"The Scorpion of Red Sand—It Is Indeed You!"
"You've been attacking the shinobi from the Ninja Association repeatedly lately. Are you trying to avenge the destruction of Sunagakure?"
"I didn't expect that you, a former rogue ninja of the Sand, would act like this."
Pakura stood firmly before the Red Sand Scorpion, her voice cold and unyielding.
"Pakura… I never imagined that even you—once the pride of Sunagakure—would become Zenkichi's lapdog."
The Red Sand Scorpion maneuvered within Sasori, its long tail twitching ominously behind it.
"This is the peace shinobi have waited for," Pakura said, closing her eyes briefly, then reopening them with icy calm. "I won't let you two disrupt it."
"This peace you speak of? It's not the kind I've been waiting for," Kakuzu sneered. "Where do you expect me to earn money once peace spreads across the nations?"
"Zenkichi destroyed my income. He destroyed everything I trusted."
"I heard you're one of Zenkichi's women. It must hurt him to see you killed!"
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in the clearing. Horned and heavily cloaked, Kakuzu stepped out beside the Scorpion.
Pakura's expression didn't change. "So, two destroyers join forces. How predictable."
Kakuzu scoffed. "It took considerable effort to lure you out. Against two shinobi of our caliber, you have no escape."
Pakura curled her lip. "Even Kage-level shinobi can appear pitiful in the face of an entire Ninja Village. Do you know why?"
"Because a shinobi's strength isn't only in battle power—it's in intelligence gathering, strategy, and resources."
"You think I didn't know what the two of you were planning?"
At that moment, three figures emerged from the shadows—Momochi Zabuza, Hoshigaki Kisame, and Mizunashi Yukine—once disciples of Arakawa Zenkichi. They flanked Kakuzu and Sasori from all directions.
Kakuzu glanced around and scoffed arrogantly. "So it's just the four of you? That's not nearly enough."
"Kill me? Even the so-called 'God of Shinobi'—Senju Hashirama—couldn't do that. And you think you can?"
He smirked, clearly proud of the tale he'd been repeating for decades.
"What about me?"
A familiar voice cut in sharply.
Kakuzu and Sasori expressions shifted as they turned to see Zenkichi standing calmly atop a tree branch, his presence overwhelming.
"Zenkichi…"
Their faces darkened. His reputation wasn't mere talk—it was built atop the corpses of countless powerful shinobi.
"Sasori of the Red Sand," Zenkichi called gently. "Would you consider submitting to me? I can spare your life."
Sasori was silent for a moment before responding, "I may despise that old hag Chiyo, but she didn't deserve to die at your hands."
Zenkichi's tone remained neutral. "Interesting. So it was for Chiyo's sake… That actually makes sense."
"After all, you killed the Third Kazekage with your own hands. You've never had any real loyalty to Sunagakure."
Pakura's eyes widened. "You… killed the Third Kazekage?"
Just how old had the Scorpion been when that happened? Only a puppet master could have pulled off something so treacherous.
"Since Sasori refuses to surrender, what about you, Kakuzu?"
Zenkichi turned his attention to him.
"I have to admit, I'm impressed that you survived a battle with the First Hokage. Wouldn't you prefer to work for me instead?"
"Tired of running around murdering people for cash? Come work under me—you'll find it much easier."
Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
Zenkichi smiled. "Of course not. You've killed too many of my people. Surrender was only an option if you'd taken it from the beginning. Now? Death is your only path."
Kakuzu snarled. "You're underestimating me! I'll kill you where you stand!"
Zenkichi laughed. "Kill me? You've developed a sense of humor in your old age."
"But I suggest you stop bluffing. It only makes your fear more obvious."
Pakura gritted her teeth. "Let's stop wasting time with words. Let's end them!"
In an instant, Pakura moved—Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique).
She reappeared in front of Sasori and launched her attack.
"Scorch Release—Twin Fireballs!"
Two searing orange fireballs ignited in her palms and smashed into Sasori. The wooden shell quickly burned and crumbled under the intense heat.
A young man with crimson hair leaped from the wreckage—the true form of the Red Sand Scorpion.
In a swift motion, he fired a barrage of hidden senbon needles at Pakura.
"Iron Body!"
Pakura hardened her body using one of the six styles that Zenkichi taught them, the needles bouncing harmlessly off her skin.
Puppet techniques were weak without toxins. Against hardened defense, they were meaningless.
But the Scorpion wasn't done. He unfurled a scroll and summoned his prized puppet—the Third Kazekage.
The puppet still retained the magnetic chakra of the original. Sand gathered in mid-air.
"Third Kazekage…" Pakura muttered, slipping a golden glove onto her hand.
Six faintly glowing gems shimmered on its surface—a weapon of an ancient civilization, forged from Grayl Stone, found in the Wind Country territory she oversaw.
Just as the puppet attacked, Pakura surged forward. One punch—boosted by the gauntlet—sent the Kazekage puppet flying.
Elsewhere, Kakuzu was under siege.
Mizunashi Yukine, now a master of Ice Release, provided long-range bombardment—a shooter.
Momochi Zabuza, wielding the Executioner's Blade, used brute force—the bruiser.
Hoshigaki Kisame, fused with Samehada, absorbed chakra—the main attacker.
The three pseudo-jinchūriki activated their Tailed Beast Chakra Cloaks, surrounding Kakuzu.
Though Sasori had fallen, Kakuzu held out. With five hearts, he was the ultimate tank.
But with Zenkichi's presence looming, even immortality had its limits.
And Pakura—her golden glove shining—stood tall, unstoppable.
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