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  Some intelligence agencies used this "fishing" tactic to identify and punish smaller vilges anizations selling illegal ninja tools.

  ōnoki of Iwagakure had even proposed to the e a plete ban on the produ of explosive tags, except by the Five Great Vilges. Smaller vilges would have to purchase them.

  However, sidering that the Land of Fire had the most extework of smaller vilges and the most developed explosive tag industry, produg the cheapest tags, ōnoki had ultimately withdrawn the proposal. He'd essentially be shooting himself in the foot.

  These essential ninja tools could only be produced by vilges, whether rge or small. Even the most skilled individual couldablish a plete produ , from imp chakra metal to recruiting craftsmen and building factories.

  Underground workshops, g access to legitimate chakra metal sources, faced exorbitant costs and produced inferior, unreliable products. Sometimes, they even exploded prematurely.

  Even the Akatsuki relied on Amegakure for their supplies.

  Amegakure's isotion had protected it from the scrutiny of the Five Great Vilges. Otherwise, their chakra metal imports would have been cut off, crippling the Akatsuki.

  Sasori's puppets, crafted from inferior materials, would be subpar. And Konan's explosive tags, though she could create them with her Paper Ninjutsu, still required chakra metal for certain enhas. Using inferior materials would weaken her jutsu.

  Having Sasori create puppets for sale was also impractical. Firstly, only Sunagakure had the necessary expertise. Sedly, it would be too easily traced back to them.

  The explosive tag scheme was a non-starter.

  "This won't work," Bck Zetsu said, shaking his head. "Before the pn begins, all aust be approved. We 't attrawatention. If you insist orepreneurial vehen stick to the Fourth Kazekage puppet's gold-finding abilities."

  Accepting assassination missions was ohing. The Five Great Vilges focused on the "underground" in general, not specifically on the Akatsuki or Amegakure.

  "Who said anything about Konan selling explosive tags?" Sasori asked. "I'm suggesting we use the Edo Tensei to gee ine."

  "Targeting ninja is ineffit. They're all broke. They barely have enough money for basic equipment."

  Bck Zetsu's eyebrow arched. "So, you're saying…"

  "We target the merts, the he daimyo!"

  Bck Zetsu couldn't quite grasp the e between the Edo Tensei and profit. "You want to use resurrected ninja to kidnap them? That won't work. It'll attrauch attention. And if they discover it's the work of the deceased, it'll trigger a multi-vilge iigation, exposing the Akatsuki."

  "There's o resurreinja. I told you, that's too slow. We resurrect beautiful women. They're easily trolled. And popur," Sasori said coldly.

  "Women?!" Bck Zetsu's eyes widehis was a neroach. He was, after all, a pnt creature. If not for certain biological differences, he wouldn't even distinguish between genders.

  And Sasori how had he ected the Edo Teo women?

  He instinctively g Sasori's lower body.

  "Merts, nobles, daimyo they have mohe bouhey offer ninja are just a small fra of their wealth. We use the Edo Teo resurrect beautiful women. They're obedient. And immortal. I'm sure those wealthy patrons would be ied. Whatever their preferences we aodate."

  "Once we trol their minds and their bodies, our financial problems are solved."

  Sasori's calm expnation belied the darkness of his pn.

  Where would they acquire the bodies? Unlike powerful ninja, whose burial sites were recorded in history books, finding suitable female corpses required extensive fieldwork.

  And the Akatsuki didn't have time for that.

  The most effit method was to acquire them directly. Kill, resurrect, and then provide services.

  A ruthless approach, but for these two morality was irrelevant. Profit was their only .

  "It might actually work."

  Bck Zetsu's face lit up with excitement.

  Sasori was a genius!

  He'd been so focused on using the Edo Teo resurrect powerful ninja for bat, he'd overlooked its other applications.

  And "selling" it was a lucrative business, sometimes even more profitable than high-risk missions.

  And in the current ninja world, it wasn't even illegal, except in a few pces like Konoha.

  And even if it were, the sequences were minimal. It wasn't something the vilges cared about.

  As for the Edo Tensei's aesthetic drawbacks – the cracks on the faces, the unnatural feel makeup and Orochimaru's modifications could solve those.

  Improviain aspects was far easier than enhang a jutsu.

  And he knew more about the Edo Tehan Sasori.

  It resurrected the soul, meaning the Edo Tensei bodies retaiheir sciousness.

  Though he couldn't prehend the appeal, he suspected those wealthy patrons would be pleased.

  Of course, a scious Edo Tehat would cost extra. As would special requests.

  And the Edo Tensei's power depended on the quality of the sacrifice.

  But for ordinary women any corpse would do.

  "So, my suggestion it's not bad, is it?"

  "It's excellent, Sasori. You truly are the Akatsuki's most resourceful member."

  "Perhaps we shouldn't limit ourselves to women. There are male patrons as well," Bck Zetsu suggested.

  "And female ts we 't igheir needs. They're often menerous."

  "Where did you learn that?" Sasori asked, a hint of disgust in his voice. Usu, he'd once been a normal ninja.

  "I overheard some merts from Tanzaku Quarters," Zetsu replied.

  "Whatever. It's just a suggestion. As for the profits from Rasa's puppet I'll keep those." Sasori's modified face betrayed ion.

  But his to hi his disapproval.

  "So, Sasori, sihis was your idea, perhaps you could suggest suitable locations and business models. Direct sales? Franchises? Indepe tractors? Delivery or dine-in?" Bck Zetsu, having immersed himself in the ninja world's underbelly, spoke like a seasoned businessman.

  "Are there issions involved?"

  "Naturally."

  "The Land of Fire. It's the most populous ahiest nation," Sasori said without hesitation. "But Konoha's security is tight. Edo Tensei bodies would be easily detected."

  "Perhaps the Land of Lightning or the Land of Water. Their elite are wealthy, and indulgent."

  Bck Zetsu nodded. "You're right. Though Edo Tensei bodies ck chakra, a ninja could easily detect the differehe Land of Lightning is currently at war. Not ideal. The Land of Water they're more rexed."

  "We'll target both! To avoid dete, we'll start with franchises and in-person services. Once we've established a foothold, you elimihe petition."

  A new reveream had beeablished. Ohis industry was uheir trol, the Akatsuki would be wealthy.

  Ninja it was just a profession.

  And sometimes legitimate work wasn't enough.

  On their way back to the hideout, Bck Zetsu's mind raced, formutirategies. They'd start with high-end ts and then, once Hiruko could trol more Edo Tensei expand.

  Perhaps they could even issue fake bouargeting mid-level ninja from other vilges, luring them out and then well, let's just say they'd drain their wallets.

  He envisio now: ninjas, their pockets full of crumpled bills, paying exquisite Edo Tensei courtesans.

  It would weaken the vilges, disrupt their unity, undermine Konoha's Will of Fire…

  "Splendid."

  They arrived at the Akatsuki hideout. Konan, her face grim, was waiting.

  As they nded, she cpped her hands, and the giant paper bird disied, the paper returning to her.

  "Where's Kakuzu?"

  "We regret to inform you that Kakuzu died in the line of duty."

  "Dead? How?"

  Konan was genuinely shocked. Kakuzu he'd been so fident. He'd promised to hahe anization's finances.

  "Ambushed by Konoha ninja. They used a special teique to bypass my dete. They brought Tsuhe Two-Tails Jinchuriki, the Tailed Beast Without a Tail, and evehird Hokage himself."

  "They were proteg Gojo Kaigetsu. Such a dispy of forly our leader could have overe it."

  "Even esg was difficult. They were clearly targeting a Kage-level ninja. Or rather, anyone who wasn't our leader would have been captured."

  "Rasa, however, was easily eliminated. Sasori has the body."

  A light rain began to fall, the already gloomy hideout seeming even colder.

  Of the ten rings, it seemed they were beiurned faster than they could be distributed.

  The vast hideout felt empty.

  Was it truly this difficult to find ten suitable members?

  Kona a pang of despair. She was a kunoichi, a powerful one, but she cked a personal dream, a driving force.

  Her ninja way had been to follow Yahiko and Nagato.

  But with Yahiko gone her only goal was fato to let go, to abandon his obsession, to relinquish the Rinnegan's power, and find peace.

  But that was impossible.

  The inal Akatsuki members gone. And now, even the newer recruits were dying. How long until it was her and Nagato's turn?

  She turo leave.

  "Konan," Bck Zetsu called out. "There's something we o discuss."

  "What is it?"

  Sasng at them, retreated to his b.

  Bck Zetsu, oblivious to humaions, expined his and Sasori's pn. Konan, seemingly normal, even attractive, would be the perfect recruiter for their Edo Tensei establishment.

  The Akatsuki's current members they werely presentable.

  Only Konan.

  The more he spoke, the more Konan's face darkened.

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