Path. The only problem was that his life and death were controlled by Akihara Kagura.
A bunch of Chakra Threads flew out from Scorpion's fingertips, falling into a pile of puppet parts. He quickly reassembled them into an ugly Hiruko to hide his form, and also found the Third Kazekage he had under control.
Aside from that.
All remaining puppet parts were collected as well.
Akihara Kagura didn't think much of these puppet parts, but to Sasori of the Red Sand, they were of great use, easily pieced together to be utilized.
"I'm leaving now."
Sasori's Hiruko slowly crawled outside.
"...."
Akihara Kagura watched Hiruko crawl away, nodding in perplexity. This guy Sasori really liked to curl up his body and hide inside Hiruko!
"Oh, by the way."
Sasori's Hiruko suddenly stopped, as most people in the Ninja World seemed to like to reveal important information only when they were about to leave: "I forgot to tell you one thing. Orochimaru invited Pain to deal with Jiraiya when he left the Akatsuki Organization's base."
"Then I hope he can make it."
Akihara Kagura chuckled, expressing his expectation.
"What's your relationship with Orochimaru?"
Sasori's voice carried a hint of suspicion: "Are you one of his completed experimental works? Are you really afraid of snakes?"
"Orochimaru-sama..."
"I have always maintained contact with Orochimaru-sama."
"After all, I came out of his lab back then, always owing him a favor, and during holidays he would send some small gifts."
Akihara Kagura's smile remained strong, and he chuckled lightly: "After you go back, please look after him for me in the Akatsuki Organization. He talks about wanting immortality, yet he likes to seek death through thrills, just be careful not to let him die."
"...."
After hearing Akihara Kagura's words, Sasori wondered if there was something wrong in Orochimaru's head, and asked another question: "Wait a minute, does this mean... is that guy Orochimaru your subordinate, or are you his subordinate?"
"Of course, I'm a subordinate of Orochimaru-sama."
"But Orochimaru-sama doesn't know a lot of things about me, including the Rinnegan."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and continued: "After all, everything Orochimaru-sama wanted to know, I have already let him know. The things that even his imagination couldn't envision, naturally, I wouldn't tell him, to prevent him from being unable to cope mentally."
"You really are a good subordinate!"
Sasori seemed to grasp the relationship between Akihara Kagura and Orochimaru: "To you, that guy Orochimaru should be a tool to be used, right?"
"No."
Akihara Kagura disagreed with Sasori's statement, actively correcting him: "When speaking, one must be a bit precise to avoid misunderstandings."
"The correct way to say it is..."
"For us, Orochimaru-sama is a tool worth using."
"Orochimaru-sama's scientific technology is something that even the two of us have to respectfully admit being inferior to, sometimes it's good to be a little humble."
"...."
Sasori felt that Akihara Kagura's respect towards Orochimaru seemed a bit superficial, as this guy called Orochimaru-sama yet didn't hesitate to treat Orochimaru as a tool.
However...
The scientific technology of that guy Orochimaru indeed has some substance.
Sasori occasionally would find Orochimaru researching strange things in the lab, and even as a Puppet Master, he couldn't comprehend Orochimaru's research.
Akihara Kagura seemed eager to ease the relationship between Sasori and Orochimaru, and thus offered a reminder: "This time, Orochimaru-sama made an effort to save you. Before I wanted to destroy your original human puppet, he had already rescued it..."
"I suppose he's kind-hearted."
Sasori intended to accept this favor.
Looking at Sasori, Akihara Kagura added another line: "Perhaps Orochimaru-sama didn't know your core was that cylindrical heart! Although I know this information, it was Orochimaru-sama who subtly hinted it to me during a fight..."
"!!!"
Sasori seethed with hatred for Orochimaru into his puppet parts.
Sasori had originally thought that even if Orochimaru had saved him mistakenly, at least it was his original human puppet that was rescued, and it was still about actions rather than intentions.
But it turned out...
Was it information Orochimaru the bastard leaked?
That bastard must be coveting his powerful human puppet!
"I'm leaving!"
Sasori left in anger.
The Land of Rain.
In a dark cave.
Konan informed Pain about Orochimaru's hope that they would handle Jiraiya.