Sun Slash, Stop Arguing, It's Meaningless!

"The Sunagakure agrees to kill Sasori of the Red Sands?"

Yamanaka Inoichi quickly realized what was happening.

"Right."

Tsunade nodded, making her presence known.

She couldn't just hide behind Kyohiko; she wasn't without her own ideas.

She tapped the table lightly.

"If Sunagakure were to regain Sasori of the Red Sands, or obtain his research, it might not be a good thing for us. Our involvement would allow us to gather more information."

In ninja warfare, intelligence is of paramount importance.

And the Sasori of the Red Sands.

Human Puppet is taboo and violates human ethics, yet it has indeed brought puppetry technology to its ultimate level.

It must be admitted that he was the most talented puppeteer in Sunagakure.

If we can understand Sasori of the Red Sands's puppetry techniques, we will have a strong foundation when facing other puppeteers in Sunagakure in the future.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.

also.

"The application of puppet prosthetics in the medical field is sufficient proof of the effectiveness of Puppet Technique. As a genius puppeteer, Scorpion's skills are of great help to us."

"We had the opportunity to make contact, and they even approached us first. Killing Scorpion would be a favor we can do for them, so why should we refuse?"

When Tsunade said this, her gaze fell on Utatane Koharu.

As Medical Ninja, Utatane Koharu has a better understanding of the medical applications of Puppet Technique than the others.

Utatane Koharu.

"I believe assisting in the scorpion hunt is the right thing to do, provided we can obtain some of the research results."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had nothing to say about this.

Mitokado Homura remained completely calm, sitting motionless to the side, as if he were lost in thought.

"No problem, Kyohiko will handle it."

Tsunade looked at Kyohiko.

With the Amber Jutsu combined with the Flying Thunder God, sealing a puppet and silently transferring it via the Flying Thunder God is incredibly easy. Moreover, Kyohiko's powerful senses can also perceive the secrets of Sasori's Puppet Technique.

The two are combined.

It's almost equivalent to being able to see through the secrets of the Scorpion Puppet Technique.

Everyone looked at Kyohiko.

Kyohiko nodded slightly, then looked at Hizashi: "Hizashi- senpai, I will need your help then."

"Ready to serve at any time."

Hizashi Hyuga nodded.

Previously, Kyohiko had reminded everyone that the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could not only be used in conjunction with Gentle Fist, but could also be used in conjunction with "observing Chakra flow" to understand the opponent's Ninjutsu techniques.

Puppet Technique can also be detected by the Byakugan.

Tsunade nodded slightly and said, "So, does anyone have any further comments?"

It seems like everyone is being asked...

In reality, the question was directed at the three advisors.

Mitokado Homura chuckled and said, "Our role as advisors is more about questioning and upholding Konoha's overall direction to prevent mistakes. It's not that we have any issues with you, and we have no objections to the affairs of Sunagakure."

After he finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu nodded silently.

Having said all that, what else can they say?

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku, feeling a sense of helplessness.

He understood.

From this day forward, these three major families will likely completely side with Tsunade and Kyohiko.

although...

This might not be a bad thing for the village, but for him personally, it left him with a sense of loss.

"In that case, Kyohiko, I'm entrusting the operation against Sasori of the Red Sands to your Anbu. You must take Sasori of the Red Sands down."

"Yes!"

The meeting has adjourned.

As everyone left the conference room, the three advisors went outside and reached a secluded corner. Mitokado Homura slowed down and landed next to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Old friend, you got ripped off, didn't you?"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi silent.

"The young people's playing style and strategies lack vigor and confidence. In comparison, we grew up in a special era, and our methods and policies tended to be more conservative."

Mitokado Homura said earnestly, "Stop arguing, it's pointless! We old folks, as long as we help out until the very end, we'll have lived up to our Teacher's expectations."

"Yan, you're quite philosophical about it!"

Utatane Koharu.

She had noticed something amiss with her old friend's attitude in the meeting room, and now it seemed to be true; Mitokado Homura was showing signs of favoring Tsunade and Kyohiko.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer immediately.

Mitokado Homura remained silent for a few seconds.

"I'm not greedy for power; I just suddenly realized that each generation has its own responsibilities. We had questioned Kyohiko's decisions before, but in the end, it all proved that his ideas were quite reasonable and farsighted."

Ultimately, it all comes down to strength!

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

He was not a fool, and naturally understood the logic behind Kyohiko and Tsunade's actions.

Strength determines everything!

The current Konoha is virtually fearless against any other ninja village in the entire Shinobi World, so it has no need to be subservient.

only...

"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind; being too sharp and ostentatious is not necessarily a good thing for the Konoha. You know me; I'm not greedy for power, but I want to pour cold water on everyone when they're all so full of vigor."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, speaking his heart.

Mitokado Homura was speechless for a moment.

learn?

Of course he understands.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was telling the truth, but to say he had no ulterior motives would be pure self-deception.

but.

That's the logic.

While everyone is eager to move forward, there still needs to be someone to help everyone think more calmly and strategically about the big picture. Otherwise, if thinking gets too heated, decisions may be made that are detrimental to future development.

"Let's go. There's a ton of stuff going on at the Ninja Academy right now; we can't afford to catch our breath!"

Mitokado Homura sighed, "These guys are really trying to work us old folks to death!"

I watched my old friend leave.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a deep sense of loss. He had a vague feeling that his old friend's mindset had changed and that he was gradually drifting away from them.

Utatane Koharu, remained silent for a few seconds.

Then, with some worry, she said, "Hiruzen, you have to hold on! You can't abandon our resolve!"

You don't need to worry about me.

Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly, "My Teacher entrusted Konoha to me, so I must stand firm until the very end."

He wasn't worried about Tsunade.

Although Tsunade is radical, she still possesses a great deal of rationality.

Kyohiko is quite different!

Over the years, his talent has been too great, his growth too rapid, and he has developed an invincible mind, looking down on everything in the world. Even Madara cannot put too much pressure on this kid, who remains calm and confident.

A person who lacks reverence is more dangerous than Orochimaru!

What's frightening is that once Tsunade down, the next Hokage will almost certainly be Kyohiko.

Among the new generation of ninjas, from top to bottom, no one can compare to Kyohiko.

Once Kyohiko takes office, it will be a huge test for both Konoha and the Shinobi World!

"Kyohiko."

"Senior, let's discuss this at the Anbu base."

"Good."

Flying Thunder God.

A moment later, Hizashi Awakening and found himself in the dimly lit base.

Lights, desk, documents.

Hizashi breathed a sigh of relief, then laughed, "This technique is really convenient!"

"If you want to learn it, the original version might be very difficult. But with the lesser Flying Raijin Formation Technique, you can study and practice it, and then you'll still have a chance to master it."

Kyohiko said.

Although he hadn't studied the Flying Raijin Formation Technique for a long time, he had basically mastered it thoroughly before, and now he had even reached the "Grandmaster" level.

However.

He learned that it was utterly meaningless.

The theoretical basis of the Flying Raijin Formation is that several people each perform different duties to reduce the difficulty of use, and then cooperate to release the Flying Thunder God.

The reasoning is simple.

The difficulty lies in...

Everyone works in perfect harmony to form the Flying Raijin Formation.

Theoretically, using Shadow Clone in conjunction with the main body is the best solution, but if a person can use a clone to directly coordinate the Flying Raijin Formation, they can also perform the Flying Thunder God on their own, requiring only about the same amount of preparation as when Kyohiko was "beginning" the game.

Unlike the Hyuga Clan.

They can see how each other uses their Chakra, and perhaps they have some potential in this area.

Thinking of this, Kyohiko mentioned it briefly.

"The Flying Raijin Formation, can our family learn that too?"

I'm also very interested in the Hizashi.

He definitely wanted to learn the Flying Raijin Formation!

"You can learn it. The effect of this technique is that the more Konoha Ninja learn, the better."

Kyohiko sat down and gestured for Hizashi to sit down on a chair to the side.

He wasn't as reserved on his end.

Aside from the desk and documents being relatively formal, everything else is very casual; whatever makes you comfortable is what matters.

Then, Kyohiko took out the list and glanced at it.

"Kakashi Hatake, Hizashi- senpai, Shibi Aburame- senpai, and me too, what do you think?"

"No problem."

Hizashi nodded.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Previously, Hizashi was somewhat worried that Kyohiko might be too aggressive in his selection of personnel, but Kakashi and Shibi Aburame —the latter being Jonin, and the former, although a Special Jōnin —...

Everyone knows that Kakashi now possesses the strength and overall qualities expected of Jonin; what he lacks is seniority, experience, and a proper title.

Such a combination, if it were to be paid for, would definitely require an S-rank mission to secure.

If there are no problems, we'll leave tomorrow.

"Good."

North of the Land of Wind, on the border of the Land of Birds.

Sasori of the Red Sands suddenly stopped, looked around, and then said calmly, "Come out! I've already seen you."

The darkness remained still and quiet.

Scorpion sneered and continued walking forward.

Several seconds passed.

Boom!

A burst of Kakkō shot into the sky, and inside the trap, a figure burned fiercely before quickly collapsing.

"It's done!"

One person stood up.

The ninja hiding behind him narrowed his eyes and exclaimed in alarm, "Watch out!"

"What?"

Before he could react, a figure dressed in a gray robe sprang out of the ground.

He wanted to jump away.

The next moment, a pair of hands grabbed him from the ground.

Then--

Laugh!

Blood splattered all around.

The spray of hot blood jolted the ambushing comrades behind them awake, who fled in terror, preparing to detonate signal flares as they ran.

However.

He had only run a few meters when his body became immobile. His hand was already on the fuse, but he could no longer move it. He even slowly released the signal flare and threw it to the ground.

No! No!!

He was terrified.

this...

How could that be!

How can such powerful Puppet Technique exist in the world, capable of directly controlling living people?

His head turned stiffly.

The figure from before reappeared in the tree to the side.

Sasori of the Red Sands looked down at him from the tree, his gaze devoid of any emotion. He manipulated two fingers, and as his fingers trembled, Chakra Threads extended, causing the people below to begin to dance wildly.

"A comical performance."

He muttered, "What do you think Puppet Technique is? My grandmother could easily control living people like that, let alone me."

Immediately, the other person reached their hands towards their head.

"No! Please!"

but...

Crack!

Pull hard with both hands!

The man's neck was snapped by his own hands, which then gripped his throat tightly.

Half a minute later, Sasori of the Red Sands withdrew his Chakra.

"Boring!"

"You don't even qualify to be part of my collection."

His fingers trembled, and the three puppets that had been separated returned to his side, all unharmed.

but.

Just as Scorpion was about to leave.

"Sasori of the Red Sands, you're quite good."

"Um?"

Scorpion stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the distance behind him.

A person emerged from behind the trees, draped in a long black robe, looking quite mysterious.

Sasori of the Red Sands squinted.

This guy appeared silently; he didn't even realize how close the other person was until the other person spoke.

A dozen or so steps!

This is a very sensitive distance for a puppeteer.

It has a history!

He had his hands in his pockets, appearing nonchalant, but in reality, his hands were already on the puppet scroll. If the other party got any closer, Scorpion's treasure would be unleashed.

Sasori of the Red Sands remained calm.

"Who are you?"

"Don't get agitated. Perhaps we need to discuss this elsewhere. After all, this is their territory. What do you think?"

The other person chuckled softly.

The scorpion squinted.

Let's go somewhere else?

He smiled and said, "Sure, I'll find a place. If you want to chat, just come along."

Sasori of the Red Sands then vanished in Body Flicker Technique.

The hooded ninja disappeared into the trees the next moment.

A few minutes later.

Outside a Cave, the Sasori of the Red Sands stopped.

Ahead lies a forest, and behind it, bare rocky cliffs; the terrain is clearly defined.

The scorpion stopped in its tracks.

A few seconds later.

"Are you testing the limits of my abilities? I appreciate your caution, but I hope you can sense my goodwill; I truly have no intention of harming you."

"Then, first of all, shouldn't you take off your hood so we can communicate frankly?"

"Sure, but I suggest you take the scroll off your hand too. I don't want your puppet to emerge from behind me at any moment. Although I'm not afraid, it would damage our friendship. What do you say?"

The other person chuckled softly.

What kind of friendship do we have?

Scorpion sneered inwardly.

He was simply curious about what kind of being the other was, possessing both Earth Style and Wood Release abilities.

By the way--

If he could, he would like to capture the other party, study them, and turn them into his new collection.

Wood Release...

It may not be powerful enough, but it is certainly very special.

He unrolled the scroll and took it out of his pocket.

At the same time, the other person also took off their hood, revealing their face underneath.

Half of its body is white, and the other half is completely black. It has a pitcher plant-like structure on its head.

Scorpion suddenly couldn't hold back any longer.

What strange creature?

"Are you a product of Ninjutsu research? What a laughable outfit. I think at least your master should be the one talking to me, right?"

This kind of appearance doesn't resemble that of a normal person at all.

The scorpion tries to provoke the other party.

However.

Jue simply chuckled softly.

"I am indeed a product of Ninjutsu, and you should have heard of the person behind me. If you'd like to join us, I'd certainly be happy to introduce you."

"Oh?"

The scorpion's fingers, which were about to launch an attack, suddenly stopped.

He'd heard of the person behind it all?

"If you're going to make me solve a riddle, I'm probably not interested."

"I represent the will of Madara."

Jue said calmly.

Scorpion paused for a moment, then grinned. "If you're not kidding, I really am very interested in him!"

Madara Uchiha.

How many years ago was that person?

Can just anyone impersonate him? Even if it really were Madara Uchiha, he would definitely be very old by now.

He grinned and said, "Madara Uchiha must be very old, right? I can make him eternal, so he can experience eternal life and eternal art!"

"If you can do it, I doubt he'll mind, since he loves a challenge."

Jue chuckled softly.

Geniuses and experts always have their tempers, and he had already anticipated that. Besides, this wasn't the first genius ninja he had encountered recently.

Fortunately, he knew how to handle it.

Simply mentioning topics that are sensitive to the other person can easily provoke them, for example--

"Furthermore, what you consider eternity is worthless in the eyes of true power, as laughable as a pile of toys."

"Oh?"

Sasori of the Red Sands raised his head, his eyes filled with intense killing intent. "If your goal was to provoke me, you've succeeded. I will kill you and make you part of my collection!"

You don't have that ability.

He gave a curt reply.

The next moment, Chakra Threads manipulated Ninja Tools, surrounding him.

In an instant, Jue had vanished from the spot.

Immediately afterward, trees grew from beneath the scorpion's feet, completely sealing him off.

At the same time, the scorpion also transformed into a puppet.

The real him had been lying in wait for a long time, but he did not launch any further attacks. After initially using Wood Release to restrict the puppet, he appeared on a tree.

Although Scorpion was in a lurking state, Absolute's teleportation speed still greatly surprised him.

Wow, so fast!

With such astonishing speed, it would be difficult for him to use the puppet to capture his opponent, and...

Wood Release.

Madara Uchiha back then didn't know Wood Release at all.

Or is it...?

That guy somehow obtained Hashirama Senju's cells and used them to research and create this thing?

It's not impossible.

Is Madara really still alive?

"Alright, I'm not good at fighting. If you want to fight, I probably can't oblige. But I know what you care about. Don't you want your puppet to become stronger?"

Do you have a solution?

Scorpion's gaze sharpened.

Zetsu nodded slightly. "Of course, otherwise why would I come to you? I also know that Sunagakure is currently trying to deal with you, after all, your existence has greatly damaged their reputation."

"A bunch of idiots."

Scorpion didn't take them seriously at all.

Even now, Rasa possesses "Magnet Release," which is theoretically very effective against Puppet Technique.

However, for Sasori, the so-called Magnet Release is effective against him...

He wasn't afraid at all.

The death of the Third Kazekage once caused Sasori of the Red Sands to feel regret.

The passing of this strongest Kazekage meant he would never have the chance to verify whether Magnet Release or his Puppet Technique was more powerful.

"As far as I know, Rasa recently went to the Land of Fire."

Land of Fire...

Suddenly, that figure flashed through Scorpion's mind.

That was the first time he felt death and pressure!