After returning to the Ninja Sect, Nagato first sought out Mokgetsu for a report.
After Mokgetsu confirmed there were no issues, Nagato brought Sasori to Mokgetsu's study.
Mokgetsu didn't immediately start communicating with Sasori, but instead, put down the book and gestured for the two to sit down.
Sasori also used this pause to assess the new legendary figure of the Land of Rain.
Despite participating in the Youth Martial Arts Tournament, Sasori hadn't paid attention to Sosuke.
This was just the second time Sasori had met Sosuke up close; the first time was in prison.
Perhaps because of the study setting, Sosuke didn't give Sasori the impression of a battle-hardened legendary ninja, but rather like a teacher researching literature.
Of course, Sasori did not dare to underestimate Sosuke in his heart.
Sosuke's reputation wasn't just hot air; even a renowned strongman like Hanzo, leading an elite unit, couldn't gain any advantage.
If it came to a direct fight, even using the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, Sasori wasn't confident in defeating such a strong opponent.
"The Third Kazekage's human puppet is only left with the chakra core; that matter shouldn't have been exposed," Sasori thought about the sealing scrolls that had been confiscated from him.
Sasori felt somewhat fortunate; if he hadn't abandoned the body of the Third Kazekage's puppet in the final battle, the situation could have been even worse.
If news got out that he had assassinated the Third Kazekage, it would bring him no benefit whatsoever.
The Hidden Sand wouldn't consider Chiyo's reputation anymore and would hunt him down with a bounty.
If it were before, Sasori might not have cared, but now he wanted revenge and did not wish for unnecessary complications.
Mokgetsu picked up the teacup on the table, took a slight sip, and looked at Sasori saying:
"I heard from Nagato that you have something you want from me."
Although Sasori had yet to speak, Mokgetsu had already guessed Sasori's intention.
As a prisoner, what else could Sasori want? It was likely to seek early release.
"That's right, I want to make a deal with you." Sasori nodded in response.
"I possess a unique puppetry technology in the entire ninja world. As long as you are willing to lift the seal technique on me and release me early, I can not only teach you the technology but also make three puppets for you free of charge."
Sasori finished stating his terms in one breath, then calmly looked at Sosuke.
He felt that the conditions he offered were generous, and Sosuke had no reason to refuse.
After all, he only attacked a few Konoha ninjas and didn't kill any Ninja or civilians from the Land of Rain.
Sosuke had no reason to give up the puppetry technique just for a few unrelated ninjas from another village.
"If that's all you have to say, then you can leave now." Mokgetsu smiled faintly and refused.
Sasori's human puppet technique is indeed unique, but it's of no use to Mokgetsu and the Ninja Sect.
For Mokgetsu, puppetry cannot increase his combat strength, and for the Ninja Sect, there's no one who understands puppetry, so the human puppet technique can't be used.
"Are you saying you refuse?!" Sasori frowned, looking at Sosuke.
Then he quickly thought of something and said, "My technique is known as the human puppet technique. It can turn human corpses into human puppets, and these puppets can not only use the ninjutsu they knew in life but even inherit the bloodline limit."
Sasori believed he hadn't properly introduced his new technology, causing Sosuke to misjudge it.
"My answer is still the same; if that's all you want to say, then you can leave." Mokgetsu still declined decisively, not even changing his expression.
Sasori looked at Sosuke in disbelief, having never expected such a response.
He had imagined Sosuke would be shocked by his technique and then raise the demand for more puppets, or that Sosuke would take the opportunity to recruit him. He never thought Sosuke would refuse so swiftly and decisively.
This is the human puppet technique, which, in Sasori's eyes, represents a groundbreaking advancement in puppetry.
Unlike Sasori, Nagato showed an expression of "as expected".
Sasori thought he attacked a few Konoha ninjas that Sosuke didn't care about, but Nagato knew those Konoha ninjas that Sasori attacked were Mokgetsu's disciples.
To be honest, Nagato thought it was already quite gracious of Mokgetsu not to have directly killed Sasori.
After all, Sasori not only attacked Mokgetsu's disciples but also seemed to have the intention of doing it again in the future.
Yet Mokgetsu not only didn't kill Sasori but merely had him do ten years of unpaid labor, which in the world of ninjas, counted as an excess of mercy.
Now, Sasori still wished to get out early and go after Kakashi and the others, Nagato felt that Sasori was testing the limits of danger.
"You are not a puppet master, so you might not know the significance behind this.
If you kill Hanzo and then use the human puppet technique to turn him into a puppet, you would have a Hanzo with no mind and entirely under your control."
"Moreover, if you apply this technology to yourself, you could gain eternal life!"
Stubbornly, Sasori went into more detail about his technique, even revealing the secret that human puppets might have the chance for eternal life, just to convey the value of his human puppet technique to Mokgetsu.
However, Mokgetsu's answer still didn't change, and Sasori still received a refusal.
Sasori felt a strong sense of being an unrecognized genius at this moment.
Having such a technique, yet not even able to exchange it for a bit of freedom.
"I'm willing to make five puppets and only ask for a five-year early release, and I just want to be allowed to study puppetry freely."
Sasori had no choice but to increase his offer while lowering his demands.
He's worried about wasting ten years, making it impossible for him to kill Kakashi when he gets out.