Shimizu, Sasori vs. Chiyo

At Sasori's home, a round table had been set up in the open space of the courtyard.

Chiyo, Ebizo, Shimizu, and Sasori were gathered there, sharing dinner.

"Ahaha, it's been a long time since we last sat down and ate together like this, hasn't it, Sasori?"

Chiyo raised her wine cup high and drank heartily.

"No, Grandma. A week ago, on the night Shimizu came to our house for the second time, we ate together at the restaurant run by Little Bug's parents."

Sasori looked at the sweetened cactus juice before him and spoke flatly.

Both he and Shimizu were underage and could not drink alcohol.

"Ahahaha, it seems this old woman has been too busy lately. I even forgot about that."

Chiyo laughed, her face glowing red.

In private, she had a very cheerful personality.

It was just that she spent most of her time on official business, leaving little private time for herself.

"Speaking of which, how is Little Bug doing? This old woman remembers that he should be graduating this year too, right?"

Chiyo set down her cup and curiously muttered to Ebizo.

Little Bug had been Sasori's childhood friend, and aside from Shimizu, the only peer Sasori could truly talk to.

Even after Sasori's parents died, when Sasori had spent a considerable period immersed in his own world, they could still be considered friends.

"Next semester, Little Bug will be in the Ninja Academy's graduating class. A month ago, his family spent money to hire two Chunin to teach him ninjutsu so he could graduate successfully."

Ebizo took a sip of wine and spoke slowly.

If he was not even confident of graduating smoothly and needed to hire instructors, Little Bug's talent was clearly not particularly good—at most, he was of average aptitude.

"Little Bug?"

Shimizu raised a brow.

In the original timeline, Little Bug had been the one Sasori ultimately turned into a puppet because he had been dying from poisoning, and because he had once told Sasori, "If only I could be as amazing as the puppets you make."

"Ah, he's Sasori's friend. If there's a chance in the future, I can introduce you two. After all, you're the same age."

Ebizo flicked out a Chakra Thread, activating the mechanism on the table and causing the Puppet Arm in its center to move the dishes from across the table to Ebizo's side.

That was what he said, but in truth, he did not think Little Bug and Shimizu would become friends. At most, they would be acquaintances who exchanged nods.

Even Sasori's friendship with Little Bug was not something Ebizo thought highly of.

Little Bug's talent meant that even becoming a Chunin in the future would not be easy. As the gaps in strength, rank, and status widened, the relationship between Sasori and Little Bug would inevitably grow distant.

"Alright, you've all eaten enough, haven't you? This old woman proposes some after-dinner exercise to help digest the meal."

Chiyo rose from her chair with a smile.

"After tonight, it will probably be difficult to find such free time again. Sasori, Shimizu, come to the back mountain and spar with this old woman."

Though she called it sparring, it was really instruction.

"Alright! Teacher Chiyo!"

Shimizu eagerly picked up the Sealing Scroll beside his chair.

Chiyo was the foremost Puppeteer of the age. As Chiyo's newly accepted disciple, Shimizu was also looking forward to learning something from her.

Beyond the back door of Sasori's home stood a bare, desolate mountain. Aside from the brownish earth, there were only scattered weeds and a few dried branches from shrubs strewn about.

It was a fine place to practice ninjutsu and test puppets.

"Alright, this old woman won't bully you. Against the two of you, I'll only use two puppets. Let's see what you can do."

A Sealing Scroll slid from Chiyo's sleeve. Smoke rose, revealing two Human Puppets dressed in white robes.

The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!

The grandmaster Monzaemon's proudest creations—each of the ten Human Puppets was a first-rate puppet. If one could fully unleash the power of all ten, their strength would not be inferior to that of the Five Kage.

Both puppets Chiyo revealed wore masks.

One was tall, nearly two meters in height, and wore an ox-headed humanoid mask with long horns. The other was comparatively short and slender, only about one meter sixty-something, with upright yellow fur atop its head and a red cat-face mask.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

More clouds of white smoke spread out.

Shimizu and Sasori summoned all their puppets. After exchanging a glance, they launched their attack together!

The two were already teammates and had worked together on missions. They sparred often in their daily lives as well, and knew each other's abilities inside and out. Their coordination was quite seamless.

Black Secret Technique: Hand Dance!

Black Secret Technique: Swift Performance Method!

In an instant, six long arms shot out from Black Ant's body, covering Little Bug as he charged toward Chiyo.

Chiyo moved two fingers slightly. The sides of the Ox-Face Puppet's body opened, growing four new arms, which joined its original arms in grabbing Black Ant's six tentacles.

Meanwhile, the Red-Faced Cat Puppet extended long spikes from both arms and tangled with Little Boy at a speed just a fraction faster than his.

Shimizu and Sasori exchanged another glance.

The next second, the Fatty Puppet instantly covered Shimizu's body, and he charged toward Chiyo like a tank.

Sasori took out a string of kunai connected by steel wire from his Ninja Tool Bag, avoiding Shimizu as he threw them at Chiyo.

Puppet Technique: Striking Chain!

Puppets could be controlled through Chakra Threads, and naturally, ninja tools such as kunai and shuriken could be as well. Kunai manipulated in this fashion could even rival the Uchiha clan's Manipulated Shuriken Technique.

Chiyo raised her right hand and gave it a slight pull.

The Ox-Face Puppet locked Black Ant's arms behind it and swung it like a windmill, smashing every kunai away before hurling Black Ant toward Shimizu.

Sasori's eyes flickered. He used Chakra Threads to separate Black Ant's body parts, allowing them to narrowly avoid Shimizu.

Boom!

Fatty's Pneumatic Fist was blocked by one of the Ox-Face Puppet's massive, sturdy hands.

A ring of air blasted outward from the point where their fists collided.

Chiyo nodded slightly.

The force she sensed through the Ox-Face Puppet was quite formidable. It was only because the Ox-Face Puppet itself was among the world's finest puppets that it could withstand the blow so easily.

Of course, Chiyo had not fully unleashed the power of these two puppets.

Otherwise, let alone Shimizu and Sasori, even two ordinary Jonin might not be able to win.

Shimizu swung his other fist and began engaging the Ox-Face Puppet in close combat.

The scattered Black Ant was reassembled by Sasori using Chakra Threads. Six slender, pointed auxiliary limbs grew barbs, changed targets, and struck toward the Red-Faced Cat Puppet.

Even though Chiyo had limited the Red-Faced Cat Puppet's speed to only a fraction faster than Little Boy's, it still held the upper hand steadily.