Hatake Sakumo sharpened his senses to their limit, his gaze sweeping every crack in the rocks and every patch of shadow as he searched for the Third Kazekage's concealed presence.
Yet the Third Kazekage seemed to have merged with the terrain his own abilities had shaped, leaving not a trace. He was cunning in the extreme.
Just as Sakumo stood on alert, preparing to widen his search or simply use himself as bait to draw his enemy out-
An unnaturally calm young voice sounded from behind him and to one side without warning:
"Konoha's White Fang... I found you."
It was not the Third Kazekage.
Sakumo's heart tightened, and his body reacted instinctively.
Rather than recklessly turning and exposing his back to a possible attack, he pushed off the ground and slid several meters diagonally forward like a ghost. At the same time, he half turned, his short blade already held across his body in a flawless stance that balanced attack and defense.
His gaze locked precisely onto the source of the voice.
A red-haired young man stood there, his frame somewhat slender and his finely sculpted face devoid of vitality.
He wore dark clothing of an unusual design that resembled a puppeteer's attire, yet differed from it.
Most striking were his red hair and his hollow eyes, which showed no flicker of emotion.
Sasori of the Red Sands.
Sakumo recognized him.
Although he looked much younger than the intelligence reports had described, his features matched well enough to confirm his identity. More importantly, according to those reports, Sasori now seemed to be on Konoha's side?
Sakumo breathed a sigh of relief. It was a teammate.
"Though I suppose I'm now 'one of you' on Konoha's side..."
Sasori's tone was flat, as though he were stating a fact that had