Jiraiya's eyes widened when Shindai mentioned that the Akatsuki organization's headquarters was located in Amegakure.
"Hmm? Amegakure? But I once went to Kumogakure searching for Nagato and the others, yet couldn't find them at all."
Shindai shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I'm not really sure either. They might have concealed themselves well, or possibly relocated entirely."
Regarding the Akatsuki's base, Shindai remembered clearly it was located in Amegakure, but after all, it wasn't uncommon for bases to relocate.
After pondering for a moment, Jiraiya said, "Then I'll go investigate Amegakure again."
"Eh eh eh, absolutely not!"
Shindai immediately stopped Jiraiya from going.
Jiraiya's death was far too significant; even if he wanted to forget, Shindai couldn't. What if Jiraiya went there and met the same fate as before?
That absolutely wouldn't do!
Without Jiraiya, who would inspire new designs for adult puppets?
Jiraiya asked doubtfully, "Why not?"
Shindai answered seriously, "Jiraiya-sama, although Nagato and Konan used to be your apprentices, that was just in the past. They won't recognize you as their master anymore. Otherwise, they wouldn't have invaded Konoha twice already. If you're discovered by them, they'll definitely kill you.
Even though you're incredibly strong, one man can't take on multiple enemies at once. Faced with so many enemies, strength alone won't be enough. Besides, we now know their weaknesses. Wouldn't it be smarter to wait for them to show themselves first, then strike together?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi also chimed in, "What Shindai said is correct, Jiraiya. Now they're no longer your apprentices. You cannot go to Amegakure with the mindset of being able to communicate with them. You're enemies now, plain and simple!"
Minato Namikaze also said, "I agree with Jiraiya-sensei too."
Jiraiya still wanted to meet Nagato and Konan because the reason why the former Akatsuki had been destroyed was the result of Danzo and Sanshouo Hanzo conspiring together.
And during the Chunin Exams, when four of the Paths surrounded Danzo, it was very likely revenge since Danzo's words at the beginning indicated that the Akatsuki had come specifically looking for him.
Tsunade, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up, "If you insist on going, then I'll go with you. From what I know about you, you'll end up going eventually anyway. Also, let's bring Orochimaru along. That should make things significantly safer. What do you think, old man? Minato?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "In that case, Minato, let them go."
Letting out a breath, Minato said, "Fine then, Jiraiya-sensei. This mission is strictly for reconnaissance of the Akatsuki headquarters. Try to avoid engaging in battle at all costs!"
Smiling, Jiraiya agreed, "Okay!"
Shindai sighed inwardly—they were going anyway...
Still, with Orochimaru and Tsunade by his side, nothing serious should go wrong.
...
Meanwhile, Sunagakure was already descending into chaos.
As night fell, Sasori and Deidara infiltrated Sunagakure, seizing One-Tail Jinchuriki Gaara right before the eyes of numerous Sand ninja.
With no choice, Sunagakure had to request aid from their ally Konoha, though this would take time.
Kankuro pursued Sasori and Deidara alone, successfully catching up with the pair.
"I found you! Give Gaara back to me!"
Sasori glanced sideways at Deidara. "Deidara, you go ahead first. This brat's mine."
Kankuro immediately pulled four Scrolls from behind his back and unfurled them all at once.
[Puppet Showdown!] "Witness my artistry! Come forth—Corpse Crow, Black Ant, Sanshouo, and King Puppet!"
Four puppets formed around Kankuro as he took control of them all at once.
Kankuro coldly declared, "I'll say it one more time—quickly return Gaara to me!"
Ignoring Kankuro, Deidara leapt onto the clay bird restraining Gaara and said to Sasori, "Then I'll head off first. I'll wait for you ahead."
"Not so fast!"
Kankuro maneuvered the Corpse Crow puppet toward Deidara.
However, the tail spike of Hiruko blocked Corpse Crow directly, preventing Kankuro from controlling it.
Staring in shock at Sasori, Kankuro couldn't believe his opponent wasn't even human—but a puppet?
Sasori's hoarse voice sounded out, "I hate waiting for others, and dislike being waited for. Therefore, I shall finish you off swiftly."
Though Kankuro launched a fierce assault, Sasori easily neutralized the attack and countered, injuring Kankuro.
In disbelief, Kankuro stared at Sasori. "How do you know my puppets so well?"
At this moment, Sasori was hidden inside Hiruko. The Sasori Kankuro had encountered outside Konoha was actually his true form—which explained why Kankuro hadn't recognized him.
Sasori's voice carried disdain. "Your puppets? I was the one who created Corpse Crow, Black Ant, and Sanshouo! And that puppet must be Shindai's work, right? Claiming someone else's puppets as your own—Sunagakure's new generation of puppeteers has become truly pathetic."
Kankuro gazed at Sasori in astonishment. "You're... Red-Sand Sasori?!"
Sasori scoffed. "Never thought someone like you would even know my name. What an honor, indeed."
Clutching his teeth, Kankuro glared at Sasori. "Why? Why did you kill the Third Kazekage back then? Why did you betray our village?"
"What's the point of asking these questions when death awaits you?"
Kankuro drew the last Scroll from his back and summoned its contained puppet.
Striking a battle-ready stance, Kankuro declared: [Since you won't explain, I'll capture you myself—with my self-developed puppet, the Tengu!]
This puppet looked grotesque—an unsettling fusion: humanoid limbs attached to a beast-like torso.
Kankuro controlled the Tengu puppet and launched another fierce attack against Sasori, momentarily seeming to gain the upper hand.
Five minutes later.
After dodging the mechanisms of the Tengu puppet, Sasori spoke out, "Boring."
The next second, Hiruko's tail pierced through the body of the Tengu puppet. With a twist, the entire puppet instantly shattered into pieces.
Kankuro stared in shock at his shattered puppet. "What?!"
"I thought you might finally catch my attention for once, but it turns out this is just another inferior product. Although it incorporates elements of my style and Shindai's, it's merely mimicking the surface—no better than trash. It's not even worth my time. What a waste."
Without another word, Sasori turned away from Kankuro and left.
"Wai—"
Before he could say the second "wait," Kankuro suddenly dropped to one knee, his face twisted in pain as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Hiruko was coated in deadly poison, and now, the poison from Hiruko had spread throughout Kankuro's body. He had completely lost his fighting ability.
Helplessly, Kankuro could only watch as Sasori disappeared from sight, his heart filled with bitterness and regret. On the day of the Chunin Exams, he had witnessed the puppet duel between Shindai and Sasori—and ever since then, he'd sworn to create puppets even stronger than theirs.
He had originally believed his Tengu had finally caught up to them. But now, faced with such a crushing defeat and stinging humiliation, all his confidence shattered like glass.
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