Chapter 2 — Forming a Team to Capture Sasori
"Akasuna no Sasori… the genius puppeteer of Sunagakure?"
"No. Sasori is a missing-nin. He no longer belongs to Sunagakure."
Correcting Jiraiya, Seiki continued, "Sasori assassinated the Third Kazekage, staged his disappearance, and turned him into a human puppet!"
"Wait… a human puppet?"
Jiraiya's expression twisted in shock.
Sunagakure's puppet techniques were already infamous across the shinobi world. But they were meant for crafted mechanisms—wood, steel, hidden blades and poison. Turning a living human into a puppet… that crossed into something far darker.
"Yes," Seiki replied. "He opened a gateway that should never have existed. A genius's curiosity, pushed too far, becomes hell."
Jiraiya's brows furrowed faintly.
Seiki noticed the subtle shift in his expression.
"I know who you're thinking of," he added quietly. "And unfortunately… Sasori and that person share certain similarities."
Jiraiya exhaled through his nose.
"If what you're saying is true, I'd love nothing more than to land a solid punch on Sasori myself."
He gave a short, humorless chuckle—but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
A toad had recently delivered a scroll to him.
Orochimaru was still conducting forbidden human experiments in secret.
If Seiki hadn't uncovered intelligence crucial enough to potentially reshape the battlefield, Jiraiya would have returned to Konoha immediately. Orochimaru was a wound festering beneath the village's surface.
He rubbed his temple and muttered, "If only this world had fewer geniuses…"
Seiki reached out and lightly patted his shoulder.
"I think you're the real genius."
Jiraiya barked a laugh.
"Hahaha! Of course we're cut from the same cloth!"
"Except for your perversion," Seiki added dryly. "Other than that, not much difference."
"Tch! What does a brat like you understand? I simply possess refined aesthetic appreciation."
The tension eased slightly. The weight in the air lightened.
But only slightly.
They returned to the matter at hand.
"As long as we recover the Third Kazekage's body—specifically, the puppet Sasori created—Sunagakure will regain its leadership core," Seiki said. "They'll have no choice but to cooperate with us."
Jiraiya's expression sharpened.
"You're thinking beyond a single assassination."
Seiki nodded.
"The Third Raikage is already dead. Kumogakure's strongest forces now are the A-B duo. Remove them from the equation, and the Land of Lightning won't pose an immediate strategic threat."
"And Iwagakure? Kirigakure?" Jiraiya pressed.
"They're the real problems," Seiki replied. "I'll explain the details later."
Jiraiya stared at the boy for a long moment.
The timid child who once answered questions in a near whisper now spoke like a strategist mapping out continental warfare.
"So," Jiraiya said quietly, "the kid who used to hide in the corner has finally decided to stir the shinobi world?"
He raised a single finger.
"I only have one question."
Seiki met his gaze.
"How do we find Sasori's hideout?"
There was no doubt in Jiraiya's voice. Only practicality.
"You're not worried my intelligence might be wrong?" Seiki asked.
Jiraiya laughed openly this time.
"I never doubt my comrades. And your eyes didn't waver once while you spoke. That's enough for me."
"Just by my eyes?"
Jiraiya nodded firmly.
In this ruthless world of deception and survival, trust was rare—almost foolish.
But Seiki remembered what it felt like, long ago, reading about the Hokage in another life.
In a world of calculated cruelty, fools who trusted their comrades were priceless.
He fell silent for a moment.
Jiraiya's expression shifted.
"You feeling unwell?"
Seiki shook his head lightly.
Then he answered.
"Geniuses are troublemakers. But more than that… they're arrogant. They don't obey others. And they don't willingly erase themselves."
Jiraiya blinked. "Meaning?"
"If you became a missing-nin from Konoha, where would you hide?"
Jiraiya scratched his head.
"As far away as possible, obviously."
"Exactly," Seiki said. "That's why you're different from them."
Jiraiya paused.
"…You're saying Sasori is still here?"
"Very close," Seiki confirmed. "Somewhere in this desert."
Over the past year, besides improving his lung capacity, Seiki had been tracking Sasori.
Although the manga didn't reveal Sasori's whereabouts after that, during the assassination of the Third Kazekage, Sasori had not yet undergone self-puppet modification.
Seiki boldly speculated: a perfectionist willing to turn his parents and friends into puppets—where would he create his ultimate masterpiece?
The answer: somewhere worth preserving memories.
After months of searching, Seiki discovered a secret underground entrance.
Furthermore, Konan had appeared in Sunagakure recently, but Sasori hadn't left with her, confirming he was still here.
But Seiki had not acted.
Charging in alone would only sharpen Sasori further. Instead, he had used the summoning scroll Jiraiya left behind, calling forth a toad messenger to relay urgent intelligence.
Jiraiya's eyes lit up.
"Then let's capture Sasori now!"
Seiki's expression hardened immediately.
"We're inside Sunagakure's territory," he said firmly. "Our target is directly connected to the disappearance of their Kazekage. If we act without informing them, the consequences could be disastrous."
Jiraiya frowned.
"You're suggesting we cooperate with them? Even with current tensions?"
"Not just inform them," Seiki replied. "We need a heavyweight to stand beside us. Someone whose authority Sunagakure respects."
He paused.
"First, come with me. There's someone inside the village we need to meet."
Though puzzled, Jiraiya trusted him.
With a quick hand seal, his body shifted into the form of a tall, handsome man dressed in Wind Country attire. His presence became unremarkable—just another traveler weathered by desert winds.
---
Sunagakure Outpost
The sky above Sunagakure dimmed into deep violet.
At one of the village's forward outposts, Baki stood gazing at the horizon.
The Third Kazekage had vanished.
"Third Kazekage's fate is unknown. Can Rasa successfully become Kazekage?"
Since Rasa used Magnet Release to crush Kumogakure's ambitions, opposition to his succession had dwindled. But as long as the Third's whereabouts remained unknown, Rasa couldn't officially solidify his position, and Sunagakure couldn't return to normal.
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared before Baki.
"Who's there?"
The boy lifted his head and spoke softly. "Baki-san, we meet again."
Seeing Seiki, Baki became cautious. Lack of chakra didn't necessarily mean he wasn't an enemy.
"Do you need me for something?"
"Yes," Seiki replied. "Two things."
His voice was calm.
"First… I come from Konoha. The Land of Fire."
Hearing this, Baki quickly drew a sharp kunai. Years of shinobi battles had conditioned him to see everyone outside Sunagakure as a potential enemy.
Yet, after thinking calmly, he asked, "And the second thing?"
"Second… I know the Third Kazekage's whereabouts."
Seiki raised his hands openly, signaling no hostility.
Other patrolling Sunagakure shinobi noticed Baki and whispered among themselves.
"Who's that?"
"Enemy attack?!"
Seeing their reaction, Baki quickly sheathed his kunai and forced a smile. "It's fine. This is my friend."
"Friend?"
The others grumbled but didn't approach.
Seiki relaxed slightly. The Baki he remembered, as Gaara's eldest brother's teacher and a rational figure, had made the right judgment.
"Can we speak privately?"
"No matter who you are, what you say, or why you approach me, I have the ability to uncover the truth," Baki whispered in Seiki's ear, gesturing to his comrades.
"Follow me."
Seiki quickly left the outpost. Baki, unwilling to slack off, followed closely. Soon, they disappeared from the patrol's view…