241-245

*Chapter 241: The Visitors from Konoha*

Kakashi put up a playful resistance as Hattori gave him a rough rub on the head, and within seconds, the two were trading blows back and forth with light-hearted sparring moves.

Both were just fooling around, not putting much force into their attacks.

However, with their level of skill, it was still enough to leave Rin Nohara watching in awe.

As she pondered whether to intervene, the sound of wind chimes reached their ears.

“Ding-ling-ling…”

Hearing the sound, both Hattori and Kakashi stopped their sparring and turned in its direction.

The source of the sound wore a hat that obscured their face, revealing only their attire—a black cloak adorned with red clouds.

It was the uniform of the Akatsuki organization.

Watching the two Akatsuki members enter the nearby dango shop, Hattori and Kakashi exchanged glances.

Hattori's eyes sparkled with intrigue, while Kakashi’s expression grew tense.

Noticing their change in demeanor, Rin curiously asked, “Um… did something happen?”

“Hmm, just a little something,” Hattori replied, patting her head and flashing a grin.

“But don’t worry about it. You, our little shop manager, just focus on selling ice cream,” he said with a wink.

Then, turning to Kakashi, he asked, “What do you think, Kakashi?”

“Yeah,” Kakashi nodded, holding his Icha Icha Paradise novel as he casually walked over to the dango shop’s entrance, where he stood reading.

While Kakashi took a cautious approach, Hattori was far more direct.

He walked right into the dango shop, sat down beside the two Akatsuki members, and grinned at them.

“Hey there. Judging by your unique outfits, could it be that you two are from the so-called Mercenary of the Land of Rain—Akatsuki?”

The man with a shark-like face immediately reached for the handle of his sword.

But before he could draw it, the man sitting next to him stopped him and addressed Hattori.

“Mr. Hattori, I have no intention of becoming your enemy. Could you just ignore us? Matters concerning Konoha don’t have anything to do with you, after all.”

“Hm, that’s probably true,” Hattori nodded thoughtfully before breaking into a laugh.

“I didn’t expect you to recognize me right away after twelve years. That’s a bit surprising, Itachi Uchiha!”

Indeed, the man speaking to Hattori was none other than the infamous S-class rogue ninja who massacred the Uchiha clan, Sasuke’s older brother—Itachi Uchiha!

Even Kakashi had to treat such a figure with caution, underscoring Itachi’s strength.

Yet here he was, treating Hattori with respectful politeness, surprising even the shark-faced man beside him.

“So, you’re an acquaintance of Mr. Itachi?” the shark-faced man mused. “Although… I think I’ve heard the name Hattori somewhere…”

Hattori chuckled. “It’s normal that you have. Isn’t Akatsuki interested in capturing the Jinchūriki? Well, I happen to be the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Does that ring a bell, Kisame Hoshigaki?”

“Oh… Now I remember!”

With Hattori’s reminder, Kisame’s face lit up with realization as he again tightened his grip on the handle of his sword.

“Oh? Planning to fight?” Hattori raised an eyebrow, amused.

“Since you’re the guest here, I’ll let you take the first move. But I suggest you act quickly—I hate wasting time, and I won’t give you a second chance.”

Kisame’s expression grew serious, his grip on the Samehada intensifying.

But before he could act, Itachi stopped him once more.

“Stand down, Kisame. This one isn’t someone you can handle. And Mr. Hattori, please, don’t provoke him further, or else…”

“Or else what?” Hattori interrupted, laughing again as he reached out and lightly tapped Itachi’s forehead protector.

“Oh, foolish Itachi, you’ve limited your own path. Call me godfather already so I can show you the way!”

Itachi’s expression twitched, yet he said nothing, looking at Hattori with a complex expression.

“Tsk…” Hattori clicked his tongue, withdrawing his hand from Itachi’s forehead and shaking his head.

“What a hopeless case. You’re just as stubborn as your father. Fine, for old times' sake, I’ll help you out with a new style!”

Hattori pulled a comb from his pocket and expertly styled Itachi’s hair, trimming a few strands that had fallen over his eyes.

“Done!”

Satisfied, Hattori looked at the newly-styled Itachi, nodded approvingly, and put the cut hair into his pocket as he glanced at Kisame.

“Want a turn? I think a shaved head would suit you.”

Kisame just tightened his grip on his Samehada without responding.

“Well, looks like you’re not interested. In that case, we’re done here. And please, keep it quiet on your way out. Alright… bye!”

With that, Hattori turned and walked out without a second glance.

Watching Hattori leave so abruptly, Kisame was stunned. “That’s it? He came in just to style your hair, Mr. Itachi?”

Itachi said nothing, but the sweat on his forehead betrayed his unsettled feelings.

After hearing Kisame’s words, Itachi immediately picked up his hat and placed it back on his head. “Let’s go. We’re leaving now!”

“Uh… okay,” Kisame replied. He always followed Itachi’s orders, so he rose and used the Body Flicker Technique to exit the dango shop with him.

They followed the river through Konoha, making their way out of the village, but before they could leave, they encountered Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yūhi blocking their path.

Itachi had initially intended to avoid a confrontation, but faced with their interference, he decided to act.

Kisame was more than eager to take out his pent-up frustration on Asuma. It took him only a single move to land a powerful blow on Asuma!

Kurenai fared even worse. Her specialty, the Tree Bind Death Genjutsu, was easily countered by Itachi’s Sharingan, turning the illusion back on her.

Realizing what happened, she bit her lower lip to use the pain to break free from the Genjutsu.

The moment she escaped, Itachi’s attack was upon her.

“Swish!”

As the kunai slashed toward her neck, Kurenai ducked to avoid the strike.

Itachi reacted quickly, delivering a side kick that sent her flying into the nearby river.

Just as she was about to hit the water, a flash of golden light appeared, and she felt herself caught by someone.

A familiar voice echoed in her ears.

“Why do you have to interfere? If they wanted to leave, you should have let them go. Now you took a hit for no reason. Does it hurt?”

“Uh…”

Hearing the familiar voice and looking at the person holding her, Kurenai was left speechless.

“Hattori?”

*Chapter 242: Crushing with Eye Techniques*

At this moment, the one who caught Kurenai Yuhi was none other than Hattori.

With his sudden appearance, the two groups who had been fighting immediately stopped, turning their gazes towards him.

Hattori, however, didn’t pay them any attention. After catching Kurenai, he noticed her staring at him in a daze and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t it the perfect time for a hero to save beauty?”

“…”

Hearing this, Kurenai rolled her eyes at him, speechless, before blushing slightly and whispering, “Put me down.”

“Alright, but let’s get up there first!”

With that, Hattori leapt up, landing beside Itachi Uchiha. He gently put Kurenai down, then said, “Itachi, if I remember correctly, I told you guys to leave quietly, didn’t I?”

“…”

Itachi didn’t reply, but as Hattori turned to look at him, he activated his eye technique!

“Tsukuyomi!”

With the technique activated, Hattori instantly noticed his surroundings had changed.

The riverbank transformed into a dark red space, and he was now pinned to a cross, with Itachi standing below, holding a long blade.

“From now on, I control everything here—time, space, matter. For the next 72 hours, I’ll keep stabbing you with this blade. Let’s see if you can hold out without breaking down!”

After saying this, Itachi drove the blade into Hattori’s body.

But to his surprise, as his blade pierced Hattori, a wave of intense pain surged through Itachi’s own body!

It felt as if he himself had been stabbed, not Hattori.

“Ugh…”

He couldn’t help but groan, staring at Hattori in disbelief.

“What… What’s going on? What did you do?”

“→_→”

Hattori, pinned on the cross, glanced at him with a look that seemed to mock him as if he were an idiot.

“You’re using Tsukuyomi against me and asking what I did to you? Isn’t that a bit strange?”

“…”

Itachi fell silent, and after a while, he spoke slowly.

“If you’re really that Hattori, then you should know who I am. Don’t get in my way, okay?”

“Fine!”

To Itachi’s surprise, Hattori nodded readily.

“I never planned to stop you, but since you attacked me, I can’t just pretend it didn’t happen.

"Let’s do this. Since you initiated Tsukuyomi, let’s keep going. After 72 hours, we’ll call it even!”

“???”

Hearing this, a hint of confusion flashed in Itachi’s eyes, as if he didn’t quite understand Hattori’s intentions.

But he quickly figured it out.

As Hattori finished speaking, several more versions of Itachi appeared around him.

They all looked exactly like him, almost like clones, each holding a long blade identical to his own!

They stepped forward and stabbed their blades into the Hattori on the cross.

As the blades entered, Itachi felt as if he himself was being pierced by dozens of blades, the intense pain making him groan again.

“Ugh…”

Seeing this, Hattori, still on the cross, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Haha, not bad. You’re pretty resilient. Alright, let’s keep going!”

With his words, the dozen or so Itachis below him continued stabbing, at a rate of one stab per second.

This time, Itachi couldn’t hold on any longer, collapsing to the ground, curling up involuntarily.

While twitching on the ground, he looked up at Hattori.

“Deflecting Tsukuyomi… such powerful eye techniques. Could it be… you’ve awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?”

“Oh? Fugaku didn’t tell you? What a lousy father!”

Hearing Itachi’s words, Hattori smirked and nodded.

“Well, since he didn’t say anything, I’ll let you know. Ten years ago, I’d already awakened the Mangekyo.

"And now, I’ve unlocked the Straight Tomoe. Oh… you might not know that name. It’s also called the ‘Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan’!”

“Eternal Mangekyo?”

Itachi’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that the same as Madara Uchiha’s…”

“Exactly, the same as Madara’s eyes!”

Hattori nodded again, then looked at the dozen Itachis below him.

“Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s get back to business. Brothers, raise your blades and make him feel it!”

“Swish, swish, swish…”

At his command, the dozen Itachis once again raised their blades and began stabbing.

On the ground, Itachi trembled again, gritting his teeth to suppress his groans of pain.

“Ugh… ah…”

Amid his muffled groans, Hattori spoke once more.

“Like your Sharingan, I also have my own Mangekyo ability. It’s called ‘Truth Reversal,’ and its function… is sealing.

"It can block space, nullify ninjutsu and taijutsu, and reflect all genjutsu by sealing time itself. So, yeah… you could say I’m invincible. You should be feeling that by now.”

“…”

Itachi wasn’t just feeling it; he was filled with regret.

Since the beginning, he had wanted to break free from Tsukuyomi, but he realized he couldn’t!

In other words, the initiative was now in Hattori’s hands.

If he’d known Hattori had a more advanced Sharingan, he would’ve fled instantly.

But now, his attempt to warn Hattori had only backfired, trapping him.

As he felt the blades repeatedly piercing him, all he could do was curl up, gritting his teeth and trying to endure.

His only thought now was to hold in his screams and maintain a shred of dignity.

At this moment, Hattori’s voice echoed again in his ears.

“From now on, I control everything here—time, space, matter. For the next 72 hours, I’ll make you keep stabbing me, and you’ll feel the pain.

"Try to hold out until then, and we’ll be even. There are now 71 hours, 58 minutes, and 12 seconds left!”

“…”

Listening to Hattori’s words, which he found eerily familiar, a bitter smile appeared on Itachi’s pained face as he forced out two words.

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome!”

Hattori thought for a moment, then grinned at Itachi again. “One person’s a bit boring. Let’s bring in a few more!”

With those words, several more of Hattori appeared on crosses around them, along with over a hundred Itachis wielding long blades.

As the hundred Itachis began stabbing, Itachi felt as if a hundred blades were piercing him, his head spinning from the pain, yet unable to pass out.

And Hattori’s voice came through clearly once more.

“A sack of rice carried up how many floors? A sack of rice carried up two floors. I washed a sack of rice, so much mud to wash off… What’s the rest again? Never mind, add more water!”

“…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 243: Confession and Departure*

In the original storyline, Kakashi should have been caught in Uchiha Itachi's illusion, suffering through 72 hours of torture within the Tsukuyomi space, ultimately being defeated. However, due to Hattori’s intervention, the tables had turned on Itachi himself.

After enduring 72 hours of torment, the Tsukuyomi was finally lifted.

The moment the illusion broke, Uchiha Itachi, visibly shaken, wobbled and dropped to one knee.

Seeing this, Kisame Hoshigaki immediately rushed to support him, stepping back several paces with Itachi in tow, all while keeping a wary eye on Hattori.

"Itachi-san, what happened? Did he break through the Tsukuyomi?"

"Yes," Itachi nodded weakly, his face pale. Then, he asked, "How much time has passed since I cast Tsukuyomi?"

"Um…" Kisame looked momentarily stunned by the question. Although he didn’t reply directly, his expression told Itachi everything he needed to know.

"So, in your eyes, it looked like he merely glanced back at me, and I lost my balance?"

"Uh… yes, exactly!"

Kisame nodded, then seemed to realize something that left him in utter disbelief. "Wait… so he didn’t just break through your Tsukuyomi, but rather…"

"Correct!" Itachi confirmed, nodding.

"He completely reversed my Tsukuyomi back onto me. His Sharingan is stronger than mine. Get ready... we need to retreat!"

After speaking, he opened his right eye wide, revealing a trail of blood.

"Amaterasu!"

With the use of this ocular technique, black flames immediately ignited on Hattori.

But Hattori reacted just as swiftly.

As the Amaterasu flames touched him, he manipulated chakra strings to remove his clothes and flung them toward Itachi.

In that instant, his body flickered with golden light, disappearing from his original position, only to reappear behind Itachi.

He then unleashed his most powerful technique!

"Ultimate Space-Time Taijutsu Secret Technique: Flying Thunder God One Thousand Years of Death!"

"Arrrgghhhhh…"

After enduring this blow, Uchiha Itachi, who had previously withstood 72 hours in the Tsukuyomi, let out a scream before his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Kisame, now completely shaken, didn’t dare engage Hattori further. He grabbed the unconscious Itachi and plunged into the nearby river.

SPLASH!

With the sound of water, their silhouettes vanished into the river.

Hattori sensed around, finding that he couldn't detect their chakra, a hint of surprise flickering across his face.

"Whoa, Shark-face’s water escape technique for escaping is impressive—even my Sage’s Perception can’t track it. Quite praiseworthy!"

"…"

Hearing this, both Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi, who stood behind him, were left speechless.

But more than that, they were stunned.

Neither of them had anticipated that Uchiha Itachi and Kisame, who had defeated them in just one move, would be so effortlessly forced into retreat by Hattori.

Moreover, Itachi himself had said that Hattori’s Sharingan was superior to his own.

But wasn’t Hattori supposed to be from the Uzumaki clan? How did he possess the Sharingan?

Recalling the familiarity of the illusion reversal earlier, Kurenai couldn’t help but ask Hattori.

"Hattori, who exactly are you? Are you from the Uzumaki clan or the Uchiha clan?"

"Well… actually, neither!"

Facing Kurenai's question, Hattori offered her an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, Kurenai. I’m not a Konoha ninja. I come from Sunagakure. I am the disciple of Chiyo, the elder advisor and wife of the First Kazekage, known as the Flame Salamander."

Seeing the shock on Kurenai and Asuma’s faces, Hattori exhaled a deep sigh.

"Phew… I finally said it. That feels much better. By the way, Kurenai, we actually met more than a decade ago. You even gave me flowers then. Do you remember?"

"Uh…"

At his words, an image of a red-haired, brash young man flashed in Kurenai’s mind. Gradually, that face overlapped with Hattori’s, merging into a single person.

"So, it was you… you… rude scoundrel!"

She charged forward, raising her hand as if to slap him. Hattori had been prepared to take the hit, but instead, her hand became a fist that lightly struck his shoulder.

"You… you jerk. You’ve been lying to me all along, so why are you telling me this now? Are you… leaving?"

"…"

Hearing the sadness in her tone, Hattori hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded.

"Rasa… Fourth Kazekage, is dead, and Chiyo-baasama is getting old. As elder from Sunagakure, I must return. I’m truly sorry, Kurenai."

"…"

After a moment’s silence, Kurenai spoke again. "Will you come back?"

"I don’t know; it’s hard to control one's fate in the shinobi world."

Hattori shook his head, his voice tinged with regret.

"Honestly, I don’t know when I’ll return. Maybe… maybe I never will. Here, let me give you a farewell gift."

With that, Hattori took out a kunai, its blade gleaming coldly, and handed it to her.

"This is a kunai I had custom-made from Mantendo, made from chakra-conducting metal. Now, it’s yours. I hope it serves you well."

"Chakra-conducting metal?" Kurenai’s eyes widened, and she shook her head, declining. "That’s too valuable. I can’t—"

"Take it!"

Before she could refuse, Hattori had already placed the chakra-metal kunai firmly in her hand.

"When I, Hattori, give something away, I never take it back. Now it’s officially yours. If you don’t want it, just toss it away!"

"…"

Kurenai wasn’t the type to discard something as rare as chakra-conducting metal, not to mention that owning such a weapon was a dream for most shinobi.

After a moment’s hesitation, she gripped the kunai tightly and nodded at Hattori.

"Alright, since it’s from you, I’ll accept it. I’ll treasure it."

Seeing her accept, Hattori gave a satisfied nod.

"That’s the spirit. I suggest you keep it on you at all times—even beside your pillow at night. It can serve as a good-luck charm. Well then… goodbye!"

With that, he disappeared in a flash of golden light.

For a moment, Kurenai stood frozen, then a small smile appeared on her face.

"He sure left quickly. Even though it’s a bit late, I’ll still say it—safe travels."

Looking down at the kunai in her hand, she noticed an inscription on the handle:

Flash of Lightning.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 244: The Inescapable Sweet Law*

Hattori was a straightforward person. Since he had decided to leave, he didn’t hesitate. After bidding farewell to Kurenai, he returned to give some final instructions to Haku and Rin Nohara, asking them to take good care of his shop and residence in Konoha. Then, he summoned his giant dragonfly and returned directly to the Sand Village.

Once back in the Sand Village, Hattori informed Chiyo and the others of Rasa’s death and proposed that Pakura be named as Fifth Kazekage.

Unfortunately, Chiyo disagreed. According to her, Pakura lacked both the achievements and the reputation, having been missing for ten years, and her strength was not enough to command respect. Chiyo wanted Hattori to take up the position himself.

Hattori refused, and when he couldn’t convince her otherwise, he left with a bold declaration:

“Even if I have to jump off the Kazekage building, I, Hattori, will never take on the role of Kazekage!”

Seeing his firm stance, that very night, Pakura, sent by Chiyo and others, entered his room and stayed the whole night…

The next morning, Hattori, wobbling a bit, summoned his giant dragonfly with a silly grin on his face and left for the Daimyo's palace to retrieve the Kazekage appointment letter.

Days later, the same Hattori who swore he would never become Kazekage, was officially inaugurated as the Fifth Kazekage, donning the light green Kazekage hat amid the cheers of thousands in the Sand Village.

As it turns out, no one can escape honey trap.

Chiyo, of course, understood the "real reason" behind Hattori's change of heart. So, once he became Kazekage, she appointed Pakura as his assistant—or rather, his secretary.

Thus, as the Fifth Kazekage, Hattori began enjoying a life where he had his secretary to handle affairs when there was work to do—and happiness when there was none.

Out of gratitude for the happiness Chiyo had given him, Hattori shared a significant secret with her.

“Granny Chiyo, I’ve actually mastered a technique that can bring the dead back to life. As long as I have a sample of their hair or body tissue, I can fully revive them!”

“What?” Chiyo was stunned. “Just a bit of hair or body tissue—no need for the entire body?”

“Exactly!” Hattori nodded, seeing her shock. “Though I also need a living person—ideally someone with strength similar to the deceased’s.”

“A living person?”

Hearing this, Chiyo frowned but then nodded in understanding.

“That won’t be a problem; there are powerful foreign spies and death row inmates in the dungeon. We could use them. But…is this technique truly safe? You’re the Kazekage now, so you can’t afford any risks!”

“Haha, of course I know that!” Hattori laughed, reassuring her.

“Don’t worry. This technique comes at a cost, but it’s safe. With my ability, I can use it about once every six months, so it’s manageable!”

Hattori was, in fact, lying. With his current recovery rate, he could fully recharge his “Yin Seal” within nine days and use the “Samsara Rebirth Technique.” But he told Chiyo it would take six months because he wanted to reserve some of his chakra for upgrading his eyes to gain the full Rinnegan.

Even so, this was enough to leave Chiyo astonished.

“Every six months? That’s incredible! So, are you telling me this because you’d like to revive someone for me?”

“Exactly!” Hattori nodded.

“Whether it’s your husband, the First Kazekage, or your son and daughter-in-law, as long as you have some of their hair or body tissue, I can bring them back for you!”

“This…”

Hearing Hattori’s offer, Chiyo looked visibly moved but then shook her head.

“The First Kazekage is unnecessary. I’m already old, and I’ll see him eventually. As for my son and daughter-in-law…let’s wait a bit longer. I’d like you to revive the Third Kazekage. He’s been missing for so long; he must be dead by now, and I want to know the truth of what happened!”

“Uh…”

Hattori hesitated at Chiyo’s request.

Seeing his reaction, Chiyo frowned, “What? Is it impossible to revive the Third Kazekage?”

“Well…it’s possible, but…”

Hattori scratched his head awkwardly.

“The truth is, Granny Chiyo, I already know what happened to the Third Kazekage. I just think that maybe you’d rather not know. Are you sure you want to?”

“Of course!” Chiyo answered firmly, “I want to know the truth, no matter what it may be.”

“Tch…alright, then.”

Seeing her resolve, Hattori clicked his tongue and explained.

“The truth is…the Third Kazekage was killed by Sasori. He even turned the body into a human puppet. If I revive the Third Kazekage, Sasori will never be able to return.”

“Ah…”

Chiyo was left speechless for a long moment before sighing with a bitter expression.

“I never imagined Sasori would do such a thing. Can someone like him really return?”

“Yes, he can return, but coming back to the village won’t be possible.”

Hattori then explained his plan to her.

“Granny Chiyo, here’s what I’m thinking: we’ll keep the truth of Third Kazekage’s death a secret. I’ll revive your son and daughter-in-law, and we can bring Sasori back too. Then the three of you can settle in the Land of Wind. I’ll even buy a house for you. How does that sound?”

“Ah…”

Chiyo’s eyes lit up with disbelief. “Is…is that really possible?”

“Absolutely. I guarantee it,” Hattori promised, which made Chiyo’s eyes fill with tears.

But before she could fully start crying, Hattori suddenly pulled out a shovel, preparing to head outside.

Seeing this, Chiyo stopped him.

“Wait, Hattori, where are you going?”

“To dig up your son and daughter-in-law’s graves!”

Hattori gave her a perplexed look. “Didn’t you say you wanted them revived? Without any hair or body tissue, I can’t do it, so I have to dig them up!”

“….”

Listening to Hattori’s bold plan, Chiyo’s face was filled with a mix of exasperation and amusement. She quickly stopped him.

“No need. I kept a lock of my son’s hair. And for my daughter-in-law, I still have the umbilical cord from when she gave birth to Sasori. Will that work?”

“Uh…yeah, that should work!”

Hattori nodded, handing the shovel over to her.

“In that case, I won’t need to dig up the graves. Here, take this shovel just in case. When you’re ready, it’ll make things easier.”

Chiyo: “…”

---

*Chapter 245: Ridaï*

After concluding their discussion, Hattori headed to the old warehouse designated for storing puppets, where he began to set up the Reanimation Jutsu's summoning seals. Meanwhile, Chiyo went to gather the necessary materials for the Reanimation Jutsu—specifically, DNA-bearing tissues of the deceased and a "vessel."

When Hattori finished drawing the summoning seals, Chiyo returned with a woman whose entire body was bound with ropes, even her mouth gagged.

From her gray shinobi armor, it was clear this woman was a ninja, likely from the covert ops division of a foreign nation.

Hattori, uninterested in her identity, glanced over her attributes and nodded slightly.

"Hmm, jonin-level strength. She meets the requirements as a vessel. Granny, do you have the item for the medium?"

"Right here!"

With that, Chiyo handed him a small, intricately wrapped bundle. Opening it, Hattori found a shriveled piece of umbilical cord inside.

Seeing it, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

"So, Granny, the first person you want to revive is your daughter-in-law? That’s a bit unexpected. Well, let’s get started!"

Saying this, he lifted the woman up and tossed her into the Reanimation Jutsu’s summoning circle, activating the skill stored in the bundle containing the umbilical cord.

"Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation!"

With a shout, the soil within the circle seemed to come alive, wrapping around the body of the bound female ninja, encasing her completely.

The woman struggled fiercely, muffled sounds escaping from her gagged mouth.

However, her struggle quickly ceased, and she transformed entirely into another person.

Seeing this, Chiyo’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"That…that face… It really is Ridaï!"

Hattori grinned, gesturing for her to calm down.

"No need to rush, Granny. Just one more step. Yin Seal: Release!"

He released the massive reserve of chakra he had stored on his forehead, surprising Chiyo with its overwhelming intensity, then clapped his hands together.

"Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique!"

A green light filled the room as he shouted, concentrating around the woman named Ridaï. Her body began transitioning from a reanimated corpse to a fully living person.

When the glow finally faded, Ridaï—Chiyo’s daughter-in-law—had been brought back to life.

"This is... puppet storage room?"

The newly resurrected Ridaï seemed disoriented as she looked around, her gaze eventually settling on Chiyo.

"Are you…Mother? Why is your hair white?"

"…"

Hearing Ridaï’s words, Chiyo, who had been holding back her emotions, could no longer contain herself. Tears poured from her eyes.

"Ridaï, it’s been over twenty years since you and Yahara died…"

"Ah…"

Hearing this, and seeing Chiyo’s tear-streaked face, Ridaï seemed to remember something. Her expression became one of sudden understanding.

"Oh, I remember now. Yahara and I were killed by the White Fang of Konoha… but why am I here? And why do I feel…alive?"

"That feeling isn’t wrong!"

Seeing her confusion, Hattori chuckled.

"Granny wanted you to live again, so I used a forbidden technique to resurrect you. You’ve truly been given life anew!"

"Resurrected?"

Ridaï was startled but then quickly looked at Hattori with excitement.

"You’re calling her ‘Granny.’ Are you…Sasori?"

"I…"

Hattori was about to correct her, but before he could, Ridaï hugged him tightly, tearfully apologizing.

"I’m so sorry, Sasori… I wasn’t there to care for you as a mother should… I’m so, so sorry…"

Watching her tearful embrace, Hattori felt a pang of compassion, choosing not to deny her mistaken identity. He reached out and gently patted her back.

"It’s alright… No need to apologize. Really, it’s okay…"

Moved and sorrowful, Ridaï cried even harder, unaware that Hattori’s hand had slid from her back to her lower waist.

Though Ridaï didn’t notice, Chiyo did.

With lightning reflexes, she grabbed Hattori by the ear, yanking him away to stop him from taking advantage of her daughter-in-law.

Seeing this, Ridaï looked on, puzzled.

"Mother, what are you…?"

"Ridaï, he’s not Sasori!"

Chiyo gave Hattori a pointed glare, a mix of curiosity and amusement on her face.

"This little rascal’s name is Hattori. He’s a greedy, lecherous scoundrel, so be careful not to let him get too close!"

Ridaï: “╭(°A°`)╮”

Hattori: “(ω`)”

Stunned by Chiyo’s words, Ridaï could only stare, bewildered.

Hattori, however, calmly removed Chiyo’s hand from his ear and smiled slightly.

"Granny, I don’t think that’s fair. I treat Sasori like a brother, and to me, his mother is my mother too. Hugging my own mother—is that taking advantage?"

"Hmph!" Chiyo snorted. "Is there a son who places his hand on his mother’s waist?"

Hearing this, Ridaï’s eyes widened, her face flushing bright red.

Hattori, however, remained calm, a faint smile on his face.

"Granny, you shouldn’t accuse me without proof. I was just comforting her, lightly patting her back. If you don’t believe me, let’s ask Ridaï herself."

He turned to the blushing Ridaï beside him.

"Ridaï, can you tell Granny whether I touched your back or somewhere else?"

"Uh…"

Ridaï hesitated, cheeks red, then stammered, "I-I think… it was my back?"

"See!"

With that confirmation, Hattori beamed.

"Granny, you heard it from her! You accused me unfairly, pulling my ear. I have the right to ask for an apology!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Chiyo raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming.

"Very well, I’ll have Pakura apologize for me later. How’s that?"

"Uhh… maybe that’s not necessary!"

The mention of Pakura made Hattori quickly drop the matter, grinning sheepishly as he waved his hand.

"No need for apologies between us. I’m sure you and Ridaï have a lot to catch up on. I’ll take my leave. Goodbye!"

With that, and before Chiyo could respond, Hattori disappeared in a flash of golden light.

Seeing this, Ridaï’s eyes widened in awe.

"That Body Flicker Technique… such impressive skill. Who exactly is he?"

Chiyo chuckled, her expression proud.

"He’s the disciple I took on over a decade ago and the strongest in Sunagakure today—the Fifth Kazekage!"

Ridaï: “(Д*)”

(End of Chapter)