Witnessing the Third Kazekage's death

"Goodbye, Uncle Ziyan!" Hatake Sakumo called as he watched Hatake Ziyan walk away.

After leaving Hatake Sakumo, Hatake Ziyan headed to the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was working through some documents when he looked up and saw Hatake Ziyan standing in front of his desk.

"Lord Ziyan, is there something you need?" Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly stood up and asked.

"Nothing much. I just came to tell you I'm leaving Konoha!" Hatake Ziyan said.

"You're leaving?" A spark seemed to light up Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, though his voice remained calm.

"Yes, I have some personal business to attend to, but I'll be back!" Hatake Ziyan naturally noticed the excitement in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. "I came here today to make one thing clear. Even while I'm away, don't make any underhanded moves against the people I care about. Otherwise, you know the consequences!"

"Rest assured, Lord Ziyan. Why would Konoha ever turn against its own people?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with an awkward smile.

"You know perfectly well whether it would, so I won't bother spelling it out. Pass my warning on to Danzo, too. No scheming in the shadows. And if anything happens to them, I'll hold him responsible anyway. Then I'll kill him for real!" Hatake Ziyan said.

"Understood! I'll pass it on!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

"All right, get back to your paperwork! I'm leaving!" Hatake Ziyan vanished from the Hokage Office.

One day later, outside Sunagakure.

Hatake Ziyan hid out of sight, watching two people in the desert.

A young boy and a man wearing a Kazekage cloak were talking.

"Sasori! What did you want to see me about?" the Kazekage asked.

"I've been conducting research that can take the Puppet Technique a step further! It can let my Puppet Technique surpass my grandmother's!" Sasori said. "I'd like your help!"

Hearing this, the Third Kazekage wondered what sort of research could be so incredible that it would allow such a huge improvement. Chiyo stood at the pinnacle of puppeteers, and her Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu represented the current peak of the Puppet Technique. With the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, Chiyo could hold her own against a Kage Level fighter.

If Sasori could go even further, wouldn't that mean the Wind Hidden Village would gain another Kage Level fighter? That would be wonderful!

So the Third Kazekage asked, "Oh? What kind of research could improve the Puppet Technique that much? Could the other ninja in the village use it?"

"Of course! They just wouldn't reach my level!" Sasori said.

"That's still quite impressive! Tell me, then. How can I help?" the Third Kazekage said at once, his eyes lighting up.

Sasori slowly approached the Third Kazekage, speaking deliberately as he walked. "It's actually very simple! You only need to agree to one thing!"

"What is it?" the Third Kazekage asked, watching Sasori approach without the slightest wariness.

Sasori reached the Third Kazekage. Suddenly, the hand concealed beneath his robes shot up, driving a blade toward the Third Kazekage's chest.

Caught completely off guard, the Third Kazekage took the blade straight to his chest.

The Third Kazekage immediately leaped back after being stabbed. Clutching the wound in his chest, he looked at Sasori and said, "Sasori! Why did you attack me?"

Sasori looked at the Third Kazekage expressionlessly. "Didn't you say you were willing to help me research the Puppet Technique? What? Have you changed your mind?"

The Third Kazekage formed hand seals, preparing to unleash a jutsu, only to discover that he could no longer muster his chakra.

"Don't bother," Sasori told the Third Kazekage. "This is a little concoction I refined over the years. It temporarily prevents you from mobilizing your chakra. But it's so rare that I only managed to make this tiny amount, and I used all of it on you. You should feel honored. Besides, if you stop moving so much, you can live a little longer!"

The Third Kazekage sat cross-legged on the ground. Watching Sasori draw closer, he asked, "You're going to turn me into a puppet?"

"Yes!" Sasori said.

"Your grandmother already banned research into making puppets from living people, and all the records were sealed away. Where did you get them?" the Third Kazekage asked.

Ignoring the Third Kazekage's question, Sasori said, "You're known as the strongest Kazekage. Once I turn you into a puppet, you'll surely be powerful!"

"Sasori, it's not too late to stop. Otherwise, the village will despise you, and you'll have no choice but to become a rogue ninja!" the Third Kazekage said, making one last desperate attempt.

"That's fine! I don't care!" Sasori said.

Sasori walked up to the Third Kazekage, took out his puppet-making tools, and began working on his body.

"Aah! Sasori! You..."

Not wanting to listen to the Third Kazekage's nonsense, Sasori simply sliced off his tongue.

Watching from the sidelines, Hatake Ziyan felt rather kindhearted at that moment. Although he had killed many people, at least he hadn't made those who died at his hands suffer terribly.

Watching Sasori work like this truly made his scalp prickle.

"Come out!" Sasori suddenly hurled the scalpel in his hand toward Hatake Ziyan.

Hatake Ziyan reached out and caught the scalpel, then stepped into the open.

"Who are you?" Sasori asked Hatake Ziyan, pausing his work.

"I'm just someone with a lot of curiosity. I wanted to see what you were doing!" Hatake Ziyan said.

"Since you've seen it, you won't be leaving!" Sasori said.

"Hold on!" Hatake Ziyan said, trying to stop Sasori from attacking.

But Sasori didn't stop. He pulled a scroll from behind his back and released dozens of human puppets from it.

Seeing that Sasori behaved nothing like a villain, Hatake Ziyan simply drew his sword. With a single, effortless swing, he cut apart all the dozens of puppets Sasori had just released.

"Don't be so rash, kid. I mean you no harm! I really just came to watch. Of course, if you don't want to stay in Sunagakure anymore, I'd be quite happy to have you join my organization!" Hatake Ziyan said, sheathing his sword.

"Your organization?" Having seen Hatake Ziyan cut apart all his human puppets with one stroke, Sasori asked warily.

"Keep going! Otherwise, he'll die!" Hatake Ziyan said. "If I wanted to kill you, resisting wouldn't do you any good!"

Sasori hesitated, then turned around and continued making his human puppet.

"You want me to join your organization?" Sasori asked.

"Yes! I think you have a lot of potential, though you don't seem quite qualified yet!" Hatake Ziyan said.

Ignoring Hatake Ziyan's remark, Sasori continued asking, "What does your organization do? With your strength, there shouldn't be many people in the shinobi world who can beat you!"

Hatake Ziyan rubbed his head and said, "You're right. As things stand, I'm invincible in the shinobi world. But I'm lazy, so I'm looking for people strong enough to handle things for me!"