An empty space suddenly echoed with a faint, mocking laugh.
"So long just to notice me? Gaara, you really let me down."
Meanwhile, in the office of the God Shadow, Shikaku knocked before stepping in.
"Lord Kaede, Sasori of Akatsuki is currently battling Gaara in the arena. So far, only Sasori has been spotted. But I believe more have already infiltrated."
Kaede nodded.
"Sasori, huh? Why would he go after Gaara?"
Shikaku narrowed his eyes, rubbing his chin in thought.
"Most likely because they both came out of the Sand Village?"
"Keep watching him. Report back to me."
"Yes." Shikaku bowed his head and left.
Kaede flipped through the system's information on Sasori. He remembered in the original story how Deidara once admitted he couldn't defeat Sasori. And Deidara had been the one who captured Gaara and stole Shukaku.
If that were true, then in a fight between Gaara and Sasori, Gaara wouldn't stand a chance.
But Kaede smirked.
"This time, the outcome might be different. Sasori might not be leaving here alive."
Back in the arena, Gaara and Sasori were already clashing.
Their figures collided and split apart in rapid succession, sandstorms rising and falling, the battlefield shifting between whirling sand and forests of deadly needles.
Hovering around Sasori were two puppets.
One was the Sharingan puppet that had battled Gaara earlier, now mysteriously restored despite having been shattered into pieces.
The other—instantly recognizable even as a puppet—was the Third Kazekage.
For a Chūnin Exam, Sasori was already a terrifying existence. But with two Kage-level puppets under his control, the threat was monstrous.
Even Gai and Kakashi had stopped their bickering, both fixing their eyes on Sasori.
Kakashi squinted.
"This one… should be disqualified. He's older than me."
"But look at his face, he's like fifteen!" Gai pointed.
Sasori, wearing a Grass Village forehead protector, appeared in the youthful form he used to disguise himself as an ordinary shinobi. Normally he hid behind the body of a grotesque puppet, but now his real face was exposed.
"So that's Sasori's true form?" Gai muttered, staring intently.
"His strength is greater than the intel we had." Kakashi's expression hardened.
In the stands, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio and Naruto were already preparing to move.
"Don't underestimate him! Gaara is strong!" Naruto shouted, anger flaring even before Gaara himself reacted.
Watching from the shadows, Sasuke silently mocked him.
"This guy hasn't changed at all… still rushing headlong like a fool. Must be some protagonist's aura that lets him survive and keep charging forward."
Sasori's gaze swept over them all, finally settling on Naruto.
"Among you… only you, Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, could even stand against me. But…"
"But what?" Naruto snapped impatiently. "You talk too much!"
"You still can't fully control the Nine-Tails within you, can you?" Sasori's words were sharp, like he knew everything.
"That's enough to deal with you!" Naruto growled, crossing his fingers.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
(End of Chapter)
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