141-145

Chapter 141: Breaking Through Defenses 

Chiyo's heart leaped with alarm when Shindai asked if she wanted to know the truth about the Third Kazekage's disappearance. 

She was terrified that the truth would confirm her worst fears. 

"You can't possibly know!" Chiyo blurted out, flatly denying it. "There's no way you were in Sunagakure back then!" 

Shindai let out a sinister chuckle. "What's wrong? Scared? Why couldn't I know? The Third Kazekage is dead, but Sasori isn't. Since he's still alive, I don't need to have been in Sunagakure to get the truth, do I? It's not hard to just ask him." 

"You... you've met Sasori?" Chiyo stammered, disbelief etched on her face. 

Shindai's smile widened. "Yeah, I've met him, and we're actually on pretty good terms. We're both one-of-a-kind puppet masters, you see, so there's a mutual respect. He told me the real story. Want to know why he killed Uncle Kazeto and left Sunagakure?" 

Chiyo stared at Shindai expressionlessly, but her slightly twitching fingers betrayed her turbulent emotions. 

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, hearing Shindai's words, immediately suspected he was about to start spouting nonsense. How could he be on good terms with Sasori after all the terrible things he'd said about him earlier? 

Shindai's voice turned chilling. "Because... Sasori believed that the deaths of his parents were caused by you, Uncle Kazeto, Ebizo, and the other higher-ups. He thought that if it weren't for your negligence in decision-making during the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha wouldn't have been able to invade the village at all." 

"He resented all of you, but he knew he couldn't get revenge on you all by himself. So, he began researching the forbidden human puppets, seeking immense power to get his revenge." 

"That's why he needed a powerful ninja with a bloodline limit to turn into a human puppet and boost his strength." 

"So he set his sights on Uncle Kazeto because Uncle Kazeto, with his Magnet Release bloodline, had earned the title of 'Strongest Kazekage in History.' Turning Uncle Kazeto into a human puppet would give him the greatest power boost." 

"So he tricked Uncle Kazeto, and then, just like this..." 

Shindai beckoned with a finger, and two figures emerged from behind a tree: one was Sasori, and the other, the Third Kazekage. 

Chiyo's gaze was fixated, almost vacant, on Sasori and the Third Kazekage. 

Shindai had created these "Sasori" and "Third Kazekage" figures using Iron Sand clones combined with Transformation Jutsu. 

"Sasori" plunged his hand directly through the Third Kazekage's chest from behind. 

Shindai hadn't witnessed it himself, so he just let his imagination run wild. 

Seeing "Sasori" pierce "Third Kazekage's" chest, Chiyo froze. 

Shindai began to tear down Chiyo's defenses. "Just like that, Sasori ambushed and killed the Third Kazekage! Tsk, tsk, tsk... Uncle Kazeto must have died feeling utterly wronged, huh? Sasori was your grandson, and you were the person he trusted most. So, by extension, he trusted Sasori, yet Sasori killed him!" 

"Lady Chiyo, if Sasori wasn't your grandson, maybe Uncle Kazeto would have been more careful and wouldn't have died. Don't you think you bear some responsibility for the death of Uncle Kazeto, no, for the death of Sunagakure's Third Kazekage?" 

"You couldn't protect your own children, and you couldn't protect your own grandson. Not only did your grandson research forbidden, inhumane human puppets, he also killed the Kazekage of Sunagakure, and yet you're still living comfortably... isn't that a bit much?" 

"If I were you, and still had a shred of responsibility, I'd just commit seppuku to atone for my sins, instead of shamelessly clinging to life. Lady Chiyo, will you commit seppuku? I can be your second, you know. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I can even do it for you. I'm very considerate; I'll make sure you don't feel any pain and die peacefully!" 

Chiyo's fingers weren't just twitching anymore; her entire body was trembling. 

Obito, surprised, asked Kakashi and Rin beside him, "Is that old lady seriously going to commit seppuku? She's shaking like a leaf!" 

Rin frowned. "No way! It'd be too exaggerated to commit seppuku just because of a few words." 

Kakashi's expression was odd. "If Shindai actually managed to talk that old lady into committing seppuku, he'll be bragging about it to us for a year." 

Chiyo, of course, wouldn't be that fragile. 

Her trembling stopped, and chakra threads clung to her puppet. 

"That's just your side of the story! There's no way I'd believe you, a traitor!" 

Shindai clutched his forehead and burst into laughter. "Chiyo, oh Chiyo, whether what I said is true or not, everyone knows it deep down. As a high-ranking official of Sunagakure, you're protecting your grandson and harming ninjas loyal to the village. The day Sasori seeks his revenge on Sunagakure, I'll reveal all the truth along the way!" 

"I'll make sure everyone in Sunagakure points fingers and curses you, Ebizo, and Rasa! Every single person who mentions your names will spit and call you traitors of Sunagakure! Because you are the true culprits responsible for the death of the Third Kazekage!" 

"You probably won't care, though, since your skin is thicker than a castle wall." 

The moment Shindai's words ended, Chiyo suddenly retreated sharply. 

As she moved back, the puppet she had affixed with chakra threads suddenly shattered into pieces, and a torrent of Iron Sand bullets shot out rapidly and powerfully in all directions. 

Because the Iron Sand bullets were too dense and too fast, and there wasn't enough good cover for Chiyo to quickly dodge, she could only use her puppet jutsu to defend herself. 

"Puppet Master Jutsu: Machine Light Shield!" 

Since Chiyo's hand had been injured in battle and subsequently modified into a puppet hand, she could perform puppet jutsu. 

Using the puppet's mechanisms as a medium, Chiyo converted her chakra into a defensive shield, blocking the Iron Sand bullets. 

The reason Chiyo's puppet suddenly disintegrated and spewed Iron Sand bullets was because while Shindai was talking to her, he secretly manipulated Iron Sand from underground to stealthily attach itself to her puppet, then filled the puppet's body through its crevices. 

Chiyo was so shocked by Shindai's words that she didn't even notice the Iron Sand entering the puppet. She only realized something was wrong and immediately retreated when she couldn't control her puppet as she intended. 

Shindai unrolled a scroll, summoning Kannazuki. 

Shindai then manipulated Kannazuki to charge at Chiyo. 

"Kannazuki: Iron Sand Shower!" 

A portion of Kannazuki's Iron Sand body detached, forming countless fine Iron Sand needles that shot rapidly towards Chiyo. 

Since Kannazuki's entire body was composed of Iron Sand magnetized by Shindai's Magnet Release, he could directly use Kannazuki to perform some simple Magnet Release ninjutsu. 

Chiyo continued to block these fine Iron Sand needles with her Machine Light Shield. 

Meanwhile, Kannazuki had circled behind Chiyo and formed an Iron Sand blade, striking at her. 

Chiyo maintained her Machine Light Shield, dodged Kannazuki's attack with a roll, and widened the distance between them. 

Chiyo looked at Shindai with a grave expression. "The Third Kazekage said your ninjutsu talent was terrible, and your puppet control was equally bad. But you don't seem like that at all now. With your strength, why would the Third Kazekage be willing to send you to Konoha as a spy?" 

"Heh, why don't you go to hell and ask Uncle Kazeto yourself?" 

Chapter 142: What Are You Doing Hiding on the Ground?! 

In a move reminiscent of a cunning Uchiha, Shindai launched a surprise attack on Chiyo, but like a genin facing a Kage, it didn't quite land. Chiyo, much like an elder from the Hidden Sand, quickly realized Shindai's strength was far beyond what the Third Kazekage had described. She couldn't believe that in less than two years, Shindai's seemingly "terrible" talent had blossomed into such power. 

Chiyo, always prepared like a seasoned jonin, summoned two more puppets from her scrolls: the "Father" and "Mother." These weren't the ones Sasori made and took with him when he deserted the Hidden Sand; these were Chiyo's own creations, loaded with samurai swords, chain blades, and steel wires – truly a refined performance. 

"Hold on, you old hag!" Shindai scoffed, channeling his inner Naruto when faced with underestimation. "Are you really looking down on me that much? Do you think I'm too weak for your Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets?" 

"Hmph, you brat!" Chiyo retorted, "I was fighting before you even knew what chakra was!" 

Chiyo, with the precision of a master puppeteer, maneuvered the "Father" and "Mother." The "Father" lunged at Kannazuki, while the "Mother" went straight for Shindai. The "Father's" chain blade whipped and struck Kannazuki, embedding itself deeply. But pulling it back was like trying to pull Kakashi out of a romance novel – impossible! Kannazuki's Iron Sand clung tightly to the chain blade, spreading along it towards the "Father." Seeing this, Chiyo, decisive as a veteran, severed the chain blade to prevent the Iron Sand from reaching the "Father." As a high-ranking ninja from the Hidden Sand with knowledge of its unique jutsu, she knew that Magnet Release was a natural counter to puppets and shouldn't be touched by Iron Sand. 

Chiyo's gaze sharpened, like a Sharingan user seeing through a genjutsu, fixed on Shindai. A puppeteer's true body is most vulnerable when manipulating puppets in battle. The "Mother's" arm popped out a blade, aiming for Shindai. To Chiyo's surprise, Shindai didn't seem to dodge. Chiyo, sensing a trap like a seasoned ANBU, tried to stop the "Mother's" attack. 

Shindai, with a wicked grin, charged forward and embraced the puppet. His body instantly turned black, dissolving into a pile of Iron Sand, completely enveloping the "Mother." Trapped by the Iron Sand, the "Mother" succumbed to the Magnet Release, and Chiyo lost control. Under the immense pressure of the magnetic Iron Sand, the "Mother" was crushed to bits. 

Chiyo stared grimly at Kannazuki. "That Shindai... was a Sand Iron Clone? How is he controlling this puppet? Can this puppet move on its own?" 

"Hey, what's with all the shock?" Shindai yelled. "That Iron Sand Clone was meant to lure your Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets! I can't believe you're so arrogant you'd send out these worthless puppets!" 

Chiyo looked up, her already grim expression deepening. Shindai, like Gaara unleashing his Sand Shuriken, had used Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wings to create a pair of Iron Sand wings on his back, soaring high into the sky. Chiyo might be powerful, but what good was that if she couldn't reach him? He was flying so high that unless she had the speed of a Minato Namikaze or could fly herself, her attacks wouldn't land. 

As for how he was controlling Kannazuki, Shindai held a remote control. While Kannazuki's operating system had many flaws and would be full of holes against a ninja like Chiyo, the signal receiver and remote control allowed Shindai to operate Kannazuki with relative flexibility, avoiding any stiffness. That's why Shindai hadn't wanted Kakashi and the others to come along; from the start, Shindai held the winning hand. Their presence would only introduce variables. 

Chiyo glared at Shindai in the sky, a difficult target to hit at his current altitude. And Shindai's puppet, made entirely of Iron Sand, was something she'd never seen before. The Third Kazekage had mentioned Shindai's talent in puppet creation, which meant this puppet was his own work. However, the Third Kazekage had completely misjudged Shindai in other aspects. Shindai clearly wasn't untalented; he was a prodigy. Such a talent should have been nurtured in the Hidden Sand, not sent out as a spy. Even if he was a spy, they wouldn't have abandoned him and allowed him to become a rogue ninja. Alas, now they were enemies, and she had to eliminate him, or he could become a grave threat to the Hidden Sand. Chiyo was now filled with murderous intent towards Shindai. Since Shindai was here, he must have intended to kill her, but a single unique puppet wouldn't be enough. She needed to find an opening. 

Shindai, like a mischievous Tobi, continued his verbal assault from above: "How does it feel to see your daughter-in-law crushed to pieces? You, as a mother, could actually do that? Sasori didn't even modify his two puppets, those imbued with his emotions, into weapons, but you, as a mother, did. What? Do you get a kick out of controlling your dead son and daughter-in-law in battle? Are you happy to see your daughter-in-law's puppet shattered? You old pervert, you're disgusting. If that's the case, why not just let me crush your son's puppet too? You'd enjoy it, wouldn't you? As Sasori's good friend, when I first heard him talking about how he couldn't wait to kill you, I thought he was a bit much, considering you're his grandmother. But it turns out he wasn't exaggerating at all. You really deserve to die for desecrating Sasori's beloved parents! I can't even stand it!" 

Facing Shindai's relentless taunts, which were nearing the level of psychological warfare, even the battle-hardened Chiyo was enraged. 

"You scoundrel!" Chiyo roared, "Shut up! You want to kill me, but you can't do it hiding in the sky!" 

Shindai laughed freely, like a carefree child: "Haha, are you mad? What right do you have to be mad? I won't shut up! I'll stay in the sky, and what are you doing hiding on the ground? Fly up and fight me, you idiotic old hag!" 

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara felt their hearts seize up. 

"He's so shameless," Obito mumbled, biting his lip. "That's Shindai for you, saying, 'What are you doing hiding on the ground?' I actually feel a little sorry for that old woman right now." 

Rin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I feel like she's about to explode." 

Kakashi remained silent. His right eyelid was twitching. He was still bothered by Shindai's earlier, inexplicable demand for an apology. He had a bad feeling that Shindai might pull another trick soon, and it might involve him. 

Chapter 143: Just Too Dirty 

"Flying through the air, Shindai used his remote control to make Kannazuki fight Chiyo's 'Father' puppet. And from above, Shindai kept attacking Chiyo with his Magnet Release ninjutsu. But even with all that, Chiyo still didn't summon the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets. She was observing Kannazuki's attack patterns, after all. Magnet Release is a huge counter to puppets, and summoning the Chikamatsu Collection right away wouldn't change the situation. 

Facing Magnet Release ninjutsu, the Chikamatsu Collection could easily get damaged. Chiyo realized that Kannazuki completely overturned traditional puppet construction; it was almost entirely made of iron sand. Its attacks also utilized the iron sand's magnetism to transform into various weapons. It could even summon small missiles, kunai, and shuriken to attack, making it incredibly unpredictable. Plus, Shindai was high in the sky, making it hard for even the Chikamatsu Collection to reach him. 

"Hey, old hag, look over here! See who's in front of me?" 

Chiyo glanced up, and veins popped on her forehead. It was her son and daughter. Shindai had used an iron sand clone and then the Transformation Jutsu to turn into their likenesses. 

Shindai smacked each of them, scolding, "Look at your mother! How could you end up with a mother like this? Both of you died, and she still turns you into puppets to fight! Couldn't you have stopped her? She even raised your son, Sasori, to be like that! Tell me, isn't that wrong?" 

Shindai, in a whiny voice, replied, "Lord Shindai, we were wrong, but we didn't want a mother like this! Please forgive us." 

Shindai returned to his normal voice: "Forgive you? Forgive what, you brats? You can't even control your own mother! Why didn't you take her with you when you died? Leaving such an old menace in the world, and you want forgiveness?" 

Shindai, whining again, said, "Ah, we shouldn't be forgiven, we are sinners! It's all our mother's fault for making us sinners and turning our beloved son into that monster! It's all because of her! Because of you!" 

The iron sand clones of Chiyo's son and daughter glared angrily at Chiyo. Kakashi, Obito, and Rin watched with wide-open mouths, dumbfounded at Shindai's little performance in the sky. 

This was seriously too much! Who could possibly stand for this?! Even they, as bystanders, were getting a little annoyed. This was just way too dirty! No wonder Shindai said he wanted to disgust Chiyo and break her resolve. Who wouldn't break down if this happened to them?! 

Predictably, Chiyo had already lost it. 

"Brat! You're asking for a beating!" 

Enraged, Chiyo manipulated the 'Father' puppet to rush towards Shindai in the sky. 

Shindai grinned widely: "Heh, already lost your cool? That's really disappointing. This is just the beginning, you know. Oh, right, as a puppet master, you wouldn't not know this, right? The further a puppet is from its master, the longer the chakra threads become, and the more sluggish the control. Lagging puppet control can be fatal for a puppet master. You, a top-tier puppet master, aren't so great after all, making such a basic mistake." 

Shindai manipulated the remote control in his hand. Kannazuki's right arm transformed into a cannon, generating a lightning blade, loaded with a missile, and fired it at the 'Father' puppet rushing towards Shindai. 

Chiyo was startled to see the missile heading for her 'Father' puppet and quickly tried to make it dodge. However, it was too late. Due to the sluggish control, Chiyo's 'Father' puppet was directly blown to pieces by the missile. 

Shindai's sarcastic remarks were always on time: "Oh, oh, oh, old hag, you're making it too obvious, aren't you? You wanted me to destroy your son's puppet right in front of you? You should've just said so, why play dumb?" 

Shindai looked at Chiyo's 'son' beside him: "Look at your mother, so heartless! I thought it was just a mother-in-law thing, so you wanted me to destroy your wife's puppet, but it seems she's equally ruthless to everyone!" 

Shindai, in a whiny voice, pouted, "Maybe... it was an accident? She's my dearest mother, after all~" 

Shindai gave Chiyo's 'son' another hard slap to the head: "An accident? Your mother is a top-tier puppet master! Would she make a mistake even a three-year-old wouldn't? Isn't this clearly intentional? And you're still defending her? She treats you like cattle, not even letting you rest in peace after death, turning you into puppets to fight!" 

Chiyo's lips trembled with rage. She had never encountered such a despicable person. He was just too shameless! Absolutely shameless. 

Chiyo pulled out a scroll, glaring intently at Shindai in the sky, her eyes wishing she could tear him apart. 

"You wanted to see the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets, didn't you? Then your wish is granted!" 

Chiyo unrolled the scroll, summoning ten puppets of various forms, all clad in white robes. This was Chiyo's ultimate technique, the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets, each with its own unique weapons, tools, and fighting style. 

"Puppet Technique: Secret Black Moves - Iron Maiden!" 

Three of the Chikamatsu Collection puppets formed a triangular formation, opening their 'Buddha,' 'Law,' and 'Monk' mechanisms, generating a violent tornado. Its powerful suction pulled at Shindai in the sky. 

Shindai flapped the iron sand wings on his back, quickly flying away from the center of the tornado's pull, while letting Kannazuki and the two transformed iron sand clones be drawn in. If Chiyo dared to absorb them, then those three puppets would be gone for good. 

Chiyo naturally knew she absolutely couldn't absorb Kannazuki and the two iron sand clones; she was looking for an opportunity to get Shindai down from the sky. But Shindai was too cautious, always staying at a very safe altitude. By the time the tornado's pull reached Shindai, its force had already significantly weakened. 

Just as Chiyo halted the Secret Black Moves - Iron Maiden, Shindai suddenly revealed a strange smile: "It's already too late." 

Chiyo was stunned, instinctively thinking Shindai was trying to trick her, because Kannazuki and the two iron sand clones hadn't been absorbed. 

"Getting senile? Did you forget about the iron sand that scattered when that first puppet broke into pieces?" 

At Shindai's reminder, Chiyo's pupils widened slightly, and she thought, 'Damn it!' She had indeed forgotten about that. When Chiyo tried to control those three puppets, they had already been corroded by Shindai's iron sand. The puppets were completely paralyzed and could no longer be controlled by Chiyo. 

Chiyo was furious, her anger blazing. It was all because of that shameless brat, who kept her attention from focusing. 

Meanwhile, Shindai in the sky remotely controlled Kannazuki to charge at Chiyo, then used Magnet Release ninjutsu once more. Iron Sand Drizzle, Iron Sand Spears—everything was hurled at Chiyo and her remaining puppets. 

What do you think of Shindai's tactics? Do you think they're genius or just plain despicable? 

Chapter 144: A True Homage! 

Granny Chiyo was busy, huh? She was maneuvering her Seven Close Puppets of Chikamatsu, trying to dodge all the weird stuff Shindai was throwing at her from above, while also fending off Kaminazuki's attacks. 

For Chiyo, dodging Shindai's Iron Sand and blocking Kaminazuki's assaults was usually a piece of cake. But the real headache? She just couldn't hit Shindai! Plus, Shindai's Kaminazuki puppet, even after getting smashed to bits, could just pull itself back together. Meanwhile, Chiyo had to be super careful not to let her puppets touch that Iron Sand. 

Even though they were enemies right then, Chiyo couldn't help but admire Shindai's Kaminazuki puppet. It was truly a work of art, a revolutionary new style of puppetry, you could say. Sure, it had the big limitation of only being usable by a Magnet Release user, but that wasn't Shindai's fault. If anything, he was just making the most of his own Magnet Release advantage. 

"What a shame," Chiyo thought, "such a brilliant genius, he should have been from the Hidden Sand! But now he's an enemy." She really regretted not stopping Rasa back then. But then again, this genius was truly sickening, and his mouth was just awful. Shindai's trash talk hadn't stopped for a second. 

Shindai saw that regular insults weren't cutting it anymore for Chiyo, so it was time for the final, heavy dose. From what he'd seen before, disgusting Chiyo and breaking her composure had been pretty successful. If he hadn't managed to get under her skin, he wouldn't have been able to take out her 'Father' and 'Mother' puppets, and those three Close Puppets of Chikamatsu, so easily. 

At the same time, Shindai was being smart. He knew his Kaminazuki wouldn't last much longer. Chiyo's seven Close Puppets of Chikamatsu were working together, intentionally keeping their distance from Kaminazuki, making sure its missiles and Iron Sand bullets couldn't hit them. But if Chiyo accidentally hit the signal receiver or the drive in Kaminazuki, then he wouldn't be able to control it remotely anymore. 

Shindai took a deep breath, then yelled at Chiyo, "Hey, old hag, look who's behind your son and daughter!" 

Chiyo didn't even look up. As long as she didn't look at Shindai, nothing he did could affect her. But Shindai wasn't going to let Chiyo have her way. 

Three Iron Sand clones landed on the ground, kicking up dust. When the dust cleared, Chiyo and Kakashi, who was peeking from hiding, couldn't tear their eyes away. Chiyo's eyes were filled with hatred, while Kakashi looked utterly disbelieving. Because behind the Iron Sand clones that had transformed into Chiyo's son and daughter, the third Iron Sand clone had used the Transformation Jutsu to become the White Fang of the Leaf, Sakumo Hatake! 

Obito and Rin looked at Sakumo Hatake, then at Kakashi. Both of them were shocked. "Why would Shindai bring out Kakashi's father?" they thought. "Shindai knows that's always been a raw spot for Kakashi!" 

But Obito and Rin quickly figured out why. Shindai, in a truly sinister voice, shouted, "Chiyo, do you recognize this person? From the look in your eyes, full of emotion, it's clear you do, right? That's right! He's my idol, the one who shook the ninja world with the title 'White Fang of the Leaf,' a hero of the Leaf whose strength surpassed even the Sannin, Sakumo Hatake! And at the same time, Lord Sakumo is also the one who killed your son and daughter, the very reason Sasori came to resent all of you!" 

"Huh?!" Obito and Rin both looked at Kakashi in surprise. "Kakashi, is that true?" 

Kakashi, his face dark, nodded. "Yeah, it's true." Now Kakashi understood why Shindai had apologized to him earlier. This was what he was waiting for! 

Even though Sakumo Hatake's death had once made Kakashi shut off his emotions and become obsessed with missions and rules, under the guidance of Minato Namikaze, Obito, and Rin – especially after Shindai joined – the idea of shutting off his emotions was impossible. With Shindai and Obito constantly messing around, he'd already moved past that. So, even though this incident still bothered Kakashi, it affected him very little now. 

Still, Kakashi was furious! Using his father to break Chiyo's composure? It was outrageous, but it was exactly the kind of scummy thing that shameless Shindai would do. 

Shindai made a weird face and said, "Oh my, Lady Chiyo, do you have nothing to say to Lord Sakumo? Lord Sakumo killed Sasori's parents, and you intentionally destroyed those two 'Father' and 'Mother' puppets of yours. If you think about it, Lady Chiyo, you did the same thing as Lord Sakumo, didn't you? So, seeing Lord Sakumo again, are you grateful? Or filled with hatred?" 

Chiyo's eyes were bloodshot, and she was so enraged that her voice was practically squeezed out through her teeth. "You brat, you've gone too far!" 

Shindai made a grotesque face at Chiyo. "Brat~ you've gone too far~ So what would be 'not too far'? Giving Sasori's parents a good hug and kiss? Or would it be okay if I hugged and kissed you? Your intelligence, seriously, it's hard to describe. Did you get that advisor position by kissing your brother's smelly feet? Otherwise, it doesn't make sense. How can someone so dumb be an advisor? No wonder the Hidden Sand has been so poor for so many years, we've found the reason! 

Phew, I'm not gonna talk to you anymore. Lord Sakumo must be impatient already. Hey, Chiyo, I'm gonna show you what true homage looks like!" 

Chiyo immediately realized what Shindai was about to do, and her voice became sharp as she roared at Shindai, "You wouldn't dare?!" 

"Still spouting nonsense like that? Watch me!" 

'Sakumo Hatake' drew his White Light Chakra Sabre and swung it at the necks of Chiyo's son and daughter. Even though she knew it was fake, Chiyo desperately rushed forward with her puppets, trying to intervene. However, 'Sakumo Hatake' had already moved, blade in hand, severing the heads of Chiyo's 'son' and 'daughter.' 

"You bastard!" 

Chiyo immediately manipulated her puppets, utterly destroying the 'Sakumo Hatake' Iron Sand clone in an instant. Chiyo leaned on her legs, panting heavily, cold sweat dripping onto the ground. This was the nightmare that often woke her in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. Seeing it happen again, even knowing it was fake, she still couldn't bear it. 

But Shindai wasn't done yet. He formed hand signs, and the Iron Sand on the ground reassembled, forming over a dozen Iron Sand clones. They were either Sakumo Hatake, Chiyo's son and daughter, Sasori, or the Third Kazekage. Sakumo Hatake repeatedly severed the heads of Chiyo's son and daughter, while Sasori repeatedly stabbed the Third Kazekage through the chest. 

Chiyo, now forced to relive her nightmare over and over, was at her breaking point. Her hands began to tremble, causing her to lose precision in controlling her puppets. Two of her puppets accidentally got covered in Iron Sand and instantly became useless. Chiyo didn't notice that Shindai was no longer in the sky. 

This guy Shindai is a real piece of work, isn't he? He's really pushing Chiyo to her limits. What do you think will happen next, with Chiyo's mental state completely shattered like this? 

Chapter 145: I'm a Good Kid Who Respects the Elderly and Cares for the Young 

Chiyo was reliving it all over again: Sakumo Hatake repeatedly severing her son and daughter's heads, and Sasori repeatedly piercing the Third Kazekage's chest. 

Even if Chiyo destroyed all those Iron Sand clones, they'd just reassemble and do it all over again. 

On top of that, Chiyo couldn't focus at all. Her hands were trembling, making it impossible to control her puppets properly. Out of the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, she could only use five now. 

What's more, Chiyo didn't even realize that Shindai wasn't in the air anymore. 

Shindai had actually blended in with the Iron Sand clones, even using the Transformation Jutsu to become one of them. 

Just as Chiyo, with bloodshot eyes, destroyed a 'Sakumo Hatake', the 'son' tightly gripped an Iron Sand spear and plunged it towards Chiyo's chest. 

Though consumed by grief, Chiyo's combat instincts were still sharp. With her powerful taijutsu, she slapped away the 'son's' Iron Sand spear and clenched her fist, aiming a punch at the 'son's' body. 

"Mother~" 

Chiyo's movements abruptly halted. 

"Heh, you old hag! I got my chance, didn't I? Take a good slap from me!" 

Shindai, who had been waiting for the perfect moment, saw his opportunity. He lunged forward, his right hand raised high, and slammed it right across Chiyo's face. 

Shindai's unrestrained slap twisted Chiyo's face instantly, drawing blood from her gums. After spitting out a mouthful of blood, she was sent flying backward. 

While Chiyo was airborne, Shindai immediately used Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wings to rocket back into the sky, putting distance between them and giving Chiyo no chance to retaliate. 

At the same time, Shindai's chakra threads latched onto something in the mouthful of gum blood Chiyo had just spat out. 

Back in the sky, Shindai spread his arms wide and took a deep breath, a look of pure enjoyment on his face. "This is amazing!" 

This whole operation was a massive success! Not only did he perfectly break Chiyo, but he also landed that long-desired slap. 

Sure, there was a bit of risk involved, but the payoff was so good that the risk was totally worth it. 

Shindai looked at the object stuck to his chakra thread. It was a tooth Chiyo had spat out. 

"Heh heh, old hag, your teeth must be pretty loose, huh? One slap and a tooth just popped right out! I'll keep this tooth. When I meet Sasori later, I'll give it to him as a trophy and brag about it properly. I'm leaving now, wanna try and stop me? I'm giving you a chance, you know." 

Chiyo clutched her swollen right cheek, glaring at Shindai with intense hatred. 

Shindai chuckled, "Don't look at me like that. I know I can't kill you, and I didn't come here to kill you anyway. I just came to annoy you. I know you're getting senile now and your memory's probably shot, so I specifically helped you relive some old memories. How about it? Do you like this big gift? 

Alright, I won't bother you anymore. You really look like a stray dog... No, you are a stray dog now, since even your grandson hates you and left the Hidden Sand Village. You're all alone. 

I'm a good kid who respects the elderly and cares for the young, so next time you start forgetting, I'll come back and help you remember again. No need to thank me! 

Looks like you're not planning to stop me, so I'm outta here. Bye-bye~" 

Shindai manipulated Kannazuki, flying it in his direction to retrieve it. 

"Puppet Technique: Violent Blade Barrage!" 

Chiyo's right hand attached chakra threads to Kannazuki, flying up into the sky with it. Then she violently swung her left hand, controlling five puppets to attack Shindai. 

"That's not going to be enough to stop me, you know." 

Shindai increased his altitude again, then dispersed Kannazuki completely into iron sand, which began to fall. 

Chiyo's expression was a mix of fury and helplessness. 

She couldn't hit Shindai, and his Magnet Release was a perfect counter to her puppets. 

This Shindai's mastery of Magnet Release was incredibly skilled; in terms of proficiency with it, he might even be comparable to the Third Kazekage. 

If Shindai continued to grow, he would eventually possess power on par with the Third Kazekage. 

Add in the puppets that fit Shindai, a Magnet Release user, so perfectly... he was a serious threat. 

To prevent the remaining five Chikamatsu puppets from being paralyzed by the iron sand, Chiyo sealed them into a scroll. 

Chiyo was also forced to land back on the ground. 

Kannazuki, which had dispersed into iron sand, reassembled. Shindai also unrolled a scroll and sealed Kannazuki within it. 

"Well then, see ya!" 

Shindai flapped his iron sand wings, performing a rather showy 360-degree spin in the air before flying away. 

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, who had been secretly observing, also quietly left once Shindai was gone. 

Chiyo stood there, frozen, for a very long time. Even though she tried to control it, her mind kept replaying Sakumo Hatake repeatedly severing her son and daughter's heads, and Sasori repeatedly piercing the Third Kazekage's chest. 

Chiyo, who had been slightly hunched over, now seemed completely crushed, her posture even more stooped. 

Now, Chiyo felt no anger, only deep disappointment and self-reproach. 

She hadn't protected Sasori's parents, hadn't protected Sasori, and hadn't raised him properly. 

If she had noticed Sasori's abnormalities earlier, if she had guided him sooner, perhaps none of this would have happened. 

Chiyo looked at the fragments of 'father' and 'mother' mixed with iron sand on the ground. 

Chiyo picked up each fragment, piece by piece, and sealed them into an empty scroll. 

Afterward, Chiyo checked on the five paralyzed Chikamatsu puppets. 

Though paralyzed, they weren't extensively damaged. They could be restored by simply cleaning out the invading iron sand and repairing or replacing damaged parts. 

After sealing those five puppets into a scroll as well, Chiyo let out a deep sigh. She suddenly felt incredibly tired. Rubbing her swollen right cheek, she walked towards the Land of Wind with a rather desolate stride. 

Shindai was lying on the ground, breathing heavily. 

Using Magnet Release ninjutsu at such a high frequency, and with so many Iron Sand clones, Shindai wasn't a jinchuriki; he didn't have massive chakra reserves. Even if Iron Sand clones consumed much less chakra than shadow clones, he couldn't sustain that kind of output. 

Shindai's chakra was almost completely depleted; he probably couldn't even use a single jutsu. 

But just thinking of Chiyo's disgusted face, and that slap, Shindai couldn't help but burst out laughing. 

"Hahahaha..." 

However, Shindai had barely laughed a few times when three dog heads... no, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin's heads appeared in his field of vision. 

Kakashi was clearly annoyed now, glaring at Shindai with piercing eyes. 

"You're still laughing? Aren't you going to explain what just happened?"