Chapter 82: The End, Third Kazekage (Part 5)

Thud.

The Third Kazekage's body swayed before collapsing to the ground, his gaze unfocused and empty.

A battered red-haired boy crouched beside him, panting heavily.

Gritting his teeth, he yanked the long iron sand needle from his own leg.

With a slight movement of his fingers, the two human puppets before him retracted their chakra barriers.

All he had done was defend, stalling for time—time until the poison coursing through the Third Kazekage's body reached the point where even he could no longer suppress it.

Even in his weakened state, the Kazekage had destroyed forty-seven of his puppets.

The loss of ordinary puppets was nothing. However, among them, thirteen had been rare and precious human puppets.

Sasori deactivated the remains of his shattered puppets, tilting them to spill out the iron sand within.

The magnetic properties of iron sand interfered with the metal components that allowed puppets to move. It could be said that the Third Kazekage was the worst possible opponent for a puppet master.

Even Hiruko had been rendered useless during the fight, forcing Sasori to abandon it and engage in direct combat. If he had stayed inside, he would have been riddled with holes by the invading iron sand.

Sasori clicked his tongue in irritation. Hiruko's inner workings were complex, far harder to repair than those two human puppets.

Yagura, watching him, noticed the barely concealed satisfaction on Sasori's face. Clapping his hands, he grinned.

"Congratulations, congratulations."

Sasori ignored the empty pleasantries and strode toward the Third Kazekage.

Their partnership had been nothing more than mutual exploitation.

Right now, he had something far more urgent to attend to.

To craft a human puppet that could wield the jutsu of its former self, one had to seal its chakra immediately after death.

If too much time passed, the chakra would dissipate, and even the legendary Third Kazekage would become nothing more than an ordinary puppet.

The body lay before him. Sasori retrieved a sealing talisman from his tool pouch.

Rejoice, Third Kazekage. You shall become my first and finest masterpiece.

Shhkk! WHOOSH!

Without warning, the iron sand on the ground rose once more.

It shot forward at a speed neither Sasori nor Yagura could react to, piercing through the hands Sasori used to control his puppets!

If he hadn't instinctively raised his arms to shield his head, the iron sand would have gone straight through his skull and chest!

What—?!

In the split second of Sasori's shock, the Third Kazekage sprang up!

He lunged forward, tackling Sasori to the ground!

Sasori stared up in horror.

He's still alive?!!

The Kazekage poured every last ounce of strength into this final attack.

He had to kill this traitorous wretch! His eyes, bloodshot and clouded with poison, burned with unyielding resolve.

"Die!!"

The iron sand in his palm coalesced into a sharp, lethal spike, raised high—

"Water Release: Coral Water Cannon!"

A water bullet shot through the air, severing fingers.

The iron spike slipped from the Kazekage's grasp, grazing Sasori's nose and leaving behind a thin, bloody line.

Had it been a fraction closer, he would have died.

That damned Mist brat!

The Kazekage barely registered the pain of his missing fingers. The poison coursing through his veins had long since dulled his senses.

But he had to kill Sasori!

The iron sand began to gather once more.

Sasori's pupils constricted in horror. Even now, he still has strength left?!

He should be at death's door!

Even his iron sand armor was failing, which was why Yagura had been able to wound him.

Yagura formed seals. 

It was an incomplete jutsu, but enough for the weakened Third Kazekage.

Water blades spiraled like a whirlpool, binding his limbs and throat.

With a flick of his hand, Yagura yanked the immobilized Kazekage off Sasori, suspending him high in the air.

The iron sand within him had lost its magnetic control, leaving Yagura free to move. He swiftly weaved another set of seals.

"Phantom Water Domain!"

A surge of chakra erupted from the Jinchūriki.

Water expanded, spreading outward like a vast lake.

Inside the newly formed prison, crescent-shaped whips of water latched onto the Kazekage's body, while the crushing pressure of the high-density liquid bore down on him from all directions.

Fist clenched. Crush.

Water pressure, oxygen deprivation, poison, blood loss, ruptured organs—

All of them spelled certain death.

Even the mighty Third Kazekage, under such conditions, could not survive.

The water turned an ominous shade of inky green as it mixed with his poisoned blood.

His vision blurred, the world outside the water prison fading away.

A rapid descent into darkness.

...

...

"It's done. Let him out."

Yagura glanced at Sasori's injured hands. "You sure?"

Sasori snapped, "I won't repeat myself." If the body lost its chakra, all his efforts would be wasted.

"Alright, alright." Yagura shrugged. "No need to be so grumpy. I did just save your life."

Stepping closer, he stood beside Sasori. The redhead inwardly regretted walking ahead earlier. He turned away.

Yagura released his chakra, dissipating the water into thin air.

Had he simply let the toxic water drop to the ground, the lingering effects would have been irreversible.

The corpse of the Third Kazekage slumped forward, his once-pristine robes now blackened with blood.

Ignoring the pain in his arms, Sasori pressed the sealing talisman onto the body, locking away the residual chakra.

...

Looking down at the withered face of the once-mighty Kazekage, Sasori—though not unfamiliar with the process—felt a moment of emotion.

How ironic.

The strongest Kazekage.

Dying like this.

He carefully purified the poisoned water, an effort that drained a considerable amount of his chakra.

Turning back, he saw Yagura watching him. The boy raised a brow and prodded,

"Hey, Sasori. Hurry up."

The impatience was contagious.

The commotion they had caused wasn't small. Had they not chosen such a remote battleground, people would have arrived by now.

Sasori, for once, let himself be rushed. "I know."

With the chakra sealed, the materials for his masterpiece were complete.

He unfurled two scrolls, placing the Third Kazekage's corpse in one and his damaged puppets in the other.

A figure as grand as the Kazekage deserved a special resting place.

When he had time, he would begin the transformation.

The sealing script on the scroll glowed, forming the kanji for "Three."

His work was done. Unknowingly, the red-haired boy's lips curved into a slight smirk, his amber eyes relaxing for the first time.

Yagura, noticing the rare display, chuckled aloud.

Sasori scowled. "Tch."

Then, almost as an afterthought, he removed his Suna forehead protector, carving a deep slash through the symbol.

He was a rogue ninja now. There was no going back.

Tossing the headband into his pouch, he glanced at Yagura.

"Come here."

Suspicious, Yagura took slow steps forward. "Why?"

Sasori didn't answer. He placed a hand on Yagura's wounds, healing them.

"...You know medical ninjutsu?" Yagura blinked. "Thanks."

"Shut up."

"By the way, now that you've left Sunagakure... interested in coming to Kirigakure?"

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