Among those present, Shigeo's clones and true body were indistinguishable. But there was only one Chiyo-baasama—so she had to be the real one. If they killed her, there would be one less opponent on the field.
The massive puppet hands came crashing down, suddenly splitting into hundreds of smaller hands that slammed toward Chiyo.
She retreated rapidly while Deidara supported from above, releasing clay birds to surround her in a tightening ring.
Explosions thundered. The heavy thuds of puppet hands pounding the earth continued.
Sweat beaded on Chiyo's brow as one of Shigeo's Mokuton (Wood Release) clones rushed forward to assist.
Another clone flashed through seals. "Mokuton: Tsuisatsu no Jutsu (Pursuit Technique)!"
Countless tree trunks and branches erupted from the ground, chasing Sasori. The wooden tendrils shot forward at blistering speed. Though some were snapped apart by Deidara's exploding clay, their growth and pursuit didn't slow in the least.
Sasori darted left and right to dodge. When he looked back again, Chiyo-baasama was already in danger. Gritting his teeth, his fingers twitched and chakra threads guided the Third Kazekage puppet back into battle.
A bamboo tube extended, spewing thick purple smoke across the area.
"Careful—it's poison!" Chiyo warned the Shigeo beside her. She didn't know if this one was the real body or a clone, but caution was never wrong.
She covered her mouth and started backing away.
From above, Deidara shouted, "Scorpion, are you insane? If I inhale your poison gas, I'm done for! And how am I supposed to help you fight that guy if you keep doing that? His Mokuton is a pain already!"
Even as he yelled, the sound of splintering wood rose below—crack after crack—until a puppet shattered into fragments.
Shigeo's Mokuton pursuit had used the cover of the purple haze to bind the Third Kazekage puppet, crush it, and destroy it outright.
Feeling the slack vanish from his chakra threads, Sasori's heart surged with fury. With a flick, a massive scroll unfurled. Dozens of puppets appeared. "Let's see if you can keep relying on Mokuton!"
At least the enemy wasn't using Jiton (Magnet Release). If he had, Sasori would already be finished.
The chakra armor he'd used to protect puppet joints had only been applied to Hiruko. The rest had no protection at all. His chakra was limited—fifteen minutes of protection was already his limit. If the opponent unleashed Magnet Release again, all advantage would be lost.
Dozens of puppets surged forward. The ground came alive again as Mokuton erupted once more.
The enemy controlled puppets; Shigeo's clones commanded the forest. As long as he could see a target, he could strike it. His chakra reserves were immense—even his clones carried tenfold the power of an ordinary ninja.
The Mokuton spread like a living thing, chasing from all sides. In moments, half of Sasori's army was smashed apart.
He unleashed another wave—this time, two hundred puppets—and once again snarled, "Let's see you keep using Mokuton!"
But Shigeo had grown tired of wasting time. The clone received the signal from the main body. A Bakuton (Explosion Release) wave surged. The pit beneath them roared like an erupting cauldron.
Wood shattered. Puppets flew.
Amid the chaos, another clone slipped behind Sasori. A single stroke drove a blade through his chest.
Blood spilled. Sasori turned, eyes wide, and saw Shigeo standing right behind him. "You… are you Shigeo?"
The man didn't answer. He only looked forward and said, "Your grandmother's waiting for you."
He drew the blade free. Sasori turned his head. Amid the roaring explosions, the old woman—white-haired, trembling—ran toward him, ignoring the blast waves, the wooden shrapnel tearing her skin.
Sasori gazed deeply at her. If his heart hadn't been pierced, maybe they could have shared one more moment. But now it was over. Forget his three hundred puppets—he couldn't even save himself.
"Scorpion…" Chiyo-baasama reached his side, extending a hand. But Sasori lifted his arm instead, revealing the hidden weapon inside. The tip gleamed a cold blue. If she took another step, he'd fire the poison.
She stopped. They looked at each other. Sasori closed his eyes. The core that was his heart ceased to beat.
Shigeo's clone dispersed. A voice echoed from the air: "Baasama, I'll leave Gaara to you."
Only then did Chiyo remember—Gaara was still inside the cave. She turned and leapt down the gorge. As she fell, she looked back one last time at Sasori. With a flick of her hand, she released the puppets of "Mother" and "Father." They sprinted toward Sasori.
Hearing the sound, Sasori raised his head slightly. When he saw Father and Mother approaching, he closed his eyes again. They reached him, arms outstretched, and held him gently.
For that moment, his world was whole again.
Sasori had spent a lifetime healing his childhood. His parents' deaths had left him yearning for company. To him, only things that could endure forever were true art—those that stayed with him all his life.
Sasori died. In the sky above, Deidara watched and gave a cold snort.
"I told you. How can your art compare to mine? Only the fleeting beauty of an explosion deserves to be called art."
He scanned the surroundings but found no trace of Shigeo or his clones.
The opponent was troublesome. No point waiting. Sasori was dead; better to return and report.
He turned. A clay bird carried him north.
Wind whistled. Fifty li from the battlefield, he stopped. Something felt wrong. Had that man—whom Sasori had mistaken for Shigeo—really let him go so easily?
"Don't tell me… he thinks I'm not worthy of being his opponent?" Deidara's yellow ponytail flicked. One eye widened as he turned to glance back.
Then he noticed it. Hanging upside down from the belly of the clay bird was that same man, staring up at him with deep blue eyes.
Startled, Deidara shouted, "What the hell do you want?!"
Shigeo straightened in midair and floated beside him. "Simple. I want you to join my Nanmo Ninja Village."
"You're really Shigeo?"
"Yes." Shigeo restored his true form—jet-black hair streaming in the wind, deep blue eyes like the sea, features so handsome it was unfair. Deidara's irritation spiked.
"No way! I'll never join Nanmo!"
He barely finished speaking when Shigeo shot forward. His eyes shifted into the Rinnegan pattern. A black staff extended from his hand and stabbed straight toward Deidara's heart.
(End of Chapter)
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