When this harsh yet warm truth came into view before Sasori's eyes, his heart seemed to be gently touched by a soft hand, giving rise to a feeling he had never experienced before. He began trying to accept this profound love, and gradually, he noticed that his heart was no longer as hollow and empty as it once was. It felt as though a warm stream was slowly flowing through, gradually filling his soul.
This warmth came from the selfless care of his grandmother, Chiyo. Eventually, deep within his heart, Sasori made a firm decision—to completely abandon the path of the Human Puppet that had once captivated him—and to embark upon a new journey, bravely taking his first steps toward an unknown future.
With the road ahead completely open and no one to block their way, the pursuing Chiyo and the Sand-nin chasing behind her were simply unable to catch up to Sakumo Hatake, whose speed was like a gust of wind.
Especially Chiyo—she had just personally experienced the immense danger her grandson faced. In that moment, her heart seemed to be tightly gripped by a giant hand, all her hatred and anger instantly vanishing without a trace. Only one thought remained in her mind: as long as her grandson could survive safely, nothing else mattered.
This overwhelming surge of emotion slowly eased her desperate urge to chase recklessly, making her gradually steadier and calmer. Just then, they suddenly realized they had completely lost Sakumo Hatake's trail, as if he had vanished like a phantom between heaven and earth.
This unexpected situation seemed to offer Chiyo a reasonable excuse. Without hesitation, she decided to lead the Sand-nin back to their village.
On the journey home, Sasori couldn't help but ask his grandmother Chiyo about his parents. Chiyo gently stroked Sasori's head, a complex glimmer flickering in her eyes, and slowly began recounting those past events.
As Chiyo's words flowed through the air, a strange emotion began rising in Sasori's heart. He suddenly realized he should live like his parents did—carry on their will and inherit their unfulfilled dreams.
Even though his parents were gone, they would always live in his heart.
Chiyo listened quietly to Sasori's thoughts, a boundless sense of comfort and joy rising within her, as if the weight she'd carried on her heart for years had suddenly lifted.
Looking at Sasori before her, her eyes brimmed with tenderness and encouragement. The deep hatred she had long harbored seemed to lessen once again. She knew Sasori was walking down the right path, and she would always be there for him, supporting and helping him.
Toward Sakumo Hatake, Chiyo unexpectedly felt a slight sense of gratitude—but it vanished just as quickly. She still hated this man. However, in the future, even if Sakumo Hatake ever appeared before her again, she would most likely no longer actively pursue and attempt to kill him.
When the Third Kazekage learned of the situation Chiyo's group had encountered, an indescribable sense of joy immediately surged within him—this outcome exceeded even his best expectations. He had originally placed little confidence in this mission's potential gains; he had merely hoped for minimal losses, at least ensuring Sasori and Chiyo would remain unharmed.
In reality, however, the Sand-nin expedition consumed no more than a negligible amount of resources. As for Chiyo and her allies, after this incident, their support for him had only grown stronger—they now stood even more firmly behind the Third Kazekage.
At the same time, the Third Kazekage also gained a true puppetry genius. When Sasori's extraordinary talent gradually revealed itself, it not only greatly shocked the Third Kazekage—but even left the normally composed Chiyo utterly speechless.
She had always known her grandson was a gifted prodigy, but she never dreamed his skills could reach such heights—especially when it came to building and using puppets, where he showed potential to surpass Shamon, the Second Kazekage who had laid the foundation for all Sand ninja puppet masters.
By then, peace seemed to settle across the entire ninja world. But as the saying goes, "Even when the tree seeks peace, the wind won't let it rest." Just at that moment, Madara Uchiha—possessing boundless ambition and power—relied on the mysterious Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and was still capable of maintaining his formidable presence for several more years.
Yet regarded throughout the ninja world as the fearsome "Asura," after successfully implanting the life-and-death-controlling Rinnegan into Nagato's body, Madara sharply sensed his own physical condition weakening more and more. This change made him unable to contain his impatience any longer—he no longer wished to maintain this current state and realized he could wait no further.
Thus, he resolved to promptly launch his grand "Moon Eye Project." Precisely because of this, he urgently desired the outbreak of a Great Ninja World War. Only through war could he handpick the most suitable executor to help fulfill his ambitious vision shaking the entire ninja world.
Therefore, during Konoha Year 47, determined to better develop his village, the Third Kazekage personally journeyed to the Daimyo's estate. On his way back following a smooth return trip,
sunlight filtered through gaps among leaves along the road, seemingly foreshadowing the upcoming upheaval. And right in the midst of this seemingly ordinary journey, White Zetsu moved like shadows, stealthily drawing close to the Third Kazekage.
Cunning as foxes, they had already taken advantage of the moment when the Third Kazekage visited the Daimyo's court, during which he indulged in wine with the Daimyo and let his guard down the most, secretly poisoning him. Each poison on its own caused no discomfort, but once encountering a specific floral scent within twelve hours, the combined effects became deadly.
The instant the poison took effect, the Third Kazekage's once-mighty strength seemed completely sealed away—barely one-tenth of his full power remained accessible.
Poor Third Kazekage—once poisoned, he grew weaker by the hour and lost his usual strength and speed.
In the end, he and his guards were defeated by that unique White Zetsu mastering [Wood Release], leaving this world with boundless regret.
Due to the sudden death of the Third Kazekage, the village lost its vital leader, who had been unable to return in time. This situation left the Sand-nin's Anbu deeply anxious—they fully understood the severity of what had happened and immediately tried to make contact with the village to jointly deal with this sudden disaster.
Yet fate had a cruel sense of humor. Their attempts at communication repeatedly ended in failure, filling their hearts with deep anxiety.
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