Battle Against Sasori

(This is the author's note written at Chapter 124. Those who don't like me putting it in the main text can scroll past it. Thank you for your support until now.

This is simply what I like. Whether it breaks immersion is up to each individual. I hope you find even more excellent books.

Regarding Sasori's strength, this is purely Josuke's personal opinion, not the author's or official canon. If you say I'm talking nonsense, can I say you didn't read carefully either?)

The shell was shattered by Josuke and Sakura's combined attack.

Although it could be repaired, it still affected Sasori's attacks.

Sasori stepped out from the puppet shell.

He casually took off the Akatsuki Organization cloak.

Holy crap.

Josuke's heart skipped a beat. Once the clothes came off, he was done for.

Sasori's body had already been modified into a puppet body, but Josuke couldn't understand it. If Sasori had been modified, why had he still been stabbed to death by two blades?

Damn it~

Who cared about that?

Josuke unleashed the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Sasori summoned several more puppet ninjas. They came in all shapes and forms, but without exception, they had all been powerful figures in life.

Each of Josuke's clones formed a Rasengan. At Josuke's command, both the clones and the original rushed at Sasori.

Sasori had the Third Kazekage puppet manipulate Iron Sand.

The Iron Sand struck Josuke's clones with the precision of homing missiles.

The other puppets did not remain idle either. Puppets and clones clashed, leaving both sides battered, while Josuke's Rasengan destroyed two puppets.

"Amnos."

Josuke flashed back behind him.

Sasori's defense was flawless, and he could not find a single opening. Only by destroying Sasori's puppets could he threaten Sasori's true body.

The fact that he had managed to force Sasori to reveal his true form earlier had to be because Sasori had underestimated him.

He had also used up two-thirds of his chakra. Another two or three Lightning Cutters, and he would be spent too.

Either end this quickly, or make a tactical retreat to the rear—otherwise known as running away.

But a true hero would never flee in the middle of battle~

"Sakura, I'll leave the rest to you for now."

Sakura nodded.

"Josuke, you should rest too. Oh, and be careful of the poison in Sasori's puppets."

At this moment, your beloved Chiyo stepped forward as well.

Josuke's performance just now had truly amazed her. Such a dazzling display—so this was a ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Talent after talent emerged there, with stars gathered in abundance.

It would be a lie to say she was not envious.

But now was not the time to think about such things. Chiyo released her own puppets, and Sasori gave a slight start. They were his parents...

Sasori sneered.

He controlled the Third Kazekage.

He used Magnet Release: Sand Iron Wall.

Using Iron Sand, he created a sturdy wall to block the enemy's attacks.

Magnet Release: Sand Iron Cylinder.

Using Iron Sand, he created cylinders that slammed fiercely into his opponents.

The Sand Iron Cylinder.

It flew toward Sakura. Sakura dodged it, but the Sand Iron Cylinder turned around like a homing missile and charged at her again.

From the rear, Josuke activated his Curse Mark.

Using the Curse Mark, he unleashed Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet. (Fine, I didn't make this one up, but I padded out a lot of words here before and noticed it, so I should make up for it, okay.)

Several dragon-headed flames slammed into the Sand Iron Cylinder, setting off a series of booming explosions.

Scorched by the Dragon Flame Bullet's intense heat, the Sand Iron Cylinder changed from a solid object into red liquid.

The solid Iron Sand turned into liquid. Anyone who had studied chemistry would know that, hehe.

Sasori was shocked. Was it broken that easily?

But before he could think any further, several more Dragon Flame Bullets struck the Sand Iron Wall. Another huge explosion rang out, tearing a massive hole through the middle of the sturdy Iron Sand wall.

Sakura's Chakra Enhanced Strength punch followed immediately after.

This was the moment she had been waiting for!!

The Third Kazekage's hands transformed into blades and stabbed toward Sakura. Die!!

Die!

What?

Sakura's heart jolted. She had actually been outplayed like this.

"Clang!"

The Kazekage puppet's attack was blocked by one of Chiyo's puppets. Chiyo joined the battle.

Sasori narrowed his eyes. It seemed he had no choice but to get serious.

Several scrolls behind him spread across the ground.

Hundreds of puppets of varying appearances emerged behind Sasori.

"Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets."

While in his human-puppet form, Sasori used scrolls to summon hundreds of puppets clad in long red robes to join the battle. Each puppet wielded a different weapon, and all of their movements were controlled by chakra threads emitted from the "regeneration core."

So strong.

But, well, I was stronger.

Josuke smiled.

Just as he had guessed, Sasori's strength was at most that of an elite jonin plus.

There was definitely a lot of inflation in that S-rank rating.

If Sasori could call for reinforcements, then Josuke could too.

He pressed one hand to the ground, and a summoning array appeared.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Poof.

An orange toad appeared before him.

"Huh?"

Gamakichi scratched his head.

"Why did you summon me?"

Gamakichi scratched his head. Just moments ago, he had been enjoying a delicious insect feast with his good brother, Toad Dragon, when Josuke suddenly summoned him.

Josuke scratched his head awkwardly and pointed toward Sakura and Chiyo, who were fighting Sasori ahead.

"Can you use Water Release: Iron Cannonball?"

Gamakichi thought for a moment.

"Yeah, but it's nowhere near as powerful as my dad's."

Josuke: ...

It should still work. No problem.

"It's fine, it's fine. Can you try firing at those puppets?"

Gamakichi nodded and formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Iron Cannonball!"

A Water Release: Iron Cannonball much smaller than Bunta's flew toward the densest cluster of puppets.

It directly blew apart several puppets.

"Nice one, Gamakichi!!"

Josuke nearly jumped for joy.

"Ahem. You and I can stay here and use long-range ninjutsu to blow up the puppets. What do you think?"

"No problem, Josuke. Just be quick, okay? I still need to go home and eat."

Josuke was speechless.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Water Release: Iron Cannonball!"

Several Great Fireballs and Iron Cannonballs flew into the puppet horde, blasting the puppets to pieces.

On the front line, the pressure was greatly reduced thanks to Josuke's support from the rear.

On top of that, Chiyo had pinned down Sasori's trump card, the Third Kazekage.

Sasori was steadily being forced back.

Defeat seemed inevitable.

At that moment, Sasori suddenly revealed an opening.

Chiyo seized the chance and slashed at the Kazekage puppet.

The puppet could not evade in time, and one of its arms was severed.

Chiyo pressed her advantage, but who would have thought?

A fodder puppet nearby fired a hidden projectile.

"Pfft."

It struck Chiyo's right shoulder.

"You fell for it."

Sasori said coldly. His hidden projectile was coated in deadly poison. Without his antidote, it would mean death or severe injury.

"Granny Chiyo!!"

Sakura cried out anxiously.

After dealing with the troublesome puppet, Sakura hurried to Chiyo's side and took out the antidote in her hand.

But who would have thought?

Magnet Release: Sand Iron Cylinder!!

It sent Sakura flying with a direct hit.

The antidote was knocked from her hand and shattered on the ground.

"No!!"

Before Sakura could finish speaking, the Sand Iron Cylinder slammed her into the wall.

At the very least, several of her ribs had to be broken.

But that would not work on Sakura, would it?

Josuke complained from the side.

Sakura could heal herself. You couldn't kill her by ramming her like that.

Just as Josuke had expected, Sakura used the Hundred Healings Technique and instantly healed her injuries.

Though she was covered in dust.

And although Chiyo had been struck by the hidden projectile, she continued attacking as if nothing had happened.

Sasori asked in confusion.

"Why are you completely unharmed?"

Chiyo smiled.

She casually pulled out the hidden projectile.

"You didn't think you were the only one who modified yourself, did you..."