After two years of rigorous development and practice, Shiraishi had simulated the ring architecture of the "Dimensional Hole" over and over.
Finally, he had crafted specialized metal rings capable of manifesting short-range spatial tunnels.
The material of these rings was not yet perfect; had they matched the true potential of the technique, Shiraishi could have teleported directly from the Land of Rain to the Hidden Sand. Instead, he was currently limited to short-distance spatial leaps.
Even so, Shiraishi's methods caught Sasori of the Red Sand completely off guard. As the rings floated and shifted, acting as six mobile coordinates, Shiraishi's maneuverability reached staggering heights.
I must use a greater number of puppets to completely hem him in, Sasori realized. If I let him move freely with that Space-Time Ninjutsu, my defeat is inevitable.
"Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!"
In the original timeline, Sasori would have needed to fully transform himself into a Human Puppet to achieve this level of control.
However, with the aid of the Second Kazekage's Scarlet Mirror, Sasori was able to unleash this peak technique prematurely.
The dozens of puppets on the battlefield instantly swelled into a dense army of hundreds. They swarmed the area, blocking every possible escape route like a mechanical tide.
Shiraishi's mind raced to analyze the situation. Sasori was utilizing the Scarlet Control Mirror and summoning scrolls to deploy hundreds of units, each armed with different weapons.
Every movement was dictated by chakra threads emitted from the Regeneration Core within the Mirror. Because of this interface, Sasori didn't need to use his fingers; the puppets reflected his will as if they were his own limbs.
Furthermore, the Core in the Mirror was linked to the Core in Sasori's own body, ensuring zero latency between thought and action.
Sasori had once used this technique to topple an entire nation. While most puppet masters are limited by their ten fingers, Sasori had transcended tradition.
Shiraishi and Chiyo, despite also possessing Lihuang Mirrors, could not yet match this level of simultaneous control.
"The Sand's initiative to power puppets with the Dragon Vein inspired me," Sasori's voice echoed amidst the swirling sand. "Even without the Dragon Vein, there are many alternatives to enhance the quality of my art."
The Third Kazekage puppet flickered forward, its heavy blades aiming directly at Shiraishi. A Dimensional Hole flashed, and Shiraishi evaded—only to find six more puppets lunging at him from behind.
With a swift movement, his blade shattered one puppet's head while his right hand unleashed a Whirlwind Blade, bisecting another.
Using sheer numbers to restrict my mobility... classic Sasori. His tactical intelligence far exceeds that of ordinary ninjas.
But... how many puppets do you have left to burn?
The Sage's Blade carved a dark arc, shattering several puppets into splinters. Simultaneously, a barrage of poison needles struck Shiraishi's body, only for him to dissolve into a Mud Clone!
Unbeknownst to Sasori, a Dimensional Hole had manifested directly behind him. The real Shiraishi emerged, his arm swelling with the power of the Water Style: Great Arm Strength Technique. He threw a brutal, bone-crunching punch directly into Sasori's face.
How?! Sasori thought as he was sent flying like a kite with a broken string. How did he pinpoint my real body amongst the army?
The force of the punch was immense, causing several of Sasori's joints to pop out of place. Although he hadn't fully converted his body into a puppet yet, his limbs were already heavily modified with prosthetic mechanisms, giving him an eerie, inhuman resilience.
"You noticed the subtle frequency of my Regeneration Core?"
Shiraishi's gaze was freezing as he pointed the Sage's Blade at Sasori's head. "My research into Human Puppets and Regeneration Cores isn't any less extensive than yours. Blindly trusting in the perfection of your technology was your fatal flaw."
"Heh..."
Without a word of rebuttal, Sasori thrust his hands forward. Two pipes emerged from his palms, firing dual streams of high-pressure energy!
Great Corrosive Stream (Gekishu Ryūshū)!
Shiraishi dodged to the side as the ground sizzled with a pungent, corrosive odor. He manipulated his silver sand to intercept the boiling water.
This technique used scrolls to fire water columns with immense impact and toxicity. Sasori then adjusted his elbow joints, turning the streams into pressurized "water cutters."
By narrowing the nozzle, the water became as sharp as a laser, capable of slicing through objects—even clouds in the sky—instantly.
However, Sasori's goal was merely to force Shiraishi back. Having shown this trump card, he commanded the puppet legion to swarm once more.
Shiraishi sliced through another puppet, looking up at the sky filled with mechanical horrors. Sasori was already reassembling the parts of the puppets Shiraishi had destroyed into new, grotesque forms.
Annoying. It's not hard to beat him, but being stalled here is dangerous. I can't waste any more stamina.
Shiraishi knew that returning for the final showdown with the Leaf required him to be at full strength. In an instant, his decision was made.
His pupils shifted, and a combination of massive telekinetic power and Magnet Release manifested as countless ethereal chains.
These pink chains seemed sentient. They didn't need Shiraishi's direct commands; they automatically sought out and pierced the Regeneration Cores within the puppets.
Fairy Lock (Yōsei no Kusari)!
By perfectly integrating Natural Energy into his body and reaching 100% proficiency with his Circular Pupils, Shiraishi had developed this new "Fairy-type" technique. The pink chains locked onto Sasori's chakra signatures with unerring precision.
As hundreds of Regeneration Cores were impaled and their functions suppressed, Sasori's expression finally darkened.
While the Fairy Lock lacked raw destructive power, it was the perfect "hard counter" to a tactician who relied on a puppet army.
Realizing he could no longer win, Sasori began to look for an exit. But Shiraishi was not about to let him go.
A dark Dimensional Hole flashed, and pink chains erupted from within, piercing Sasori's arms, legs, and chest at critical points. Bound and immobilized, Sasori stared apathetically at Shiraishi as he stepped out of the shadows.
"S-Rank Rogue Sasori, you are under arrest," Shiraishi said, walking forward step by step. "Come back with me to Lady Chiyo and reflect on your actions."
"Don't you understand? Capturing me alive is far harder than killing me, Black Mist Shiraishi," Sasori whispered. Suddenly, a massive hand of black Iron Sand rose behind Shiraishi, slamming down with crushing force.
"I understand perfectly. But this is my promise to Lady Chiyo."
The scene around them began to crack and fall away like shards of glass. Shiraishi swung his fist again, sending Sasori flying for the second time.
When... when did I fall into a Genjutsu? Sasori wondered in shock. Even with his modified body, which should have been resistant to sensory interference, he had been trapped in Shiraishi's illusion, unable to distinguish between reality and the void.
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