bookbashuk Chapter 156 Shukaku Acquired, Red Scorpion Forms Alliance
Chapter 156 Shukaku Acquired, Red Scorpion Forms Alliance
Chapter 156 Shukaku Acquired, Red Scorpion Forms Alliance
"You bastard!"
The Sand Ninja present never imagined that the missing Third Hokage would be in the hands of Sasori of the Red Sand. Most importantly, their strongest seal had been turned into a human puppet!
The leading Sand Village Jonin gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"Don't even think about it."
"Even if it means death, we will not hand Shukaku over to a traitor!"
He turned to his companions and shouted sternly, "I'll hold him off! You take Shukaku and run, run as far as you can, make sure you get Shukaku to Kikyoyama Castle!"
"team leader!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Let's go!"
The Jonin roared, his chakra exploding as he formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A raging hurricane, carrying sand and dust, formed a sandstorm that blotted out the sun and swept towards Sasori and the Third Kazekage puppet.
At the same time, the remaining Jonin turned around without hesitation, carrying the clay pot that sealed Shukaku, and ran wildly in the opposite direction.
"madness."
Scorpion gently shook his head.
"Magnetic Release: Giant Iron Sand Needle!"
The enormous iron sand needles condensed in the air, like siege ballistae, and with a piercing sound, they pierced through the violent sandstorm and headed straight for the Jonin who was desperately covering the rear.
"Pfft!"
The giant iron needle pierced his chest, spraying a cloud of blood.
The Jonin's body stiffened, a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes, and then he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"Can you escape?"
Sasori's gaze fell on the Jonin who were fleeing with Shukaku, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
The sand and iron wings on the back of the Third Kazekage puppet suddenly trembled, transforming into a pair of enormous black wings. It carried Sasori into the air, like a black grim reaper, chasing after the fleeing Sand Ninja.
In a short while, the Sand Village Jonin who were desperately fleeing were caught up by Sasori.
The Third Kazekage puppet spread its arms, and the iron sand spread out as if it were alive, condensing into countless fine threads in the air, weaving into a huge net of iron sand that descended from the sky, enveloping them along with the pottery jar that sealed Shukaku.
"Damn it, I can't break free."
"This iron sand has magnetic properties, and all our ninja tools are attracted to it."
37
"Let's give it our all!"
Several Jonin tried to put up a stubborn resistance, but before they could even form hand seals, countless iron sands rained down from the sky.
"I said that."
Sasori slowly descended from the sky: "Hand over Shukaku, and I might spare your lives. Unfortunately, you don't value it."
"ah!!!"
The piercing screams echoed through the desert before abruptly ceasing.
Blood stained the yellow sand.
Scorpion walked up to the pottery jar that sealed Shukaku, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his amber eyes.
"Shukaku with a tail — with it, my collection is even more perfect."
He reached out his hand, ready to put the pottery jar into the scroll.
But just as his fingers were about to touch the pottery jar...
A lazy voice suddenly rang out from the sand dunes nearby.
"Tsk tsk tsk, murder and robbery, as expected of an S-rank rogue ninja, the method is clean and efficient."
Scorpion's movements suddenly froze, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.
A young man sat leisurely atop a sand dune, one leg dangling and swinging, the other bent, his elbow resting on his knee, his chin propped up, watching him with a smile.
Their posture suggested they weren't watching a bloody massacre, but rather enjoying a spectacular performance.
Scorpion's eyes narrowed slightly.
When did this person appear there?
With his sensory abilities, he was completely unaware of the other party's presence!
"Who are you?"
"I?"
Makoto Koji stood up from the sand dune and patted the sand off his body.
"A passerby, seeing someone committing murder and robbery in broad daylight, couldn't help but come out and condemn it."
"But speaking of which, your craftsmanship is indeed quite good. You've turned the Third Kazekage into a puppet. If you took this out for an exhibition, you could definitely sell a lot of tickets."
Scorpion ignored his teasing and glanced at Makoto Kojima.
He could sense that the young man in front of him was no ordinary person.
Beneath that seemingly casual demeanor lurked an extremely dangerous aura.
"Are you from Kirigakure?"
Scorpion noticed the mark on Gouju Cheng's forehead and frowned slightly.
"Although Kirigakure and Sunagakure don't have much of a relationship, isn't it a bit too much for a Kirigakure ninja to come to the Land of Wind and meddle in Sunagakure's affairs?"
"Mind your own business?" Makoto Karatachi shrugged. "No, no, no, you misunderstand. I have no interest in the life or death of Sunagakure, nor in your internal strife."
"However, I am quite interested in what's in that jar."
Scorpion's eyes instantly turned dangerous.
"You want to steal Shukaku?"
"Rob?" Makoto Koji shook his head. "Don't put it so harshly. I just happened to be passing by, just happened to see it, and just happened to think it was pretty good, so I wanted to discuss with you whether I could—get a piece of the pie."
"What gives you the right?"
Sasori sneered, and the Third Kazekage puppet took a step forward. Iron sand began to condense around him, emanating a suffocating sense of oppression.
"Just you alone?"
"Isn't one person enough?"
Gouju Cheng raised an eyebrow, and his pupils suddenly changed, with three scarlet tomoe slowly appearing, then spinning faster and transforming into a kaleidoscope pattern of a triangular windmill.
Sharingan!
And it's a Sharingan of the Kaleidoscope level!
Scorpion's pupils contracted slightly.
As a genius puppeteer from Sunagakure, he naturally had some knowledge of the bloodline limits of the major ninja villages. The Sharingan is the bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan of Konoha, and its fame is known to everyone in the ninja world.
But this young man in front of me, who is clearly a Hidden Mist ninja, possesses the Mangekyou Sharingan?
"Interesting." Sasori chuckled, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "It seems you're no ordinary Kirigakure Jonin. The clone bloodline limit—you're that 'Cloning Ninja,' Makoto Karatachi?"
"Oh, my reputation has even reached Sunagakure?"
Makoto Karatachi was somewhat surprised: "Looks like I'm somewhat famous in the ninja world."
"The captain of the Mist Blade Squad, the Mizukage's assistant, the man who killed the Hokage's son, is said to be able to copy other people's bloodline limits." Sasori slowly revealed the information he had gathered: "Your head on the black market is worth as much as the Kage of the major villages. I didn't expect to see you here. Has the post-war reparations from Konoha been settled?"
"Of course, you've all seen the news about Hiruzen Sarutobi signing the surrender document, right? I called almost all the news media in the ninja world."
Gouju Makoto chuckled: "But since you know my abilities, you should also understand that I'm not so easy to deal with."
"Whether they're easy to deal with or not, you'll only know after you've fought them."
Scorpion stopped talking nonsense.
His ten fingers trembled slightly, and the chakra threads, like an invisible spider web, connected to the Third Kazekage puppet behind him.
The puppet's eyes suddenly shone with a cold light, and its iron sand wings spread open abruptly, sending countless fine iron sands hurtling towards Makoto Kojima like a torrential rain.
Iron sand rain!
However, those fine iron needles, which were strong enough to pierce through steel, pierced through Makoto Karimoto's body without causing any damage. As if passing through a phantom, they all disappeared into the sand dunes behind him, causing a cloud of dust to rise.
"Space-time ninjutsu?"
Scorpion frowned.
Makoto Karatachi's reputation during the battle against Konoha was immense. With information such as the clone ninja and the Mangekyou Sharingan, it would be difficult for Sasori not to know about it.
But at this moment, he witnessed Makoto Gojibana's ethereal transformation process firsthand. The ability to briefly place oneself in another space and become immune to physical attacks was simply unbelievable.
No wonder this guy was able to defeat Konoha all by himself. This space-time ninjutsu alone is enough to make ordinary ninjas back down.
They're really tough to deal with!
"Now that you know my abilities, you understand that you can't possibly be my match, right?"
The scorpion did not respond.
His ten fingers trembled again, and the Third Generation Kazekage Puppet clasped his hands together.
Magnet Release: Giant Iron Sand Needle!
The enormous iron needles condensed in the air, and this time they were no longer a single thrust, but split into dozens, blocking all of Gouju Cheng's evasive space from all directions!
At the same time, Scorpion himself also began to take action.
He took another scroll from his pocket and gently unrolled it.
"This is my masterpiece that surpasses my grandmother's, and it is also the way I believe is the most perfect way to deal with your technique of illusory self-deception."
"The Crimson Secret Manual: Maneuver of One Hundred Machines!"
Bang!
As the white smoke dissipated, hundreds of puppets of various shapes and sizes floated densely in mid-air behind the scorpion, each exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
They wield knives, swords, open mechanisms, or stand ready to strike, like a hundred ghosts parading at night, covering the sky and the earth!
"A Hundred Machines Maneuver —"
Gouju Cheng murmured repeatedly.
Of course he knew this technique.
This is Scorpion's proudest masterpiece: a puppet army composed of hundreds of specially modified human puppets. Each puppet possesses independent combat capabilities, yet they cooperate seamlessly, forming an inescapable, overwhelming offensive.
It's important to know that puppeteers can usually only control one or two puppets. Manipulating the various joints and operations of the puppets requires extremely excellent chakra control.
People like Chiyo, who can control a puppet with a single finger and ten puppets with both hands, have already reached the pinnacle of puppeteers in the ninja world.
But at this moment, Scorpion is able to completely surpass the limits of a puppeteer!
"This is a work of art that I have spent years creating. Each of these hundred puppets was made by my own hands, adjusted by my own hands, and given the instinct to fight by my own hands."
"They don't get tired, they don't feel pain, they don't feel fear, they just faithfully carry out my commands."
"While your space-time ninjutsu is exceptional, information about you is already being sold on the black market. Ordinary physical attacks are indeed ineffective against your space-time ninjutsu. However, in your intangible state, you are equally unable to attack others."
"In other words, as long as my attack covers every corner, you can't launch an attack against me—"
"Kavi!"
Gouju Cheng was too lazy to say more, and suddenly unleashed his divine power.
The terrifying space suddenly distorted, and dozens of the hundred puppets that Scorpion had just summoned were instantly torn apart by the distorted space, turning into broken parts and wood chips all over the sky.
"What?!"
Scorpion's pupils suddenly contracted.
"It seems the information about me on the black market isn't complete."
Makoto Karatachi said casually, "My space-time ninjutsu isn't just for intangible defense. And if I'm not mistaken, these hundred puppets aren't connected to your hands, but rather to your chest—the core of the human puppets?"
"So, tell me, what would happen to you if I directly attacked your core?"
Scorpion's expression finally changed.
His proud Hundred Machines Maneuver was destroyed by nearly a quarter of its length as soon as it was performed, and in such a bizarre and incomprehensible way.
Those puppets were the fruits of his labor, each requiring months of meticulous crafting and testing, yet they were reduced to fragments in the blink of an eye.
What alarmed him even more was that Makoto Goji was able to see through his core at a glance.
That was the foundation of his existence as an eternal work of art, and his only weakness after transforming himself into a human puppet.
If that location is attacked—
"It seems you are well aware of your weaknesses."
Gouju Cheng withdrew his hand and looked at Scorpion with a smile.
"To be honest, I'm quite interested in you. The technology of turning living people into puppets while preserving their bloodline limits and combat abilities is impressive."
"What do you mean?"
Sasori stared at him warily as the Third Kazekage puppet slowly leaned against him.
This clone ninja from Kirigakure, despite having the upper hand, didn't continue attacking. Instead, he started talking about his puppet technique—what was he up to?
"I really admire your skills."
Seeing that the scorpion had no intention of continuing, Gouju Cheng simply sat down on the sand dune, patted the sand beside him, and gestured for him to proceed.
"Why don't we sit down and have a chat? Fighting and killing is so boring."
The scorpion neither moved nor refused.
He was waiting for Gouju Cheng to explain himself clearly.
"To be honest, the puppetry techniques of your Sunagakure are unique among the five great ninja villages. Especially you, Sasori of the Red Sand, you have taken puppetry to a whole new level at such a young age."
Gouju Cheng looked at Scorpion with genuine admiration in his eyes.
"The Third Kazekage, hailed as the strongest Kazekage of all time, was turned into a puppet by you, preserving his bloodline limit and combat abilities. This technique transcends the mere 'manipulation of puppets,' reaching a much deeper level."
By turning living people into puppets while preserving their bloodline limits and combat abilities, Sasori's research on the human body and the relationship between chakra and the physical body has reached an extremely high level.
"I'm very interested in you."
Goji Makoto finally revealed his core purpose.
"I have some very special materials." These materials would likely be a waste if given to ordinary people.
But if I were to entrust it to you, Red Sand Scorpion, you might just create a true miracle.
"Material?"
A hint of curiosity flashed in Scorpion's eyes.
Instead of answering directly, Gouju Cheng took out a sealed scroll from his pocket and gently unrolled it.
With the injection of chakra, a white substance appeared on the sand between the two with a bang.
"This is----"
Scorpion's gaze fell on the White Zetsu cells; with his keen eyesight, he could naturally see that this thing was extraordinary.
This thing exudes an extremely peculiar chakra fluctuation, completely different from that of ordinary creatures.
"I call it a white blood cell."
"White Zetsu?" Sasori frowned. "What's that?"
"A very special kind of creature."
Makoto Koji didn't explain in detail, but continued, "These cells possess extremely strong vitality, regenerative abilities, and a special adaptability." They can perfectly fuse with any organism without causing rejection, and at the same time, they can grant the host extremely powerful strength and healing abilities.
Scorpion's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He was an extreme person obsessed with the study of the human body, and in pursuit of eternal art, he even went so far as to transform himself into a human puppet.
At this moment, the white cells that Makoto Karimoto took out were just as attractive to him as when his grandmother had brought nearly ten members of the Matsu group to him!
"Where did you get this?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Makoto Koji shook his head. "I hope you can help me research this."
"Study it, analyze it, and then—use it to create truly perfect works of art."
39
Goji Makoto looked at Scorpion with genuine expectation in his eyes.
"I believe that with your mastery of puppetry and your understanding of the human body, you will definitely be able to discover more possibilities from White Zetsu cells. Perhaps you can create works even more powerful than the Third Kazekage's puppets, or even touch upon the essence of life."
'
Scorpion's gaze lingered on the white Zetsu cells for a long time.
The white substance lay quietly on the sand, gleaming faintly in the moonlight, and seemed to be alive, gently wriggling.
He could sense the peculiar life force contained within it, something that even the Crimson Sand Scorpion, who had come into contact with countless materials, had never encountered before.
"interesting----"
He crouched down, stretched out his finger, and gently touched the cluster of white blood cells.
Stimulated by the chakra, the surface of the white Zetsu cells trembled slightly, as if responding to his touch, and even actively wrapped around his fingers, trying to merge with them.
Scorpion was surprised.
He has no physical body, but his perception of chakra is clearer than that of ordinary people.
As Cheng Gouju said, this thing is not only extremely resilient and regenerative, but most importantly, its activity is simply too extraordinary.
"You just said that this thing can perfectly integrate with any living organism without causing a rejection reaction?"
"That's right."
Makoto Kujira nodded. "I have personally tested it, and the effect is amazing. Even if these substances are directly integrated into the human body, they can be perfectly integrated with just a little adjustment using chakra."
"Limbs can regenerate and injuries can be healed. Our Kirigakure medical department is already developing the medical value of this."
"However, I think that its medical value alone is far from enough. Only someone like you can uncover its true value."
Scorpion was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
The smile was faint, yet it carried a hint of relief.
"Makoto Karatachi, do you know that from childhood to adulthood, everyone has called me a genius? My puppetry, my poison, my art are all known as the pride of Sunagakure."
"But nobody really understands what I want."
"What I seek is not stronger puppets, not more potent poisons, not more elaborate mechanisms. What I seek is eternity."
"Eternal art, eternal existence, eternal life!"
He looked at his body, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"So I transformed myself into a human puppet. Only in this way can I break free from the constraints of time and pursue art eternally."
"But that alone is far from enough—"
Scorpion didn't speak again, but the look in his eyes on White Zetsu said it all.
Gouju Cheng smiled.
He guessed right.
For an artist of Sasori's caliber, ordinary money, power, or even strength cannot sway him.
Even life and death probably don't matter.
Only eternal art, only the possibility that allows him to reach higher realms, can truly attract him.
Leukocytes happen to contain just such a possibility!
"So, what's your answer?"
Gouju asked sincerely.
Scorpion stood up, dusted off his hands (which weren't actually dust), and looked at Makoto Kariju.
"You want me to help you research this? Fine. But I have conditions."
"explain."
"I need a completely independent research space, undisturbed by anyone. I don't want someone suddenly barging in and interfering, or trying to steal my work, while I'm conducting my research."
"No problem." Makoto Karatachi nodded. "The Land of Water has many remote islands. I can arrange a completely secluded place for you, equipped with the best research equipment, accessible only to you and me."
"Furthermore, you must provide any materials needed for the research unconditionally. I may need live test subjects, or various rare metals and medicinal materials, and you must provide all of these."
"Sure," Makoto Karatachi agreed without hesitation. "I can get you anything that can be found in the ninja world."
Even if I can't find it right now, I can still find it for you in my own way.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in the scorpion's eyes.
"at last----"
He looked at the earthenware jar on the ground that guarded the crane.
"I want this one."
Gouju Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly.
"What do you intend to use Shukaku for?"
"artwork."
Sasori answered matter-of-factly, "Artworks made from tailed beasts are so eternal and magnificent. The Third Kazekage is strong, but if you add Shukaku to that—"
A glint of fanaticism flashed in his eyes.
"That will be the pinnacle of puppetry history!"
Gouju Cheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"interesting."
"What, you can't bear to part with it?"
"A few days ago, I would have really been reluctant to part with it, but now it doesn't matter," Makoto Goji said calmly. "Since you want it, then take it."
Although Shukaku is precious, to him it is nothing more than an extra backup energy source.
With the Dragon Vein, his need for the Tailed Beast was no longer so urgent.
In contrast, Scorpion's research abilities and mastery of puppetry are his truly invaluable assets.
Moreover, the findings from research using leukocytes have countless potential applications in the future.
"Well then, let's get down to business. When are you coming with me to the Land of Water?"
"No rush."
Scorpion shook his head: "I still have some things to take care of. How about this, in half a month, we'll meet at the border of the Land of Water—"
Let's meet somewhere in the Land of Waves, and then you can take me to the Land of Water.
"Can."
Gou Jucheng nodded, "You decide the specific location, and I'll send someone to pick you up."
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing satisfaction in each other's eyes.
"Then I'll be going now."
Scorpion turned around, preparing to leave.
"etc."
"You'd better take this with you now. The sooner you start researching it, the sooner you'll see results."
Gouju Cheng called him back and pointed to the white asteroid cells on the ground.
Scorpion nodded, took out a blank sealing scroll from his pocket, carefully sealed the White Zetsu cells inside, and put it into his pocket.
"Well then, I'll take my leave."
"Alright, I'll send someone to pick you up at the border of the Land of Waves in half a month. The code word for the rendezvous will be 'Eternity'."
"Eternal————"
"An interesting code."
Scorpion repeated himself to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips. He turned and, with the Third Kazekage puppet in tow, slowly disappeared into the vast sea of sand.
Gouju Cheng watched him leave, a smile appearing on his face.
Sasori of the Red Sand is undoubtedly a top-tier talent, extremely important to Kirigakure and Makoto Karatachi himself at this stage.
If we can really recruit such a person, it will undoubtedly be beneficial to our future development!
"Tsk tsk tsk————"
In high spirits, Gouju Cheng whistled, grabbed Shukaku's sealing vessel, and headed toward the camp of the Loulan survivors.
A few minutes later, he returned to the camp.
Sarah, Uncle Casse, and the others were waiting anxiously. When they saw Makoto Koji return, they rushed to greet him.
"Lord Mizukage, are you alright?"
"It's nothing, I just ran into a friend and chatted for a bit." Makoto Koji patted the Shukaku container and casually said, "They even insisted on giving me this thing, so I had no choice but to accept it."
Sarah was puzzled, but she didn't ask any further questions.
"Has everyone rested well?"
"You've had enough rest."
"Let's go then."
Gouju Cheng glanced at the distant desert.
"Let's try to enter the Land of Rivers before nightfall today."
>