[Uchiha clan Compound]
A red-haired youth was pacing back and forth inside Orochimaru's laboratory.
For someone who had been unable to move freely for more than ten years, after his legs had recovered, naturally he wanted to walk as much as possible.
Seeing Nagato's movements, Rengoku couldn't help but let out a helpless laugh, "Nagato, how's the recovery going?"
When Nagato saw Rengoku arrive, he smiled, "So it's you, Rengoku. My body's functions are improving every day now. Orochimaru said it'll probably take another half a month before it stabilizes."
At this moment, Konan stepped out of the lab. Seeing Rengoku, she asked, "Nagato needs some time to recover. Will that affect your plan?"
Rengoku shook his head, "I wasn't planning to let Nagato fight anyway."
"If someone has to fight, I'll do it."
Konan was a bit shocked, "You'll fight personally?"
Rengoku's strength was undeniable, but his identity was the real problem.
The Uchiha clan was still officially part of Konoha. If Rengoku himself took the field, the nature of the conflict would completely change.
Rengoku laughed, "Of course it's not me personally. It'll be your Akatsuki's new member."
As he spoke, a shadow clone stepped out from his own shadow.
The clone's figure shifted into that of an old monk, wearing gray robes with a kind, gentle face.
"The humble monk's dharma name is Chankong."
Rengoku's real body took out a nine-ringed monk's staff and a string of smooth prayer beads from a storage scroll he'd already prepared, equipping Chankong with them.
Konan and Nagato were both startled, "Rengoku, what are you doing?"
Rengoku waved his hand dismissively, "It's just putting on another skin, basic stuff."
"The background I set for Chankong is a wandering monk from the far east."
"He specializes in various sealing techniques, barrier techniques, and formations."
"If we want to weaken the absolute control that the jinchuriki have over the battlefield, we need more people who can defeat them easily."
"I also have another plan that needs just such a character."
"Nagato, you stay in the clan and rest. Konan, you'll go with my clone."
———
[The Battlefield of the Land of Stone]
After Sasori and Kakuzu had pushed back the Iwagakure forces, Sunagakure quickly came to occupy the position, but they didn't rush to start mining the ore vein.
They knew Iwa would soon come back in force.
Suna kept sending out scouts to gather information, to see what kind of elites Iwa would send next.
They also built some defensive structures here and set up simple tents for rest.
Sasori had been heavily tricked by Deidara, and many puppets had been damaged in his Hundred Puppet Performance.
To prepare for the coming battle, Sasori borrowed a tent from the Suna shinobi, where he repaired his puppets.
Kakuzu, on the other hand, had gone out to scout for intel.
Puppet maintenance was, of course, always a secret. Sasori forbade the Suna shinobi from approaching while he worked.
But one person did enter the tent.
Head bowed, repairing Hiruko, Sasori didn't even lift his head. He knew who it was.
"Old hag, what are you doing here?"
Chiyo's face filled with shock as she looked at Sasori's face.
'How could this be? He looks exactly the same as before, not grown at all!'
She had heard from the Suna shinobi that Sasori had borrowed a tent, so she came specifically to take a look at her grandson.
But she hadn't expected that Sasori still looked exactly like when he had left.
Sasori raised his head and looked at Chiyo's stunned face, "What, so shocked you can't even make a sound?"
Suddenly Chiyo thought of something, her eyes full of disbelief, "Sasori, don't tell me you…?"
"Heh… Surprised, are you?", Sasori looked at Chiyo with arrogant defiance.
"Why would you turn yourself into this?", Chiyo had already realized Sasori had made himself into a human puppet. Her eyes filled with pain and regret.
To Chiyo, puppetry was meant to make up for physical defects.
It could never replace a real body.
Like herself. After her right hand was ruined, she now used a puppet prosthetic.
But Sasori had willingly discarded his living body.
How could she, as his grandmother, not be heartbroken?
Chiyo looked at him, lips trembling, her eyes full of emotions that only made Sasori more irritable.
"Old hag! What's with that look?"
Chiyo took a deep breath, "Why would you do this?"
"Why would you throw away your body?"
Sasori snorted, "By discarding the flesh, I won't grow old. I can stay young forever. Isn't that great?"
"You, who taught me puppetry, how could you not understand that truth?"
"All these years we haven't seen each other, you've grown old and withered."
"But me, I'll never change."
Chiyo's eyes were full of sorrow, "Never aging, what meaning does that have? Even if you've replaced most of your body with puppets, your lifespan still has its limit."
It was as if this pierced him.
Sasori's emotions visibly shook, "As long as I can stay like this forever…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but quickly pulled himself out of the feeling, "It has nothing to do with you, old hag!"
Chiyo had lived so long that in a single instant, she realized the unspoken half of Sasori's words.
Her face immediately turned pale, "I'm sorry, Sasori…"
Before Sasori could respond, there was suddenly a commotion outside the tent.
A figure flung open the flap and rushed in.
Seeing Sasori and Chiyo both inside, Kakuzu paused.
"Sorry to interrupt your reunion, but Iwa's jinchuriki has arrived."
———
This time, Iwagakure had sent a unit of over a hundred, rapidly advancing toward the battlefield.
Their formation faintly surrounded a tall, imposing man in the center.
He wore a straw hat on his head, a red mask covering his mouth, and a suit of crimson armor on his body, making him look fearsome.
This was one of Iwa's jinchuriki, the Five-Tails jinchuriki, Han.
That red armor was a custom-made Steam Armor, able to unleash explosive power through steam.
It was what earned him the title of "Steam Ninja."
The armor itself was his calling card. Just one glance, and people knew the Five-Tails' jinchuriki had arrived.
The Land of Stone's terrain was mostly dark rocky ground, with sparse vegetation.
Unopposed, Iwa's shinobi advanced quickly.
Soon, they reached the spot where they had previously retreated.
At that moment, a giant white clay bird descended from the sky.
"You guys are too slow, the Suna shinobi have already escaped in groups," Deidara said with a grin.
Even though he had contributed greatly last time, he always carried that mocking, flippant air.
Which made the Five-Tails' jinchuriki Han very displeased.
"Deidara, as the scouting ninja, you should have reported the enemy's movements earlier."
Deidara tilted his head, showing all his disdain for Han right on his face.
"The enemy had experts. You're lucky I brought back intel at all."
Han snorted, "It's just members of Akatsuki, how strong can they be?"
Deidara pointed toward a direction, "The Suna shinobi haven't gone far, around three kilometers from here."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.