Be the Main God from Naruto - Chapter 45

“Hanzo the Salamander,” once revered as a “Demi-God,” was a formidable ninja known for his cautious character. These body modifications could emit deadly toxins, refined sickle combat techniques, powerful Fire Release, and Summoning Jutsu.

Hanzo first coined “Sannin” for Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.

Respectful of powerful adversaries, Hanzo, like many dictators in his later years, became senile and made decisions that irreparably tarnished his reputation.

In a dark alliance with Danzo, he betrays and plots against the young prodigies of the Hidden Rain, leading to Yahiko’s suicide.

This act became an indelible stain on Hanzo’s legacy and eventually led to his assassination.

Gaara, on his quest to find the man responsible for ending Hanzo’s life, was looking for the leader of the Akatsuki—the one controlling the Six Paths of Pain, Nagato Uzumaki!

The Akatsuki was still in its early stages of capital accumulation, a plan concocted during Nagato’s more fanciful days involving a “Three-Step Plan to Rule the World.”

As for capturing the tailed beasts, profiteering from wars, or ruling the world, Nagato had yet to discuss these ambitions with other Akatsuki members.

Fortuitously, Gaara encountered the right person on his third day in the Hidden Rain.

An “old” man in a black cloak with red clouds hunched over.

After experiencing “Naruto: Breach of the Sky” and learning the whole truth from his father, along with experiencing “love,” Gaara’s personality subtly changed.

“Sasori of the Red Sand?”

Gaara bowed slightly to the figure before him.

“Hmm? You know me?” came a frail, weakening voice from the hunched figure.

“I, like you, hail from the Land of Wind.”

Gaara’s expression was odd.

The figurines Wang Yan had given him, each distinct and mostly concealing fascinating character traits and histories, were intriguing.

The figurine of Sasori was particularly fascinating.

A double-layer design, underneath the black cloak with red clouds, was an old man’s figure, but this was just a superficial shell that could be discarded.

Inside was the true appearance—a young man with red hair similar to Gaara’s, looking like he was just out of the academy.

“Hehehe… Youngster, you’ve got guts, not afraid that I’ll kill you?” Sasori’s tone darkened suddenly, flipping as easily as turning a page, with no need for emotional build-up.

“I do admire you, Sasori-senpai… After all, assassinating the Third Kazekage is not something that anyone can accomplish. He was known as the strongest Kazekage in history.”

Gaara spoke evenly, nothing like a novice shinobi, but rather like a bloodied veteran of many battles.

In reality, the memories from his three years in “Naruto: Breach of the Sky” had also returned with him, giving him a maturity that belied his appearance.

Hearing this, Sasori’s pupils contracted slightly, his neck stiffly rotating halfway with a creaking sound, like a mechanical puppet without lubrication.

“What exactly are you? Why do you know about those events?” Sasori’s tone was as cold as before but no longer as murderous.

“The son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and the Jinchuriki of the One-Tail.”

Gaara bowed slightly, indicating his position.

Though his personality had changed significantly, the radicalism in his bones remained. Even attempts by Rasa to dissuade him based on the Kazekage’s stance couldn’t quench his resolve.

When Gaara left the Hidden Sand, they had fought a battle.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Rasa held back during the fight, letting Gaara escape and even earn the reputation of a “12-year-old who matched a Kage-level fighter.”

If the Akatsuki investigated Gaara’s background, they would likely imagine a scenario where a Jinchuriki could no longer endure oppression and turned rogue.

“I see.”

Sasori’s gaze was icy: “So-called Kages are the coldest people in the world. Family is probably far less important to them than their power.”

Having lost his parents early, Sasori saw some of his younger self in Gaara’s story, softening his tone: “Do you wish to join the Akatsuki?”

“Yes, I hope Sasori-senpai can be my guide.” Gaara’s expression was serious, with no trace of jest.

Continuing as a Jinchuriki in the Akatsuki after the Nine-Tails collection plan began was suicide.

Yet revealing his Jinch.

Reiki status would lead to unnecessary attention and wariness.

“The Akatsuki doesn’t recruit weaklings. I’ll only give you a chance to meet the leader. The rest is up to your performance.”

Sasori spoke these words softly, then fell silent, pressing his index finger to his temple and remaining motionless.

Gaara sensed the flow of chakra and the wind’s changes.

It seemed Sasori was communicating with someone.

Moments later, a blurred figure appeared before him.

“So, you’re the newcomer wanting to join the Akatsuki? Show me your full strength, or you’ll die.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the figure distorted.

In a flash!

A pitch-black rod, seemingly capable of absorbing light itself, aimed at Gaara’s right eye!
No time to react.

Even an Earth-style chakra shield would be pierced instantly.

For this was the Black Rod! A creation of Yin-Yang Release, housing the “Outer Path” power of the Rinnegan, can disrupt chakra and is even more effective against tailed beasts!
Indeed, a bane of tailed beasts, a Jinchuriki’s worst enemy!

Clap!

A hand formed from sand tightly grasped the black rod, preventing further advance.

“Not bad, very good!”

Through the shared vision of a Pain clone, Nagato watched Gaara’s expressionless face and couldn’t help but praise him.

Initially, seeing Gaara as a Jinchuriki who walked right in, Nagato thought about killing him and sealing the One-Tail. But Gaara’s performance made him reconsider.

Jinchuriki’s life force and tailed beasts are intertwined; extracting a tailed beast leads to the Jinchuriki’s death.

But Nagato, with the Rinnegan and control over Yang Release, could extract the tailed beast while preserving Gaara’s life.

He realized that the power Gaara truly relied on wasn’t the tailed beast but the sand in his gourd, using it instinctively for defense.

The One-Tail was not as important to Gaara.

“From today, you are the eleventh member of the Akatsuki.”

Nagato decreed, establishing Gaara’s new status.

[Reincarnator007 completes the newbie task, receiving 2000 reward points and a Grade-B Destiny Gem.]

“How many points are needed to resurrect my mother?” Gaara instinctively wondered.

“4000 reward points and one Grade-B Destiny Gem.”

The cold, ruthless voice echoed in his mind.

Nagato sat in his wheelchair, his face pale and his lips blue, but his tone was fervently excited: “For the peace of the shinobi world, the Akatsuki has decided to expand its recruitment.

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