After the crowd dispersed, Yahiko noticed Nagato looked worried. He patted his shoulder and smiled, "Worried about that Kunoichi who might be your clanswoman? Don't worry about it. After the Chunin Exams, we'll just take her with us."
Konan teased, "People might mistake you for a bandit leader."
Yahiko laughed self-deprecatingly, "In the eyes of the leader of the Land of Rain, our 'Akatsuki' probably isn't much different from bandits."
Noticing Nagato was still silent, Yahiko asked, "Nagato, what's wrong?"
Nagato looked at the two with a complex expression and asked hesitantly, "You really didn't feel anything just now?"
"Ah? Feel what?" Yahiko was puzzled.
Nagato took a deep breath. "That Kusagakure's Ninja didn't escape. He was killed by the Konoha's Ninja... He wasn't directly killed, but he definitely won't survive."
"Ah?" Yahiko knew Nagato's power and would rather doubt himself than doubt Nagato, "Were we under a Genjutsu?"
"It wasn't a Genjutsu. Perhaps it was... Taijutsu?" Nagato's eyes were confused, as he wasn't sure what that power was either.
"Taijutsu?" Both Yahiko and Konan were stunned, 'Could Taijutsu do something like that?'
Nagato took another deep breath, "It wasn't just you two. Almost everyone was frozen by him, as if time had stopped. That feeling of isolation was terrifying."
Although Yahiko and Konan hadn't felt it themselves, just from Nagato's description, they could sense how frightening it was.
Yahiko came to his senses and asked urgently, "Then did he notice you weren't affected?"
Nagato nodded. "He did."
"Did he do anything to you?" Yahiko was very nervous.
"No, he didn't seem to care that I witnessed it. Perhaps he just dislikes trouble and didn't want to waste time on such matters," Nagato guessed.
Yahiko was silent for a moment, "Maybe... we should give up on this mission?"
"Why? This is your dream, finally taking a step towards peace," Nagato asked.
"The opponents are too powerful. I can't let you risk exposing your abilities," Yahiko shook his head.
"Let me try. I won't push myself. I'll only use the power of summoning. If it still doesn't work, I'll admit defeat promptly," Nagato said sincerely.
Yahiko hesitated for a moment before saying, "Alright then. Maybe that person isn't as powerful as we imagine."
…
"He's the bounty target, Chiaki Setsuna?" Kakuzu licked his dry lips, 'The difficulty is high, no wonder someone at the underground exchange placed such a high bounty on him.'
'To be able to tear apart the Fire Prison with his bare body... what a perfect vessel,' Sasori examined Setsuna obsessively. After appreciating the street drama, he returned home with the materials he bought from the puppet shop.
Chiyo was already home, but Sasori didn't greet her, walking straight towards his room as if she were a stranger.
Chiyo sighed. "Sasori, I have something to discuss with you."
Sasori's tone was cold. "What is it, old woman?"
Chiyo said gravely, "Let me tell you a secret first. Don't panic after hearing it, and don't tell anyone. Kazekage-sama has actually been missing for almost two months."
Sasori's expression was slightly strange, but Chiyo didn't notice and continued, "We can't keep this news hidden much longer. If it gets out, the Daimyo will likely cut our funding again. So we plan to use this Chunin Exam to secure next year's military budget with the Daimyo before the news of the Kazekage-sama's disappearance spreads."
"This requires us to deliver a sufficiently impressive performance in the Chunin Exams. You know the situation in Sunagakure. Among the Genin, the most outstanding is Baki, but his abilities probably won't satisfy the Daimyo."
Sasori immediately understood and asked coldly, "You want me to fabricate an identity and participate in the Chunin Exams?"
Chiyo nodded. "I know this is difficult for you. If you're unwilling, I won't force you..."
"I accept," Sasori said succinctly.
"...I could just give Baki a powerful puppet that's easy to operate-" Chiyo was halfway through her sentence when she processed his words and looked at him in disbelief. "You accept?"
Sasori said calmly, "This Chunin Exam will be very interesting. Given Sunagakure's strength, if they encounter those two, the outcome will be a crushing defeat."
Chiyo was startled and asked urgently, "Do you know something?"
Sasori said, "I just happened to witness a good show when I went out. Among the Konoha and Iwagakure's participants, there is one from each who makes me feel threatened."
"Makes you feel threatened?" Chiyo was genuinely surprised. Even she wasn't sure of Sasori's exact strength, but there was no doubt that very few among Sunagakure's Jonin could be his match.
"That Konoha's Ninja is purely powerful. As for the Iwagakure's Ninja, he had an impulse to act at one point but restrained himself in the end. If he hadn't leaked his aura due to emotional agitation, I would never have imagined that such a small street could hide so many powerful individuals," Sasori marveled.
"They must be Jonin from Konoha and Iwagakure disguised as Genin for the exam! How despicable!" Chiyo couldn't help but curse, 'Our Sunagakure was only considering the idea, but those two villages had already put it into action.'
"Many people in the village know your identity. You can only fight while hiding inside a puppet, and you can't even use your commonly used puppets. Can you really defeat your opponents under these conditions?" Chiyo worried.
Previously, she hadn't worried about this at all. Even if Sasori hid inside a puppet and controlled non-primary combat puppets, dealing with some Genin would still be effortless.
But now Sasori himself said there were two opponents in the exam who made him feel danger. With these restrictions, the chances of winning weren't high.
Sure enough, Sasori answered truthfully, "I don't know either."
"Maybe... we should just forget it?" Chiyo gritted her teeth, deciding to have Sasori withdraw.
She was worried that if Sasori's method of fighting from inside a puppet was discovered, such a scandal could break a person.
For example, the Konoha's White Fang, whom she despised the most, had chosen to end his life under public condemnation.
Sasori's voice turned even colder. "Old woman, this is my own decision. Don't interfere."
Chiyo wasn't angry, instead, she felt pleased. "You've grown up, knowing to share the village's burdens."
"Share the village's burdens?" A mocking smile curled at the corner of Sasori's lips, but he didn't argue. His eyes just grew slightly burning. 'Chiaki Setsuna, will your body become eternal art?'