Overcoming His Temperament

Fate had turned in his favor, and all under heaven lent him their strength.

Sometimes people got the feeling that, for a while, they had the gods' favor and the world's goodwill. Whatever they tried to do, everything seemed to go smoothly.

Even when they faced setbacks and difficulties, they could quickly pull themselves together and rise again.

Jiang Feng had used the Heaven, Earth, and Human energies of this world to manufacture that feeling for Sasori.

Since Sasori knew nothing of the Heavenly Son's Qi Observation Technique, this was both a boost and a weakness.

This peculiar state, in which all under heaven lent him their strength, could indeed bring Sasori greater peace of mind, more fighting spirit, and a more optimistic outlook. But it would also make him reveal more openings.

Because this state was something Sasori should not have had. And the objective problems he had to face had not changed in the slightest.

For example, right now.

Countless iron-sand needles, triangular spikes, spears, and other sharp weapons filled the air. Together, they formed a colossal barrier that completely sealed off Pakura's room to maneuver.

A cylinder of iron sand slammed into Pakura and sent her flying. Their fierce clash had finally produced a temporary victor.

Defeating such a powerful opponent made Sasori of the Red Sands' already blazing momentum flare even higher, like flowers in full bloom or oil poured onto a roaring fire.

I'm invincible now!

Sasori of the Red Sands felt a hint of this, regaining some of his composure and optimism. He controlled the Kazekage Puppet and charged toward the viewing platform where Jiang Feng stood.

"Uchiha Jiang Feng, go to hell!"

His reason and intelligence showed him a glimmer of hope for survival. It seemed possible that he could make it out alive: if he could kill either Rasa or Jiang Feng, then retreat in time, his desperate situation would be resolved.

This apparent reason was actually irrational—a somewhat blind, overly optimistic fantasy.

In theory, the odds that he could quickly kill one of them and then escape unharmed were very low. So low that the Sasori from before would have dismissed the possibility outright.

Without the boost of the Heaven, Earth, and Human energies, even after defeating Pakura, Sasori probably wouldn't have considered this option.

But that feeling that all under heaven lent him their strength had amplified his fighting spirit and optimism, leading him to the mistaken judgment that the plan might work.

The Heavenly Son's Qi Observation Technique was gradually breaking down and dismantling his temperament.

"Sasori, you won't be allowed to run wild here!

"Jiang Feng, I'm entrusting the Daimyo to your protection."

Rasa hastily rode a cloud over to intercept Sasori of the Red Sands. He manipulated gold dust into a barrier like the one made of iron sand, then clashed with Sasori as he charged toward the central viewing platform.

Besides Jiang Feng, the viewing platform held the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and several of the country's ministers. How could Rasa allow Sasori to approach so easily?

More than a dozen Sunagakure Anbu Ninja stood in front of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, shielding him and the ministers behind them. Even so, the Daimyo's face turned pale with fright.

Sasori was completely unhinged. He killed ordinary people, nobles, and daimyos without the slightest hesitation.

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind instinctively looked toward Jiang Feng, who stood on the same viewing platform. The young man, dressed in white as pristine as snow, remained calm and composed, radiating the air of a master who didn't take Sasori of the Red Sands seriously.

The Daimyo felt much more at ease. He steadied himself a little and waved his hand. "There's no need to panic. Even if Sasori of the Red Sands reaches the viewing platform, Mr. Jiang Feng will surely be able to kill him in an instant."

Kill Sasori of the Red Sands in an instant?

The Sunagakure Anbu Ninja exchanged glances. They looked at Jiang Feng, who stood there expressionless and silent, then at Sasori, who was battling Rasa. They couldn't help thinking the Daimyo was being far too optimistic.

No one doubted Uchiha Jiang Feng's strength. He had defeated the Son of the Raikage and escaped unscathed from the encirclement of dozens of Jonin, so he was bound to be exceptional.

But no one doubted Sasori of the Red Sands' strength, either.

The most gifted and talented Puppet Master in the history of the Ninja World, Sasori's puppetry skills were even superior to those of the elder Chiyo.

Now that he had a Human Puppet made from the strongest Kazekage in history, his strength was probably no less than that of any current Kage.

The Scorching Release User Pakura had been defeated, while Rasa, who was equally skilled in Magnet Release, had traded dozens of blows with Sasori without gaining the upper hand. That was proof enough.

Kill Sasori of the Red Sands in an instant? How could that be possible?

Perhaps because the Daimyo of the Land of Wind had such absolute faith in Jiang Feng's strength and bearing, even Konan wondered whether Jiang Feng could kill Sasori quickly.

"Can you kill Sasori of the Red Sands?"

"I can."

"How many moves would it take?"

Jiang Feng fell silent for a moment, then softly counted down, as if marking off seconds: "Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-six, twenty-five, twenty-four..."

Jiang Feng stopped when he reached fourteen. Konan was astonished, and also found it hard to believe. Could he really kill Sasori of the Red Sands in just fourteen moves at most?

It sounded almost like a fantasy. But if the man beside her said it, then he could surely do it. Perhaps he had noticed some openings in Sasori that others couldn't detect.

Jiang Feng had indeed spotted Sasori's openings. He had created them himself using the Heavenly Son's Qi Observation Technique.

Sasori's Chakra control and puppetry skills were still nearly flawless. But the technique had broken through his temperament, creating flaws in his judgment and making him overly optimistic and confident.

Others might have found it hard to notice these flaws in Sasori's temperament, but Jiang Feng, who had created them himself, could spot them easily.

Using changes in the Heaven, Earth, and Human energies to break down an enemy's temperament was one of the more conventional applications of the Heavenly Son's Qi Observation Technique.

And this was only the beginning.

While Jiang Feng and Konan chatted, the battle shifted once more.

With the force of all under heaven behind him, the momentum of his victory over Pakura, and the advantage of attacking, Sasori of the Red Sands finally caught Rasa in an opening and used the Iron Sand Technique to drive him back.

"Uchiha Jiang Feng, how long are you going to hide? Get down here and die!"

After a small victory over Rasa, Sasori of the Red Sands' momentum rose again as he went from one triumph to another. At that moment, even the onlookers began to feel that perhaps Sasori of the Red Sands truly was unstoppable.

He gave a cruel grin, ignored Rasa once more, and controlled the Kazekage Puppet to spread its Iron Sand Wings and attack Jiang Feng on the viewing platform.

Konan's expression changed. She suddenly unfurled her Angel Paper Wings, intending to shield Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng raised a hand to stop the girl beside him. The Heavenly Son's Qi Observation Technique revolved once more. He manipulated the Three Realms Qi Energy bolstering Sasori, shattering the momentum Sasori had built up with his string of victories.

Then he gathered all the Three Realms Qi Energy in the world around them that he could control and concentrated it on himself, forming the Heavenly Son's Dharma Aspect.

From peak to utter decline, from the heights of the sky to beneath the earth—Sasori's seemingly invincible momentum was crushed in an instant and brought crashing down to earth.

By contrast, Jiang Feng, who had remained calm and composed all along, suddenly seemed like a divine sword drawn from its sheath. His pressure burst forth, impossible to look upon, as if the entire world and the whole desert had become one with him.

Even Sasori, who knew nothing of "presence" and didn't believe in it, could feel the vast difference between their auras.

It was the difference between heaven and earth.

Eight moves.

Sasori's temperament had been overcome once again. The flaws in his personality and emotions had grown so obvious that even Rasa and Konan could faintly notice them.