Sasori's significance to Sunagakure was, in some ways, comparable to Konoha's Fourth Hokage.
That wasn't an exaggeration.
At the height of his power and reputation, if Sasori had wanted to become Kazekage, no one could have reasonably stopped him.
The Third Kazekage was posthumously hailed as the strongest in Suna's history—but the truth was far more tragic.
His fate went beyond mere death.
He had been murdered, desecrated, and stripped of every last ounce of value, even after his corpse should have been allowed to rest.
If anything, that alone proved one thing beyond doubt:
If Sasori had wanted the title of Kazekage, the so-called "strongest Kazekage" would have been nothing more than a joke to him.
Ren never expected that a single mission in the Land of Wind would let him run into so many… once-in-a-generation lunatics.
And yet, the moment Sasori appeared, a new thought surfaced in Ren's mind.
Someone like this—
If his influence wasn't exploited properly, that would be a real waste.
"Oh?"
Sasori approached unhurriedly, his footsteps light against the sand. After sweeping his gaze over Ren and the others, he smiled.
"To think I'd find you here. I've been searching for several days."
Shisui frowned, instinctively stepping half a pace forward.
"And who are you supposed to be? You don't look like a shinobi of Sunagakure. Why are you looking for us?"
"Mm. I'm not part of Sunagakure anymore," Sasori replied calmly.
He produced a scroll and unfurled it without haste.
"As for why—while investigating the traces of your battle, I realized I needed some… materials."
A puff of white smoke burst forth.
When it cleared, a humanoid puppet stood before them.
"You're all quite suitable," Sasori continued lightly. "So here I am."
Materials?
Suitable?
Shisui didn't immediately understand—but Ren did.
This guy is completely insane.
Ren cursed inwardly.
Sasori hadn't come to the Land of Wind for politics or revenge—he'd come shopping.
And now, his eyes had landed on Ren's group… and Pakura.
The shinobi world was full of people who either thrived brilliantly—or lost their minds entirely.
The Uchiha were already prime examples.
But Sasori?
He was cut from the same cloth—and possibly even worse.
"Enough talk," Sasori said, unbothered by their reactions.
"May I ask one thing? Which village are you from?"
He smiled faintly.
"Of course, you don't have to answer. I can always examine you later."
"Puppeteer…"
Shisui's eyes narrowed.
With his Sharingan, he could see chakra threads clearly—puppets didn't frighten him.
But when he noticed the black iron sand floating around the puppet—
His expression changed instantly.
"Black iron sand… that's—!"
"The Third Kazekage," Shisui breathed.
The Third Kazekage had vanished years ago, his disappearance even triggering large-scale conflict.
And now—
The so-called strongest Kazekage had been turned into a puppet.
In that moment, Shisui finally understood what Sasori meant by "materials."
"…You're insane," Shisui muttered.
Ren glanced at him sideways.
An Uchiha calling someone else insane—now that was ironic.
"Call it what you like," Sasori replied indifferently.
"Now then—let me show you my art."
With a flick of his fingers, the iron sand erupted.
Needle-thin projectiles filled the air, raining down like a storm toward Ren and Shisui.
Both of them moved instantly, slipping through the gaps at blinding speed.
None of the needles struck home.
But Shisui's expression grew darker.
"Even after death… the bloodline limit remains."
He stared at the puppet, jaw tight.
"Who are you?"
Ren, by contrast, remained composed.
He weaved through the iron rain effortlessly, hands already forming seals.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
The sand collapsed inward, and a thick earthen barrier burst upward.
Clang! Clang!
Iron needles struck the wall in rapid succession.
Without pause, Ren shifted seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A massive dragon head formed from the wall itself, roaring as it launched dense streams of hardened mud toward Sasori.
"Hm."
Sasori raised a brow.
He wasn't impressed by flashy techniques—but by fundamentals.
And Ren's control was unmistakably solid.
With a single motion, iron sand surged and formed a dense barrier.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Shield."
The dragon bullets shattered harmlessly against it.
"This is it!"
Shisui seized the opening, flashing forward.
Against a puppeteer, the rule was simple—
Close the distance. Kill the controller.
But Sasori turned calmly.
Iron sand twisted, forming countless black spears that shot toward Shisui.
Shisui was forced to retreat.
Such dense Magnet Release left no room for reckless advances.
Behind them, Yugao and Pakura watched in stunned silence.
Pakura's breath hitched.
She recognized that iron sand instantly.
"That can't be…"
Her fists clenched.
The missing Third Kazekage—reduced to a puppet.
And the one controlling him—
"…Is it really him? But why…?"
Yugao caught her reaction immediately.
"You know him?"
"Threats won't work," Pakura said bitterly.
"If you can kill him, I'd thank you—but I don't have information to give."
Her hatred was real.
Sasori had abandoned Sunagakure long ago. Even she didn't know his whereabouts.
And facing someone who had silently assassinated the strongest Kazekage—
Who wielded that power as a puppet—
She saw no path to victory.
Then—
Boom!
The ground shook violently.
Yugao and Pakura nearly lost their footing.
They looked up together.
A signal flare bloomed in the night sky, brilliant and unmistakable.
Pakura's face drained of all color.
That flare—
It came from her.
Understanding struck her like a blade.
She screamed, voice hoarse with fury:
"You damn bastard—YOU DESERVE TO DIE!"
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