Hiruko

After Shaye completed the first prototype of his "Big Spider," it drew some attention within a limited circle despite its crude construction, thanks to its unique "vehicle" concept and relatively stable mobility. Naturally, this included Sasori, who had devoted nearly his entire life to the art of puppetry.

One day, while Shaye was conducting mobility tests with the "Big Spider" in the Chiyo Clan's courtyard, Sasori happened to be watching coldly from the side. As he watched the eight legs move clumsily yet effectively, and watched Shaye prioritize his limited chakra on maintaining movement and balance rather than attacking, an almost imperceptible glint flickered through his purple eyes.

He made no comment, but Shaye could sense that Sasori's gaze lingered on the "Big Spider" longer than it had on anything else before.

Over the following days, the sounds coming from Sasori's workshop changed somewhat. Where there had once been only the faint sounds of delicate carving, heavier noises of large-scale component assembly and testing now often rang out. The air was also filled with an aura sharper and more dangerous than before.

Shaye had a faint premonition. Then, on this day, when he went as usual to ask about the stability of Earth Release chakra frequencies—naturally concealing the true purpose of his research and claiming it was merely theoretical—Sasori unusually did not dismiss him at once. Instead, he nodded toward the open ground outside the workshop.

"Bring out that pack beast of yours." Sasori's voice was flat, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

Shaye froze for a moment, then understood. He immediately went home and brought the "Big Spider" over.

When he returned to the clearing, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Standing there was a puppet unlike anything he had ever seen, its appearance incomparably savage and bizarre!

Its body was streamlined, like a giant scorpion crawling across the ground. Its tail was a steel scorpion stinger gleaming with cold light, clearly filled with deadly poison. Its back was covered in sturdy armor, yet atop that shell sat a strange, semi-enclosed cockpit. Its face was a blank, grotesque mask-like visage, with what seemed to be launch ports hidden in its mouth. Its limbs were not simple legs, but composite structures that combined solid support with flexible offensive power.

This puppet perfectly combined Crow's agility, Black Ant's strength, Salamander's defense and heavy firepower, and even... borrowed the passenger-carrying concept of the "Big Spider." Yet it had been completely transformed into an all-purpose combat fortress born for slaughter!

"This is... Hiruko." Sasori calmly announced its name, his tone carrying a trace of almost fanatical satisfaction. With a light leap, he landed in the cockpit on Hiruko's back as if he weighed nothing.

"Come. Let me see how much value your 'pack beast' has under your control." Sasori's voice came from within Hiruko, carrying the cold texture of metal.

Shaye took a deep breath, knowing this was a rare chance to test himself in actual combat against a top-tier puppeteer. He immediately climbed into the "Big Spider's" cockpit and fully connected his Chakra Threads.

"Please instruct me, Senior Sasori!"

The duel erupted in an instant!

Shaye was the first to move, controlling the "Big Spider" as it sprinted forward on eight legs, attempting to use its mobility to circle around Hiruko's flank. At the same time, his hands formed the signs Ram—Snake—Tiger.

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!" Rather than burrowing underground himself, he applied chakra to the ground in front of Sasori, trying to create a trap that would hinder Hiruko's movement.

However, Hiruko's reaction was astonishingly fast! Sasori did not even move as Hiruko's deadly scorpion tail shot into the ground like a venomous snake leaving its burrow!

Bang! With a muffled boom, the softened patch of earth Shaye had created was directly shaken apart and restored by the immense force contained in the scorpion tail. The jutsu was broken through sheer violence!

"Too naive." Sasori's cold voice rang out.

Several small holes suddenly opened in Hiruko's back armor, and countless poisoned senbon rained down upon the "Big Spider"! The area of coverage was so vast that there was no way to evade them all!

Shaye's pupils shrank. He controlled the "Big Spider" to retreat at full speed, its eight legs blurring into afterimages, while forming seals with one hand.

"Wind Release: Fierce Wind Palm!" A powerful current of air burst from his palm, not to attack the enemy, but to blow most of the senbon off course. Even so, several grazed the "Big Spider's" legs, leaving deep scratches as wood chips flew.

The "Big Spider" swayed violently as Shaye fought with all his strength to maintain its balance.

Sasori's next attack followed immediately! Hiruko surged forward at a speed far beyond the "Big Spider," its massive steel front pincer smashing down with a howl that tore through the air!

Shaye gritted his teeth and frantically poured chakra into the "Big Spider's" legs.

Bang!

The "Big Spider" barely leaped backward and to the side, while the ground where it had stood was smashed into a huge crater.

But Hiruko's tail had already been waiting there, as if it had predicted the move! Its poisoned needle flashed with cold light as it stabbed straight toward the cockpit!

There was no escaping it!

Shaye instantly abandoned control of the puppet and rapidly formed hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth Return!"

A thick earthen wall instantly rose before him!

Crack!

The poisoned needle pierced straight through the earthen wall with ease, but it was still delayed for a single instant.

That single instant was enough! Shaye controlled the "Big Spider" to retreat awkwardly once more, opening the distance between it and Hiruko.

The difference in their abilities was obvious! Shaye's tactics were flexible, his reactions swift, and his combination of ninjutsu and puppet control was nothing short of remarkable. Yet before Sasori's absolute strength and Hiruko's overwhelming performance, he could only scramble to survive, utterly unable to fight back. His attacks could not inflict any effective damage on Hiruko, while any one of Hiruko's attacks could deal a devastating blow to the "Big Spider."

"That's enough." Sasori seemed to have lost interest.

From the mouth beneath Hiruko's mask, a stream of high-pressure poison sprayed out like a water cannon, covering an enormous area!

Shaye had just used Earth Release, leaving a brief gap in his chakra flow. He was about to be engulfed by the poison!

At that critical moment, however, the poison strangely dropped from midair as if pulled by an invisible force, all of it splashing onto the ground and corroding it with a sizzling hiss.

Sasori withdrew Hiruko's attack and gave Shaye a cold glance. "Your control is decent. Your tactical thinking is passable. The puppet itself... garbage."

With that, he ignored Shaye and controlled Hiruko to turn away, slowly returning to the workshop as though a king surveying his domain.

Shaye sat inside the damaged "Big Spider," drenched in cold sweat. He panted violently. In that moment just now, he had truly felt the presence of death.

Though he had been thoroughly defeated, there was little discouragement in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with excitement and contemplation. Through his battle with Hiruko, he had witnessed the terrifying power of a truly top-tier combat puppet and seen the countless flaws in his "Big Spider," as well as the directions in which it could be improved.

More importantly, in that final moment between life and death, he had clearly felt it—Sasori... had held back.

This seemingly cold and merciless genius puppeteer had apparently taught him the most profound lesson in his own unique way.

(End of Chapter)