Chapter 79: Unraveling Secrets

"Kei? I've never heard of it. Which ninja village are you a traitor from?" After listening to Pain's introduction, Deidara, still the youngest and fearless, asked.

"I'm not a renegade, I'm just a remnant of the Sengoku period," Kei replied calmly.

"The remnants of the Sengoku era, are you an old guy like Kakuzu who has lived for countless years?" Deidara blurted out.

Hearing this, Kakuzu immediately raised his eyebrows, looked at Deidara with murderous eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Boy, do you want to die?"

Though afraid of Kei, he wasn't scared of juniors like Deidara. Sasori, standing next to Deidara, also said in a deep voice, "Deidara, shut up!"

"Oh? Your name is Deidara?" Kei's eyes turned back to Deidara, and the corner of his mouth raised slightly. "Third Tsuchikage, a disciple of Onoki?"

The other members of the Akatsuki could tell from Kei's tone that he was being playful at this moment.

"Yes," Deidara replied, unaware of what Kei knew about him and appearing a little pleased.

But in the next second, Deidara came to his senses, looked at Kei, and asked, "Wait... do you know the old man?"

"No, I don't know him," Kei shook his head, then smiled mischievously, "But my current body is your teacher Onoki's teacher, Iwagakure's Second Tsuchikage, Mu. Which means I am your teacher's master!"

"Bastard, you dare to play me!!!" Deidara, thinking he was being teased, suddenly became furious.

The other members of the Akatsuki watched this scene with great interest.

However, Pain's next words shocked everyone.

"What Kei said is true," Pain stated flatly, "His current body is indeed Second Tsuchikage Mu, and... Second Hokage Senju Tobirama."

"What... what do you mean?" Deidara was stunned.

The other members stared at Pain, waiting for the leader's next words.

Especially Black Zetsu, who secretly stared at Pain and Kei, as if re-evaluating the new member who replaced Hidan. He glanced at Kei without a trace, and seeing that Kei did not stop him, Pain warned everyone, "Senior Kei is very good at soul secrets, capable of splitting souls and possessing bodies. Those possessed by him can display strength close to the original owner."

"Senior Kei, who appears in front of us now, is not his real body but one of the clones walking in the ninja world with the body of Second Tsuchikage."

The atmosphere fell into silence.

In the Akatsuki's organization, except for Deidara and Hidan, who have relatively large nerves, everyone else is a strong rational type.

They couldn't ignore Pain's cryptic reminder. The leader had already been in contact with the opponent, and the way of recruiting must not be to defeat the opponent. The word "Senior" is not only a recognition of the other party's strength but also a confirmation of what Kei said just now. This guy named Kei is an old monster with the same longevity as Kakuzu.

Moreover, the other party is very skilled in the secret art of the soul, and the people and corpses possessed by him can display strength close to the original owner.

"If I heard correctly, the leader just said that Kei has the body of Second Hokage in addition to the body of Second Tsuchikage," Tendō Pain explained.

That is to say...

Dust Release, Flying Thunder God Technique, Reanimation Jutsu, and other Kekkei Genkais and secret techniques, the other party will know them!?

Thinking of this, the hearts of the Akatsuki members suddenly trembled, and they no longer dared to underestimate Kei.

"..." Deidara also reacted at this time, staring at Kei, speechless. From his movements, it was not difficult to see that Deidara's body must be full of shock at this time.

"Want to learn Dust Release?" Kei teased, "Call me Master; I'll teach you how to use it."

"I... I am not interested. I am an artist who pursues the beauty of a moment," Deidara replied, realizing that he had lost his composure and immediately returning to his arrogant appearance.

"Your ambition is good, and as my 'disciple,' your master is also an artist who pursues the beauty of the soul," Kei gave a thumbs up and said.

"Really? Are you an artist like me and Brother Scorpion?" Deidara asked in surprise, forgetting his previous irritation.

"Brother Scorpion... Sunagakure's Sasori?" Kei took this opportunity to look at Sasori and said, a little surprised, "Your appearance is different from what I've seen in the information. Are you using puppet art to disguise?"

Sasori, hidden in the Crimson Flowing Amber, replied in a low voice, "You know me?"

"Of course, I also know that you killed the Third Kazekage, which indirectly triggered the Third Ninja World War," Kei's casual revelation caused some people who didn't know the cards and details of Sasori to change their expressions.

Kei's next words also made the eyes of Sasori contract for a moment, "The body of the Third Kazekage should be in your hands. Do you want to make a deal? I have Hatake Sakumo. I can also use Impure World Reincarnation to bring Hatake Sakumo's soul back from the world of the dead and help you kill his soul."

The atmosphere fell into silence again.

Looking at Kei, who treated souls as playthings, Deidara felt chills down his spine. He dared to provoke such a terrifying guy just now!?

Uchiha Itachi's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but he was terrified inside.

This man, how many corpses of powerful figures did he steal? Could it be that he also has a clone in Konoha?

No, we must find an opportunity to pass this guy's information back, so that the village can protect the other corpses.

Even Black Zetsu's heart sank. He knew about the Spiritualization Technique but had never heard of the Soul Splitting and Soul Possession Technique. And as long as it is possessed, it can use the power close to the original owner. When did such a powerful character appear in the ninja world?

Remnants of the Sengoku period, why have we never heard of him?

... The corpse of the Third Kazekage has already been made into a puppet by me, so do you still want it?" Sasori asked in a deep voice.

"Then it's not worth the price," Kei shook his head and said, "In addition to the Third Kazekage, I also need three hundred living ninjas, regardless of their level. For me, delicious souls are the biggest currency."

"Make a deal," a deal involving three hundred lives was concluded in the dark space.

With the help of Pain, Kei's aura suddenly changed from a new member to the group with the highest status.

But these were not enough.

Kei's eyes fell on Uchiha Itachi again, and with a playful smile, he broke out another shocking news, "Those eyes, you are the ruthless person who wiped out the Uchiha clan back then, Konoha's S-Class rogue ninja, Uchiha Itachi!"

"You, who can destroy the Uchiha clan, should have activated the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, right?"

"So... have you acquired the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone, including Pain and Konan, had a bright light in their eyes, and their attention focused on Uchiha Itachi.

Only Uchiha Itachi and Black Zetsu felt horrified.

At this moment, the label of 'old monster' on Kei became even more stable.