chapter 126 part 3
The two figures erupted into an even more intense battle. However, from this point on, Sasori of the Red Sand gradually gained the upper hand. His meticulously formulated toxin and the puppet components he equipped were specifically prepared against the Third Kazekage, yielding twice the result with half the effort.
The battle continued in this peculiar scene, with Tsukasa Kaede alone blocking the increasingly numerous Hidden Sand ninja, forcing everyone to merely observe.
It wasn't that there weren't brave individuals who stepped forward to launch suicidal attacks against Tsukasa Kaede, but it was useless. Whether ninjutsu, genjutsu, or sealing technique, none had much effect on the current Tsukasa Kaede.
Only the constantly converting zombies, with their howling, conveyed the message to the terrified people.
"That's right. If you don't move, I'm too lazy to move either, after all, converting you prepared individuals would also take me a little more time," Tsukasa Kaede sat down again, his gaze no longer on Rasa and the others, but watching the battle between Sasori of the Red Sand and the Third Kazekage with interest.
"Damn it..." Rasa and the others clenched their fists, but in the end, no one dared to move.
Not everyone feared death, but there were things more terrifying than death in this world. If they truly provoked a terrifying war, the Hidden Sand Village would be truly finished, and no one would be able to save it!
Rasa and Pakura exchanged glances, seeing the humiliation in each other's eyes, but both implicitly endured it. If the two of them were also taken out, the village would truly be in dire straits; there would be no one left to step up.
As time passed, Sasori of the Red Sand accumulated more and more injuries, but he completely disregarded them. With every clash, large numbers of components on his body would shatter.
Of course, similarly bursting open were the white fleshy masses, whose meaning was unknown to the Third Kazekage and the Hidden Sand ninja.
The Third Kazekage had long realized that Sasori of the Red Sand was no longer human, having altered himself beyond recognition. He didn't believe these white flesh parts merely served to disguise him as a person.
"So that's it! Your body doesn't have the 'core' I expected at all! All the white flesh is the core, and you've been using it to generate and utilize chakra!"
"It's too late to discover that now. You've wasted too many opportunities gathering intel; there's no way to salvage the situation," Sasori of the Red Sand said indifferently.
The Third Kazekage felt that if he had focused on reducing the amount of flesh on Sasori of the Red Sand from the start, the situation wouldn't have become so passive. Perhaps he would have defeated Sasori of the Red Sand already.
This was unavoidable. A figure like the Third Kazekage had acted numerous times during the Second Great Ninja War, and most of his intel had long been leaked. The stronger a person, especially a Kage, the more people watched them. Every move they made revealed their intel, observed and remembered by countless individuals.
The Third Tsuchikage and Third Raikage were typical examples; many of their battles were essentially "open cards," constantly combining existing jutsu formulas and seizing different opportunities to employ the most suitable tactics to quickly suppress and kill enemies. Without considerable skill, not just anyone could become a Kage.
Tsukasa Kaede was currently in a similar situation; much of his jutsu formula intel had already leaked. He either had to reveal new, unexpected jutsu formulas or flexibly utilize existing ones, constantly improving specific tactics, and crushing enemies with his well-rounded overall strength.
"Hmm, the battle is roughly four-six, with Sasori of the Red Sand having a very limited advantage."
Tsukasa Kaede was very relaxed, leaning back, propping himself up with his hands.
The current Sasori of the Red Sand, his combat experience was hard to say, but in terms of stamina and life-saving abilities, he could definitely leave his original timeline self far behind.
Even after using up his current supply of White Zetsu flesh, Sasori could use summoning jutsu to summon new, prepared flesh, along with a large number of replaceable puppet components. As long as he wasn't instantly destroyed with all his flesh, leading to immediate death, Sasori of the Red Sand had become a very troublesome opponent by constantly manipulating his puppet components and White Zetsu flesh.
Finally, under the gaze of many, the Third Kazekage fell from the sky, his body riddled with potent poison.
"Whether you're truly incapacitated or faking it, I won't go near you, nor will I give you any chances," Sasori of the Red Sand said, flinging one of his arms to deliver the final blow to the Third Kazekage.
Large amounts of Iron Sand lost their Magnet Release control, falling to the ground like rain.
Sasori of the Red Sand, showing no disdain, meticulously collected all the Iron Sand, doing so in full view of everyone, maximizing the humiliation.
Yet, no one dared to move. Moving meant inviting a futile death.
"You can endure even this? This village is truly beyond saving, but it doesn't matter. I never really cared about any of you."
Sasori of the Red Sand walked to Tsukasa Kaede's side and said coldly, "My task is complete. Let's go. Speaking another word to these fleeting individuals makes me uncomfortable."
From the perspective of the Hidden Sand ninja, Sasori of the Red Sand was so cold-blooded, completely devoid of any attachment to the past. Although he pursued eternal existence, his severance from the past was brutal and absolute.
Tsukasa Kaede nodded calmly, "In that regard, I truly can't compare to you. I still hold onto some old sentiments."
"That's the difference between you and me. I focus my attention on peers like you. If I waste it on others, then when those people die in the future, I'll have to expend extra energy to remember them. There's absolutely no need for that."
Sasori of the Red Sand said coldly, "It's better to send them to the Pure Land sooner. That place probably offers more lasting peace. The Impure World Reincarnation jutsu can even summon the dead, which means the souls that enter the Pure Land should exist forever. Those who die by my hand should thank me."
Tsukasa Kaede didn't respond. In some ways, it was true; the Pure Land world of this planet should be a utopia for the spirits of the dead, offering absolute safety and tranquility. However, for Tsukasa Kaede, there was an interesting detail in his memory—when Hashirama Senju was reincarnated a second time by Orochimaru, he heard about the Fourth Great Ninja War and commented, "There's war in every world."
Would there be strife even in the Pure Land? Tsukasa Kaede didn't know yet, but he would find out in the future.
He wouldn't venture to that dreadful place known as the Pure Land before he had the strength to confront the Sage of Kaedex Paths.
Their figures vanished from the Hidden Sand Village.
The numerous Hidden Sand ninja breathed a sigh of relief. Some even collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, their faces contorted in twisted expressions—hating their own helplessness, reproaching themselves for their "cowardly" behavior, yet relieved to be alive.
In the many years to come, more and more people would experience these feelings.
"Clean up the mess. Reassemble the forces. After this, Tsukasa Kaede probably won't easily attack the Hidden Sand Village again. Our enemies have shifted from Tsukasa Kaede and the Hidden Leaf Village to the ninja from other ninja villages!"
Rasa said in a deep voice, "I have an idea, a way to change the village's predicament... We surrender to the Hidden Leaf Village, surrender again!"
(end of chapter)