7 Chapter 7: Taking a Stand in the Imperial Army

In front of the military fort was a small registration desk with a training ground where new recruits were practicing their skills in combat. Behind the desk stood a recruiter with other soldiers. They were in the process of settling the last details for the ordeal that the new soldiers had to go before officially joining the imperial army.

One of them raised his head on hearing the sound of a bell. A few steps in front of them was Sasori who was inside her Hiruko puppet.

Sasori, who had a much more serious voice talking through his puppet, "I'm here to join the Imperial Army."

Although being slightly intimidated by the man in front of him, the recruiter continued his work.

Recruiter: All you have to do is sign this document, if you do not have a last name you have to put a symbol that can replace it. This document includes a subpart declaring that we are not responsible if you die in the recruitment test.

Sasori read the whole document before putting his first name. Subsequently, he affixed his red scorpion seal, which he used during his career in Suna. He did not want to use his last name because it was an opportunity to cut all links with the Minarth family. Not to be forced to put his family name came from the fact that most peasants did not have one.

After returning the registration form, the recruiter checked if everything was correct before telling him.

Recruiter: You must wait for the trial to begin. In the meantime, you can go practice with others or wait around the training ground.

Sasori went to a corner with no interest in training for something so easy.

After 30 minutes a man with heavy silver armor, bald and with a scar-scarred face arrived and screamed

??? : I'm General Rayden, I'm going to oversee this ordeal that will prove whether or not you deserved to join the glorious imperial army.

At these words all the candidates placed themselves in the middle of the field to stand before the warlord. They all wore armor or simple clothes they had with them when they arrived at the camp, their weapons ranged from sword to spear. Sasori was the one who stood out the most with his akatsuki coat and his straw hat.

The Shinobi examined the general before his eyes. He could easily judge a person's personality by examining him for a few minutes, and he had already collected information about him when he was investigating the structure of the Imperial Army.

He was a man who loved to fight and shed blood, but who had an honest personality and hated those who boasted about their money, believing that only the acts had to be taken into account. For him, his army was like a family and he chose all those who integrated him, that's why a man with such a high rank lowered himself to do a task that would normally be subordinate. In exchange for treatment, all his men were devoted to him and ready to die for him. This kind of person had become rare in today's Empire, for whom rank and money were the only things that mattered.

Rayden: The event will be in the form of a Royal Battle. You will have ten minutes to defeat as many opponents as possible, the better will have a chance to get an officer position. You are allowed to hurt and even kill your opponent. You are 50 candidates, know that we will only take the top 20. Stand in the big circle and we will start.

It was a simple way to separate the wolves from the cattle. Those who would be eliminated would have been just cannon fodder if they had joined the army.

After taking position each fighter was spread out 15 meters each, ready to jump at the throat at any time. Sasori sheltered his hat by storing it in his coat

Rayden: Start !!!

Huargg !!!

At these words a howl of pain sounded. The fighter closest to the master puppeteer had a metal scorpion tail that crossed his chest. In front of this bloody scene, the recruits a few meters from the victim was frozen in terror. This allowed the killer to launch several kunai which increased the number of deaths. The others started to react and fought each other not wanting to face a monster like Sasori or, if they dared, they attacked it in a group.

At this, the general's eyes widened. There were indeed some deaths each time the event was held but the event had not even started for 30 seconds it had caused 4 deaths. Would there be even more than 10 survivors? In addition, the mechanical tail intrigued him immensely. His instinct shouted to him '' danger ''

Sasori continued to rage, making only slight movement with his body, it was mainly his sting that was doing the job. Very quickly thirty corpses were found at his feet.

Sasori, look at the commander and tell him, "I think that's enough to settle this formality, is not it?"

The survivors looked at him all in terror, they swore never to provoke him.

Rayden looked at him seriously and said, '' follow me ''

The Shinobi followed him to a large building with many officers inside. Subsequently, they both entered a room with a beautiful desk, the general stood behind his desk and the two were made.

Rayden: You have a teigu, do not you?

Sasori: Indeed.

Throughout history, many imperial relics have disappeared and have been forgotten. Sometimes they reappeared in the hands of strangers who ended up doing many great things. The Empire prefers to hire these people instead of eliminating them and having to find a new potential holder.

Throughout the Empire, Sasori realized that the Teigu regulators received many benefits and were favored for promotions. The puppeteer's interest in saying that his art was a Teigu was to quickly climb the hierarchy to be able to confront other relic users. Although he hoped to be able to receive one by serving the Empire, he would probably have a better chance of meeting another user in a fight, since it was customary to believe that only one Teigu can defeat another Teigu. In addition, the use of Hiruko would give suspicions to the Chiefs of Staff and if they believed that it was not an imperial relic they could consider Sasori as a threat and eliminate it.

Upon hearing Sasori's words, Rayden decided to go straight to the point.

Rayden: Why would someone like you want to join the Imperial Army?

It was a legitimate question, it had to be said that Sasori did not have the profile of a young recruit at all.

Sasori: I have somes goals and getting a senior position in the army will allow me to accomplish them more easily.

The veteran examined the tone he used for his answer. He had met enough human to know he was telling him the truth but he was not at all loyal to his homeland. He thought he could use it for special missions but he should always watch if he did not have a knife in the back.

After a few minutes he took a sheet and handed it to the man in front of his desk.

Rayden: In a few months, we will leave for an expedition against the western countries. Your first mission will be to lead a group of 1000 men to eliminate all the tribes on the West Frontier that refuses Empire rule but still lives on its territory and this before the arrival of the main army. The sheet I gave you contains the names of all the tribes you will have to eliminate and their last known locations. This mission is very important because these tribes could harass us during our march towards the West. If you succeed the mission I will give you the command of a regiment. Questions about the objectives of this mission?

Sasori did not answer, which showed that everything was clear to him.

Rayden: Good, One of my bodyguards will introduce you to the unit under your command and you can leave in a few days.