Chapter 184: Sasori of the Red Sand
Chapter 184: Sasori of the Red Sand
Returning to his room, Sasori deftly unfastened the black cloth securing the puppet on his back.
The puppet had red, demonic horns, six arms, and a massive body designed for "consumption." Its multi-jointed limbs, resembling those of an ant, could twist and turn at impossible angles.
Black Ant.
This was Sasori's newly crafted ant-shaped puppet. Its purpose was to "consume"—to trap enemies within its body. Once the puppet master performed the Black Secret Technique: Machine One Shot, in combination with his earlier creation, the puppet Crow, its blades would pierce through the Black Ant's slots and impale the trapped opponent.
The puppet Crow had already astounded Sunagakure's puppet masters. Now, with Black Ant—a perfect complement to Crow—Sasori's name would undoubtedly shock the village once more.
Thud.
When the puppet hit the ground, it emitted a heavy sound.
Judging by its size and design, it seemed heavy, but not to the extent of producing such a dull thud.
Sasori's usually impassive face revealed a flicker of emotion as he gazed at the puppet, as though seeing something deeply cherished.
With a subtle movement of his hand, five fine chakra threads extended from his fingertips.
As he manipulated the threads, the puppet's body emitted a series of clicking sounds.
The Black Ant's chest mechanism slowly opened, revealing a person imprisoned inside—a man, bound so tightly he couldn't speak or even tremble, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at Sasori.
He couldn't believe he had been captured by Sasori, the prodigy viewed as Sunagakure's future.
Sasori extended a trembling hand, gently touching the man's face, his eyes filled with fervor.
"Human bodies are too fragile. Let me transform you into the first and most precious piece of my eternal art.
"Don't worry; you won't feel pain, nor will you have regrets. I'll preserve all your abilities and ensure you become a perfect masterpiece!"
At that moment, Sasori's gaze mirrored that of Tonari's mentor, Orochimaru, when discovering a rare experimental subject.
---
The next day, Sasori stood before a new puppet, satisfaction evident in his eyes. As he manipulated his chakra threads, the puppet moved with perfect precision.
Upon closer inspection, this puppet was unlike any conventional one. Its surface lacked the typical wooden or metallic texture, resembling human skin, hair, and facial features—far more lifelike and detailed than any standard puppet.
As Sasori's hand movements became more elaborate, chakra fluctuations emerged from the puppet. A small flame ignited in its palm.
Seeing this, Sasori's eyes sparkled with unrestrained madness.
"I did it! I did it! This is true puppetry, true eternity.
"This is art—art!!!"
This was Sasori's first attempt at crafting a human puppet.
The idea had taken root long ago, perhaps as early as the moment he created puppets resembling his parents to embrace him. Yet, he couldn't feel their warmth.
From that moment, he had dreamed of making human puppets.
Now, after years of planning, he had finally succeeded, crafting his first human puppet while preserving its abilities and chakra.
"Only puppets like these deserve to be called puppets. Everything else is a defective product," Sasori muttered to himself.
He took out a sealing scroll and stored the human puppet.
"Still, it's not perfect—far from it. His strength in life was too weak, unworthy of my flawless design and vision of art.
"I need someone stronger, someone whose body can match the perfection of my artistry!"
Sasori shook his head, dissatisfied with the puppet.
His gaze turned cold and sharp, and he murmured, "Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake!"
Unfortunately, information from Konoha years ago had confirmed that Sakumo Hatake had passed away.
Sasori had long dreamed of defeating the man who had killed his parents and earned the moniker "puppet master's nemesis," proving the strength of puppet users.
But upon learning that Sakumo had taken his own life, Sasori's mental state had nearly collapsed.
The man he sought vengeance against, the legendary White Fang, had vanished from his life, leaving him without a target.
Desperate for a new purpose, Sasori found one in Sunagakure's current leader, the Third Kazekage.
It was the Third Kazekage who had issued the mission that led Sasori's parents to their deaths.
More importantly, Sasori needed a powerful ninja to prove the success of his human puppetry. Only someone of the Kazekage's caliber deserved to become his ultimate masterpiece, his eternal art.
---
One month later.
Returning from another gold-collecting mission, Rasa found a piece of paper on his desk.
"Sasori of the Red Sand has changed. My sincerity has been delivered."
Rasa had nearly forgotten the proposal from Konoha's "Azure Cat" regarding a potential collaboration.
He had assumed it was a joke or a casual remark. He hadn't expected the matter to resurface.
What truly shocked him wasn't the content of the note but its delivery.
This was Sunagakure, yet the note had been placed on his desk without anyone noticing.
If someone could do this, it meant Konoha had infiltrated Sunagakure at a deeply troubling level.
It also implied that Sunagakure had no secrets left from Konoha.
Even more disturbing was the suggestion that they could act against Sasori—a key figure in Sunagakure.
The implications were staggering.
As Rasa pondered this, a voice outside his door startled him.
"Lord Rasa, the Elders request your presence."
Rasa nearly attacked out of reflex but managed to restrain himself.
He hid the note in his ninja pouch and replied, "Understood."
Moments later, he leaped toward the central building of the village, where the Elders awaited him.
---
Sunagakure was steeped in tradition, evident in its architecture and attire.
Its governance was equally traditional.
Nominally, the Kazekage held the highest authority, but a council of Elders served as a check on the Kazekage's power. Major decisions required the Elders' approval.
Inside the council chamber, a large round table surrounded by aged Elders dominated the room. At the southernmost seat sat the youngest member: the Third Kazekage.
Dressed in the Kazekage's white robes and blue ninja gear, he exuded authority, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
Rasa, a rising star and master of Magnet Release, had earned the council's trust. His contributions in extracting gold from the desert had alleviated Sunagakure's financial burdens, solidifying his reputation.
"Lord Rasa, thank you for coming," the Third Kazekage greeted with a rare smile.
Rasa bowed respectfully. "It is my duty, Kazekage-sama."
The Elders nodded in approval, satisfied with Rasa's humility despite his achievements.
The Kazekage's expression turned serious. "Rasa, we've had numerous reports of people disappearing in the village. There's suspicion of someone delving into forbidden practices.
"Your task is to investigate and apprehend the culprit."
Rasa accepted without hesitation, though his thoughts lingered on the note he had received.
---
A week later, Rasa stood before the Third Kazekage.
"Are you certain of this?" the Kazekage asked, his tone heavy.
Rasa nodded solemnly. "I verified the findings three times before reporting to you, Kazekage-sama."
"Who else knows?"
"Only you and me."
The Kazekage fell silent, contemplating the gravity of the situation.
Sasori's status complicated matters. As the grandson of Elder Chiyo, any action against him could provoke backlash.
"Leave this to me. Act as though you know nothing," the Kazekage finally decided.
---
When the Third Kazekage arrived at Sasori's workshop, it was empty.
The tools and materials scattered across the room bore traces of blood, and the faint scent of iron lingered in the air.
The Kazekage stared at the remnants of Sasori's work, his expression a mix of regret and determination.
"Sasori…" he muttered.
He had once seen great potential in the boy, believing him capable of leading Sunagakure to new heights.
Now, he could only hope to bring him back, though he knew the Kazekage title would forever be out of Sasori's reach.
(End of Chapter)
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