In Konoha, the candidates who had passed the Forest of Death exam returned to their lodgings to rest and recuperate as they waited for the upcoming preliminaries.
Two days later...
The countdown on the Heavenly Screen in the Shinobi World's sky ran out once again. People across the Shinobi World stopped what they were doing as one and looked up at the Heavenly Screen, their hearts full of anticipation and unease. Whether they were ninja training, villagers working in the fields, or Kage busy with state affairs, they all held their breath and fixed their eyes on the Heavenly Screen.
The Heavenly Screen had appeared without warning over a month ago. Every so often, it showed astonishing scenes of battle, sometimes from long-forgotten history, and even scenes suspected to be from a "future" that had never happened.
[TOP 6: Sasori vs. Chiyo and Sakura]
[The rankings are not in order of precedence; the numbers only indicate sequence.]
[Main character: Sasori of the Red Sands, the Virgin of the Akatsuki. I hate waiting, and I hate keeping others waiting. Eternal beauty that never decays is true art.]
[Puppet master and Sunagakure elder Chiyo. I know you hate waiting, but this once, wait for your granny.]
[Tsunade's disciple, Sakura of the Hundred Healings. What matters is setting a clear goal and moving toward it without wavering.]
The footage on the Heavenly Screen showed Granny Chiyo and Sakura joining forces to stop the Akatsuki's genius puppet master, Sasori of the Red Sands. Sasori hid inside Hiruko, a puppet he had crafted with care. It had a fearsome appearance, formidable defenses, and numerous mechanisms inside, making it an excellent weapon for concealing his true body. Hiruko's shell was covered in heavy armor, making it almost impossible to destroy from the outside, while countless deadly mechanisms lay hidden within it; one careless move could leave an opponent in dire straits. As soon as the battle began, Sasori launched a fierce assault, controlling Hiruko to unleash Needle Eight Waves. Countless poisoned needles rained down on Chiyo and Sakura, coated in a deadly poison that could kill at the slightest misstep. Immediately afterward, Sasori used Prosthetic Arm Senbon for a precise long-range attack. Sharp Senbon shot toward the two like lightning, attempting to defeat them in a single strike.
Faced with Sasori's fierce assault, Granny Chiyo remained calm. Drawing on years of combat experience, she quickly judged the paths of the attacks and controlled Sakura to dodge them nimbly. As Granny Chiyo dodged, she secretly and silently wound Chakra Threads around Hiruko's tail. The move seemed insignificant, but it was the key turning point in the battle. Granny Chiyo knew full well that, powerful as Sasori's Hiruko was, it was not invulnerable. Once she found an opening, she could destroy it in one blow. Her eyes showed determination and wisdom, as though she had already seen through Sasori's tactics.
Just as Sasori thought victory was assured, Sakura seized her chance. Using Granny Chiyo's Chakra Threads to locate Hiruko, she charged at it. She gathered all her strength, focused her Chakra into her fist, and punched, smashing Hiruko's shell to pieces. As the puppet broke apart, Sasori's true body was finally exposed before the two: a delicate-featured youth, a stark contrast to the Sasori of the Red Sands whose fearsome reputation struck terror into people. Sasori's true body looked young and calm, nothing like a ruthless puppet master. A hint of indifference showed in his eyes, as though he cared nothing for the situation before him.
Granny Chiyo stared at Sasori's true body, her heart in turmoil. Her gaze lingered on his familiar yet unfamiliar face, as though time had turned back to that moment many years ago. Sasori looked just as he always had, as though time had stood still for him, with no sign that he had grown at all. Granny Chiyo's lips trembled slightly as she murmured, "What's going on... He's just the same as before. He hasn't grown..."
Yet the revelation of Sasori's true body did not mean the battle was over. Instead, it heralded an even fiercer confrontation. Tension filled the air, as though even the wind had stopped, and the silence around them felt suffocating. Sasori rose slowly, his movements graceful and composed, as though everything were under his control. A faint smile appeared on his face.
He raised a hand and slowly drew a scroll from his sleeve. Its surface had an aged sheen, and it was clearly quite old. Sasori's fingers brushed over the scroll as though he were caressing a precious treasure. In a low voice, he said, "Let me show you something special..."
As the scroll unfurled, a large character for "three" appeared before everyone. A trace of pride flashed in Sasori's eyes as he said slowly, "This is a prized piece I had a hard time obtaining by killing him... And it's my favorite in my collection." His voice held an almost morbid satisfaction, as though he were showing off his proudest masterpiece.
As his words faded, a cloud of thick smoke burst from the scroll, quickly spreading and obscuring everyone's view. When the smoke gradually cleared, a tall figure slowly emerged. It was a man in Kazekage robes, with a stern face and vacant eyes—the Third Kazekage, who had been missing from Sunagakure for many years! But he was no longer the powerful figure who had once dominated the battlefield. Sasori had turned him into a lifeless Human Puppet.
Granny Chiyo's pupils contracted sharply, and her heart was thrown into turmoil. She had never imagined that Sasori would turn the Third Kazekage into a puppet! It was not only a grave insult to Sunagakure, but also a trampling of the dead man's dignity. Anger and grief filled her heart. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
Sakura and Granny Chiyo exchanged a glance, their eyes full of apprehension and wariness. They knew the battle ahead would be even harder. The Third Kazekage had been immensely powerful to begin with, and now that Sasori had turned him into a puppet, the threat he posed was beyond measure. An oppressive atmosphere filled the air, as though even breathing had become difficult.
Sasori moved his fingers slightly, and the Third Kazekage Puppet immediately opened its eyes. A strange light flashed in those vacant eyes, as though the dead man's soul had been forcibly awakened, bearing endless resentment and killing intent. The puppet suddenly lunged forward, swift as the wind, closing the distance to Granny Chiyo and Sakura almost instantly. Sharp blades sprang from its fingers, their edges coated in deadly poison and gleaming with an eerie green light that sent chills down the spine.
Granny Chiyo's gaze sharpened, and she swiftly controlled Sakura as she clashed fiercely with the puppet. Though Sakura was young, her Taijutsu and reaction speed were already quite impressive. She nimbly dodged the puppet's attacks while looking for a chance to counterattack. But the Third Kazekage Puppet was immensely powerful. Even after being turned into a puppet, its combat instincts and ability to control Iron Sand remained formidable. The Iron Sand gathered in the air into countless sharp weapons that rained down on Sakura and Granny Chiyo.
The battle reached a fever pitch. Though Sakura fought with all her strength, she still struggled against such a powerful opponent. Just as she tried to dodge the puppet's blades, Sasori suddenly sneered and flicked a finger. Purple poisonous smoke gushed from the puppet's sleeve and spread rapidly. Caught off guard, Sakura was engulfed by the smoke. Her head spun, and it felt as though the strength had been drained from her body in an instant. Her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees.
Granny Chiyo was frantic with worry. She knew Sasori's poison was deadly, and if Sakura did not receive an antidote in time, her life would be in grave danger. But Sasori gave them no chance to catch their breath. He smiled coldly and waved his fingers, sending several Kunai flying from the puppet's sleeve straight at the incapacitated Sakura.
At that critical moment, Granny Chiyo pulled two scrolls from inside her clothing and quickly thrust both hands forward. In a puff of smoke, two puppets rapidly grew larger and blocked Sakura's path. They were two distinctively shaped puppets, one dressed in simple men's clothing and the other in gentle women's attire. They were Father and Mother, puppets modeled after Sasori's parents.
The instant Sasori saw the two puppets, his pupils contracted sharply and the smile froze on his face. His fingers trembled slightly, as though a long-buried memory deep inside him had been forcibly awakened at that moment. Granny Chiyo's voice was low and firm. "Sasori, you do remember. These are the puppets you made at the very beginning, Father and Mother."
Sasori's expression grew complicated, but his eyes soon turned cold again. "What are you trying to do, bringing those things out at a time like this?" he said coldly. "I made those puppets. I know everything about them. How boring!"
Granny Chiyo controlled Father and Mother in a fierce confrontation with the Third Kazekage Puppet under Sasori's control. The puppets darted past one another through the air, their movements swift as lightning and dazzling to behold. Granny Chiyo's fingers danced rapidly, pulling the Chakra Threads as though playing a fierce piece of music. Sasori's fingers were just as nimble, controlling the Third Kazekage's every movement with deadly precision.
Though Father and Mother were not as powerful as the Third Kazekage, they contained Granny Chiyo's profound emotions and skill. Their movements were not as fierce as the Iron Sand puppet's, but they had a unique rhythm and cadence, as though telling a long-buried story. Every attack seemed to be an attempt to awaken the memories buried deep within Sasori.
The Third Kazekage Puppet was entirely different. Its movements were swift and ruthless, and Iron Sand gathered in the air into countless sharp weapons that rained down on Father and Mother. Every attack carried destructive force, as though it would utterly crush any enemy in its path. The Iron Sand flew through the air with a piercing howl that sent chills down the spine.
Both sides' hands moved faster and faster as they controlled their puppets, whose movements grew swifter still. Beads of sweat gradually appeared on Granny Chiyo's forehead, but she remained fully focused, not daring to relax for an instant. Sasori's face remained expressionless, as though everything were under his control. His fingers danced like phantoms, and under his control, the Third Kazekage Puppet's movements grew sharper and its attacks fiercer.
Tension filled the air, as though even time had slowed. The puppets collided with crisp metallic clangs, sending sparks flying in a dazzling display. Determination flashed in Granny Chiyo's eyes. She knew she had to hold on; only then could she find a chance to defeat Sasori.
Under Granny Chiyo's control, Father and Mother gradually found their rhythm in battle. Instead of simply dodging the Third Kazekage's attacks, they began looking for chances to counterattack. Every strike carried Granny Chiyo's hopes and appeals to Sasori, as though attempting to awaken the forgotten feelings deep within him.
Sasori pulled the Third Kazekage Puppet back to his side. "This has gotten troublesome..." he said coldly. His voice held a trace of impatience, but even more than that, confidence that he had the entire situation under control. He moved his fingers slightly, and the Third Kazekage Puppet slowly opened its mouth. Black Iron Sand drifted out, spreading through the air like black smoke.
The corners of Sasori's mouth rose slightly in a smile. "...You're about to be smashed to pieces."
Sakura asked in surprise what it was. Granny Chiyo's pupils contracted sharply, and she turned to Sakura. "Be careful! That's a Ninjutsu unique to the Third Kazekage, which he developed himself—Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method! He can freely shape Iron Sand into any form, creating weapons that can adapt to changing circumstances. Its attacks are exceptionally unpredictable and deadly!" A trace of anxiety entered her voice; she was clearly wary of the Ninjutsu.
Though Sakura's body was still somewhat weak, she immediately forced herself to rally at Granny Chiyo's warning and watched the Iron Sand gathering in the air. Her heart was full of tension and unease, but she knew she could not back down now.
Sasori waved his fingers, and the Iron Sand in the air rapidly gathered into countless sharp weapons: spears, blades, spikes, and even a massive wall of Iron Sand. It was as though the black weapons had filled the entire space. The Iron Sand flew through the air with a low hum, like the whisper of a Shinigami, sending chills down the spine.
"It's over," Sasori said coldly. He then swept his fingers sharply, and the Iron Sand weapons rained down on Granny Chiyo and Sakura. The assault was swift and dense, leaving almost no room to dodge.
Granny Chiyo quickly controlled Father and Mother to block the Iron Sand attack in front of her. But the Iron Sand was far more powerful than she had expected. The puppets were pushed steadily backward by its impact, and cracks even began to appear in them. Cold sweat beaded on Granny Chiyo's forehead. She knew these two puppets alone could not completely block the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand Ninjutsu.
Sakura gritted her teeth and quickly formed Hand Seals, trying to use Chakra to strengthen her body against the impending attack. But the poison was still affecting her, making her movements somewhat sluggish. Just as the Iron Sand weapons were about to strike her, Granny Chiyo controlled Father and Mother with all her strength, placing them in front of Sakura to block the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand attack. But the Iron Sand was simply too powerful. The puppets gradually gave way under the dense assault and finally shattered with a crisp crack, scattering countless fragments across the ground. Granny Chiyo's face went pale in an instant, but she gritted her teeth and refused to retreat.
Then Sakura stood in front of Granny Chiyo and looked ahead with determination. Though the poison still affected her body, her eyes were full of an unyielding will. She took a deep breath and said in a firm, powerful voice, "Granny Chiyo, please use me!" There was no hesitation in her voice, as though she had made up her mind long ago.
Granny Chiyo froze for a moment and looked at Sakura, a complicated expression flashing in her eyes. She understood what Sakura meant: Sakura was willing to become her puppet and use her own body to fight. Warmth welled up in Granny Chiyo's heart, but she still hesitated.
Sakura's gaze was resolute as iron. "Granny Chiyo, the only thing I can do now is become your puppet and fight. My body doesn't have excellent weapons built into it like a puppet, but I have a flexible body, and I can dodge the Iron Sand's attacks. And..." She paused, a trace of pride in her voice. "The fighting spirit my master taught me has been engraved deep in my body. I won't lose!"
Looking at Sakura before her, Granny Chiyo seemed to see Tsunade in her youth. A trace of reassurance flashed in her eyes, and she murmured, "Princess Tsunade..." Her voice carried a hint of emotion, as though she were remembering years past.
A moment later, Granny Chiyo nodded. Her fingers danced rapidly, and Chakra Threads wound around Sakura like nimble snakes. Sakura's body trembled slightly, and she felt a powerful force surge into her. Her movements grew more agile, as though every cell in her body had been activated.
Sasori watched coldly. With a wave of his fingers, the Third Kazekage Puppet attacked again. Iron Sand turned into countless sharp weapons and flew at Sakura and Granny Chiyo.
Sakura's gaze sharpened, and her body moved swiftly, nimbly evading the Iron Sand attacks. Her movements flowed smoothly, as though each one had been honed through endless practice. Granny Chiyo's Chakra Threads controlled her every movement with precision, making Sakura's attacks even sharper and deadlier.
The battle between the two sides reached a fever pitch. Under Granny Chiyo's control, Sakura kept closing in on Sasori's true body. Her fists were clenched, Chakra gathering around them as though she were ready to deliver a lethal blow at any moment. Sasori's expression grew increasingly grave, and his fingers danced faster and faster. The Third Kazekage Puppet's movements grew ever swifter, but it still could not completely suppress Sakura's assault.
Boom! Sakura smashed through the oncoming wall of Iron Sand with one punch and rapidly closed in on Sasori's true body. Determination shone in her eyes, as though telling Sasori that she would never lose this battle!
A flicker of panic flashed in Sasori's eyes. He had not expected Sakura to break through his defenses. Just as he tried to retreat, Sakura leaped up and slammed her fist into his body.
Bang! With a deafening crash, Sakura's fist struck Sasori's body, shattering it instantly. An expression of disbelief covered Sasori's face, as though he could not accept that he had been defeated by a young girl.