Chiyo glanced over.
"From Iwagakure, Explosion Release, huh? Truly troublesome."
With her vast combat experience, Chiyo knew just how much of a headache Explosion Release could be. So many unpredictable detonation methods—she couldn't fathom why that old man Ōnoki had ever let such a kid leave Iwagakure. To let a talent like him slip away was a huge loss.
After all, she knew this boy had single-handedly attacked Sunagakure, even defeating and abducting Gaara. His strength spoke for itself.
A walking disaster like that, and they hadn't managed to keep him? That old man Ōnoki really was losing it.
"Don't worry. I've got a secret weapon—Kakashi!"
Kakashi, having just recovered and rushed over, was immediately called by Kiyosuke.
"What?"
Kiyosuke pointed at Deidara.
"That kid's weakness is Lightning Release. His explosive clay turns into duds when struck by lightning. You get what I mean."
"I get it!"
Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan.
"This guy's mine!"
"Tch… so my weakness got figured out that easily?" Deidara scowled, irritated. Lightning Release was the one thing he hated most—if it rendered his bombs useless, then his fleeting art could never even manifest!
...
"Deidara, this guy isn't like anyone we've faced before. The only choice is to retreat."
Sasori was calm as ever. Facing the opponent before them, he knew they didn't stand the slightest chance. Or rather, the man's easygoing smile said it all—he didn't even consider them worth his concern.
Being underestimated like that left a bitter taste.
Sasori shed his cloak, revealing his transformed body. On his left chest was a white core with the kanji for "Scorpion" etched boldly across it. His hollow torso was filled with tightly coiled ropes, and from his back extended three pairs of blades. The joints of his limbs were visibly artificial—puppet joints.
Chiyo's eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn't expected her grandson to truly go this far—turning himself into a human puppet.
"You artists really are insane… to actually go through with body modification like this."
Even knowing beforehand, witnessing it with her own eyes left her shaken. Kiyosuke himself couldn't even imagine how Sasori had removed his own brain and organs, yet still lived, driven only by that single, fleshy core.
"Eternal art is the most beautiful," Sasori said, a hint of intoxication in his voice.
Kiyosuke smirked.
"All I see is a kid who grew up without his parents' love, raised under Chiyo's failed guidance, twisted by Sunagakure's environment. Eternal beauty? What a load of crap."
"What do you know, you shallow brute!" For the first time, Sasori's face darkened, Kiyosuke's words striking at his most painful scar.
"Oh? Did I hit a nerve?… still just a child who never grew up. You're over thirty and still clinging to your parents? You hate waiting, don't you? Was it because you waited too long for your parents to come home?" Kiyosuke pressed on relentlessly. Cruel, yes—but if it enraged Sasori, then it was worth it.
Sasori's expression warped with fury, and Chiyo could only part her lips soundlessly, guilt flooding her heart. She summoned Sasori's earliest works—"Father" and "Mother." The puppets looked identical to her son and daughter-in-law. Her eyes brimmed with regret.
Forgive me, Sasori…
"Forgive me," Chiyo finally whispered.
"When you were in your darkest pain, I wasn't there. I couldn't face you. I didn't stay by your side. When you most needed love, I failed to give it. The truth is… I've been running from you all this time."
Because of his parents' deaths, she had avoided confronting her grandson directly. She had taught him puppetry, but never dared to face him as family. When she learned he'd made friends, she had truly been happy… but after he modified his friend's arm, fear replaced that joy.
When that same friend later died from Sasori's poison—and even she couldn't save him—her horror only deepened. Then she saw the boy's human puppet creation, and the look in his eyes terrified her. Not long after, Sasori defected, and the Third Kazekage vanished. She had wanted to search for her grandson, but the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War made her set it aside.
The older she grew, the more afraid she became to face him. Even the thought of seeking him out was buried. She retired, awaiting death.
And now, seeing her grandson again—remade into this grotesque form—she was consumed with regret.
If only I had given him more love back then… would things have turned out differently?
Kiyosuke was right. My education failed him.
"Sasori," Chiyo said, voice heavy.
"It's meaningless to talk about this now. Your White Secret Technique once shook the shinobi world—you took an entire village alone. But I forged a different path, creating the Red Secret Technique. With it…"
He unfurled the scroll strapped to his back. A torrent of puppets burst forth, floating in the air. He opened the latch on his right chest, and countless chakra threads streamed out, latching onto the swarm.
"…With it, I conquered a whole country!!!"
Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!
"Oi oi… that many? You've got to be kidding!" Kakashi instinctively stepped back.
"Kiyosuke, this one's all yours."
Each of the hundred puppets floated with weapons drawn, ready to strike. Even a handful would overwhelm a shinobi. Against hundreds? One could be torn apart before destroying even a single puppet.
Better leave this to the specialist.
When it came to destructive power, there were few in the shinobi world who could rival Kiyosuke—save for the Tailed Beasts themselves.
"Fine then. Sasori, do you really think this will kill me? Don't kid yourself. In this world, there are only a handful who can truly threaten me. And you're not one of them!"
Kiyosuke roared, a pillar of fire shooting into the sky. The nearest puppets ignited instantly, engulfed in blazing flames.
...
"Sasori-danna, should we retreat?"
Deidara knew they were outmatched. He wasn't stupid—when it was time to run, you ran.
But Sasori only said, "Go. I'll hold them off."
Huh?
Did I hear that right?
Deidara stared in shock. For Sasori to say something like that—this wasn't like him at all!
"What are you waiting for? Move! If you stay here, you'll just get in my way!" Sasori snapped, glaring.
Deidara gave him one last, long look.
"I understand…."
Nodding, he mounted his clay dragon and soared into the sky.
Kiyosuke made no move to chase him.
"So, Sasori—you've decided to gamble your life. But with that kind of body, can you even be called human anymore? If your parents saw you like this, don't you think they'd grieve?"
"Shut up!"