(These are the author's comments from when I wrote Chapter 124. If you don't like me putting them in the main text, feel free to skip them. Thank you for supporting me before.
This is just my personal preference. Whether it takes you out of the story is up to you. I hope you find more great books to read.
As for Sasori's strength, that's purely Josuke's personal opinion, not mine or the official setting. If you say I'm talking out of my ass, then can't I say you didn't read carefully either?)
The shell was shattered by Josuke and Sakura's combined attack.
It could be repaired, but the damage still affected Sasori's attacks.
Sasori stepped out of the puppet shell.
He casually took off his Akatsuki Organization cloak.
Holy crap.
Josuke was shocked. Once that cloak came off, he was a goner.
Sasori's body had already been transformed into a puppet body, but Josuke just couldn't understand why, after all that modification, Sasori had still been killed by two stabs.
Whatever~
He wasn't going to worry about that.
Josuke used Multiple Shadow Clone.
Sasori summoned several puppets in the forms of shinobi, each with a different appearance. Without exception, they had all been powerful in life.
Every one of Josuke's clones formed a Rasengan. At his command, the clones and his original self charged at Sasori.
Sasori used the Third Kazekage Puppet to wield Iron Sand.
The Iron Sand struck Josuke's clones with the precision of homing missiles.
The other puppets weren't idle either. They clashed with the clones, both sides taking losses, while Josuke's Rasengan took out two puppets.
"Among us."
Josuke flashed behind him.
Sasori's defenses were airtight. Josuke couldn't find an opening, so he had to destroy Sasori's puppets to threaten his real body.
Sasori must have let his true form be exposed earlier because he'd underestimated them.
Josuke had also used up two-thirds of his Chakra. Two or three more Chidori, and he'd be out of gas.
Either he finished this quickly, or he made a tactical retreat—otherwise known as running away.
But a true hero wouldn't flee in the middle of a fight~
"Sakura, I'll leave the rest to you for now."
Sakura nodded.
"Josuke, you should take a break too. And be careful of the poison on Sasori's puppets."
Their beloved Chiyo stepped forward at that moment, too.
Josuke's performance just now had truly amazed her. What a dazzling display. So this was a Konoha shinobi.
Konoha was full of talent, with brilliant stars everywhere.
It was impossible not to feel envious.
But this wasn't the time to think about that. Chiyo summoned her puppets, and Sasori gave a slight start. Those were his parents...
Sasori sneered.
He controlled the Third Kazekage.
He used Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wall.
He used Iron Sand to create a sturdy wall that could block enemy attacks.
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Pillar.
He used Iron Sand to create a pillar that slammed into his opponent.
The Iron Sand Pillar flew toward Sakura. She dodged, but it turned around and charged after her like a homing missile.
Behind them, Josuke activated his Cursed Seal.
He used the Cursed Seal to unleash Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet. (Okay, this isn't something I came up with, but I'd padded things out with a lot of words here before, and I realized it, so I should probably make up for that. All right.)
Several dragon-shaped flames crashed into the Iron Sand Pillar, setting off a series of explosions.
Scorched by the Dragon Flame Bullet's heat, the Iron Sand Pillar changed from a solid mass into red-hot liquid.
It had gone from solid Iron Sand to liquid. Anyone who'd studied chemistry knew that, hehe.
Sasori was surprised. Was that all it took to counter it?
But before he could think much further, several more Dragon Flame Bullets shot toward the Iron Sand Wall. Another huge explosion rang out, and a gaping hole opened in the sturdy Iron Sand wall.
Sakura's monstrous-strength punch followed right after.
This was the moment she'd been waiting for!!
The Third Kazekage's hands turned into blades, and he lunged at Sakura. Die!!
Die!
What?
Sakura was shocked. She hadn't expected to get tricked like that.
"Clang!"
The puppet controlled by Chiyo blocked the Kazekage Puppet's attack. Chiyo had joined the battle.
Sasori narrowed his eyes. It seemed he had no choice but to get serious.
Several scrolls unfurled behind him on the ground.
Hundreds of puppets, each with a different appearance, appeared behind Sasori.
"Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!"
In his Human Puppet form, Sasori used scrolls to summon hundreds of puppets dressed in red robes to join the fight. Each puppet wielded a different weapon, and their movements were controlled by Chakra Threads emitted from his Regeneration Core.
So strong.
But, well, I'm stronger.
Josuke smiled.
Just as he'd guessed, Sasori's strength was at most that of an elite jōnin, plus a little.
There was definitely a lot of exaggeration behind the claim that he was S-rank.
If Sasori could call for backup, then Josuke could, too.
He pressed one hand to the ground, and a summoning circle appeared.
"Summoning Technique!"
Poof!
An orange Toad appeared before him.
"Huh?"
Gamakichi scratched his head.
"Why'd you summon me?"
Gamakichi scratched his head. He'd just been enjoying a delicious bug feast with his good buddy Gama Tatsu, and the next second Josuke had summoned him.
Josuke sheepishly scratched his head and pointed toward Sakura and Chiyo, who were fighting Sasori up ahead.
"Can you use Water Release: Iron Cannon Ball?"
Gamakichi thought it over.
"Yeah, but mine's nowhere near as powerful as my dad's."
Josuke: ...
It should be fine as long as he could use it.
"It's okay, it's okay. See if you can shoot at those puppets."
Gamakichi nodded and formed Hand Seals.
"Water Release: Iron Cannon Ball!"
A Water Release: Iron Cannon Ball, much smaller than Gamabunta's, flew toward the densest part of the puppet horde.
It blew several puppets to pieces.
"Nice work, Gamakichi!!"
Josuke nearly jumped for joy.
"Ahem. How about you and I stay here and use ranged Ninjutsu to blow up the puppets?"
"No problem, Josuke. Just hurry up, okay? I still need to go home for dinner."
Josuke was speechless.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Water Release: Iron Cannon Ball!"
Several Great Fireballs and Iron Cannon Balls flew toward the puppet horde, blasting the puppets into scattered pieces.
On the front line, the pressure had eased considerably thanks to Josuke's support from behind.
On top of that, Chiyo was keeping Sasori's trump card, the Third Kazekage Puppet, tied up.
Sasori was steadily losing ground.
It looked like defeat was inevitable.
Then Sasori suddenly left an opening.
Chiyo seized the chance and slashed at the Kazekage Puppet.
The puppet failed to dodge in time, and one of its arms was cut off.
Chiyo pressed the advantage. But who could have guessed?
A lesser puppet nearby fired a hidden arrow.
"Thwack."
It struck Chiyo in the right shoulder.
"You fell for it," Sasori said coldly. His hidden arrow was coated in deadly poison. Without his antidote, she would either die or be left badly injured.
"Granny Chiyo!!" Sakura cried out anxiously.
After taking care of the troublesome puppets, Sakura hurried to Chiyo's side and pulled out the antidote.
But who could have guessed?
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Pillar!!
It slammed straight into Sakura and sent her flying.
The antidote was knocked to the ground and shattered.
"No!!"
Before Sakura could finish, the Iron Sand Pillar sent her crashing into the wall.
She'd probably broken a few ribs at least.
But that wouldn't do anything to Sakura, would it?
Josuke grumbled to himself from the sidelines.
Sakura could heal herself. You couldn't exactly beat her to death by smashing her around.
Just as Josuke had predicted, Sakura used the Hundred Healings Technique and healed her injuries on the spot.
Even though she was covered in dust.
And Chiyo, who'd been hit by the hidden arrow, continued attacking as if nothing had happened.
Confused, Sasori asked her, "Why aren't you hurt?"
Chiyo smiled.
Then she casually pulled out the hidden arrow.
"Did you think you were the only one who'd modified your body..."
Before you continue