In the dim cave, only Sasori remained, facing Sasuke and the others.
The tension between the two sides was almost unbearable. Standing behind Sasuke, Sakura couldn't help swallowing, while Granny Chiyo watched Sasori, half his face concealed, and silently weighed her options.
Though nominally retired, Chiyo hadn't truly washed her hands of everything. She had heard about Konoha's powerful showing over the past few years.
She had also heard of the two brothers, Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha.
As a grandmother, Chiyo wanted to fight her grandson herself and bring Sasori back to Sunagakure. But as a senior advisor, letting Sasuke fight him first might be the wiser choice.
"Sasuke, do you want to go first? Sakura and I will guard Lord Kazekage's body. Do you need my help? I'm still somewhat familiar with Sasori's attack patterns."
"No need. I'll handle him myself."
Politely declining Granny Chiyo's offer of guidance, Sasuke drew Futsu-no-Mitama, the sword Madara had given him, from his waist.
As Sasuke fed chakra into the blade, it began to glow with a pale golden light. Faint though it was, that light was dazzling and impossible to ignore.
Seeing Sasuke draw his sword, Granny Chiyo quietly ushered Sakura into the shadows to protect her, while Sasori laughed.
"I don't have an Uchiha Clan specimen in my collection yet. Sasuke Uchiha, I want you!"
A tail emerged from beneath Sasori's clothes. At the same time, he dropped onto all fours, revealing a human face on his back. The tail, which looked hard and was undoubtedly poisoned, extended from the mouth of that face.
A puppeteer?
Sasuke activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and surveyed his surroundings. There were no threads attached to Sasori. The only trace of chakra was inside his body.
Clearly, the Sasori before him was merely a puppet,