Ao gritted his teeth and directly asked in a muffled voice, "I want to know why you joined Akatsuki. If I remember correctly, your identity is quite famous throughout the Ninja World.
Even the Five Great Countries' Ninja Villages dare not ignore your presence, and some even say you might become the next Ninja Demigod. Now it seems they underestimated you..."
"We're not talking about the same thing."
Uehara Naraku's voice suddenly dropped, and he spoke coldly, "What you need to do now is prove to me that you won't leak secrets, so that I might be a bit merciful and spare the entire Hidden Mist Village."
"..."
Ao fell into silence once again.
After a long silence, he slowly raised his head, his face suddenly showing a look of resolve unto death: "Kill me!"
"Not enough."
Uehara Naraku shook his finger with a light laugh: "Give me your Byakugan, and then prove how you will keep a secret. I can forgive your prying."
"..."
Ao fell silent once more.
Only the dead can keep secrets.
The demands of this Akatsuki member were too much.
Originally talkative in The Hidden Mist Village, Ao found himself repeatedly silenced before Uehara Naraku.
Deidara held his forehead and chuckled, saying to Uehara Naraku, "I finally understand why the leader values you so much. You're destined to be a part of Akatsuki! Even Hidan, that bastard, isn't as cruel and bloody as you are!"
"Ah, you're overpraising me, overpraising me."
Uehara Naraku shook his head, and looking down at Ao, he said, "Now, tell me your decision!"
"Let Ao go!"
Just as Uehara Naraku was pressing Ao, a tall female ninja arrived with a group of Hidden Mist Anbu for support!
It was Terumi Mei, the most powerful ninja in The Hidden Mist Village.
Apparently, she had been informed by the Anbu about everything that happened on her way. Now, seeing Ao helplessly by Uehara Naraku's side, she immediately ordered him to stop.
Uehara Naraku ignored Terumi Mei, who came for backup. He continued looking down at Ao: "Before she reaches us is your final moment. Make your choice; I will be a bit more lenient due to your active cooperation..."
"I understand."
Ao slowly closed his hand and formed a Hand Seal.
When Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand wanted to kill Ao directly, Uehara Naraku stopped them: "Senior Sasori, Deidara, I believe he will make the most correct choice. A ninja sacrificing for their village is an honor to them."
Uehara Naraku guessed correctly.
After completing the Hand Seal, Ao slowly removed his blindfold, which had a protection spell for the Byakugan.
After all, his Byakugan was the only one in the Ninja World outside the Hyuga Clan, and strategically significant for the Five Great Countries' Ninja Villages. The Hidden Mist obtained it only by chance.
All the Mist Village Ninja who tried to follow Terumi Mei to rescue Ao involuntarily stopped because they witnessed a scene that brought grief to the entire Hidden Mist Village.
The elder of the village...
The somewhat talkative captain of the village's reconnaissance team...
The highly respected senior in the village had surrendered to the enemy.
Ao slowly removed his blindfold and forcefully gouged out his transplanted Byakugan, offering it reverently to the hooded member of Akatsuki.
Or rather, was he sacrificially offering it to a demon?
After all, Akatsuki was that evil...
Ao, disregarding the blood flowing from the socket where he forcefully removed the Byakugan, handed it over to Uehara Naraku bit by bit, softly pleading, "If I do as you say, you promised me you would spare The Hidden Mist Village, right?"
"Yes."
Uehara Naraku took the Byakugan, gently coaxing, "And one more thing, keep my secret..."
"Heh..."
Ao laughed bitterly, slowly standing up and reaching for the Kunai behind his back, whispering, "I understand, I will keep it a secret like this..."
The next moment, just as the members of Akatsuki thought Ao would be forced by Uehara Naraku into suicide, Ao suddenly pulled out the Kunai and thrust it toward Uehara Naraku's heart!
His movements were incredibly fast!
Even Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand nearby couldn't react in time!
It must be said that after obtaining the Byakugan, Ao trained in Nin-Taijutsu related to it, and this assassination reached his fastest pace ever!
However, Uehara Naraku was even faster!
With over two hundred thousand in life energy, Uehara almost instantly reacted, twisting Ao's wrist and seizing the Kunai!
Whoosh!
Uehara Naraku swung the Kunai swiftly, slashing Ao's throat before his blood could spray, and kicked him away: "This is my favorite outfit; don't stain it with your blood, you treacherous scoundrel."
At that moment, the villain's evil aura seemed a bit much.