After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 186

Chapter 186: The One-Tail Storm (Part 2)

Crow, Black Ant, and Salamander—the names of three familiar puppets to Sasori. These were the puppets he had wielded in his youth.

With Shukaku's intervention and Kankurō's presence, the Hidden Sand ninjas ambushing nearby began revealing themselves one after another.

Since battle had erupted, there was no room for hesitation.

It was unclear which ninja's Wind Release had initiated the first strike, breaking the earlier stalemate. Soon, a barrage of low-level ninjutsu engulfed Hiruko, completely obscuring it from sight.

At this moment, Granny Chiyo seemed to sense danger. She quickly cast Puppetry Technique: Mechanized Light Shield Barrier.

Her arms transformed into puppet parts, chakra threads extending through them to form a shield that blocked incoming attacks.

"Everyone! Be careful!"

Kankurō, closest to Granny Chiyo, was protected as well. Hidden Sand ninjas who reacted quickly were fortunate; those who didn’t suffered grievously.

Above the battlefield, a familiar figure appeared midair.

Though cloaked and wearing a modified mask, the distinctive blue-black hair was unmistakable.

With his hand seals, he unleashed:

Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!

Countless iron sand particles hovered and gathered, then transformed into countless needles darting at the surrounding ninjas.

"Ahhh!"

"Help me!"

Hidden Sand's forces quickly scattered, routed under the onslaught.

This technique was perfect for group battles—overwhelming and unforgiving.

"Impossible... The Third Kazekage’s corpse..."

More agonizing than their physical injuries was the mental anguish.

Seeing their lord transformed into a puppet humanoid controlled at will was a crushing humiliation.

Above the ground, Hiruko dissolved into grains of sand.

Sasori’s true body now stood atop a rooftop, controlling the Third Kazekage puppet and wielding Magnet Release to devastating effect.

Several Hidden Sand ninja skilled in stealth approached Sasori but triggered a barely perceptible chakra thread upon nearing him.

From Hiruko's rear emerged a metallic sword tail.

Swift as lightning, the poisoned sword tail slashed through several ninja, leaving them crumpled and still.

"White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Ten Puppets!"

Granny Chiyo swung a long sealing scroll, from which ten white-robed puppets crawled out.

Each of her fingers extended chakra strings connected to these puppets.

These white-clad puppets weren’t ordinary.

Legend spoke of how Granny Chiyo had once single-handedly conquered a city with this technique.

Some puppets excelled in close combat, others launched iron chains to bind foes, and all could wield various elemental ninjutsu.

"Triple Treasure Devouring!"

One puppet leaped atop two others, opening its mouth to reveal three marks: "Monk," "Law," and "Buddha."

A fierce suction force radiated from these puppets, instantly drawing in iron sand nearby.

Even the Third Kazekage puppet, struggling fiercely, was caught and pulled toward them.

The Kazekage puppet clapped its palm, ready to unleash Magnet Release once more.

But a white-robed puppet wielding dual swords suddenly appeared, slicing the chakra threads connecting the Kazekage puppet.

Then, another combat puppet smashed the out-of-control Kazekage puppet into pieces.

The wounded Hidden Sand ninja quickly reformed, launching a renewed attack.

Dense ninjutsu rained down on Hiruko.

This time, the target was no longer a sand clone.

Dense ninjutsu rained down on Hiruko like ants swarming an elephant—individually weak, but collectively deadly.

Though most were low-rank techniques, their sheer numbers proved devastating.

Soon, Hiruko's arms and tail faltered under the unrelenting assault.

Pieces broke off and fell.

In moments, the once-mighty foe was shredded by the torrent of ninjutsu.

But when the dust cleared, it revealed a gaping hole.

Sasori's true body had already escaped from within Hiruko.

"What a pity. I actually liked these two puppets."

Sasori's expression remained blank as he observed the devastation.

"He is—"

Some of the older Hidden Sand ninja recognized the figure.

He was Granny Chiyo's grandson and once a puppet genius of Hidden Sand—Sasori of the Red Sand.

"Old lady, you really are amazing."

Sasori's eyes, cold and empty of affection, regarded Granny Chiyo. She looked stricken—not because she'd just discovered her grandson's identity. She'd accepted that painful truth long ago.

What horrified her now was the extent of his transformation. Sasori had converted his entire body into a puppet.

Even Granny Chiyo, a master puppeteer, had only modified one of her own arms. But Sasori had gone far beyond—abandoning his flesh entirely, he'd shed most of what made him human.

"Since that is the case, it's my turn."

Ignoring those around him, Sasori opened his chest plate.

A scroll pulled open by steel wires unfurled behind him.

A hundred red-robed puppets burst forth in a crimson tide, each tethered to his chest by glowing chakra threads.

"Red Secret Technique: Hundred Puppet Manipulation!"

A hundred puppets floated against the night sky, blotting out the moonlight like a crimson plague.

Any weak-willed ninja would have collapsed on this sight.

Though each puppet was less refined than Chiyo's masterworks, their overwhelming numbers turned quantity into quality.

Under Sasori's genius control, even these mass-produced weapons could match any ninja on the battlefield.

"My target isn't you."

Sasori's voice cut across the battlefield.

"Hand over the jinchūriki."

Granny Chiyo said nothing.

Her Chikamatsu Ten Puppets spoke for her, charging at the hundred puppets in unison.

The Hidden Sand ninja—some fearful, others defiant—launched renewed attacks.

Even Kankurō summoned his three puppets to join the fray.

But Sasori, who had abandoned his humanity for puppet mastery, dominated utterly.

With Deidara diverting the village's main forces, the remaining ninja stood no chance against the Hundred Puppet Manipulation.

Though Chiyo's ten puppets cut down many red-robed foes, her stamina and chakra drained rapidly.

Sasori's control over his puppets grew more precise as his opponents fell one by one.

The battle was turning decisively against Hidden Sand.

High above, an eye formed from sand hovered over the battlefield.

Through its gaze, Gaara watched from his hidden chamber, seeing everything.