Tenseigan Puppet, Sasori's Fear

"Heh, why not try it and find out?"

Sasori also sensed that something was wrong, but he could not show it.

What unsettled him even more was that massive "Patrick Star" in the sky just moments ago.

It was highly likely that Deidara, who had entered Sunagakure alone to hunt for Hyuga Chiba, had already met with disaster.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"

Quickly snapping back to his senses, Sasori took the initiative to manipulate the Third Kazekage Puppet, generating a massive amount of iron sand spikes that pierced toward Rasa like a barrier.

At the same time, he commanded his remaining Human Puppets to launch a joint assault on the latter.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Suddenly, a powerful repulsive force blasted all the iron sand spikes and Human Puppets away.

A youth with Blue Eyes had appeared out of nowhere, hovering in the air before Rasa.

"Lord Chiba?"

Rasa was somewhat surprised.

He did not fear Sasori's previous attacks, but he had not expected Chiba to appear before him.

Furthermore—

Such incredible speed!

Did he use the Flying Thunder God Technique?

Having lived through the Third Shinobi World War, Rasa knew well how the Yellow Flash of Konoha had deeply impacted every battlefield back then.

With Hyuga Chiba possessing the Tenseigan and pairing it with the Flying Thunder God Technique, he would only be more terrifying.

This only solidified Rasa's resolve to drag other villages into the fray.

His own misfortune was painful, certainly, but if others were to suffer alongside him, it would at least bring him some pleasure.

"So you are the Hyuga Chiba who awakened the Tenseigan?"

Across from him, Sasori's heart sank.

That had been one of his most powerful offensives, yet it had been deflected by that blue-eyed youth using the same "Shinra Tensei" as Pain?

Did this not mean that if a battle broke out, he would find it nearly impossible to harm the latter?

"Sasori, your talent for puppetry is impressive; from now on, you will work for me."

Chiba looked at the highly vigilant Sasori and spoke directly.

"Hmph, don't count on it!"

Sasori snorted coldly, preparing to command the Third Kazekage Puppet and his other Human Puppets to continue their assault on Chiba.

Even if he were truly no match for the youth, he would never submit to him.

"In that case, let me show you my—Tenseigan Puppet."

Chiba smiled indifferently, then raised his hand and released a green Chakra Orb.

The orb flew at high speed and entered the Internal Body of the Third Kazekage Puppet.

"Nani?"

As the Chakra Orb entered, all the chakra threads Sasori used to control the Third Kazekage Puppet snapped on their own.

Immediately after, he watched in disbelief as the Third Kazekage Puppet turned around on its own. Its face, which should have been fixed, regained expressions, and its eyes seemed to become more vivid.

It was as if it were rapidly transforming from a puppet into a living person.

Although the Third Kazekage Puppet remained a puppet in the end, this scene—something he had never seen or even imagined—dealt a massive blow to Sasori's worldview.

"Sasori, your greatest mistake was turning yourself into a Human Puppet and appearing before me."

Seeing Sasori's shock, Chiba condensed another Chakra Orb in his left hand.

"No!"

At that moment, as if realizing something, Sasori hurriedly commanded his remaining Human Puppets to intercept Chiba from all directions.

He himself fled, disregarding everything else.

Otherwise, something he considered far more terrifying than death might happen to him.

"From the moment you arrived here, your future was already sealed. Go!"

Chiba shook his head, and the Chakra Orb in his hand flew out rapidly. After dodging all the obstructions from the Human Puppets, it flew into the fleeing Sasori's Internal Body.

"Damn it!"

All of Sasori's movements came to an abrupt halt, and his body involuntarily turned back around to face Chiba.

His thoughts also seemed to be undergoing some kind of change, silently and imperceptibly, that filled him with dread.

"What exactly did you do to me? What kind of ability is this?"

At this moment, Sasori's heart was filled with shock, and perhaps even—fear.

After all, even Pain, who possessed the Rinnegan, could at most only bring about his death.

But Hyuga Chiba, possessing the Tenseigan, was actually capable of controlling his body and influencing his thoughts?

"I have already said it: I am simply refining the Human Puppets you created, yourself included, into Tenseigan Puppets that belong to me."

Seeing this, Chiba continued in a tone that was indifferent yet incomparably cruel: "If you want to blame someone, blame the fact that your puppet talent is no match for the Tenseigan, and blame yourself for turning into a Human Puppet."

"After all, I have no way to directly turn a living person into a Tenseigan Puppet."

"----" Hearing this, Sasori fell into complete silence, and it was impossible to know what he was thinking in his heart.

"What a terrifying ability." Rasa, who had been watching the entire time, could not help but feel a chill in his heart: "In front of Lord Chiba, all puppets will become his assets."

"For everyone who excels in puppetry, including Elder Chiyo and Sasori, Lord Chiba, who possesses the Tenseigan, is their absolute natural enemy."

"Brother Sasori's Human Puppets, and even he himself, have been turned into these Tenseigan Puppets by Chiba and are being controlled by him?" Deidara, who had chased over from the rear, had a look of utter disbelief on his face.

He finally understood the meaning behind what Hyuga Chiba had said earlier about making Brother Sasori submit being easier than making him submit himself.

"It's just----isn't this a bit too cruel for Brother Sasori?"

In the gaze Deidara cast toward Sasori, a few traces of sympathy could not help but emerge.

This so-called Tenseigan Puppet not only meant that Sasori's body, but even his thoughts, no longer belonged to him.

It also ruthlessly trampled the puppetry that Sasori had always taken such pride in underfoot.

"Clap, clap!"

Just then, the sound of applause rang out, and Obito's figure appeared amidst a distortion of space, praising Hyuga Chiba: "Truly spectacular."

"As expected of the Tenseigan, which stands on the same level as the Rinnegan; to think it could even accomplish something like this."

"But your existence will affect a great plan, so today, I must make you disappear from this world and let your Tenseigan be used by us."

"Tobi?" Deidara looked at Obito in surprise: "You've already shaken off those Konoha ninja?"

"Also, what did you just say?"

"Your so-called great plan shouldn't be the same as the Akatsuki organization's plan, right?"

"Hmph!" Sasori seemed to briefly snap back to reality due to Obito's appearance, and he let out a cold snort, not particularly surprised: "You joining the Akatsuki organization really did have some sort of motive."

"That foolish act from before was just your disguise."

"My apologies, Senior Sasori, Senior Deidara." Obito spoke with a voice devoid of any emotion: "Whether voluntary or not, from the moment you defected, you already invited your own deaths."

"And it is better for my identity to remain hidden for the time being."

"So, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, along with Hyuga Chiba and that Rasa over there, to all disappear together."