Eternal art, the perfect human puppet.

Rustling...

Amidst the raging Wind and Sand, a faint sound of footsteps could be heard. The people in the ruins were all powerful individuals, so their hearing was naturally exceptional.

Almost everyone noticed someone approaching immediately and turned to look in the direction of the sound, only to see a slender figure walking slowly towards them.

The dust clouded the view, but the newcomer could be vaguely seen to have a head of blood-red hair.

"So it's Sasori." Tōka glanced at Grandmother Chiyo. The Jutsu Formula was almost complete, and Sasori would have time to see Chiyo one last time.

Hearing the noise behind her, Chiyo, who had been hanging her head, stiffened slightly before slowly raising her head.

Scorpion...

Familiar faces, yet also unfamiliar faces.

Chiyo's pupils reflected Sasori's image; he still looked like Sasori in his youth, his handsome face perfectly inheriting the best features of his parents.

As the last of her chakra flowed into Gaara's body, Chiyo's vision grew increasingly dark, and Sasori's figure gradually became blurred.

Thump!

With a muffled thud, Chiyo's body fell straight to the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

"Chiyo... Grandma?"

Scorpion, who had just arrived, had no idea what had happened. He just happened to see Grandmother Chiyo turn to look at him, and then she collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Scorpion quickened his pace, taking two steps at a time to reach Chiyo.

His face was pale and bloodless, and his chest remained completely still.

This state...

Dead? Scorpion didn't know what expression he should make at this moment. His body was a puppet, his cheeks were a puppet, and his eyes were puppets.

Perhaps, he was never capable of making any expression.

But why do I have this strange feeling inside, a bittersweet loneliness, as if I'm the only person left in the whole world?

Everyone watched this scene in silence, and no one uttered a sound.

"Ugh..." Suddenly, a low groan broke the eerily quiet scene.

Gaara's fingers twitched slightly, then he frowned in pain.

The muffled groan came from Gaara, who had just woken up. He slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the bare stone walls around him.

"He's alive?" Sasori's expression faltered slightly as he recalled that Grandmother Chiyo had been treating this guy earlier.

Could it be...?

The thought flashed through his mind, and a cold glint appeared in Scorpion's eyes. This guy was the one who killed Grandmother Chiyo!

An obsession, like Seed buried deep within, took root, sprouted, and grew infinitely, eventually taking over Scorpion's heart.

Kill him!

All emotions were ultimately replaced by those three cold words.

The killing intent... spread out, and then erupted in an instant, transforming into a tangible storm that violently crashed into Gaara was still in a weakened state.

"Scorpion, stop!"

Ebizo's pupils contracted sharply, and as he sensed the atmosphere becoming oppressive, an ominous feeling immediately welled up in his heart.

Sasori wants to kill Gaara? This is the Mirai that my sister risked her life for, the Mirai of Sunagakure!

Ebizo struggled to sit up, a piercing pain shooting through his internal organs.

It felt as if a Nezha was churning inside his chest, and waves of intense pain assaulted his nerves, causing him to feel dizzy and as if he were about to collapse.

Ebizo was powerless to stop Sasori; he was severely injured, and whether he could survive was another matter entirely.

Of the people present, Deidara respected Sasori's will and would not interfere under any circumstances, while Black Zetsu clearly remained indifferent.

As for Tōka...

"Scorpion, is this your choice?" Tōka stood quietly ten steps away, indifferent to Gaara was alive or dead.

Tōka only wanted to know if Scorpion would go against Grandmother Chiyo's will.

The intense killing intent made the air thick and sticky. Gaara had just recovered, felt as if his chest was blocked, and his breathing became extremely difficult.

The sand wrapped itself around Gaara's body, seemingly protecting Gaara from the hostility emanating from Sasori.

Clang!!

A cold glint suddenly flashed, and everyone felt a bright light before their eyes. The light and shadow flickered, and they couldn't see the scorpion's movements clearly at all.

With a loud bang, a huge gash appeared across the entire wall, and the wall that had been holding back the Wind and Sand collapsed instantly.

"So that's how it is..." Tōka's heart remained completely unmoved, as if this outcome was already within his expectations.

Although the murderous aura emanated very realistically, Scorpion ultimately managed to control himself rationally.

Grandmother Chiyo's place in Sasori's heart can never be erased.

Gaara breathed a sigh of relief as he escaped the fierce storm of killing intent, but his expression suddenly changed as he looked around.

Aside from Ebizo breathing was disordered, and Grandmother Chiyo, who lay unconscious to the side, the other four...

They were all Akatsuki Organization members wearing Red Cloud Black Cloak; they were all enemies!

"Tōka, can you do it?" Sasori's voice suddenly rang out. He had his back to Tōka, his gaze fixed on the destroyed wall behind Gaara.

Upon hearing this, Tōka was slightly taken aback, completely failing to understand what Xie was saying.

But upon closer reflection...

"Are you really sure?" Tōka slowly wiped the smile from his lips, revealing a very serious expression.

"This is the art I've always pursued..." Scorpion slowly turned around, looking at Tōka with a cool gaze, "Or is it that you don't want it this way?"

"Hope? Of course I hope!" Tōka didn't know how long he had been waiting for this moment, and his voice trembled slightly.

Why send so many powerful figures like the Third Raikage, the Third Hokage, the Third Tsuchikage, the Fourth Mizukage, and the Hanzō the Half-God to Sasori? Wasn't it all for this moment?

With so many powerful individuals in Scorpion's hands, Tōka is worried!

How can I truly feel at ease?

Naturally, Sasori needed to follow his own will. He turned his body into Human Puppet, but the Puppet Master needed to control the puppet with Chakra Threads.

The need for Chakra Threads requires a physical body capable of generating chakra.

Sasori can only keep his own heart, which he then transforms into Regeneration Core to generate Chakra Threads.

This is also where Scorpion believes his Puppet Technique is not yet perfect, because the most perfect puppet does not need a physical body!

Scorpion wanted to pursue the ultimate in art, true eternity, but he knew he couldn't achieve it.

But Scorpion was certain that Tōka could help him complete it, because he had witnessed Tōka's true power— the Dojutsu residing in those Ice Blue eyes.

Getting closer step by step...

Scorpion's shoes scraped against the ground, making a soft, rustling sound. His steps were unhurried yet very steady.

"Scorpion, what are you trying to do?" Ebizo had just breathed a sigh of relief when Scorpion's actions made him tense again.

Upon hearing this, Scorpion paused, turning his head to look at Ebizo.

"The most perfect art is the one that lasts forever!"

One sentence encapsulates Scorpio's lifelong pursuit of art: eternity.

His body will still decay, and the Regeneration Core in his chest will decay with the passage of time; he needs true eternity.

"Are you ready?" Tōka asked, staring intently at Scorpion, who stood three steps away.

Scorpion remained silent, only staring intently at Tōka. Tōka knew that Scorpion was ready!

A ball of light condensed as Tōka raised his palm, and the Seven Nature Transformations Chakra— wind, thunder, water, fire, earth, yin, and yang—all merged into one.

Ultimately, it transformed into a jet-black sphere, only the size of a palm, yet it possessed the most powerful force— Kekkei Mōra!

Tōka placed his palm on Scorpion's chest, feeling the throbbing of the Regeneration Core.

The Regeneration Core, modified from the heart of a scorpion, possesses the consciousness of a scorpion. Tōka needs to do is extract the scorpion's fighting spirit from the Regeneration Core.

That's right, it's just combat awareness.

Because Tōka doesn't need a "puppet" with its own thoughts, he will infuse his will into the black sphere.

Scorpion retained his fighting spirit, but followed Tōka's will.

Without Regeneration Core or a physical body, powered by Tōka's chakra, the key to everything lies in the black sphere in Tōka's palm.

Something important, colorless and formless, seemed to be drawn into the black sphere from within the Regeneration Core...

The Rinnegan- Seeking Jewel of the Rinnegan, the Truth-Seeking Orb Prayer Beads of the Tenseigan.

Tōka's eyes evolved into the Eternal Tenseigan, so the Prayer Beads in his palm were also elevated.

Tōka calls it the Seven Mysteries Seal.

It appears to have color and form, but in reality, it is all an illusion. The black light, as dark as ink, extracts, absorbs, and ultimately seals away the scorpion's fighting consciousness within the Regeneration Core.

At that moment, a wisp of icy blue flame-like light shot out from Tōka's eyes and entered the Seven Mysteries Seal!

Buzz!

As a massive surge of Senjutsu Chakra poured in, fully activating the Seven Mysteries Seal, Tōka raised his hand and struck the black ball into Scorpion's body.

Human Puppet possesses self-awareness but does not decay!

The most perfect Human Puppet!

Scorpion opened his eyes again...

"Brother Sasori has found the most perfect art, so what about me..." Deidara silently asked himself.

"I won't lose, and I will find the most perfect art... Hmm!"

In the Land of Waterfalls, a colossal Waterfall cascades down from the heavens into a deep, cold valley, like a curtain of water hanging between heaven and earth.

"Pakura- nee, isn't it a bad idea to just barge in like this?" Karin glanced hesitantly at the massive Waterfall in front of Takigakure.

With only five people, how could they possibly attack such a large ninja village and capture the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki alive?

Can they really do something like this?

"We haven't been idle these past few years!" Pakura cracked his knuckles with a determined look on his face. It was time to test the results of his training!

"Shouldn't we at least make a plan?" Yakumo frowned slightly; she didn't object to a direct approach.

A forceful entry demonstrates strength and courage, but a forceful entry without any plan can only be described with one word—stupid!

Yakumo finished speaking, he turned to Haku and gave him a pleading look, hoping that Haku could help them persuade Pakura.

Bai smiled faintly and didn't rush to speak. After a pause, she finally couldn't withstand the onslaught of the three men's gazes.

But what he said made all three of them change color!

"Pakura up in the Land of Snow for so long, it'll be good for her to go."

With Bai's strong support, Pakura grinned. After being cooped up in the Land of Snow for the past few years, she felt like her body was about to rust.

Although the Land of Snow was peaceful and tranquil, and Pakura continued her training, she always felt that something was missing. It wasn't until Black Zetsu sent her a message that she realized what was missing.

Without combat, only training, one is not a true ninja.

What she lacks is a battle to test the results of her years of training! And now, Takigakure is the perfect opportunity!

"Karin and Yakumo are in charge of intelligence gathering, Kimimaro is responsible for direct confrontation. At the very least, we must prevent any of the weaklings from Takigakure from appearing in front of me!"

Pakura decided to charge in head-on, but knew that five people couldn't just blindly rush in.

After assigning tasks to the three of them, Pakura turned to Shiro with a smile, "Let's go, let's go take a look around Takigakure!"

Years of silence have completely awakened Pakura's true nature.

Deep down, she's a warmonger!

Bai still wore a gentle smile, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes, hoping... that not too many people would die later.

"Scorch Release: Blazing Blade!"

Buzz!

A burst of scorching heat erupted, and with a wave of Pakura 'Ape Arm, a large sword formed entirely of flames swept across the Waterfall.

The high temperature instantly evaporated the water, causing steam to rise wildly in a hissing motion.

The Waterfall at the entrance to Takigakure was suddenly cut in half, revealing a vacuum area. Pakura, Haku, Kimimaro saw this.

Swish swish swish!!

The three of them instantly transformed into three black shadows and soared into the sky, plunging into the entrance of Takigakure before the Waterfall's flow could close again.

Although Karin disagreed with this reckless approach to attack, having already made the decision, she naturally went all out.

Buzz!

Karin abruptly closed her eyes, raised her Sword Hand Seal, and gathered chakra into her hand seal...

Mind's Eye of the Kagura!

Once the Jutsu Formula is activated, Karin can sense any unusual activity within a radius of tens of kilometers using her chakra. She detected the familiar Seven-Tails chakra almost instantly.

I hope everything goes well!

As soon as Yakumo finished speaking, she raised her hand and drew an arc in front of her, and she and Karin mysteriously disappeared into the Forest.

Genjutsu: Magic Illusion: Five Senses!

Yakumo can perfectly manipulate her senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch to completely conceal her and Karin's figures.

The two hadn't truly disappeared; they were still in the Tree Shadow of that Big Tree in the forest, just out of sight.

Takigakure, as the strongest ninja village after the Five Great Nations, naturally possesses its own Sensory Barrier.

Moreover, the sudden intrusion of Pakura, Shiro, Kimimaro was completely undisguised, occurring at the very instant the Waterfall stopped flowing.

The alarms in Takigakure had already sounded!

Buzz! Buzz!!

A deafening roar and a crimson glow filled the air as Pakura and the others entered the passageway to Takigakure, immediately noticing the heightened security inside.

"Kimimaro, it's up to you!" Pakura had no interest in the lowly henchmen of Takigakure. Her goal was clear: to find a skilled opponent with whom she could exchange a few blows and have a proper fight.

As for capturing the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki? That's something to do after the fight!

Kimimaro moved swiftly, flashing straight to the front.

Click click click...

With a unique burst of bloodline chakra, sharp and hard Bone Spur pierced through his skin, and dozens of bones grew from Kimimaro's body.

In close-quarters combat, he excels in both offense and defense; his strongest spear is also his strongest shield!

Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch!