Hidan's question left everyone present with their heads buzzing.
Especially Kakuzu, who stared at Hidan in utter disbelief.
He couldn't comprehend why this lunatic would ask such a ridiculous question at a time like this.
Even on Konoha's side, Hatake Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes at Hidan, while Kitagawa Minamoto's Shadow Clone was momentarily stunned.
As for Might Guy, he appeared utterly bewildered. Although he already knew Hidan was a lunatic, he hadn't expected him to be this insane.
"This person... don't you all know him?"
After a long pause, Guy finally asked, incredulous. His question immediately excited Hidan.
"Who is it? Quickly, tell me!"
"It seems like it's—"
Just as Guy was about to speak, a voice from the distance interrupted him.
"Scorpion! So it is you!"
Hearing this voice, Sasori raised an eyebrow and slowly turned his gaze toward the approaching figure.
After a moment, he shook his head in resignation.
"Grandmother, it's you."
The newcomer was none other than Chiyo.
The desert was her home turf, and tracking someone here was no challenge for her.
Initially, she had been suspicious upon noticing Kakashi and his group heading toward the ruins of Roran. She wasn't sure if the Konoha shinobi had their sights set on Roran or if members of the Akatsuki were involved.
But when she sensed a massive surge of Chakra coming from Roran, she rushed over without hesitation—and sure enough, she found Sasori!
At this time, Sasori wasn't using Hiruko. Since Kitagawa Minamoto had destroyed it, he hadn't yet found a replacement.
His true face was exposed for all to see. Looking at her grandson, who still appeared as youthful as ever, Chiyo felt a pang of nostalgia.
"I heard you assassinated the Third Kazekage?"
After a long silence, Chiyo asked with a somber expression.
Sasori, however, casually stretched his neck and replied with a nonchalant smile.
"Yes, I did. He's my masterpiece now."
"You've changed completely."
Chiyo looked at her grandson, who had strayed so far down a dark path, her expression tinged with sorrow.
"Perhaps I should never have taught you puppetry."
"How fragile. I don't recall you ever showing such an expression before."
Sasori remained indifferent, though there was a faint trace of emotion in his furrowed brow.
"It seems you've grown old. People do change with age."
"After all, I'm the one who personally led my useless grandson down this twisted path. It's only natural to feel some regret."
Chiyo sighed deeply, her demeanor gradually shifting as she steadied herself.
"But perhaps this is for the best. Since I taught you puppetry, I'll be the one to take it back!"
As she spoke, she casually tossed a signal flare to the ground, clearly intending to prevent others from interfering in their fight.
"Your words are laughable. If not for the seeds you planted, how would I have ever embarked on this pursuit?"
Sasori's smile faded, replaced by a cold, detached expression.
"I've never stopped moving forward, but you've changed. Standing beside you are the son of Hatake Sakumo and the inheritor of his blade. How can you align yourself with them?"
"..."
Chiyo fell silent at these words.
In truth, she had never truly stopped moving forward either.
She had even crossed a forbidden line in her pursuit of reviving her son and daughter-in-law, creating the "Reanimation Technique."
But the cost of the technique, along with its potential consequences, made her realize one thing:
If it were ever revealed to the world, it would plunge the Land of Wind and Sunagakure into utter chaos.
"Let's begin. Show me how far you've come."
"Hmph. The current me..."
Sasori tore open a scroll, summoning the repaired puppet of the Third Kazekage. The black iron sand surged forward, launching an attack.
"...has already surpassed you in puppetry!"
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The battle between the two puppet masters erupted instantly, with explosions echoing one after another.
"Get out of the way."
Kakashi immediately pulled Guy aside, while also turning to Minamoto's Shadow Clone.
"Dispel yourself and focus on the battle over there. Let your main body know what's happening here."
"Understood, Kakashi-sensei, Guy-sensei. Both of you have my kunai—if there's danger, let me know."
Minamoto's Shadow Clone nodded. Before disappearing, he added a reminder:
"And be careful."
Poof!
With a puff of smoke, the Shadow Clone vanished.
Kakashi and Guy turned their attention to Kakuzu and Hidan, who had already caught up.
"Tch, that guy was just a Shadow Clone. Looks like his main body is over there."
Kakuzu snorted, his green eyes flashing briefly before he spoke.
"If I'm not mistaken, he's probably fighting Orochimaru. What a pity—I wanted to kill him myself."
"Orochimaru?"
Kakashi's expression grew serious, though he held unwavering confidence in Minamoto.
After all, if Minamoto truly wanted to retreat, he could return to their side at any time!
"That's not something I need to worry about. For now, dealing with you two is the priority."
"Bold words."
Kakuzu sneered, his Chakra surging violently.
"Even though I'm not at my full strength, taking you down won't be a problem!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kakuzu charged forward. Kakashi immediately drew his kunai to engage him.
"Hey, Kappa! Looks like it's just you and me again."
Hidan smirked, his scythe pointing toward Guy.
"Now, will you finally tell me?"
"Beat me first, then we'll talk."
Guy couldn't be bothered to entertain this lunatic. Instead, he focused on strategizing how to deal with him.
At the same time, he tried to recall who the dead last in their year had been. Wasn't it some spiky-haired kid?
"Alright!"
Hidan grinned with excitement and charged forward.
"Let's go!"
Meanwhile, in the desert near Roran...
The intense battle between Kitagawa Minamoto and Orochimaru raged on.
The tower sealing the Dragon Vein had already been destroyed, and the two combatants had taken their fight into the open desert.
Their rapid movements and the sheer force of their Chakra stirred up a storm of sand, engulfing the battlefield.
"What's with this kid?"
Orochimaru swung his sword, but his thoughts were filled with frustration.
"Why is it that every time I try to land a decisive blow, something inexplicably stops me?"
He had already realized that Minamoto's explosive power was extraordinary.
However, Minamoto was still just a young ninja who had graduated barely a year ago.
His combat experience and techniques couldn't possibly compare to Orochimaru's, who had survived countless battles.
Orochimaru had been trying to exploit his own superior experience and tactics to gain the upper hand.
Yet...
"Every time I find an opening, some invisible force either blocks or pulls me away. Is this some kind of jutsu?"
Orochimaru was beginning to understand the problem, but he couldn't figure out what was causing it.
It reminded him of the time he had faced Pain, but Minamoto's body was cloaked in Purple Electricity, obscuring any clues.
"You shouldn't let your mind wander during a fight."
Suddenly, Minamoto's voice rang out.
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with malice as he swung the Kusanagi sword behind him with all his strength.
But the White Fang short blade was faster!
Slash!
Orochimaru's arm was severed in an instant.
As the severed arm fell, Minamoto noticed it was rigged with explosive tags!
"Drink this!"
Orochimaru let out a cold laugh as the arm detonated, creating a massive explosion that even knocked him off balance.
Taking advantage of the blast, he propelled himself backward.
Upon landing, he ignored the fact that his right arm had been severed. Instead, he scanned the surroundings while forming a hand seal with his left hand.
"There!"
Sensing something, Orochimaru's chest swelled to its limit as his Chakra surged wildly.
"Fire Release: Multiple Fire Dragon Flame Bullets!"
Several blazing fire dragons erupted from his mouth, scorching the ground as they surged forward.
Just as the flames roared toward their target, Minamoto appeared once again.
He raised an eyebrow, his blade descending with unstoppable force.
Boom!
The intense heatwaves rolled across the battlefield, sending Orochimaru flying once more.
The searing flames and the impact of Minamoto's blade left Orochimaru battered and broken.
One of his legs had been blown apart, and his face and chest bore deep gashes.
Half of his shoulder was gone, and his arm hung limply by his side.
Even his face seemed to be shedding its skin, revealing a bloody, unfamiliar visage beneath.
"Impressive..."
Despite his injuries, Orochimaru's eyes burned with a fervent intensity.
"No wonder my attacks kept being diverted or blocked. So you really do possess some kind of special jutsu."
"Truly worthy of being one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru."
Minamoto didn't confirm or deny the statement. Instead, he looked at Orochimaru with a mix of admiration and exasperation.
"Your decisiveness never ceases to amaze me."
Orochimaru's willingness to sacrifice his own body to gain an advantage was truly remarkable.
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
Orochimaru's raspy voice carried a hint of mockery.
"To think I'd encounter someone as troublesome as you. It's been a long time since I've been pushed this far."
(End of Chapter)
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