Chapter 403: Eternal Art

Minato's face tensed as his eyes locked on the puppet standing beside Sasori. The features of the puppet were unmistakable—it was the Third Kazekage, the leader of Sunagakure who had been missing for months.

Though Minato had never met the Kazekage in person, Konoha's intelligence network had provided plenty of details on the man, making his identity unmistakable. The realization struck him like a blow.

"Haha, I never thought you'd recognize the Third Kazekage so quickly," Sasori sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

Minato's sharp eyes followed Sasori's movements. He raised his hands, and ten azure threads of chakra extended from his fingertips, connecting him to the puppet.

Minato's mind raced. Why would Sasori go to such lengths to model the puppet after the Third Kazekage? He didn't have time to dwell on the thought.

The faint sound of shifting sand reached his ears, breaking the tense silence. Behind the puppet, black iron sand began to rise, swirling ominously. The iron sand shifted, forming hundreds of sharp, needle-like projectiles, each glinting with deadly precision.

With a flick of Sasori's fingers, the deadly rain was unleashed.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Hundreds of black needles shot through the air like a storm, tearing apart the ground and shattering the trucks Minato's team had spent nearly half a month escorting. The sheer speed of the attack left no time for countermeasures—except for Minato.

In a flash, Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique activated.

A second later, he and his team reappeared several meters away, completely unharmed.

Obito, Rin, and even Kakashi were momentarily stunned. They had been on the brink of death, yet their sensei had whisked them away in an instant.

"Three people at once…" Sasori murmured, narrowing his eyes as he noticed the subtle markings on Kakashi's forearm. They were the seals of Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique. "He marked them beforehand… I see."

Sasori's expression darkened as he calculated. He hadn't expected the first attack to succeed, knowing full well Minato's prowess. Yet, to mark all three of his subordinates and teleport them away simultaneously—it was a testament to the man's extraordinary skill.

Minato pulled a three-pronged kunai from a nearby tree, his expression grim. His sharp eyes scanned the remnants of the shattered truck, noting the black sand that littered the ground.

"Iron Sand…" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. This was no ordinary weapon. It was a signature ability of the Third Kazekage himself. The realization sent a chill through him.

The iron sand was not only lethal but laced with a potent toxin, capable of paralyzing or killing anyone it touched. The fact that Sasori had preserved the Kazekage's abilities within the puppet was a disturbing revelation.

"You three need to leave. Now," Minato said firmly, his eyes locked on Sasori.

Obito's frustration flared. "But Sensei—"

Kakashi interrupted, placing a hand on Obito's shoulder. "He's right. We'd only get in the way. Let's go." His tone was calm but carried an undertone of urgency.

Obito clenched his fists, reluctant but understanding the gravity of the situation. "Sensei… please be careful."

Minato nodded as his students turned and retreated, disappearing into the forest. Sasori made no move to stop them, his focus entirely on the man standing before him.

Minato took a few steps forward, his kunai in hand, his gaze unwavering. "The disappearance of the Third Kazekage… it was you, wasn't it?"

Sasori's smirk widened, though his eyes gleamed with something darker.

"It's as you suspect," he replied casually, almost as if discussing the weather. "The great Kazekage… now my greatest work of art."

Minato's jaw tightened. He had suspected Sasori's involvement in the Kazekage's disappearance, but to see it confirmed—and to see the Kazekage reduced to a puppet—was more grotesque than he had imagined.

This wasn't an ordinary puppet. It wasn't a lifeless construct manipulated by chakra. Sasori had somehow preserved the abilities of the Kazekage in death. Such a feat was unprecedented, a horrifying blend of genius and madness.

"You've taken the abilities of the living and preserved them in death," Minato said. "You've created something beyond any puppet I've ever seen. But this… this is a violation of humanity itself."

Sasori's laugh was sharp and hollow. "You think too highly of your morals, Namikaze Minato. This isn't about humanity. It's about eternal art."

"Eternal art?"

"Life is fleeting. From the moment we're born, we march toward death. No matter how powerful you are, how strong your will, you will eventually rot into nothing. But art—true art—transcends that. It endures. It becomes eternal."

Sasori's tone grew fanatical, his handsome face contorted by obsession. "The Third Kazekage should be grateful! I've immortalized him, transformed him into something greater than he ever was in life. He is the foundation of my masterpiece!"

Minato's expression hardened. "Your so-called art is nothing more than the desperate cries of someone who refuses to face reality."

The words struck a nerve. Sasori's smile faltered, and a flicker of rage crossed his face. "What would someone like you know?!" he hissed.

Behind the puppet, the iron sand began to move again. It swirled like a living entity, forming a dark, fluid mass before transforming into razor-sharp shapes—spears, needles, and whips of black iron.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

The deadly projectiles shot toward Minato with terrifying speed, cutting through the air like streaks of lightning.

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