Meanwhile, Pakura and Chiyo landed on the ground.
Chiyo gazed at Sasori's young face, momentarily dazed.
She knew that face all too well. It had looked the same when she was younger, before Sasori defected.
Sasori still looked exactly as he had back then. He hadn't changed at all.
"Sasori, how did you..."
Sasori snorted. "What? So moved to see your favorite grandson again that you can't speak?"
Chiyo opened her mouth, her expression conflicted.
Standing beside her, Pakura felt Elder Chiyo's breathing quicken slightly.
The Hidden Sand Village's three squads at Sea Mountain Cliff, more than a hundred shinobi in all, had fully assembled and formed a perimeter.
They did not rush in. Some prepared long-range Wind Release techniques, while others readied shuriken and kunai.
Aikawa stood at the front. Blood still seeped from the wound on his arm, but the hand gripping his weapon did not tremble.
Pakura snapped, "Deidara! Sasori! Surrender! You're not getting away today!"
Chiyo's gaze moved from Sasori's face to the Third Kazekage Puppet beneath his feet.
Clarity quickly returned to her eyes.
"Sasori, surrender. We have you surrounded."
Sasori gave a soft laugh. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, old hag?"
Beside him, Deidara muttered, "Sasori, I'm out of Explosive Clay. How are we supposed to fight?"
Sasori glanced at Deidara, then surveyed the encirclement.
The Hidden Sand Village had a clear advantage in numbers. And judging by how quickly Pakura had pursued them, she held an overwhelming advantage in aerial mobility too.
Alone, Sasori was confident he could escape this encirclement. But breaking through head-on with a bomb-less Deidara in tow would be difficult.
Looks like today's losses won't be small.
Without a word, Sasori took out a scroll and released its seal.
At the same time, he tore open the