Sasori's declaration vanished into the howling wind and sand.
There was no fear on Chiyo's deeply wrinkled face, just as Sasori had expected—nor was there any anger. Only faint sorrow remained.
True heartbreak had long since been processed in stages over the years.
"I was ready long ago, Sasori. From the day you left the village, I had been preparing."
Before her words had faded, terrifying chakra erupted from her aged body, utterly at odds with her frail appearance.
"White Secret Technique: Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!"
Ten scrolls unfurled before her in an instant. Ten snow-white puppets appeared out of thin air, each wielding a sharp blade, forming an impeccable offensive and defensive formation within the cramped sand house. Their chilling killing intent even suppressed the dust in the room.
Sasori's puppet body did not move.
"Grandmother, your era is over."
He spoke as calmly as though he were accompanying an elderly woman to buy groceries.
He tore open the outer garment across his chest, revealing the true core hidden beneath—something that sent chills down the spine. It was no longer the crude flesh-and-blood cylinder from his memories that had sustained life.
A miniature chakra reactor glowed an eerie blue at the center of his chest cavity. Countless delicate chakra circuits, like densely packed blood vessels, extended from the reactor and spread throughout his reconstructed body. This was the product of Konoha's Power Exoskeleton Technology, perfectly fused with his Human Puppet technique.
"Art needs to evolve."
The next instant, Sasori vanished.
The combined strike of the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets hit nothing but air.
"Too slow."
Sasori's voice came from behind Chiyo.
Before Chiyo could even turn around, the head of a white puppet had already flown into the air. The cut was as smooth as a mirror.
"Reaction