So… It took me a while to get inspiration for this chapter. I was debating about rewriting it and changing the time when he got there but I figured that would be real rude so… here it is after like six months or so. I do want to thoroughly apologize to you all though, as I have gotten and written stories for FMA while this here has been sitting rather sadly.

"You really think that I wouldn't have done something in the time it took for you to get your shit together?"

Sasori stared at the slightly annoyed Commander.

"You created an information network?" Erwin said, impressed and curious although he was thoroughly annoyed. He should have known about it before this came to light.

"Of course I did Smith. Nothing I do should ever surprise you. I made a deal with you for your men, not everyone else, so they are all free game." The redhead said unimpressed.

Erwin frowned. He didn't have control over the situation or much over the man in front of him. He figure that since he looked like a teenager he would keep underestimating him.

"How did you do it Akasuna?" He commanded.

Sasori let a small smirk grow on his face in amusement.

"Simple, used a bit of chakra, a paralytic and a super thin senbon."

Silence was the response he got. The redhead figured it was most likely the absorption of what he told them, and even perhaps the fact that he was not one of them.

Sasori was not blind to the people that one Erwin Smith recruited and kept around. Even though Sasori enjoyed and relatively liked Levi, the man himself was a murderer and a thief, he also had a boy who could shift into the very monster that the scouts were trying to kill, Hanji who was just as crazy as himself and perhaps Orochimaru, and even some other members of the Corps.

"I am not blind to the people you surround yourself with Smith, I am just a more experienced 'monster' in your ranks. You should be happy that I made my deals with you or else I am sure that you might not have ever woken up one night." Sasori pointed out to the man.

Erwin sighed in exasperation and even frustration. He had not been expecting that when he was summoned over. The other men and woman were all high in trees while the two talked. Not even Levi, Hanji, or Mike were close, it was just the two of them.

After being told that they were migrating for the winter that was coming up, and what had happened to the man, shinobi his mind corrected, he had felt the need to speak to him in private.

However, that did not mean that the redhead was wrong. He had learned several weeks ago that he had only scratched the surface with Sasori Akasuna and he was quickly growing concerned.

What had he invited into his ranks? Sasori's words floated back into his thoughts and his mind supplied that Sasori was loyal to him, not anyone else but the scouts.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Erwin looked back at the impassive red head and took another look at the man, assessing him once again, ignoring the lips that wrapped around a lollipop, and further trying to not picture the man as a teenager.

"I'll be honest Akasuna, I don't like what you do, but if it benefits humanity and removing the Titans, I can turn a blind eye." Erwin said, eyes looking for any sort of reaction.

Sasori just took out his lollipop and gave a little smile and tilted his head, like Erwin was missing a private joke.

"I suppose we should be careful on this expedition. Going to the hole at this time is suicidal and we can't return in a day."

Sasori left the man to his musings and went over to his team. Armin looked significantly better by that time, and one Captain Levi looked just as grumpy as he usually did.

"Don't worry Levi, it's all resolved. Smith will fill you in later."

The rest of the expedition went well; very few titans were stumbled across resulting in the people being happy when they returned. Sasori kept a sharp eye out on the walls, the people, and even the reactions of the people around them. Nothing seemed out of order, but he had other plans than just sitting on a horse.

When they got to a busier area he slipped off into the crowd, changing his appearance as he went.

Sasori made his way back into the heart of the walls with little problems and slipped into the underground.

Every single one of them were fools, but he needed more information that gleaming into his puppets heads didn't truly give. Perception was everything after all.

He mused about how Erwin would feel about him sneaking off and snorted as he walked into the bar. The owner smiled and gave him a wave, already setting down a drink for him.

"How goes it, master?" The man asked in a quiet voice.

"Could be better. I assume you have what I ask for a few weeks ago?"

"Of course, I assume you'll get it before you leave?" The man cleaned another glass, eyes sweeping over the area for eavesdroppers.

"You doubt me?" Sasori raised an eyebrow and the man blanched honestly.

"I'm sorry Master." The man apologized eagerly.

Sasori stared long and hard at the man that he had turned into a slave. He couldn't decide whether or not the man assuming things was a good development or not. He hummed using that as his answer before taking a sip of his drink.

What the redhead really needed was more information, outside of his current network. He would have to go visit an upper bar and talk to one of his puppets before he entered the castle, but rumors were better in the underground.

Sasori also could not forget that he needed to fix his leg. It should not have cracked with impact from the other day, but… the properties that the Titans had in their stomach could have damaged more. He would need to do a thorough check up when he got back.

Drunkards came and went for the few hours that he sat, all talking about how the corps had managed to come back relatively unharmed and numbers were up.

Some said it was because of Captain Lev's work, or some said that it was due to Commander Smith's leadership that did such an excellent job.

However…

Absolutely no one seemed upset; soldiers who came in getting off duty seemed pleased and thoroughly excited about the news. In fact it gave them all hope.

How troublesome.

While he had done well, it was actually not a side effect he meant to have with the people. Smith better be pleased.

He finished his drink and left, but not before grabbing his supplies. He opened the bag and smirked at the contents. Oh he would have fun later, maybe he could drag Hanji in with him and they would use…

He needed to stop that train of thought right there. He was curious to know if Jeager would be able push out his chakra when he healed, or remain a wonderful faithful spy.

He would think on that later, but it sounded like an experiment worth doing.

Sasori quickly left the underground, passing by several of his little spies whom obediently 'ignored' him. Their minds however, fawned over his presence and gave him all the information they thought he needed without him digging into them.

What he really needed to do was find the body of his dead spy so he could extract more information from the wounds. He was aware that the Captain was involved, though he needed to know who the other man was.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Sasori melded into the darkness that surrounded him as he watched an irritatingly bad soldier try to gain the attention of the owner of the house that he had passed.

"Sir, sir, we have information!" The man hissed urgently through the door.

Sasori's eyebrow rose slowly and he settled into his spot, stuck a piece of candy in his mouth and listened carefully.

"Another man has been attacked! This time his eye was completely removed and it's still a fresh crime scene!" The soldier said through the door and backed off when it opened.

Sasori's brain slowed to a halt as he processed the information, but he didn't move a muscle as he continued to listen.

The Captain came out of the doors, half dressed and clearly annoyed. At what was Sasori's private question, though he figured by the lack of clothing it was either sleep or sex.

"Secure the scene. Touch nothing, and don't you dare let that soldier talk to anyone but me." The soldier saluted and ran off.

"Maybe that runt might be a bit more clever than I originally thought. I hadn't pegged him as someone who maims his victims. Perhaps I underestimated the brat." The brown haired man mused with amusement before turning back to go into the house.

Sasori's eyes narrowed at the implication. Not a single one of his little living puppets alerted him to that the moment it happened, and another indignity was that someone was copying him.

While flattered, it was thoroughly insulting. He needed to find that person and put an end to them… or…

A rather malicious grin spread across his lips.

He did have an itch to scratch after all even though it wouldn't be his best work with the little amount of materials he had on hand, but it would be so much fun.

TBC

A/N: Yeah so… I wrote the last half much quicker than I wrote the first…. So yeah, Sasori is on the hunt again. Yay for our murderous puppeteer! Please don't kill me for this trash but it should get better next chapter. At least the first half of that will be written before I get more inspiration for another thing and put this on the back burner.

I am writing like 6 other things, but I thought of all of you first and decided to to get something up so you guys don't think I gave up on this. Onto the next!