Sasori's eyebrow twitched slightly. Am I to blame?
After a moment of silence, Sasori got up and asked calmly, "What do you need me to do?"
"Take it easy," Aizen replied. "For now, you're just a name on the organization's roster. You'll focus on researching puppets, and if you require materials, the organization can assist you. Ultimately, you just need to submit a copy of your research results to the organization."
Sasori couldn't quite believe it. "You went through all this trouble just to have me research puppets?"
Aizen smiled. "It wasn't that much trouble. Apart from setting up the ruin, which required a bit of effort, everything else was fine. Besides, I haven't gained nothing else from this either."
"Nothing else?" Instantly, Sasori recalled—this guy had indeed said attracting him out wasn't his sole purpose.
"This," Aizen casually tossed a Greer Stone in his hand, "In the future, I'll need you to research better ways of utilizing this stone."
He had already mapped out their roles—biotechnology to Orochimaru, mechanical and energy tech to Sasori.
Of course, their research directions could overlap and be interchangeable, just like how Orochimaru created the robot Naruto in the original narrative, and Sasori developed the Regeneration Core using a small piece of flesh as a consciousness carrier.
"Greer Stone... you found a crystal vein?" Sasori immediately shook his head after speaking. "No, you said the ruin was fake."
"Although it's possible you found the crystal elsewhere, you mentioned this was obtained from the ruin... So actually, you used that ruin to draw out the person who truly knew about the Greer vein?"
"You're as sharp as ever, Sasori. You figured it out so quickly!"
Seeing the other party openly admit it, Sasori couldn't help but raise his estimation of the threat level from the man before him.
Not only was he powerful, but his methods were unconventional. More importantly, his plans seemed casual yet interconnected—this kind of person was truly dangerous!
Thinking of this, Sasori asked curiously, "Who else is in your organization?"
Aizen smiled. "My organization? Don't get the wrong idea. Just like you, I'm just another member of the organization too!"
"What?" Sasori couldn't help but exclaim in shock. "Could it be that someone like you is willing to be someone else's subordinate?"
After the shock, Sasori continued with a serious tone. "Or... is this another one of your schemes?"
Aizen narrowed his eyes. "Random speculations aren't good habits!"
Sasori took a deep breath. "I understand!"
Aizen continued, "Actually, there are quite a few interesting people in our organization—for example, someone who can use [Wood Release], someone with the [Rinnegan]..."
"What did you say? Wood Release? Rinnegan?" Even with Sasori's composure, he couldn't help but be shocked again.
[Wood Release], as the signature ability of Seiki Shimaseki, had already become synonymous with power. As for the [Rinnegan], there was little more to say—it was an eye spoken of only in legends, belonging to the Sage of Six Paths!
"Are you starting to find our organization a bit interesting? By the way, I only joined a few days earlier than you."
Sasori remained silent. Right now, he increasingly felt that this man's purpose in joining the organization was not pure.
"What you're implying by placing these before me... is that the organization I've joined is merely superficial, and that I should ultimately obey his commands?"
Though just his speculation, he had always believed this terrifying man didn't seem like someone who would ever take orders from another.
After a moment of contemplation, Sasori pushed such distracting thoughts aside. "Why am I thinking so much about this? I have nothing to do with the other members of this organization anyway. I'll just follow his instructions."
Compared to the legendary Rinnegan, which he had only heard about, the masked man's terror was something he had personally experienced—and he still relied on this very person to help him deceive the world.
...
At the bottom of a canyon, Heyan leaped continuously between jagged valleys.
"Although I failed to prevent the disaster caused by Greer crystals as I'd hoped, the absence of a crystal vein is still good news. Plus, I witnessed such incredible power..." Thinking about that godlike strength he'd seen earlier, Heyan couldn't help but doubt, "With a deity like that in the world, could the legend about the Greer Stone destroying the world really come true?"
Just then, a piercing sound suddenly came from behind him. Heyan dodged instinctively, but still got hit on the shoulder and tumbled downward.
Falling to the ground, Heyan stood up while clutching his shoulder. "It's you!"
The ambushers were none other than the group that previously possessed the Greer Stone Records.
Haido adjusted his glasses. "Old man, you really screwed us over earlier!"
Heyan remained silent.
"But it doesn't matter anymore. Thanks to you, I've finally found the Greer crystal vein!" Haido spread his arms wide and laughed loudly. "Very soon, I'll possess the power to conquer this world!"
Unable to stand his arrogance, Heyan couldn't resist mocking him. "You're getting ahead of yourself—the Greer crystal vein isn't even here!"
Unexpectedly, Haido became even more delighted. "Ha! So you really know the location of the Greer crystal vein!"
Heyan hesitated. "You don't know who I am..."
Haido chuckled. "I wasn't sure before, but now I know for certain—you're a descendant of the branch of that ancient clan tasked with guarding the crystal vein after the old empire collapsed, right?"
Haido continued, "When I obtained the Greer Stone Records, I learned from a member of that particular branch about the existence of your clan guarding the Greer crystal vein on this continent. I never thought I'd actually run into you."
Heyan turned his head away. "You can forget about it—you'll never get the location from me!"
"Dealing with stubborn people like you is so simple!" Haido shrugged. "Another branch of your clan said the same thing once too. But when I burned a few children alive right before their eyes, they quickly broke down... Sigh, such fragile willpower!"
Heyan trembled with rage. "You... you monster!"
Haido smiled indifferently. "There should be members of your clan here in this canyon too, right?"
"You... you..."
"Haha, so terrified you can't even speak anymore?"
Heyan indeed felt terror. In his vision, the group before him twisted like paper scraps, yet they remained completely oblivious.
They must be erased from this world!
Although thrilled inside, Heyan was still shocked by such a technique. "What the hell is this..."
The next moment, his eyes lost their luster.
The man wearing a Shinigami Mask stepped out from the shadows and placed his right hand on Heyan's forehead.
"The location of the Greer crystal vein... finally obtained!" Aizen's eyes gleamed with excitement.
As for killing those knights, it was merely a convenient act—considered as payment for erasing their memories.
...
[Red Envelope Alert] The bonus is here! You have a chance to win a cash reward of up to $888! Follow the WeChat official account [Reader's Base] to join the red envelope draw!
Some time later, Heyan dazedly rose from the ground. "What happened... Huh, so painful!"
Covering his shoulder, he muttered to himself, "Right, I accidentally fell and injured my shoulder... I'm really getting old. Even a path I've walked a thousand times tripped me up!"
"I'd better head back before the kids start worrying about me."
As he was muttering, Aizen had already arrived at the true underground ruin.
Following Heyan's memories, he quickly found the place known as the Room of the Seal.
Behind the Room of the Seal lay the crystal vein.
"So this is the Greer crystal vein..." Aizen's gaze burned with intense excitement as he sensed the tremendous power contained within.
From his past-life memories, even the faintest leakage of power from this vein had been enough to heal wounds, restore vitality, and even bring all things back to life!
That was exactly what he was looking forward to most!
Whether purely cultivating physical strength or practicing [Eight Gates], the consumption of life force and the accumulation of hidden injuries were unavoidable.
"Starting now, I'll cultivate here beside this crystal vein with my main body!"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>