The ninja guarding the gate had not even managed to form his hand seals before a humanoid puppet burst out of the swirling dust.
"Enemy attack-!"
The instant the shout left his mouth, a puppet string as fine as a hair wrapped around his throat.
His eyes widened, his body abruptly stiffened, and his limbs were pulled at unnatural angles as he was forced to his knees.
Sasori of the Red Sands stood at the village entrance.
"Sunagakure..."
He murmured the name.
"I'm back."
The first wave of reinforcements numbered more than thirty ninja.
They rushed from the barracks, the Training Ground, and the patrol routes, clutching kunai, explosive tags, and short swords.
Someone recognized the fallen comrade at the entrance, and his expression changed dramatically.
"Seal off the entrance!"
"Don't get close to him!
Use ranged ninjutsu!"
"Notify every unit in the village! We're under attack!"
But before the orders had finished ringing out, Sasori had already raised his fingers.
Several puppets sprang out simultaneously from his sleeves, behind his back, and the sand beneath his feet, like savage beasts awakened by invisible hands.
Their joints clicked rapidly, their arms unfolded, and their palms split open. Hidden weapons, poisoned needles, steel wires, and chakra blades shot out in unison the next instant.
"Scatter!"
A jōnin screamed himself hoarse.
But it was too late.
The first wave of hidden weapons tore into the crowd like a torrential downpour.
Several ninja hastily formed hand seals, but their Wind Release and Earth Release techniques had barely taken shape. They could not possibly stop all the puppets.
Another puppet skimmed along the ground, its arms turning into sharp blades as it swept past. Three chunin were sent flying at once, smashing through the wooden fence at the entrance.
Someone gritted his teeth and