He hunched his body, dragging his massive form as he carefully examined each ninja corpse on the ground.
But no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find a 'material' that satisfied him.
These bodies could only be used to make puppet foot soldiers and could not become precious pieces in his eternal art collection.
"If you keep looking like this, who knows how many people will have to die. You are too easily impatient, Sasori."
Another man approached, his laughter carrying a seductive magnetism.
He had cold purple eyeshadow, eyes like snake pupils, with long black hair fluttering in the wind.
It was none other than Orochimaru, one of the Sannin who had long left Konoha.
He was now a well-known S-Class Renegade Ninja in the Ninja Realm.
He wore the same black attire with red clouds and jested as he approached.
"I'm not interested in failures. On the other hand, you could become a fine addition to my collection."
The man called 'Sasori' coldly sneered at Orochimaru, showing no camaraderie between companions.
"You can't kill me."
Orochimaru wasn't angered by this and still wore a smile on his waxy face, his thoughts unknown.
Sasori clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Indeed, as Orochimaru said, he couldn't kill this indestructible snake.
In terms of ninja techniques' power, he was clearly stronger.
But when it came to undying, this wretched snake perhaps was no longer human.
Just like him.
"I still need to find suitable materials next. If you're unhappy, you can go solo."
Sasori hated interacting with people like Orochimaru and acknowledged this fact clearly.
This wretched snake didn't understand the beauty of art, only capable of spitting snakes from his mouth; Sasori saw this ninja technique as a complete desecration of art.
Even when no longer in the human realm, not requiring food or water, Sasori still felt nauseous about it.
"But we are team members. Getting along is what the leader instructed us to do."
Orochimaru said.
"Getting along? If there's no shared interest, there's nothing to be done. I don't want to discuss art topics with a wretched snake all day long."
"Well, that's a pity. I'm quite interested in your puppet body, though."
Unlike Sasori's indifference, Orochimaru was eager to keep the conversation going with Sasori.
Sasori just snorted coldly, ignoring the ninja corpses scattered on the ground, dragging his heavy body away slowly.
Orochimaru gradually followed, leaving this nameless small ninja village behind.
A small ninja village without a name, countless of which exist in the Ninja Realm.
They were mostly a rabble of people who knew some simple ninja techniques gathered together.
"Next, we are going to the Land of Bear."
Sasori spoke almost in a commanding tone to Orochimaru.
"Land of Bear?"
Orochimaru's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"The Hell Valley in the Land of Bear has the toxic material I need, and the Hidden Star Village has a treasure that seems to be a meteorite. I need it to increase the hardness of my puppets."
Sasori explained why he needed to go to the Land of Bear.
Orochimaru nodded in response.
"It doesn't matter to me, but before that, we must meet someone."
"Who?"
"Have you forgotten what the leader instructed?"
Orochimaru asked rhetorically.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten. The leader asked us to find some powerful ninjas to join Akatsuki and serve it."
Sasori remembered this order.
But there wasn't much hope in doing so.
Most powerful ninjas were concentrated in the ninja villages of the Five Great Nations, and there were only a handful of S-Class Renegade Ninja wandering outside. Moreover, most S-Class Renegade Ninja had their own specialties, and finding their tracks wasn't easy.
Even if these S-Class Renegade Ninja were found, whether they would join was another issue.
As of now, Akatsuki had only a handful of official members.
"I already have a suitable candidate. After finding him, we will go to the Land of Bear."
Orochimaru said with a light smile.
"Who is it?"
Though he didn't quite like Orochimaru, Sasori had to admit the man's talent.
A ninja recruited personally by Orochimaru must have extraordinary abilities.
"Speaking of which, like me, he is also from Konoha."
"Oh, from Konoha," Sasori paused, sounding like he was mocking Orochimaru, "There seem to be quite a few Konoha S-Class Renegade Ninjas. As far as I know, there are already four. With the one you mentioned, that makes five."
Before Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, defected, Konoha already had three S-Class Renegade Ninjas.
Besides the obscure Chiba Hakushi with little information, the other two were from Konoha's prestigious Uchiha and Hyuga Clans.
"I originally wanted to recruit Sakumo's three disciples, but the leader refused, stating they wouldn't join Akatsuki."
Orochimaru recalled something amusing, his lips spreading like a serpent.
"Oh? So, the leader already had contact with those three?"
The certainty that those three S-Class Renegade Ninja wouldn't join Akatsuki didn't seem like their leader's style to Sasori.
This only implied that their Akatsuki's leader had indeed had contact with these three, confirming they wouldn't join Akatsuki.
"It must indeed be so. The Rinnegan... truly a mysterious power. I misjudged it back then."