Chapter 61. Grown Up
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"It'd be a sha if he didn't go mining when he's so handso," Yuto murmured while stroking his chin. Then, looking up at the others with a puzzled expression, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"..."
What do you think?
Yahiko gave a helpless chuckle and said, "Nothing! As expected, Brother Yuto is still Brother Yuto!"
"Really."
Konan chid in, while Nagato rolled his eyes. The serious tension from earlier evaporated instantly.
Only Sasori's delicate face remained scrunched in a frown. He scrutinized the plainly dressed man with ordinary black hair standing before him. There was nothing about him that offered any useful information.
Who exactly is he?
Or rather, who are these people?
A ninja? From the Land of Rain?
In that instant, Sasori quickly ran through his ntal analysis. Ultimately, he decided to stick to his original plan:
Insufficient intel. Retreat!
As for the mining comnt... ridiculous!
He was Sasori of the Red Sand, a genius puppeteer of Sunagakure! How could he stoop to such a thing?
For now, his attention shifted back to the red-haired boy with the strange eyes—Nagato. His strength wasn't ordinary. If Sasori could exploit this...
'With my poison, perhaps I can—'
But before he could finish his thought, Yuto suddenly spoke up in a stern tone:
"Everyone, attack together. This kind of enemy ninja from another village doesn't deserve any talk about honor or the dignity of the strong. Hit him with everything. If he dies, it's his bad luck."
"...Understood!" x4
Sasori froze, watching the group charge at him without hesitation. For a mont, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He had thought these people might consider handing him over to Sunagakure. Instead, they went straight for the kill!
"Digging Hole Ball!"
"Paper Shuriken!"
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
"..."
Sasori furrowed his brows, maneuvering his puppet with precision.
For now, escape seed unlikely.
But his attention kept drifting back to the black-haired man who still hadn't joined the fight.
Who is he? Why hasn't he made a move?
This situation left no room for further speculation. Sasori remained focused on the red-haired boy, Nagato. Among the four, this one posed the greatest threat. This dangerous feeling... There is no mistake!
This young boy, despite his appearance, was definitely not ordinary!
Especially that sudden, explosive attack earlier—was it so kind of pupil technique? The massive chakra and strange eye techniques...
'It needs attention! I need to tread carefully.'
At that mont, the red-haired woman, Kana, shouted, "He's using poison! Everyone, be careful!"
'Have I been discovered?' Sasori frowned again, briefly glancing at the red-haired woman. 'A dical ninja?'
After a mont's hesitation, his gaze shifted back to the black-haired man.
That guy...
He had shouted a command earlier but hadn't made a single move since. From the beginning, this group had seed unusually obedient to him. Are they his subordinates?
What's his plan?
Deciding not to waste any more ti, Sasori controlled his Third Kazekage puppet, sending it hurtling toward the black-haired man.
However...
His assault failed.
"Universal Pull!"
A cold voice rang out, and to everyone's shock, Nagato effortlessly sucked the puppet toward himself.
"This is..." Sasori's eyes widened in surprise at the bizarre jutsu. But he quickly adjusted, manipulating his puppet to use Magnet Release, encasing it in a massive black sphere to shield it from further damage.
He had managed to withstand the attack!
Watching from the side, Yuto was montarily taken aback. Seeing Nagato handle the situation so calmly, he hadn't expected Nagato to have already mastered Universal Pull.
Of course, it didn't yet possess the cold and overwhelming power it would have under the Six Paths of Pain.
It's true what they say—turning dark triples your strength!
At this mont...
Relying on Nagato's imnse chakra and the power of the Rinnegan, Sasori was effectively suppressed.
But...
Should I say that he's worthy of being Sasori of the Red Sand and the wielder of the Third Kazekage?
Even though Sasori hadn't yet transford his own body into a puppet, his strength was far from simple!
Of course, the "three little ones" were still growing too.
Yuto glanced around.
This was warti.
Though this area was sowhat remote, staying too long would inevitably draw attention.
And the "Demi-God of the Ninja World," Hanzo of the Salamander, was already keeping an eye on this region.
So...
They needed to wrap things up quickly!
Therefore...
With that in mind, Yuto let out a long sigh. Then, he reached into his pouch and pulled out... a massive stack of explosive tags.
Imdiately...
Everyone froze in place, their movents halting instinctively.
Sasori, in particular, raised an eyebrow. Seeing the thick stack of explosive tags, he felt a very bad premonition.
Which ninja wastes this many explosive tags?
Even if you work hard at S-rank missions, it can barely pay enough to make up for this kind of extravagance!
There were rumors that even the Second Hokage of Konoha, Senju Tobirama, had developed the forbidden technique "Multiplying Explosive Tags" because he didn't have enough explosive tags. By using just one, it could trigger a chain reaction of explosions—but the risk of self-destruction had landed it on the forbidden list.
Now, seeing this absurd number of explosive tags, Sasori's heart trembled.
The sheer volu conveyed an indescribable ssage. His brows furrowed.
Perhaps, as a rebellious child from a poor rural village, this was the first ti Sasori truly felt the unassuming extravagance of a wealthy man's lifestyle. He couldn't help but feel a bit shaken.
Of course, Yuto didn't care.
Be rich.
Be reckless.
What harm was there in letting people stare a little?
As for the Third Kazekage puppet...
Yuto stroked his chin thoughtfully. After all, it was a puppet crafted from one of the Five Kage. So...
"Why not a bit more?"
With that, he pulled out another stack from his tool pouch.
At that mont, the scene turned completely cold.
Yahiko forced a bitter smile, while Konan's eyes betrayed a hint of heartache. So many explosive tags... How many loaves of bread could that have bought?
Nagato, anwhile, was filled with frustration, black lines forming across his forehead.
What is this guy planning? Blow everyone up?
Even Kana sighed helplessly. After countless close inspections during their ti together, she had realized sothing: Yuto had a flaw deep inside.
Despite his cheerful deanor, there was always a sense of insecurity in Yuto's heart.
Though his strength was already impressive, and his stockpile of explosive tags and kunai unmatched, he still felt like it wasn't enough.
Not enough explosive tags. Not enough kunai.
Kana gazed at Yuto, her eyes filled with a trace of sorrow.
[In Konoha... Yuto must have felt deeply insecure.]
But then again, during tis of war...
Who could truly feel secure?
Yuto always maintained his optimism, never letting others worry.
Suddenly—
"Everyone, move aside!" Yuto, suffering from his chronic fear of insufficient firepower, roared. "Behold my Money Release—"
Before he could finish, Nagato cut in sharply.
"Universal Pull!"
With a single shout, Nagato activated his technique, and before anyone could react, Sasori was sucked over. Then, without giving Sasori a chance to respond...
"Universal Pull!"
"Universal Pull!"
"Universal Pull!"
"..."
Again and again, every ti Sasori tried to resist, he was slamd into the ground.
By the end, Sasori's hands dropped to his sides.
Enough!
Enough!
These lunatics!
Finally, after Nagato was slightly out of breath, he pulled Sasori close and pinned his head to the ground with a loud "THUD."
Sasori lay motionless, thoroughly subdued.
Nagato, expressionless, looked up at Yuto and said, "All done."
"..."
Yuto's face froze, his hand holding the explosive tags suspended mid-air. After a mont, he gave an approving nod.
Nagato... had grown up.
He had even learned to interrupt soone else's mont to show off!
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