You are the Wind, I am the Sand

The Third Kazekage, known as the strongest Kazekage while alive, wielded Magnet Release with such vivid mastery that it countered the specialty of eighty percent of ninjas—throwing techniques!

Before him, all metal projectiles were rendered completely ineffective.

The Third Hokage's signature trick, the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, was nothing but a joke in the face of Magnet Release.

Likewise, Magnet Release also countered sword skills; any metal blade used would be subject to its influence.

Hidden within Hiruko, Sasori was slightly taken aback by Baiyu's words and asked, "Where did you get that information? Ever since I completed this perfect work of art, practically no one has seen it."

Everyone who had seen it was already dead.

That was just how domineering he was!

Baiyu let out a cold snort, signaling his disdain.

Sasori of the Red Sands, a mad genius who pursued the art of puppetry, even went so far as to turn himself into a puppet.

Eternal life.

This was the lifelong pursuit of this legendary puppeteer!

Sasori had loved the art of puppetry since he was a child and possessed immense talent in the field, hailed as the strongest puppeteer in the history of Sunagakure.

The puppets he crafted were revered as treasures by later generations.

Techniques that had been played out were treated as secret arts by others; having been active in the ninja world since before the Third Great Ninja War, Sasori remained young even now.

His appearance was forever frozen at the age of sixteen or seventeen.

"Kazekage Puppet!"

A scroll popped out from Hiruko and landed on the ground, releasing a corpse from within.

A tattered windbreaker draped over the skeletal frame, its mouth opening and closing—a puppet completely under Sasori's control.

Judging by its features, the doll still bore a resemblance to the Third Kazekage, hovering in mid-air under the influence of Magnet Release.

"Magnet Release, what a nuisance!"

Baiyu's brows furrowed tightly. If he used his sword, it would be affected by the Magnet Release, causing his sword skills to distort and their power to be greatly diminished.

"A wooden sword could counteract it, but a wooden sword isn't sturdy enough to be truly effective..."

Baiyu pondered. A wooden blade would not be controlled by the Iron Sand's magnetism, but it could not block the Iron Sand's attacks.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"

The Third Kazekage puppet flew into the sky, and countless iron sand particles rained down, launching a direct assault.

An iron rain descended from the heavens, leaving nowhere to hide; he had no choice but to take it head-on.

"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"

Baiyu unleashed a common C-rank ninjutsu, one he had stolen under the gaze of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. His hand seals were quite clumsy, but at least he could complete the technique perfectly.

Countless iron sand particles struck the earthen wall, and in that moment, Baiyu felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

He had originally intended to use his sword skills to deflect the iron sand, but all of these particles were infused with magnetic chakra, meaning any blade or iron weapon would be drawn toward them.

Just as he had approached, Baiyu felt a rapid vibration coming from the scabbard at his waist.

"Magnet Release..."

"How does one counter Magnet Release!"

Baiyu had never considered this question before, yet now it had become his greatest dilemma.

Relying on unfamiliar ninjutsu, he dodged the Third Kazekage's attacks.

Deep in his mind, he desperately searched for a countermeasure.

If things continued this way, let alone protecting Miroku and her party, even he might not be able to escape.

His chakra was being consumed frantically, yet the situation was steadily worsening.

What should I do? Is it possible that on my first mission leading a team, I have to abandon the mission?

Encountering two S-rank missing-nin, it was too difficult for him and Itachi to protect a group of people with only their current strength.

Death leads to life...

A flash of inspiration...

Baiyu suddenly realized whether he had been far too cautious all along.

Reflecting upon himself, his Sword Heart re-emerged!

A free and unfettered wanderer would never concern himself with the consequences of his actions, no matter what he did.

Everything would be decided by the sword.

Baiyu thought about how he had even carefully prepared for an entire day for this mission.

Yet when faced with a powerful enemy, he was still helpless.

A wanderer!

He possessed endless confidence!

Living toward death!

Abandoning the release of ninjutsu, Baiyu stood directly below, quietly watching the enemy ahead.

"What, no plans to resist?"

A distorted voice emerged from within Hiruko, and Sasori chuckled.

The Uchiha were nothing special; he had heard that Orochimaru had an arm severed by an Uchiha. Judging by the way the two had greeted each other earlier, Orochimaru must have been cut down by such a weakling.

Sasori's estimation of Orochimaru dropped a few more notches.

What a piece of trash.

Sasori did not understand why Zero had brought Orochimaru into the organization; in his view, it was completely unnecessary.

The Akatsuki organization only had ten spots for core members, and all of them required elite individuals.

Sasori had always felt uncomfortable being in the same organization as a disgusting, trashy creature like Orochimaru.

"Since you don't intend to resist, for the sake of you severing Orochimaru's arm, I'll give you a quick death!"

Sasori spoke directly, while chakra gradually gathered on the Third Kazekage.

"Magnet Release Form Seven: Iron Sand World Method."

The strongest state of the Third Kazekage, maximizing the density of the Iron Sand for the attack; every strike was now several times more powerful than before.

With another Iron Sand Drizzle, endless projectiles descended from the sky.

Baiyu rested his hands lightly at his waist and closed his eyes. The sensation of a wooden longsword and a clear stream of energy surged through his entire body.

Wind Trace!

Is this what the wind is?

Baiyu closed his eyes, yet he seemed to see everything; countless clear, white-traced paths of light streaked across his vision.

These traces felt as if, with a single light swing, he could divert them.

These!

They were all under his control, under the control of the sword in his hand!

"Wind Trace... I see the trajectory of the wind. How can one see the wind amidst the stillness? So, Wind Taming... refers to the state revealed when facing an enemy's attack. Every attack stirs the surrounding air—these are the wind."

"Wind Taming Sword Technique—Wind Wall!"

The trajectories born from unnatural wind were clearly visible within Baiyu's "sight."

Opening his eyes again, as the Iron Sand pellets approached, the Wind Traces drew nearer.

Even with his eyes open, he could still clearly see the white traces surging around the Iron Sand.

Baiyu made a light motion, drawing the wooden sword and swinging it slightly in front of him.

"Wind Wall!"

A wall of wind appeared, roughly two meters in height and width, just enough to block Baiyu's body.

All the Iron Sand collided with the wind wall and was sent flying; this wall of wind directly defied the laws of physics for the Iron Sand.

Under the control of the surrounding Wind Traces, it scattered in all directions.

"Yasuo's Wind Wall... so that's how it works!"

By controlling the Wind Traces born from all projectile attacks, he could alter their trajectories and isolate the flow of air!

Most techniques would also be blocked by the wind wall, unable to strike Baiyu.

He had the Wind Trace, and he had the Wind Wall.

Baiyu felt that his body's speed should be even faster...

As impulsive as ever, with the wooden sword in hand, he was invincible.

"Hasagi..."

Baiyu continued to swing his blade along the Wind Traces; where the tip pointed, a gale would follow.

A massive gust of wind leaped from the tip of his blade, throwing the entire world into chaos.

As the gale approached the Third Kazekage, it gradually formed a tornado, sealing him within it.

"Wind, what a beautiful creation."

Baiyu looked at his masterpiece, feeling very satisfied.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Funeral!"

Sasori let out a low cry, and a massive black wall surged from the Kazekage, the immense Iron Sand gradually halting the storm.

"Too late."

The corners of Baiyu's mouth curled; Sasori's reaction was swift, but once the Third Kazekage puppet made contact with the wind tornado, it was already too late.

"Sorye geidon!"