The Red Sand Sasori's words clearly reminded Orochimaru of the forced task in his hands, and the good mood from thinking about a perfect assassination plan vanished!
"I'll lure him out of The Hidden Sand Village."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth and added to his plan: "Once the Fourth Kazekage Rasa discovers his son has been taken by us, he'll be lured away from The Hidden Sand Village to hunt us down."
Assassinating the Fourth Kazekage Rasa within The Hidden Sand Village poses too great a risk; if they were accidentally surrounded by the ninjas of the village, it would be tricky and troublesome.
Now, having seen that red-haired little boy, both his identity and the One-tailed inside him ensure that the Fourth Kazekage Rasa will not allow the boy to be taken away.
"Alright."
The Red Sand Sasori nodded, volunteering to help: "When I left, I left a few pawns in the village that can report to Rasa."
The plan was immediately put into action.
Orochimaru found that many people within The Hidden Sand Village were hostile towards that little guy Gaara, and the matter of his assassination gradually stopped receiving attention, not even from the Fourth Kazekage Rasa himself.
According to Orochimaru's observations, he thought it might be because the little guy called Gaara has some strange ability. There was a group of sand around Gaara that automatically protected him, which he could manipulate to kill.
"Luckily..."
Orochimaru realized that his plan was correct.
Because the sand around Gaara was so strong that it could practically repel assassinations of any level, catching that little kid would certainly cause a commotion for the Red Sand Sasori!
Moreover...
There were quite a few ninjas in The Hidden Sand Village watching over Gaara!
No matter what, the Jinchuriki of a village must never be lost, especially not one who is uncontrollable and might rampage at any time!
Orochimaru thought for a while, killed a Hidden Sand ninja who was monitoring Gaara, and used the Erasing Face Jutsu to take his appearance and quietly approached Gaara.
On a rocky outcrop amidst the sandstorm.
Gaara was still sitting there.
Ever since the assassination by his uncle, this red-haired little boy didn't want to have anyone with him anymore. Even when some kids came close to him, they were almost killed. He hadn't had a playmate since.
Always alone.
Gaara reached out and touched the mark on his forehead, his mind still recalling the words of his beloved and caring uncle Yakshamaru before his death.
Everyone in this village hated him, his father, his uncle, his siblings, everyone in the village despised his existence...
This life...
He had to become an Asura who only loved himself.
That was what his uncle Yakshamaru told Gaara before his death.
"Gaara."
A voice suddenly appeared behind Gaara.
"..."
The moment Gaara heard someone approaching, he turned his head abruptly, the face of this little boy of six or seven showing a fierce intent to kill!
"Do you want to die?"
"Of course not."
The Hidden Sand Ninja, who had been secretly monitoring Gaara, licked his lips with his tongue and said with a light laugh: "Although living is actually meaningless, as long as you live, you will always find interesting things..."
"..."
This red-haired little boy stayed silent for a moment, then suddenly said coldly: "To me, living has meaning. From the day I was born, it was to kill more people!"
"What a gentle child."
This Hidden Sand Ninja actually laughed, not at all surprised by Gaara's murderous intent. Instead, he followed along with his words: "Even if you were born to kill, it seems the people you've killed aren't strong enough, nor are they plenty. Even if you live to seventy, how many can you kill?"
"..."
Gaara was a bit stunned.
No one had ever talked with Gaara.
Because no one dared to communicate with this kid, fearing that he'd violently kill them, let alone talk to him about killing.
Moreover...
Why bring up a math question when talking about killing!
Gaara furrowed his brow, trying hard to think for a while, as if he figured out the result: "By the time I'm seventy, I can kill tens of thousands of people!"
"..."
The Hidden Sand Ninja didn't care how strange Gaara's answer was, actually smiling and clapped as if expressing appreciation.
"Truly amazing..."
"But..."
"I know someone..."
"Able to kill tens of thousands in a single day..."
When the Hidden Sand Ninja mentioned this, his smile grew: "The meaning of your whole life is just a normal day for him. Doesn't it make you feel like you kill too few each day?"
"!!!"
A look of astonishment flashed across Gaara's face.
This red-haired little boy always thought he'd killed quite viciously; no one in The Hidden Sand Village dared to come near him, but someone out there had killed more than he had!
"You have a point..."
Gaara's temper flared immediately, clenching his fists tightly as yellow sand swirled up with his actions: "I'll have to kill tens of thousands every day too!"
However...
The aura of this red-haired little boy faltered.
Because right now, he needed time to kill even one person. How could he possibly kill tens of thousands in one day? Could this guy be lying to him!
"No, I don't believe it!"
Gaara stared intently at this Hidden Sand Ninja, speaking in a deep voice: "I can kill someone at will, no one could be faster at killing than me!"
"You can see for yourself."
The Hidden Sand Ninja's eyes were like a snake on the hunt, as he licked his lips: "Outside The Hidden Sand Village is a mass grave concealing the bones of tens of thousands, all killed by that person..."
"Fine!"
"If you're lying, I'll kill you!"
Gaara's face turned fierce, and he regretted it instantly, knowing he couldn't leave the village, his father would never allow it!
"I'm going now..."
The Hidden Sand Ninja casually turned away, seemingly indifferent to the boy's plight: "After you see that mass grave, come find me..."
"Wait..."
Gaara hastily called after him.
Since Gaara's personality underwent a drastic change, no one dared to talk to him. This guy was the only one in a long time willing to converse with him.
"I can't go out on my own..."
Gaara looked at this Hidden Sand Ninja, asking in a deep voice: "Take me out to see it and secretly bring me back, without him finding out!"
That "him"...
Naturally refers to Gaara's father, Rasa.
"Of course..."
The Hidden Sand Ninja slowly reached out to caress his cheek, laughing softly as he nodded: "We won't need to be secretive either, because it was Lord Kazekage who instructed me; he finds your killings too gentle."
"..."
Gaara's face suddenly turned ugly.
The little boy silently followed the Hidden Sand Ninja.
A group of Hidden Sand Ninjas assigned to monitor Gaara seemed oblivious, still standing blankly in place.
The Hidden Sand Village.
Akihara Kagura and Jiraiya finally reached here.
Just as Jiraiya was planning to sneak into The Hidden Sand Village under the cover of a caravan hiring Hidden Sand Ninjas, a red-haired little boy and a Hidden Sand Ninja walked out.
"Hmm?"
The little boy immediately caught Akihara Kagura's attention.
The red-haired little boy seemed to notice Akihara Kagura watching him, and asked the Hidden Sand Ninja with him: "Hey, that person is looking at me; let me go over and kill him..."