Walking at a leisurely pace, the two chatted happily along the way. Tenten was cheerful and open-hearted, and she eagerly shared her dream with Anya: she wanted to become just like Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin.
Hearing Tenten mention Tsunade, Anya fell silent for quite some time. Truthfully, surviving the Shikkotsu Forest had been thanks to practically living off the Senju clan's hospitality. Her family—from parents to grandfather—supported and protected her all along. After such life-and-death experiences, Anya's character had visibly changed. Previously, she would've gone to see Tsunade without hesitation—but now, she hesitated.
Tsunade's words still echoed in her mind. Even if she did go, there was a high chance the meeting wouldn't end well. What they needed was the right opportunity!
"Big Brother Kurotsuchi, why aren't you saying anything?" Tenten feigned annoyance. "Oh, I get it. You must think my dream is unrealistic—there's no way I could ever reach Tsunade-sama's level."
Anya chuckled helplessly. "Height shouldn't be an issue—it's just other aspects where you might fall short."
"Huh? Sounds like you've actually met her. Where exactly did I fall short? Tell me about it," Tenten's interest immediately piqued.
Anya thought for a moment before describing, "Hmm, how should I put it... She's above such petty concerns—you wouldn't even know where your feet stand under her gaze."
Tenten looked puzzled. "What does that mean? Is it that her standards are too high?"
"Haha." Anya suddenly burst into laughter. "You'll understand when you grow up."
"No way," Tenten protested stubbornly. "I want to know right now!"
"Better off not knowing everything just yet, kid. Besides, I have somewhere to go now—you can't come with me."
Anya stepped off the carriage and looked at the small town before her, feeling a familiar warmth.
Tenten firmly followed behind. "No way. I'm your bodyguard—I have to follow you wherever you go."
"Fine then," Anya said indifferently. Following the familiar path, she stopped beside a gambling house.
The Aimashi Room—after all these years, this gambling den hadn't only managed to stay open, but had expanded significantly. Clearly, the owner had made a fortune over the years. Too bad he didn't know that long ago, two dangerous martial artists nearly tore this place apart.
"Are you here to gamble?" Tenten quickly figured out what was going on. Gambling wasn't among the three forbidden acts for ninja, but it was strictly prohibited nonetheless.
"You coming in?"
Tenten shook her head disinterestedly. "Then I'll wait outside—just don't play for too long."
"I'll test my luck. Won't take long."
Anya walked inside, just like last time. Randomly buying chips, she started placing bets at different tables without paying much attention to the games themselves—relying purely on luck.
This time, however, her luck was surprisingly good. In no time at all, the chips stacked high in her hands. Many gamblers noticed this and began betting along with her.
Noticing her luck, many gamblers started riding her winning streak.
Soon, a casino employee approached, offering to exchange her chips while also inviting her to the next area, explaining there were high-stakes games available.
Anya understood their meaning perfectly. [Tap and withdraw], she cashed in her chips and left the gambling hall promptly.
But when Tenten saw Anya walk out carrying a large chest full of money, her mouth dropped open in shock.
Once again setting out on their journey, the two swapped their horses for camels and headed toward Sunagakure. Along the way, Tenten was full of curiosity about Anya. "Even though you're not a ninja, I feel like you're really strong."
Anya, without hesitation, replied, "Your intuition is correct. There aren't many people stronger than me in this world."
"Hey, you really can't take a compliment."
"This isn't a compliment; it's just fact."
"If you keep talking like that, I'm actually going to want to hit you."
"Hmph. A real man doesn't fight women."
Chatting along the way, they gradually approached Sunagakure.
Tenten cast a distant glance toward the village, pulled out a scroll from her person, and tossed it into the air. A red signal flare burst into the sky.
Soon after, several Sand ninja came running over. One of them, upon seeing Tenten, respectfully said, "Miss Tenten has arrived. Please come quickly into the village."
It felt strange for a Konoha genin to receive such hospitality in Sunagakure, but Tenten had long since grown used to it. Beaming, she asked, "Where's Red Spider? Is he stuck at work again?"
One of the Sand ninja smiled and answered, "Yes, once he sees your signal, he'll know you've arrived right away."
No sooner had those words been spoken than a red mechanized suit flew overhead—it was the third form of Red Spider, originally designed by Sasori. So many years had passed, and all of this puppet's flaws had long been overcome.
"Here!" Tenten waved up at the sky, acting as if they were old friends.
The circling Red Spider indeed flew closer, stopping directly above them. Then, the upper section of the mech emitted a beam of light downward. Tenten grabbed Anya, and both were pulled upward by an invisible force.
Having completed its task, Red Spider flew back into the village before the eyes of the Sand ninja.
Watching this unfold, the Sand ninja murmured among themselves, "These automated puppets are just incredible."
They weren't the only ones amazed—Anya, seated inside the towering mobile suit, was stunned too. This was fully automatic! After so many years, Sasori, just how far have your puppet-making skills advanced? You couldn't have really built an entire Mechanical Empire, could you?
Behind Sunagakure, Sasori's former underground laboratory had been completely renovated and now stood openly and unapologetically above ground, surrounded by various barriers. At a glance, countless unique mechanized suits stretched out below, densely packed together, gleaming coldly under the sunlight and exuding a chilling aura. At the far end of this mechanical army loomed an enormous fortress. The sight gave Anya the feeling they'd entered a Transmorpher realm.
A red-haired man walked out from within the fortress, his gaze scanning warmly toward the approaching mech. When he noticed another person aboard, his expression shifted, disbelief flashing across his face. In an instant, he dashed forward using Shunshin and landed directly atop the mech, unable to wait even a moment longer.
Looking at the man who hadn't changed at all, Anya smiled and said, "Sasori, it's been a while."
"Big Brother Kurotsuchi, you've finally returned." Usually calm and indifferent, Sasori was now trembling with excitement, his voice filled with emotion. "If that's the case, does it mean your body has fully recovered?"
"More or less," Anya said, gesturing around. "Is all of this made by you?"
"It's magnificent, isn't it, Big Brother Kurotsuchi?" Sasori said proudly while looking at the huge base. "This is the brand-new world we once dreamed of. How else could we bring it into being without effort?"
Tenten, who had been ignored until now, finally caught on and looked between them, saying, "You two know each other?"
"Yeah," Sasori replied gently, reaching out to pat Tenten's head. For a moment, warmth flickered across his otherwise expressionless eyes.
Anya, sensing this moment through her soul perception, was utterly shocked. Sasori's personality was practically unapproachable—physical touch from him was practically unimaginable. Even Grandma Chiyo had trouble getting close to him. Never in her life did she expect to see him reach out to someone willingly.
Anya asked curiously, "Do you still bring Tenten over every year?"
Before Sasori could answer, Tenten eagerly cut in, "Yep! This place is the best! Flying through the skies, diving deep underground—you can do anything here! Whatever I feel like doing, Sasori-niisan'll always make it happen for me!"
Sasori-niisan? That sounds... strange somehow...
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>