Seeing Sasori of the Red Sands Again

A few days later, a red-haired boy of fifteen or sixteen arrived in town. It was Sasori of the Red Sands, whom Uchiha Mai had placed a bounty on.

Sasori wore an unapproachable expression and carried a sack bulging as though it held a dozen watermelons.

Following the clues Uchiha Mai had deliberately left behind, Sasori found his residence, broke down the door, and came upon Nagato and the others recuperating in the courtyard.

Uchiha Mai had more or less recovered, but Nagato and Konan still needed a little time.

Their injuries would not stop them from fighting, but they were about to storm Amegakure and face the demigod Hanzo head-on. Naturally, they wanted to be in peak condition.

"Hey, long time no see."

Uchiha Mai rose to greet Sasori, smiling. "Let me introduce you. This is my old friend, Sasori of the Red Sands.

"The finest puppeteer in the Ninja World, and a master of poisons."

"Heh."

Sasori sneered and flung the sack at Uchiha Mai's feet. A dozen or so heads rolled out, their dead eyes still wide open.

"Is this how you treat an old friend?

"Thanks to you, all sorts of vermin have been bothering me these past few days. It's been endless.

"I could have put up with that, but none of them was even strong enough to be worth turning into a puppet."

The vast majority of wandering ninja were weaklings, capable of dealing with little more than bandits and thieves. They were roughly on the level of Gato's bodyguards.

Blinded by money, those weaklings had gone after Sasori, an expert at crushing opponents like them. Death was inevitable.

"I couldn't help it. You're too good at hiding.

"Even Konoha's Anbu have trouble keeping tabs on you, so this was the only way I