Takeshi and his group moved stealthily under the cover of night, eventually stopping at an open area a fair distance from the port.
With someone like Sasori—a bloody, captive burden—they could no longer stay in the town and had no choice but to camp outdoors.
Glancing at the moon hanging high in the sky, Takeshi signaled Akimichi Shitō to set Sasori down, taking it upon himself to prepare a resting place for the group.
"Let me think… hmm, Ice Release: House of Ice!"
A massive ice house, primarily constructed of ice, slowly solidified, only stopping its growth after the windows and main door had been outlined.
The door, emitting visible cold air, opened, immediately bringing a sense of chill to the group.
"The ground won't be too slippery. If you're worried, you can cover your feet with chakra—it'll feel like walking on water."
Takeshi said this, stepping into the house first.
The others exchanged glances before following him into the enormous ice house.
Shitō carefully placed Sasori on the ice, running a hand along the ground.
"I have a feeling that spending a night in a place like this will have me… you know, running to the bathroom tomorrow."
Shitō's words sounded disgusting, but to Tobitake Tonbo and Shimon, he was voicing exactly what they were thinking.
"This isn't about running to the bathroom anymore… it's about whether we can even sleep at all."
Shimon muttered quietly, inadvertently catching sight of Sasori's pale face.
"Damn it, Shitō-san, look at Sasori!"
He hastily grabbed Shitō's sleeve, and thanks to Shimon's warning, they finally noticed the unfortunate Sasori, who had been thrown to the ground. Now, completely frozen, his body trembled, and his eyes rolled back.
After warming the poor guy with Fire Release, Takeshi—at the group's insistence—created a resting area for them using Earth Release, staying behind in the massive ice house himself.
Following the commotion, they took turns keeping watch, finally giving themselves a moment to rest.
Amidst the snoring, Sasori, who had his eyes tightly shut, suddenly opened them. Observing the surroundings, he saw that Tobitake Tonbo and Shimon were asleep, while Shitō was still outside on watch. Carefully, he manipulated chakra threads with his fingers to free himself from his bonds.
The so-called White Reaper was nothing of the sort; the seals and curses were full of flaws.
Sasori silently mocked Takeshi's incompetence.
In just a few hours, he had solved all the restrictions that had been engraved into his body.
With the ropes successfully undone, Sasori glanced at Tobitake Tonbo and Shimon once more, confirming that neither was awake. Only then did he painfully lift his arm, pierced by Senbon, gritting his teeth as he pulled them out.
"Damn you, Takeshi… I'll remember this."
Leaning against the wall for support, Sasori channeled chakra to heal himself.
Watching the blood-soaked joints visibly close, he finally exhaled. Though it was a pity that the scroll containing the Third Raikage had been taken by Takeshi, surviving for now was clearly the optimal choice.
Sasori briefly lamented his lost work and, seeing that Shitō hadn't noticed, quickly climbed out through the Earth House's window.
The instant Sasori disappeared, Tobitake Tonbo snapped awake. Seeing Shimon already alert, he silently mouthed that he would follow.
"Huh… ha… hmm, who?!"
Takeshi, sleeping soundly, immediately opened his eyes when he sensed someone approaching. He drew a Senbon from the ninja tool pouch at his leg, aiming it toward the intruder.
"It's me, Captain. Sasori has started moving."
Shimon waved frantically to indicate he meant no harm, silently criticizing Takeshi's utterly ungraceful sleeping posture.
"Shitō-san and Tobitake Tonbo have already gone after him. As expected of the captain, he even thought to use a weak seal intentionally to give him an escape opportunity—thereby drawing out Uchiha's hidden location."
Shimon praised Takeshi's plan, while Takeshi himself was completely baffled.
Weak seal intentionally?
His seals had been personally guided by sealing masters Kushina and Danzō, and for safety, he had even added an extra curse. How could they possibly be weak?
Shimon didn't notice Takeshi's odd expression and continued speaking.
"The captain was brilliant. When Tobitake Tonbo read the memories, he sensed this. With no communication between them, it made Sasori feel a false sense of luck."
Through Shimon's explanation, Takeshi gradually understood the sequence of events.
In other words, the two layers of security he painstakingly set up not only failed entirely but were detected by the Chūnin before failing?
Impossible… Last time with Pakura, it went fine, and back then his sealing and curse skills were weaker than now.
"Ahem… yeah, I didn't expect you to notice either. In that case, let's follow."
Takeshi cleared his throat, hastily rising from the ice, making an effort not to notice Shimon's admiring gaze.
...
"Didn't expect you to come out on your own. Seems Konoha's Jonin aren't all that great."
As Sasori moved through the forest, a teasing voice sounded from above.
"Zetsu… what are you doing here?"
Sasori stopped, looking up at the black-and-white, peculiar creature.
"Well, the organization received Fudō's support request. But the boss wasn't around, so they sent me instead."
Zetsu wobbled and appeared on a branch, landing in front of Sasori.
"There are a few pursuers behind you. What do you want to do, deal with them?"
Zetsu had noticed the group tailing Sasori and asked for his opinion.
"With your strength? You still couldn't handle that guy. I don't have a suitable puppet either."
Sasori coldly sized up Zetsu, his tone indifferent.
"Then let's run. I'll hold them off for a while."
Zetsu said, summoning a new White Zetsu.
It was a strange White Zetsu with a spiral face, its body appearing hollow.
"Climb on me, Sasori-sama. Let me bring you back to the organization. By the way, if you know what a bathroom urge is, tell me beforehand."
The Spiral White Zetsu opened its body and enveloped Sasori completely, regardless of his consent.
"Tch… can you even handle this?"
Sasori stood in place, letting the Spiral White Zetsu wrap him, his words full of doubt in Zetsu's abilities.
"Delaying time, I can manage."
Black Zetsu spoke partially, his tone deliberately indifferent, though internally he cursed Sasori endlessly.
I'm the son of Kaguya! A few Uchiha could curse all they want, but even you look down on me?!
"Shitō-san, enemy reinforcements are here!"
Tobitake Tonbo, following Sasori, noticed the anomaly ahead and quickly warned Shitō.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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