It Really Was Sasori

On the desolate land, Scorpion struggled alone forward, every inch of the cracked earth like a bloodthirsty monster, greedily draining his remaining strength.

His faint plea for help was mercilessly swallowed up by the indifferent air and vanished into nothingness.

Everything before my eyes was blurry; in my weakened and indistinct vision, there was only endless darkness and desolation.

The sharp stones kept tearing at his body, but the pain had vanished, leaving only a sliver of unyielding will to survive.

His fingertips etched fine lines on the ground, marks of his struggle, each one imbued with despair.

Time had lost its flow in this desolate place, and he had forgotten how long he had been crawling on the ground.

His parents' gentle smiles kept flashing through his mind, but those past moments of warmth now felt like sharp knives, piercing his heart.

"I cannot die here, I will avenge you..." he roared silently in his heart, but only dry breaths could be squeezed out of his throat.

The deathly silence all around was chilling; the breath of life had long since vanished.

The once lively squirrels were nowhere to be seen, and even the chirping birds were fast asleep in the gentle embrace of the night, indifferent to his suffering.

The scorpion's heavy breathing sounded particularly abrupt in the silence.

He tried to soothe himself with hope, but despair clung to him like a shadow, binding him tightly and making it hard for him to breathe.

At eight years old, he should be laughing and chasing his dreams under the protection of his parents, but now he is teetering on the brink of life and death.

"I do not wish to die here... My mission is not yet complete..." A flame of anger ignited in his heart, a defiant resistance against fate.

With trembling fingers, he propped up his heavy body, gathering all his Chakra —his last act of defiance.

"Help! Help me!!!" The desperate cries for help echoed through the desolate land, lingering for a long time.

A faint, thread-like cry for help lingered in the air. Koki couldn't bear it, so she hurried forward a few steps, bent down to take a closer look, and found that it was a child of about ten years old.

Everything around seemed to stand still, with only the boy's faint breathing echoing in her ears.

A blunt, rough Kunai sank deep into his left shoulder, mercilessly stripping him of his vitality.

The child's clothes were tattered, clinging to his body like scraps of cloth, and the bloodstains on his back were shocking.

Her red hair fell loosely over her shoulders like flames.

From this angle and at this depth, it is clear that even if the child has not yet stopped breathing, his life is hanging by a thread.

Koki frowned, hesitating whether to save the child.

He struggled to support his body with one arm, as if an indomitable will was supporting him, allowing him to stand upright.

Even with someone right next to him, he seemed completely oblivious, only muttering "Help" intermittently.

His voice was weaker than before, which was inevitable, as his strength was gradually waning with each cry for help.

This figure looks somewhat familiar.

Koki slowly leaned down, her fingers gently lifting to naturally encircle his slender neck, deftly brushing aside the red hair on the side of his neck, revealing the smoothness of his nape.

Just as Koki gently stroked the boy's neck, the boy finally noticed and trembled slightly.

His movements were extremely slow, like a sloth—slowly, very slowly, he raised his head.

Wearing a mask!

He made a strange sound in his throat, followed by two coughs.

Scorpion seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength before slightly raising his head to look at Koki.

A look of relief and lightness appeared in his eyes. "I... I've been waiting for you..."

Scorpion's voice was as thin as a whisper, each word seemingly strained to escape his throat, "I once thought... I couldn't wait any longer..."

Koki was startled; wasn't that Sasori's voice?

He thought he had misheard and opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

"Please... save... save me..." The boy was barely breathing, his trembling fingers gently gripping Koki's wrist.

"Okay, I'll save you." Koki held the boy's shoulder, letting him lean against her chest.

The boy's eyes were already blurred; his pupils no longer moved. He simply gripped Koki's hand tightly, mechanically repeating, "Save... save me..."

Those hands gripped Koki tightly, making him feel slightly uncomfortable.

How can I help you if you're holding me like this?

The faint light in the boy's eyes suddenly burst forth as brilliantly as fireworks—it was an ultimate surprise.

"Are you really... willing... to... save me...?"

I will save you, let me go first.

The boy immediately released his hands, the light in his eyes gradually dimming, but a relieved yet weary smile appeared on his lips.

Koki gently tidied the other's disheveled hair, her hand covering the mask, trying to uncover his secrets.

Since the decision to save him has already been made, it is only natural to find out his identity.

However, his hand paused on the mask, and he asked hesitantly, "Are you from Sunagakure?"

The boy responded softly.

Koki wanted to ask his name, but then thought it unnecessary. After all, for this seriously injured boy, asking even one more question could deplete his precious energy.

He gently helped the boy up, and in an awkward and unfamiliar posture, he held him in his arms.

Perhaps because they felt safe and secure about being rescued, the child closed their eyes the moment they were picked up.

Koki moved forward quietly, afraid of disturbing the child's wound.

He looked down at the child in his arms; the child was sleeping peacefully and seemed exceptionally well-behaved.

Koki's hair fell silently, blown by the wind, twirled gently, and slipped onto his lips.

Koki instinctively brushed her hair aside and took off her mask.

It really is a scorpion...