Chapter 120: Third Kazekage vs. Sasori of the Red Sand!

In an abandoned town, half-buried by wind and sand, Shūichi had already transformed into a rattlesnake, silently lurking in the shadows.

A rattlesnake in the desert—completely inconspicuous.

At this moment, the Third Kazekage was just meeting with the other person Shūichi had detected.

"Kazekage-sama, you're quite slow, making me wait this long... You know, I hate waiting the most," said a voice with mild annoyance.

The Third Kazekage remained indifferent to Sasori's words, responding calmly, "What's so urgent about this meeting?"

"You should be preparing to take action against that person," Sasori replied, his voice tinged with amusement from under his black cloak. "As expected of a heartless leader…"

"Even puppets need rest and replacement of worn-out parts. You should know that I've just helped you eliminate a few small nations that proposed cutting down the village's budget."

The Third Kazekage remained emotionless. "That was the price you paid for me pardoning your crime of attempting to assassinate the Kazekage!"

"Enough with the small talk," he continued, "What's the real reason you've called me here today?"

With a soft laugh, Sasori replied, "I want to show you my masterpiece!"

"Trust me, it'll be invaluable for building a stronger puppet army in Sunagakure."

The Kazekage scoffed, already knowing what Sasori was referring to. "Your human puppets?"

"That's forbidden in the ninja world. You're only tolerated because you're a rogue ninja!"

Sunagakure developing human puppets would inevitably provoke attacks from the other major villages, and even the smaller ninja villages would join in.

Despite the superiority of human puppets, which could retain the chakra nature and abilities of the deceased, no individual threat could outweigh the danger of provoking an entire village, especially one of the Five Great Nations.

Sasori took out a scroll, still smiling. "Isn't developing Jinchūriki cruel enough? Isn't waging war cruel enough? Using enemy bodies to create puppets—now that's resourceful!"

"Kazekage, you're too soft!"

As his words trailed off, Sasori unsealed the scroll, and a puppet emerged.

The Third Kazekage looked on, unsurprised. "You turned Konoha's White Fang into a puppet? If Konoha finds out, you're as good as dead!"

Sasori remained unfazed. "Are they really going to invade the Land of Wind?"

"Will the Third Hokage personally come for me?"

He didn't care about the others. After all, he had attempted to assassinate the Kazekage three times and still escaped, not solely because the Kazekage had held back.

The Kazekage underestimated him!

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Sasori's eyes sharpened beneath his hood, and his fingers twitched.

Clang!

The White Fang puppet charged forward swiftly, a sharp blade shooting out from its right arm, crackling with electricity.

"As expected, you still haven't given up!"

The Third Kazekage sneered as he quickly retreated, sending Iron Sand flying at Sasori.

Having survived three assassination attempts from Sasori, he was always prepared, even though Sasori's abilities were perfectly countered by his.

Just as the puppet lunged, it suddenly fell from midair.

But the moment it hit the ground, a chain shot out from its left hand, wrapping around the Kazekage's left leg as he was retreating.

"Even Iron Sand can't completely neutralize a puppet's abilities in one strike!"

"Kazekage-sama should be familiar with the White Fang's powers, right?" Sasori chuckled.

The Third Kazekage's expression darkened. Just as he was about to break free from the chain, a surge of electricity coursed through him.

It's Konoha's White Fang's Lightning Style!

The last time they fought, he had already experienced it!

However, since he had that experience, how could he not have a countermeasure prepared?

His skin was coated with a layer of Iron Sand, which indeed couldn't defend against Lightning Style directly.

But he could make sure that this Iron Sand defense layer stayed a certain distance from his skin, allowing the electricity to be conducted away.

The Third Kazekage's reaction was lightning-fast. Though his body was surrounded by electric light, he only felt a slight numbness and hadn't lost his ability to fight completely.

"Impressive, as expected from the strongest Kazekage!"

Watching the Iron Sand gradually form into a massive sword, Sasori of the Red Sand couldn't help but admire.

But it was clear that the Third Kazekage's control over the Iron Sand wasn't what it used to be—much slower.

And this was exactly what Sasori had anticipated!

Boom! 

Another sealing scroll was unsealed, and ten more puppet soldiers shot out. Two of them charged at the Iron Sand sword, five positioned themselves around the Third Kazekage, and chains shot out, wrapping around his body.

Before the Iron Sand could reach them, the puppets activated their mechanisms, driving thick iron stakes into the ground, locking them in place.

This terrain had been carefully selected by Sasori—the ground wasn't yet covered by windblown sand, so the stakes could secure firmly, preventing the Third Kazekage from flying away using Magnet Release.

The remaining three puppets defended Sasori from the Third Kazekage's attacks.

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

One by one, the puppets were smashed to pieces by the Iron Sand.

Even though they were human puppets, in front of the Third Kazekage, they were as fragile as paper.

But Sasori didn't care. Avoiding the Kazekage's strikes, he pulled out another sealing scroll—ten more puppets emerged.

Each one had been crafted from the ninja Sasori had killed while carrying out the secret missions assigned by the Third Kazekage to destroy small nations.

At this moment, the Third Kazekage severed Sasori's chakra strings that controlled the White Fang puppet, causing the Lightning Style effect to dissipate instantly.

Yet Sasori remained unfazed. His ten new puppets spun into action, spreading out around the battlefield, releasing thick clouds of poison gas that quickly enveloped the Kazekage.

"Kazekage-sama, I've spent years preparing for this day!"

"You bastard!"

The Third Kazekage's expression finally changed.

The paralysis from the Lightning Style was quickly wearing off, and his control over the Iron Sand was returning—but it was too late.

He wasn't afraid of the poisonous weapons, but he couldn't stop himself from breathing.

In their previous encounters, Sasori had primarily relied on poison to injure him.

But with his speed, the poison had never been able to reach him.

Now, however… he was trapped!

Yet neither of the two combatants noticed the rattlesnake, with only its head peeking out, quietly watching them.

What a spectacle!

It was truly thrilling!

Shūichi almost wanted to applaud.

Indeed, no one knows you better than your enemy!

Sometimes, they understand you even better than you know yourself!

Sasori had thoroughly studied the Third Kazekage, especially after those three assassination attempts.

The Third Kazekage, on the other hand, was too proud and underestimated Sasori.

Though his cautious nature kept him wary of the traitorous Sasori, he still looked down on him.

For someone who had tried to assassinate him three times, he continued to use him—even if it was like using a broken chamber pot.

But a broken pot smells awful!

One day, it might just stink enough to suffocate you!

And now, the Third Kazekage had fallen into Sasori's trap.

He had unknowingly stuck his head into the chamber pot while sleeping.

First, Sasori used Lightning Style to slightly limit his abilities, then he restricted his movement, and finally, poisoned him!

Sasori's core strategy was always centered around poison.

Taking all of this in, Shūichi knew he had to learn from this—a dead enemy is the best and most lovable kind!

Seeing the Third Kazekage trapped in the poison gas, along with the rapidly spreading fumes, Shūichi could no longer stay hidden.

He immediately transformed back from the rattlesnake into his original form, and in a split second, transformed again.

The speed was so fast there was barely any pause, and he had turned from a rattlesnake into Roshi!

Clap!

Shūichi clapped his hands together, and the Four-Tails' chakra flared around him, enveloping his entire body, before quickly morphing into a lava armor.

(End of Chapter)

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