Chapter 121: The Price
Among those skilled in assassination and covert tactics, the dangers of poison were well understood. Even after using Mizuki's all-purpose antidote, its effects were limited—only easing the immediate threat. The lingering pain and internal damage caused by Sasori's toxins remained. In battle, this lingering pain could be fatal. The sharp stimulation of the nerves could break a ninja's concentration, magnify small mistakes, and spell doom in a fight against a strong enemy.
"Brace yourselves. They're coming again…" Sasori had no intention of repeating past mistakes. After narrowly escaping the destructive might of the Rinnegan-clone's Chibaku Tensei, he understood that even this group had power that could threaten him and Deidara. That was reason enough to finish the job quickly and deal with the One-Tails' Jinchūriki afterward—so long as they left him alive.
As cautious as ever, Sasori gave up on overwhelming with sheer numbers and instead unleashed the Third Kazekage puppet's ultimate weapon: Iron Sand. A tide of black metallic sand poured from the puppet's mouth, churning in the air before taking the shape of countless tiny iron bullets.
"Don't try to intercept—scatter!" Hiashi Hyuga barked a command. He was no stranger to the power of the Third Kazekage, who was once feared across the entire shinobi world. The man's Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai enabled him to manipulate iron sand with devastating force—something born from refining the One-Tails' control over sand with his own bloodline.
Sasori's Iron Sand Drizzle—a rapid-fire attack of poisoned iron bullets—was terrifying in both speed and lethality. Dodging after the fact was nearly impossible; only preemptive evasion could save them.
This time, thanks to Mizuki's medicine, the team's resistance to toxins had significantly improved. They no longer had to evade even the smallest particle of dust like before. With proper premonition and coordination, the team managed to avoid the main line of fire. Gaara, still weakened, was guarded by Temari, and thanks to the medicine constantly coursing through his system, was slowly regaining his chakra and stamina.
But the barrage of iron bullets didn't stop. Under Sasori's precise control, they followed their targets relentlessly, forcing the six from Konoha into constant movement. It was a war of attrition, one they weren't equipped to win.
'We can't keep this up,' Hiashi thought grimly. 'All it takes is one slip...'
Flying overhead, Sasori and Deidara kept their distance. Deidara was in no shape to fight, barely maintaining control of his bird. But Sasori's puppets, especially the Third Kazekage, were more than enough to dominate the battlefield. His Magnetic Iron Shield deflected most ranged tools, while his Magnetic Field Barrier could even reflect incoming projectiles.
They were no longer outnumbered by puppets, but the sheer quality of the current threat far outweighed quantity.
"Mizuki, Kurenai—you'll cover me," Hiashi ordered. "We can't let them control the sky forever."
Letting the enemy fly unchallenged meant complete helplessness on the ground. If they were to survive, they needed to bring them down.
'This is going to be like trying to take down a bomber with a slingshot,' Mizuki thought bitterly, but nodded. They had no other options.
With Mizuki's Chakra Shield leading the way, he sprinted ahead, followed closely by Kurenai and Hiashi. Hinata's cousin, Ko, was too drained to help, and both Gaara and Temari could barely keep themselves standing. This was it.
Mizuki activated his defenses. The shield shimmered as iron bullets slammed into it. Each impact burned through his chakra reserves.
"This thing isn't indestructible..." he muttered, pushing forward anyway.
Above them, Deidara was struggling to react. He tried to evade, but with his injuries and exhaustion, he was too slow.
"Prepare yourselves. This is our shot!" Hiashi shouted.
Mizuki tossed several smoke bombs into the air. Mid-flight, they were hit by iron bullets and exploded early, creating a thick cloud between them and their enemies.
"Now," Mizuki whispered.
Using chakra threads, he hurled several kunai, cloaked in his chakra, toward the sky, following them with a dash of his own. Behind him, Kurenai emerged from the smoke and began weaving signs.
"Genjutsu—Hell Viewing Technique!"
Deidara, weakened and caught unprepared, flinched, his eyes wide with imagined horrors.
Sasori moved to disrupt the genjutsu, but at that moment, Mizuki's shadow clone burst apart in a violent explosion, having lunged into Sasori's defenses with a chest full of explosive tags.
Caught by surprise, Sasori shielded himself with Iron Sand. The explosion rocked the battlefield, scattering debris and blinding him for an instant.
Hiashi was already moving.
"Eight Trigrams—Vacuum Palm!"
With no time to dodge, Deidara took the blow to the gut. The chakra burst sealed his chakra network entirely, and he tumbled from his bird like a sack of stones.
"We got him!" Mizuki shouted. Relief spread through the team—but only for a second.
From the thinning smoke, another volley of iron sand bullets erupted—Iron Sand Rain.
"Red-sensei—look out!" Mizuki shouted, but it was too late.
Kurenai, exposed and too slow to retreat, was struck by multiple projectiles. Though she avoided vital hits, she crashed to the ground, bleeding and groaning in pain.
Mizuki ran to her side, heart pounding.
She was alive.
But just barely.
To be continued...
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