Sasori of the Red Sand (bonus chapter for [Deep Blue Cosmic Light])

"Who goes there!" Shino shouted in a deep voice, flipping over and leaping up to dodge the sudden attack of the ninja tool.

He turned his head and saw that Sakura Haruno had also erected an ice wall with a wave of her hand, blocking the incoming Kunai with a clang.

Although the sneak attack failed and the Fourteenth Squad was unharmed, Shino's heart sank.

These Kunai were fired with incredible accuracy and speed, covering his entire escape route. The timing was perfect, striking him just as he paused to catch his breath. Subtle details revealed the attacker's formidable strength. At this moment, in this position, who else could be their enemy?

Shino already knew the answer in his heart.

He Sakura Haruno exchanged a glance, and through that exchange, Sakura already understood what he meant.

Shino's plan failed, and things took a turn for the worst— the Fourteenth Squad was exposed.

Sakura Haruno, her face grim, silently took two steps forward, standing protectively in front of Shino and Terumi.

Across from her, a figure slowly appeared in front of the Fourteenth Squad.

His eyes were cold and sharp, his face was covered by a black mask, and his huge, hunched figure was hidden beneath a cloak with black background and red clouds.

Black background with red clouds...? The familiar, iconic attire made Sakura immediately realize that he was a member of Akatsuki.

If it wasn't Orochimaru or Sasori's subordinate, was it Sasori himself?

"You are...?" The girl raised her head, gazing at the figure gradually emerging from the opposite mountaintop, and asked coldly, "The Sasori of the Red Sand?"

The visitor did not directly answer Sakura Haruno's question.

"Are you Konoha ninjas? You're quick! I already destroyed the information in his brain with Sealing Jutsu, how did you manage to find us so quickly!"

His face was expressionless, and his tone was mechanical and stiff, as emotionless as a robot, giving people an eerie feeling.

It was as if the person standing in front of Sakura wasn't a real person.

However, his words indirectly proved that this person was indeed Sasori of the Red Sand.

Sakura Haruno quickly scanned the information about Sasori in her mind.

There wasn't much. After all, he wasn't a Konoha ninja. It was only because Jiraiya had mentioned that Sasori might have joined Akatsuki that Konoha had specifically collected some information about him.

Puppeteer.

Use poison.

And... they are very strong.

Finally, Sakura could clearly sense this from his aura and the quality of his Chakra.

Although the opponent had not yet fully mobilized his Chakra, she could sense the unfathomable amount of Chakra hidden beneath his calm surface.

This enemy is no weaker than Kakuzu!

Therefore, with just one glance, Sakura was able to immediately determine that this person was definitely not some lackey, but rather the main figure of their trip, Sasori of the Red Sand.

"Shino, please protect Yuzuki. I'll handle this guy." She said to the two people behind her without turning her head, her eyes never leaving the man in front of her.

"Have you already decided on the order in which you'll die?" Scorpion looked down at the three of them coldly. "No need to rush, all three of you will become my collection..."

"A collectible?" Terumi exclaimed from behind, seemingly having some terrifying thought.

"He's a puppeteer; he probably wants to use our bodies to create puppet dolls!" Sakura realized Terumi's implication. "Even in Sunagakure, this is an extremely cruel and evil act..."

Scorpion sneered, "Being able to become my collection and be preserved forever isn't cruel; it should be your glory! The flesh will eventually decay, only through the art of puppets can it exist eternally..."

Sakura Haruno couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ho ho, an eternal existence?"

To exist as someone else's puppet is nothing more than the eternity of an inanimate object. No matter how eloquently it sounds, it cannot conceal his necrophiliac nature.

The mocking laugh "hoho" that was common in her previous life wasn't popular here, but Scorpion completely understood the mocking curve of Sakura's lips.

"The allure of a puppet is beyond the comprehension of a mere brat like you..." His chilling voice carried a hint of anger. "Since that's the case, I'll just kill you and burn you to ashes. Anyway, judging by your appearance, you probably can't create any powerful puppets..."

He looked down at the three people at his feet, indifferently proclaiming their fate, without paying any attention to their possible struggles.

"Hmph..." Sakura snorted coldly, her face darkening.

Scorpion's tone made it sound like dealing with Sakura was as easy as catching a turtle in a jar... It was utterly arrogant!

She was really annoyed!

"You keep saying you'll turn me into a collectible, do you really think you've got the upper hand and are guaranteed to beat me?" Sakura clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking, and said coldly, "Mere puppeteers are nothing but a bunch of scrap metal in front of my fists!"

It wasn't just Sakura making wild claims.

According to Konoha's battle records, Tsunade's Monstrous Strength Technique is the bane of puppeteers.

The puppets are ingeniously designed, treacherous, and ruthless, possessing formidable combat power. Defensively, their hardened, specially crafted steel or hardwood shells offer considerable protection, capable of withstanding ordinary attacks. However, against a Monstrous Strength Technique capable of creating an earthquake with a single punch, this defense proves utterly ineffective!

During the war against the Sand shinobi, it was Tsunade's ferocious power—using her Monstrous Strength Technique to smash a puppet with a single punch—that allowed her to suppress the entire puppeteer force of the Sand shinobi single-handedly, leaving a deep impression on Sand shinobi!

After all these years, Chiyo only remembered two people from Konoha: one was the White Fang of Konoha who killed her son, and the other was Tsunade, the "Katsuyu Woman" she called her, the woman who defeated her puppeteer army.

Sakura's Nintaijutsu inherited Tsunade's power, but she was even better in terms of speed and agility, making her even more effective against puppeteers. In front of Sakura Haruno's fists, Sasori's puppets were like broken copper and scrap iron, which was not an overestimation of her abilities.

With her current strength, her chances of winning against Sasori are far greater than when she fought Kakuzu!

It's better to say nothing when you don't see eye to eye, especially since they are enemies to begin with.

The girl said no more, her Chakra quietly surging as she silently activated her amplified Ninjutsu.

Ninja Art - Cherry Blossom Impact - Stage Two Unlocked!

Ninja Art - Yin Seal Activated!

Ice Release: Frost Battle Armor activated!

The energy stored in the Yin Seal transformed into Chakra, surging and spinning, its immense power stirring up whirlwinds around the girl.

Furthermore, a crystal-clear ice armor adorned the girl's body, covering her vital organs in her chest and abdomen; the tailored armor plates and ferocious edges gave her a heroic and valiant air, like a Valkyrie.

Sasori watched with some surprise as Sakura's aura and Chakra reserves suddenly became considerable.

His Chakra level is roughly equivalent to that of Kage Level. Such an enemy is quite a threat. He's stronger than that man; no wonder he's standing at the front! Sasori thought to himself.

"Interesting..." He suddenly flung off his cloak, lay down on the ground, and said calmly.

It's merely somewhat interesting. With this level of strength, his puppets aren't even worthy of being called worthless junk!

Sasori was just a little curious; who had ever seen this Ninjutsu, which could store Chakra, used before?

It looks vaguely familiar.

In short, if you have any questions, you can ask them after you defeat her.

Scorpion's icy gaze fell upon the girl at his feet, whose eyes were even colder.

He saw no fear in those green eyes; the girl seemed genuinely confident that she could rival him!

Is she out of touch with reality, or is she truly exceptional?

Then Scorpion heard her next sentence. "Just a little interesting? Then pray for a while... if you're still in the mood for this!"

At this point, the true intentions have been revealed.

Scorpion and Sakura launched their attacks simultaneously, as if by prior arrangement.

Body Flicker Technique.

Sakura used Taijutsu called Body Flicker Technique that combined Monstrous Strength Technique: she used Monstrous Strength Technique in her legs, and the moment she kicked out, she unleashed tremendous power, and the violent force instantly cracked the ground!

Boom--!

As he unleashed this Body Flicker Technique, Shino could even feel the ground beneath his feet shaking uneasily!

Using the reaction force generated by stepping on the ground, Sakura Haruno sprang up and, in the blink of an eye, was already in front of Sasori.

Ding ding ding--!

Hundreds of iron blades shot out from the scorpion's mouth and collided violently with the ice armor that had transformed into a shield in front of Sakura, sparking countless sparks.

The power of the Kekkei Genkai was superior in this contest of hardness. The girl raised her ice shield with her left hand to block the iron spikes and rushed to Sasori like a meteor.

"So fast..." Scorpion exclaimed in surprise. Then his fist met Scorpion's slightly dazed eyes.

"Goodbye," Sakura said softly.

Then, Chakra gathered in his fair fist—

"Monstrous Strength Technique: Star Cannon Hammer!"

An unparalleled force slammed into the scorpion head-on.

Boom--!

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