Chapter 276: Ci – Yo! Isn’t This Lord Sasori!?

Chapter 276: Ci – Yo! Isn't This Lord Sasori!?

Seeing Yuyashiro Homura disperse the red-haired boy's sand clone with Water Release: Water Hail, the finely crafted flintlock pistol fell to the ground with a crisp clatter.

Uchiha Ci immediately scampered forward, eager to pick up the beautifully designed firearm.

But just as he reached for it—

The image relayed by [Mind's Eye] made him pause slightly.

At this moment—

The one who had just launched a sneak attack on Yuyashiro Homura had silently crept up behind Uchiha Ci using Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique.

One look, and it was clear this wasn't an upstanding individual.

However, Uchiha Ci merely curled his lips into a faint smile and chose to ignore the attacker entirely.

Instead, he continued to pick up the exquisite flintlock pistol from the sand, his face filled with amazement as he inspected it—touching it here, feeling it there.

After all, this was a gun!

How rare!

In his previous life, Uchiha Ci had only seen such things in movies and TV shows. This was the first time he was actually touching one with his own hands—and in the Shinobi World, no less!

He was as excited as a child.

His eyes roamed over its intricate parts—the polished wooden grip, the steel trigger, the flintlock mechanism, the hammer, the ominous black barrel. Even the lingering scent of sulfur from the gunpowder explosion after the last shot was still present.

His excitement was indescribable!

However—

Swish!

The ground beside him suddenly cracked open!

A figure leaped out—

And the moment he saw Uchiha Ci holding his flintlock, inspecting it with an expression akin to discovering a treasure, his face darkened.

Sasori.

For a split second, he experienced a hallucination.

It was as if, through this blindfolded brat—who was staring in wonder at his craftsmanship—he saw a familiar shadow from the past.

A young boy, holding the puppet arm he had painstakingly crafted, gazing at it with the same childlike admiration.

Sasori's eyes sank.

A flood of memories surged up—ones he would rather forget.

That boy was his childhood friend, Kodama.

The one who idolized Sasori, the village's prodigy, and followed him everywhere. Kodama had always loved the puppet arm Sasori had made.

But Sasori's concept of friendship… was disturbing.

Through an "accident" of his own design, Kodama lost his arm.

And Sasori kindly replaced it with the very puppet arm Kodama adored.

In another "accident," Kodama overused the puppet limb, leading to a severe infection. Surgery was the only option.

And so, in pursuit of both his friendship and his art—

Sasori finally succeeded.

He transformed Kodama into a human puppet.

To this day, he could still recall the envy that had gripped his heart—the jealousy over Kodama's complete, unbroken family.

That one moment of twisted emotion had led him down this path.

He had perfected his art—but lost his closest friend.

Even now, standing alone, Sasori felt no regrets.

Only… an occasional pang of loneliness.

But—

That weakness had no place in him now!

He had long since embraced eternal art!

He did not need such pathetic sentiments!

With decisive resolve, he drew his twin pistols—his eyes cold and unwavering—

And aimed directly at the boy's head!

Then—

A cruel smile spread across Sasori's lips.

"Kid—times have changed."

It was a declaration—

To Uchiha Ci.

To the young boy who once admired him.

And to his own wavering emotions.

Bang! Bang!

The gunfire roared!

The bullets, infused with both Wind and Earth Release chakra, were devastating armor-piercing jutsu projectiles!

At close range, they were unbelievably fast!

Once they struck, they would first carve a bloody hole with wind-enhanced precision—

Then, the hardened earth core within would explode from the inside out, impaling the target with countless stone spikes!

The boy's head would be shredded apart—like an overripe melon!

But—

Clang! Clang!

White smoke billowed from the gun barrels, obscuring vision.

Then, two sharp metallic clinks rang out!

The chakra bullets had exploded mid-air, sending fiery sparks scattering through the mist.

And then—

Swish! Swish!

The solid earth spikes, now dislodged, grazed past Sasori's cheeks and shot off into the distance, tracing an arc in the air.

Sasori's eyes widened slightly.

Then—

A blinding light erupted before him!

Like a burning sun, its golden radiance surged, illuminating the battlefield.

In an instant—

Whoosh—!!

A violent wave of searing heat blasted outward!

The smoke from the gunfire was swept away, forcefully dispersed!

A massive skeletal hand, composed of burning Flowing Flame Bones, suddenly appeared—

And with the speed of a supersonic strike—

It clamped down on Sasori!

His pupils contracted in shock.

What he saw—

Was an enormous skeletal structure, forged from bone resembling a human ribcage, engulfed in raging flames.

The bullets he fired had struck this flaming skeletal armor—

And had only left shallow dents!

What's more—

Those dents were already regenerating at an alarming rate!

Faced with such an overwhelming presence, Sasori stood frozen in disbelief.

"What… is this?"

Meanwhile—

Protected within the blazing skeletal guardian, unharmed, Uchiha Ci finally turned around.

Raising the flintlock in his hand, he pointed its dark barrel directly at his attacker's forehead.

Using [Mind's Eye] to observe his opponent's features—the resemblance in appearance, the red hair—

Uchiha Ci arched a brow.

Looking at the red-haired man trapped in his Flame-Bone Susanoo's grip—

He recognized him instantly.

This was none other than the infamous, legendary Sasori of the Red Sand!

Grinning, he chuckled—

"Well, well~ If it isn't Lord Sasori himself!"

At those words—

Sasori, now staring down the barrel of his own creation, was utterly stunned.

In mere moments, the tables had completely turned.

He, the hunter, had become the prey.

And for some reason—

Now that he had snapped out of his daze, an indescribable burning sensation flared across his face.

Like being slapped by his own art.

"You—"

"Don't you dare touch my art with your filthy hands!!"

But before he could lash out—

Bang!

A gunshot rang out!

Uchiha Ci had fired without hesitation!

Sasori instinctively swallowed, his breath hitching as his gaze flickered toward the gun barrel near his ear.

Meanwhile—

Uchiha Ci beamed as he admired the flintlock in his grasp.

Then, glancing at Sasori—who had abruptly silenced his curses and stiffened up—he smirked.

"Yep—this thing works great."

Grinning, he added—

"But, I'm not really in need of a puppet-maker right now."

"What I do need… is a guide who knows how to follow orders."

With that, he raised his blindfolded eyes—

And suddenly—

His closed lids snapped open!

Revealing a pair of Cross Mangekyō Sharingan, three pitch-black tomoe encircling each crimson iris!

Even through the fabric of his blindfold—

Their power locked onto Sasori's real body.

Then—

Genjutsu: Sharingan!

The illusion took hold instantly!

"Huh?"

"A genjutsu?! From where?!"

Sasori's expression changed. Before he could react—

A sharp crack echoed in his mind, as if struck by a heavy club—

And his vision tilted.

Darkness consumed him.

Unconscious.

With that, Uchiha Ci turned toward the still-fuming Yuyashiro Homura and grinned.

"Hey, old man—"

"Look at that! We've got ourselves a perfect guide!"

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