Chapter 9 — Burning Bridges
A single eye materialized in midair, hovering silently within the dim light of the hidden chamber. Its pupil rotated slowly, cold and watchful, taking in every detail.
Seiki glanced at it and gave a knowing smile.
"Looks like Rasa isn't entirely confident in our operation."
He recognized the technique immediately. It was a special ability shared by Rasa and his son, Gaara—a manifestation of sand molded into a floating eye, allowing them to observe events from afar without being physically present.
Grandma Chiyo followed his gaze and let out a dry chuckle.
"Hm. That man can be overly cautious… and far too strict. But to lead the Sand Village, perhaps someone like him is exactly what's needed."
Her tone carried both criticism and reluctant approval.
From outside the chamber, hurried footsteps echoed through the narrow passageways, growing louder by the second. The sound of multiple shinobi moving in formation reverberated against the stone walls.
Seiki narrowed his eyes.
"Huh? Planning to burn the bridge after crossing it?"
Activating his X-ray vision, he peered through layers of rock and sand. More than a dozen Sand Village jonin were approaching in tight formation. At their head were Baki, Yura, and Yakamaru—elite shinobi, all of them experienced and battle-hardened.
"Don't worry, Sarutobi brat," Chiyo said firmly as she rose to her feet. "I won't let them lay a single hand on you."
She flicked open a scroll with practiced efficiency, sealing away the Father and Mother puppets in a swirl of smoke. Then, with deliberate care, she gathered the shattered remains of the Third Kazekage puppet and stored them as well. Even broken, the puppet bore the unmistakable face of the former leader of the Sand.
"It's fine," Seiki replied calmly. "I understand how things look when a high-value rogue ninja ends up in the hands of a rival village."
In truth, he didn't care in the slightest that the Sand Village regarded him as an enemy. If anything, a small part of him was curious to see how far Rasa would go. Imprisonment? Interrogation? He almost found the thought amusing.
Moments later, the Sand jonin stormed into the chamber.
Baki's gaze immediately locked onto the fragments of the Third Kazekage puppet. Even damaged beyond repair, the face was unmistakable. His expression darkened.
"Grandma Chiyo…" he said slowly, voice heavy. "So it's true. Akasuna no Sasori really did assassinate the Third Kazekage."
A wave of sorrow rippled through the gathered shinobi. The Third Kazekage had been hailed as the strongest in the village's history—a pillar of its prosperity and military might. To learn that he had been murdered in his prime by one of their own prodigies was a blow too bitter to swallow.
Chiyo lowered her eyes.
"I failed to raise my grandson properly."
The admission was quiet, but it carried immense weight. Regret now was meaningless. What was done could not be undone. All she could do was use her aging body to continue safeguarding the village in the Kazekage's stead.
The Sand shinobi's grief soon shifted into hostility as their gazes fell upon Seiki.
"Seiki," Baki demanded, "where did Jiraiya take Sasori?"
Seiki shook his head without hesitation.
"I don't know."
Yura's face twisted in anger. "Grandma Chiyo, why did you allow Jiraiya to take Sasori's body? You know how dangerous it would be if Konoha extracts information from him!"
Before anyone could react, Chiyo's hand flashed through the air.
Smack!
The sharp crack echoed through the chamber as Yura staggered back, clutching his burning cheek.
"Sasori isn't dead!" Chiyo snapped. "Jiraiya took him to Tsunade for treatment. Watch your mouth before you start barking nonsense!"
"You damned old—" Yura muttered under his breath, fury blazing in his eyes. Yet he did not dare retaliate. Chiyo's status as senior advisor, personally appointed by the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, placed her beyond his reach.
Baki blinked, surprised by the sudden violence, then bowed his head slightly.
"Grandma Chiyo, I understand your desire to save your grandson. But entrusting him to a Konoha ninja… that decision is questionable."
"And what would you prefer?" Chiyo asked coolly, pretending to scratch her ear as though bored. "With the Third Kazekage gone, Rasa can finally ascend as the Fourth. Surely he'll know how to handle matters."
Unlike Yura, Baki remained composed. With only a dozen jonin present, capturing Seiki alive—especially with Chiyo protecting him—was far from guaranteed. If a fight broke out, casualties were certain.
"Tell Rasa this," Chiyo continued. "The Sarutobi boy is returning to my house with me. In three days, Jiraiya will come back with Sasori. If Rasa wants answers, he can ask for them himself."
She motioned for Seiki to follow.
Yura and several others immediately stepped forward, blocking the narrow exit.
"Oh?" Chiyo's lips curved upward. "Are you trying to intimidate me?"
Though her earlier battle with Sasori had drained her chakra, she was far from helpless. If necessary, she could still deploy the Ten-Person Formation. Against a mere dozen jonin, she feared nothing.
Yakamaru quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture.
"Grandma Chiyo, please. We only wish to escort Seiki to see Rasa. We won't harm him."
"I refuse," Chiyo replied flatly.
Yura's nostrils flared as his hand slowly crept toward his ninja pouch.
Baki immediately pressed down on his shoulder. As squad leader, he understood the stakes. Provoking Chiyo now would be disastrous.
The tension thickened. Sand particles stirred faintly in the air, chakra simmering just beneath the surface.
Then Seiki stepped forward.
"Those with nothing to hide fear no shadows," he said with a faint smile. "I'll go meet Rasa."
Chiyo's brows furrowed. She knew Rasa's temperament—calculating, unyielding. He might very well test Seiki harshly.
"Sarutobi brat, as long as I'm here, they won't dare trouble you."
"Thank you, Grandma," Seiki replied lightly. "I don't go looking for trouble… but I'm not afraid of it either."
Baki felt cold sweat bead along his back.
Seiki was already a prodigy—monstrous for his age. Behind him stood the legendary Sannin. Behind them, the Third Hokage himself. Who in the Sand Village could afford to antagonize such backing?
"Grandma Chiyo," Seiki continued gently, "please return to your home. Until everything is clarified, I trust Rasa won't harm me."
Chiyo snorted. "If Rasa dares lay a finger on you, I'll remind him exactly why the Daimyo appointed me as advisor."
Baki shivered inwardly. Invoking the Daimyo's authority was a clear warning. Chiyo was drawing a line for Rasa.
Seiki couldn't help but smile. For all her wrinkles and stubbornness, the old woman was surprisingly endearing.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go."
Yura stepped forward stiffly. "Hold out your hands. I'll seal your chakra."
Before Seiki could respond, Baki exploded.
"Idiot! Do you know who you're speaking to?!"
Smack!
Yura's other cheek blossomed with a second crimson handprint—this time courtesy of elite jonin Baki.
Humiliation burned in Yura's eyes, but he swallowed his anger.
Seiki glanced at him coolly.
"No need. I don't use chakra."
Silence fell.
Aside from Chiyo and Baki, every Sand shinobi stared at him in disbelief.
No chakra?
The boy who had stood alongside Chiyo against Sasori… was an ordinary civilian?
Yura's thoughts twisted darkly. So all that bravado earlier… just empty talk. If I ever catch him alone—
Baki forced an awkward smile and gestured respectfully.
"After you, Seiki. Grandma Chiyo."
Seiki and Chiyo walked ahead, unhurried. The Sand jonin followed in formation, wary but restrained.
Behind them, the last shinobi sealed the chamber entrance with Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall. Stone rose and hardened, erasing all traces of what had transpired below.
Moments after they departed, the ground within the chamber rippled.
From beneath the sand, a spiked, aloe-like head emerged.
"Sasori of the Red Sand… defeated by an old woman and a brat. Even his ring was taken," the figure murmured.
Zetsu's split face stretched into a crooked grin.
"Seems Konan's standards for recruitment need revision."
His mismatched eyes gleamed as he recalled the boy's calm defiance.
"But this Sarutobi Seiki… he's interesting."
The chamber fell silent once more as Zetsu sank back into the earth.
"Things," he whispered into the darkness, "are becoming far more entertaining."