Just as the tension in the room reached its peak, Kazekage suddenly burst into laughter. "Haha, that was absolutely delicious! Sasori, I never expected you'd actually find such a great ingredient. What did that flower look like?"
Sasori, who had been tense moments ago, immediately relaxed and replied, "It's a gorgeous big red flower. I'd never seen anything like it before. I found it by chance while on a mission and brought some back out of curiosity. If Kazekage-sama enjoys it so much, I'll gladly give all of it to you."
Kazekage waved his hand and said, "No, no, you should also give some to your grandmother."
Sasori agreed, "I will. Then Kazekage-sama, I'll bring you some more food tomorrow."
Kazekage nodded with a smile and said, "Alright then, thank you in advance."
Thus, for three consecutive days, Sasori served food to Kazekage, who couldn't get enough of it — once you taste good food, you never forget it — completely unaware of Sasori's hidden murderous intent.
On the fourth day, Kazekage was working at his desk but couldn't concentrate. His mind was occupied solely with the food Sasori would soon deliver, leaving him unable to calm himself down. Even the documents in front of him felt unusually tedious.
Something's wrong. Why am I becoming so obsessed with food? Kazekage sensed something unusual. Sure, Sunagakure was pretty much out in the middle of nowhere, and he hadn't had much chance to enjoy fancy food before, but that shouldn't have messed with his work like this. Could there be something wrong with the food Sasori has been serving me? Doubt crept into Kazekage's mind.
At this moment, he could no longer resist his curiosity. He performed a Shunshin and arrived at the kitchen where chefs were busily preparing meals. Quietly, he began searching for that mysterious red flower Sasori had mentioned, but found nothing.
What's going on? Is the flower always delivered last? His confusion deepened. Without further hesitation, he left immediately to search for Sasori.
After searching everywhere, Kazekage surprisingly couldn't find any trace of Sasori. His suspicions began growing stronger. How strange! Where could that kid have gone? Could that flower really be suspicious? Where else could he hide?
Pondering for a moment, suddenly an idea struck Kazekage. That's right — Chiyo has a secret laboratory specifically for developing various experimental substances. Since the flower was something Sasori had just recently acquired, perhaps he was studying it there.
With a clear direction now, Kazekage didn't hesitate any longer and headed straight for the laboratory. Just then, a conversation floated out from inside: "It's already been four days, Kurotsuchi-niisan. Should we increase the dosage? I think he's completely hooked now."
"No, Scorpion. The more critical the moment, the calmer you must stay. To achieve success, you must be patient. Don't let impatience in a crucial moment cause failure at the final stage."
"Kurotsuchi-niisan, you're right. I guess I'm being too impatient. It's just... every time I see him, my hatred grows stronger. I'm afraid I won't be able to hide it much longer."
Hearing this, Kazekage was both shocked and furious. No longer bothering to conceal himself, he kicked the door open with one powerful strike.
Inside the room, Sasori stood alongside a completely unfamiliar young man named Jiro.
Kazekage's gaze quickly locked onto Sasori. His voice roared in furious anger: "Sasori, you've got guts! Actually daring to collude with outsiders to kill me!"
Caught off guard by someone's sudden appearance, Anya and Sasori simultaneously broke into cold sweat. But Anya, having experienced more than Sasori, instantly analyzed the current situation the moment he saw Kazekage.
Kazekage must be alone. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone undetected. Now their assassination attempt had been discovered. Their only path forward was to overpower him completely. They couldn't cause too much commotion either—if they did, they'd face an entire village of attacking ninjas, a ten-death-no-life scenario.
Since the situation was now clear, the instant Kazekage issued his accusation, Anya launched his attack first: [Bringer-of-Darkness Technique].
The Kinjutsu Anya learned earliest—and later abandoned due to its immense chakra consumption—was undoubtedly the best choice under these circumstances. After cohabiting with Orochimaru for over half a year, he already understood the technique's extraordinary power. Unlike The Second's mere illusions, it contained his own dark soul force. Once someone was enveloped within this darkness, they couldn't escape until their chakra ran out.
As soon as Kazekage voiced his accusation, his vision plunged into total darkness. Infinite killing intent surrounded him entirely. A huge warning bell went off in his mind. He no longer entertained any hope—he immediately performed hand seals: "Magnet Release, Iron Sand Wall."
At the moment he lost sight of his enemy, Kazekage adopted a defensive strategy. Yet right after casting the jutsu, he felt a sudden sluggishness creep into his chakra. His once-potent chakra felt obstructed, as if something was blocking its flow entirely. Just performing one simple ninjutsu left him gasping for breath.
What was going on? Oh right—the flower! The food Sasori gave me—it was poisoned!
A wave of dread washed through Kazekage. If not for sensing abnormalities today and coming early, continuing like this might've led him to death without even knowing why.
Having successfully trapped Kazekage, Anya wasted no time unleashing his strongest sword art at present: [Breaking the Blade].
Yet surprisingly, Breaking the Blade achieved nothing today. The powerful blade aura deviated mid-strike. Even the ninja blade in his hand was uncontrollably pulled toward a specific direction, dragging Anya along with it.
Anya instantly realized what happened. Kazekage's Kekkei Genkai was Magnet Release—his sword attacks were entirely countered. Three years away from battle, and he should have known better. His former teacher's insistence on battlefield training amidst war was indeed right—a life of comfort really dulls a blade. Previously, he would've noticed immediately.
Seemingly anticipating the result, Kazekage formed new hand seals again: "Magnet Release, Iron Sand Drizzle."
The previously solidified iron sand wall rapidly transformed, with a roaring sound like crashing ocean waves. Countless fine needles shaped from flowing iron sand locked onto every direction within the darkness space ahead. This technique's sheer range could easily encompass the entire dark space.
Anyanka's only defensive ninjutsu was Rashōmon. However, once this technique was unleashed, it would immediately let everyone nearby know a major battle had erupted here. No, she couldn't use it.
If that were the case, then she had no choice but to risk everything.
A flash of crimson light flickered across Anyanka's eyes. The three tomoe within her Sharingan spun and reshaped into sharp, new blade-like forms—her Mangekyo Sharingan had awakened.
She shut her left eye tight and fully activated her right eye. A thin line of blood trickled down from the corner of her eye as the chakra embedded in her pupil instantly surged outward.
Under Time Acceleration, Anyanka's Shunshin achieved a speed surpassing even the Flying Thunder God technique. Before Kazekage could finish his attack, she had already disappeared and reappeared directly in front of him.
[Phantom Sword Art] activated. As Kazekage watched in stunned disbelief, the chakra scalpel pierced straight through his throat.
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