The Land of Wind was just as one might expect: desert, sandstorms, scarce natural resources, and constant winds at all hours. Finding that famous bounty hunter was easier than I anticipated. All I had to do was show up at the daimyo's palace and say I was after the reward; they told me approximately where he was. Of course, I only half-trusted them, but he was indeed where they said. Apparently, the man didn't move around much.
I observed him for a couple of days, and on the third I stopped hiding my presence. Knowing he had already sensed me, and I him, he left the settlement and walked into the desert. After about 500 meters, he stopped and turned to face me. My attire was still the same I had worn in the Land of Lightning, but this time I was alone. As for him, he was a man of around 25–27 years, short in stature, dressed appropriately for the desert, with short copper-colored hair. His chakra capacity surpassed most ninjas I had encountered so far, even the Uchiha.
"You're the one who's been following me all this time, aren't you?"
"Indeed. But not for the reason you think, I assure you."
"That's what many others said before trying to claim my bounty. But, as a show of courtesy, I'll hear you out before you join all the others."
"How kind," I replied sarcastically. "I didn't expect so much from a bounty hunter who doesn't even introduce himself, but I must admit I'm surprised. Anyway, I came looking for you mostly out of interest… but now that I see you up close, I've changed my mind. Join me."
Hearing this, his face shifted to confusion, though he kept his fighting stance.
"And why would I join someone weaker than me? Besides, my victims never know my name — only Jin, my alias. If you want this so badly, prove to me you can defeat me. But be warned, I will not abandon my goals, even if I were to join you."
"Perfect. But I'm afraid your opponent won't be me. If it were, this wouldn't be a fight — it would be a massacre."
At my words, his expression twisted in fury — a ninja feared across an entire country, belittled by a masked stranger. With a swift motion, two scrolls appeared in his hands, and with a puff of smoke, five human figures emerged around him, each distinct except for two identical ones.
"Oh, I see. So this is why there were no corpses of your victims. I must say, it's wonderful to meet the creator of the technique — though, unfortunately, not at its peak. As a compliment: they are well made for your first works. As a critique: they're more puppets than humans, and they don't retain their original abilities, only fragments of their capacities due to their human form. Still, I'll honor this meeting as it deserves."
With a gesture, one of my own puppets suddenly appeared beside me. This time, it was a red-haired youth in a black cloak with red clouds: Sasori of the Akatsuki. He was one of the characters I remembered perfectly from this story — not overpowered, yet still ranked S-class, and, of course, known for losing to the pink-haired girl. Honestly, I still believe he held back in that fight.
"This will be your opponent. If you win, you know what happens. But should you lose, I'll give you the improved method for your art."
"Hmph. So be it."
With a single step, I withdrew to watch as the two clashed. Jin moved first: with a gesture, the two puppets before him rushed forward. Less than five meters away, their folded blades extended toward Sasori's torso and neck. With a swift move, Sasori created distance and summoned two identical puppets. Their torsos and heads were alike, but instead of arms, they bore sharp blades that intercepted Jin's puppets' strikes.
Jin pressed on, positioning his two identical puppets on either side of Sasori to unleash a fire blast from their arms and mouths. But rather than relax, he pulled them back behind the one puppet that had yet to act. This one unfurled a massive shield to block Sasori's counter — a black sand drill that shattered the shield with ease. In the same instant, Jin lost control of his two assassin puppets, now dismantled by Sasori's simpler creations.
After this quick exchange and the loss of three of his best puppets, Jin conceded, seeing that Sasori now had not only the numerical advantage but also the qualitative one.
"Very well, you win. I'll join you… but I have only one question."
Reappearing beside Sasori, I dismissed the puppets back into their scrolls and addressed Jin's doubt.
"Go ahead. But be warned: if I don't like the question, I may not answer."
"Those puppets… they used to be ninjas, didn't they? Is this what you meant by my art perfected?"
"Partially correct. Yes, they were once ninjas — with their own abilities and bloodline limits."
At my answer, Jin nodded as if uncovering one of the world's greatest secrets, then knelt before me.
"Please, teach me the true art, my lord. In exchange, I'll give you everything I possess."
"That sounds fair," I said, placing my hand over his heart. A cursed seal etched itself into his flesh — in other words, Jin now belonged to me entirely, with no chance of betrayal in a world rife with it.
"Here," I said, handing him a book containing Sasori's original notes, though not my perfected versions, along with a cloak identical to Sasori's.
"From this moment, you are part of Akatsuki, the organization to which you will dedicate your life. Your first mission: leave the Land of Wind and recruit new members across the world. Sasori will accompany you, and together you will also gather information on your journey. Follow Sasori — he knows the specifications of my plans. We will meet again in a few years."
With that said, I vanished from his sight.
"Let's move," Sasori said in a deep voice to his new companion.
Watching the two disappear into the distance, I decided it was time to leap into another world while time here advanced on its own. Opening a new portal and stepping through, I arrived in a world I knew all too well — a smile spreading across my face.
"Very well… time to cause a little chaos."