CHAPTER 214: CHAPTER 214: RUN? NONE OF YOU ARE GETTING AWAY!

Yahiko stood on the mountain ridge, looking down at the vast sea of clouds and fog.

"Over this mountain is the Land of Rain, our homeland, the country we still love deeply to this day!"

The homeland below was completely invisible, but Yahiko’s face was filled with excitement, his eyes shining with a fiery light, as if he had already returned.

This feeling... Ryoho Kyohiko understood it! In his previous life, when he returned home from studying in another city and saw the scenery of his hometown, he was just as excited as Yahiko. It was just—he could never go back. Ryoho Kyohiko sighed inwardly.

Then, he looked around. A row of high mountains separated this place from the Land of Wind. Looking at the terrain, Ryoho Kyohiko became thoughtful. No wonder it rains so much in this place! A series of mountains stood between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind. Rainwater gathered in this area, pouring down and forming a huge lake on the plain below. South of the lake was the Land of Rivers. The heavy rainfall in the Land of Rain was inseparable from the country’s terrain, climate, and the convergence of monsoons. Of course, the desert of the Land of Wind was also related to its environment and climate.

Yahiko turned his head.

"What’s wrong?"

Then, he pointed to the vast sea of clouds and fog below.

"If it didn’t rain so much, I believe the Land of Rain would be a very beautiful country!"

Ryoho Kyohiko nodded lightly.

"I believe so too."

The situation in the Land of Rain, perhaps changing the environment could reduce the rainfall here, but it could also cause more terrible changes. No one could guarantee it.

"Let’s go!"

It’s been too long since I’ve been back! After the initial excitement passed, Yahiko’s mood gradually turned to apprehension. Is the Land of Rain still the same as before?

Hyuga Hizashi maintained his Byakugan, observing the surrounding situation, while Ryoho Kyohiko was more composed, his eyes constantly observing the surrounding environment and scenery. Halfway down the mountain, below the clouds and fog, the rain gradually became heavier. At the foot of the mountain, it was a downpour! The pouring rain was like it was being dumped from the sky.

"Nagato’s bird is showing the way, let’s follow it!"

***

Amegakure, built by the lake, even though the sky was constantly raining, making it look very gloomy, at a glance, one could still feel its magnificence. Amegakure. As expected of the most capable ninja village among the small ones right now! A trace of admiration flashed in Ryoho Kyohiko’s eyes.

In such a harsh environment, the construction of Amegakure was not bad. On the outskirts, some ninjas could be seen patrolling, and Kyohiko and his team had already changed their attire under Yahiko’s guidance. They infiltrated Amegakure. The five-person formation kept Hizashi in the middle, his Byakugan observing everything around them, searching for traces of Sasori of the Red Sand.

***

In a corner of Amegakure.

A ninja wearing a bamboo hat, carrying a parcel on his back, walked on the street, heading in the direction that crossed Amegakure.

"I must remind you, it seems a tail has already caught up."

Sasori of the Red Sand looked at the sky, a slight smile on his lips.

"Hmph, I know."

That bird... he had noticed it all along!

"Where are the helpers you mentioned?"

A faint voice came from the side of the wall.

"I said there were helpers, but that’s not a reason for you to deliberately seek death. Besides, this is Amegakure. If you make a move here, do you think Hanzo of the Salamander will let you go?"

Sasori replied lazily.

"It doesn’t matter. If he makes a move, I can still run away. And do you think he has no reaction to that group of ninjas from the Land of Birds?"

Not far from them, a ninja who looked like Sasori was heading towards Hanzo’s location in Amegakure, while they were moving along the edge.

"Heh."

Zetsu was a little speechless. This Sasori of the Red Sand wasn’t stupid, but he was too confident in himself. In fact, in his eyes, Sasori was just an ordinary genius. In the past history of the shinobi world, there were many who were more monstrous and powerful than him. For example, Konoha’s new generation had two!

Zetsu was pondering when he suddenly sensed several presences approaching, especially—one of them was from that child beside Nagato. Yahiko? It seemed that was his name. Zetsu immediately understood. They’ve already caught up!

Yahiko... An idea suddenly came to his mind.

"They’ve caught up."

Sasori of the Red Sand smiled.

"Oh? They’re fast. It must be the leader of that village in the Land of Birds. Only they have such speed. Interesting, they actually dare to chase after me..."

"Then let’s make their leader my collection! I remember there was one who seemed to know a secret origami technique. I wonder if it can be preserved after being made into a puppet."

Zetsu retorted.

"I think you should first consider whether you can win."

Sasori chuckled.

"They have the numbers, but I have the entire Amegakure!"

As he spoke, his fingers trembled. That disguised puppet had already reached the side of Hanzo’s building. Sasori controlled the puppet with both hands. Then—Boom! An explosion sounded in the distance.

Immediately after, the village’s alarm bells rang. A group of ninjas rushed out from the streets and alleys, and then saw that ninja explode into flames. On top of the building, a figure appeared. He looked down at the ground, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Sasori of the Red Sand?"

"Sir..."

"Don’t be anxious. This is just a puppet. The real Sasori is definitely not dead yet. He’s hiding in some corner of the village now."

Hanzo snorted coldly, brandishing the sickle in his hand.

He had naturally heard about Sasori’s movements and knew that he had been active in the Land of Birds area recently, but he hadn’t expected him to suddenly come to Amegakure to cause trouble. And what’s more, not only did he come, but he also dared to attack Amegakure! A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Search for Sasori of the Red Sand! Also..."

Just as Hanzo was about to speak, he saw several other figures running wildly in the village. What’s going on? There are no ninjas of this strength in the entire Amegakure! Who are these people?

Just as he was puzzled, a person quickly came up behind him.

"Hanzo-sama, urgent report! This is an urgent message from Sunagakure..."

A sharp glint flashed in Hanzo’s eyes.

"It must be about Sasori. Don’t look at it. I’ll go and capture Sasori first. Then we’ll know everything!"

He had long been very dissatisfied with Sasori. If the other party were outside the Land of Rain, he wouldn’t be able to kill him. Now that he had entered the Land of Rain, how could there be any possibility of letting him go? Naturally—Kill!

The subordinate saw that Hanzo wanted to leave and immediately couldn’t care less, quickly reporting the intelligence he had seen.

"No, sir. Konoha has also sent people. The participant is that guy from Konoha who is said to be able to inherit the name of the God of Shinobi..."

Hanzo narrowed his eyes.

"Inherit the God of Shinobi? I see. So those few are Konoha ninjas. They actually got mixed up with Sunagakure..."

Ryoho Kyohiko. He had heard this name from many people and knew that the other party was an out-and-out genius, indeed capable of inheriting the title of that God of Shinobi. But he was just a boy, after all. This guy also made a move, but to act so recklessly in Amegakure, he’s showing me too little respect! Besides, Sasori of the Red Sand, he must capture him personally!

"I understand!"

Hanzo quickly jumped down from above.

He had already seen Sasori! That guy was hiding very deep, but as a very experienced ninja, he still found Sasori hiding in a corner, not quite blending in with the crowd, within the radius of the previous puppet. Although that might also be a puppet, as long as he found the puppet, he could basically find the puppet master!

Swoosh!

Hanzo disappeared with a body flicker.

***

"Kyohiko, Hanzo is here!"

Hyuga Hizashi’s face changed rapidly.

Ryoho Kyohiko’s face was calm.

"I sensed him. He was deliberately lured down by Sasori."

"Rasa’s side should have already sent the intelligence. We don’t have to worry about the threat from Hanzo."

Hyuga Hizashi looked in one direction.

"I saw Sunagakure ninjas over there."

"It doesn’t matter. Regardless of Hanzo’s attitude, we have to capture Sasori, and we have to get him before Hanzo and Rasa do!"

Only then would they have time to study Sasori’s puppet techniques.

The next moment.

"I’m going first. You guys follow behind."

"This..."

Just as Hizashi was about to speak, he saw that Kyohiko had already disappeared from his spot, and along with him... were Kakashi and Yahiko. However, Hizashi could still see the figures of the latter two, just that their speed was a bit faster, while Kyohiko was advancing at almost "flashing" speed.

Terrifying!

Aburame Shibi said faintly.

"This isn’t even his full strength."

Hizashi was extremely surprised. He then looked at Shibi.

"You’ve seen his full strength? Is it even more terrifying than this?"

Aburame Shibi adjusted his sunglasses.

"I don’t know."

He said faintly, "Kyohiko hasn’t made a move for more than a year. Who knows how strong he is now? Even the three adults who know him best probably don’t know his upper limit!"

The next moment, as if to confirm Shibi’s words, in Hizashi’s Byakugan, Kyohiko’s speed increased once again, almost twice as fast as before. Although he was far away, he could still vaguely see traces of Lightning Style ninjutsu. Was that the Lightning Release Armor? When did Kyohiko also secretly learn the Lightning Release Armor?

Hizashi was dumbfounded. He... although he had been on several missions with Kyohiko, they were basically quite simple, and he had never seen Kyohiko’s full strength. Now he had only seen the tip of the iceberg. But just this tip of the iceberg was enough to shock him.

So, when Kyohiko reminded us to observe and learn other people’s ninjutsu, it was actually his own experience? A thought flashed through Hizashi’s mind. The Lightning Release Armor. This was the Cloud Village’s most proud ninjutsu. The Third Raikage was famous in the shinobi world for it, but... did the other party know that Kyohiko knew this move?

He grinned.

Aburame Shibi pushed him.

"What are you laughing at? Let’s go, hurry up and follow."

"They’re all catching up from behind!"

"Ah? Oh, right!"

Hizashi swept his Byakugan. Behind them, a group of Amegakure ninjas were rushing towards them. Although they were also wearing forehead protectors, the Amegakure ninjas clearly had their own means of identification.

"Let’s go!"

***

"Hahahaha, interesting! So interesting! See? The whole village is mobilized by me!"

Sasori laughed.

Zetsu emerged from the ground, looking at Sasori beside him in astonishment. He had discovered it. This guy was a complete madman, with no rationality to speak of! I must have been crazy too... to actually think that this kind of person could be used temporarily, to make him do things for me.

"What are you thinking?"

Zetsu replied faintly.

"I think you’re crazy!"

Sasori smiled.

"Crazy is just your opinion. I’m fine now, better than ever!"

"I heard that Hanzo’s poison is very terrifying, but will poison be effective against puppets? If the helper you mentioned doesn’t come soon, then I think..."

Just as Sasori was speaking, his voice suddenly stopped. He looked into the distance.

"Looks like I made it. Sasori of the Red Sand, and... another friend."

On the roof of a house not far away, a figure stood there, looking down at Sasori and the strangely shaped "Zetsu." So this is what Zetsu looks like now? Ryoho Kyohiko looked down at the two of them.

Sasori narrowed his eyes.

"Ryoho Kyohiko!"

He sneered.

"You guys really went to great lengths. Afraid that I would get the Third Kazekage’s body, you even specially destroyed the residual chakra and internal organs in his body!"

"Not afraid, just didn’t want you to get it."

Ryoho Kyohiko stretched his muscles. "If it weren’t for your grandmother protecting you, I would have slaughtered you long ago! Before, it was because my ability was insufficient. This time, you won’t be so lucky!"

Sasori of the Red Sand crossed his hands, and then, two scrolls appeared. One by one, puppets flew out from the scrolls in his hands. Whoosh! Dozens, hundreds of puppets!

Zetsu looked at the sky, then back at Sasori. At this moment, from Sasori’s entire body, strands of chakra threads flew out, spreading and controlling the puppets above. Among them were some rather special puppets. That was... the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten. There were also three puppets that looked very exquisite, like humans. Father, Mother, Grandmother. These three special puppets were also quite special to Sasori, because—these three puppets were right next to Sasori, completely protecting him. Obviously, for him, the protection of these three made him feel at ease. Here, Sasori believed he was the safest.

Although Zetsu looked down on the Puppet Technique, he had learned a little about it. He had to admit that Sasori of the Red Sand really had something. A genius of the Puppet Technique! It was just that this guy had lost his family affection too early. After Chiyo, Ebizo, and the others died, he had already gone mad and had no attachments. What a pity! A trace of regret flashed in Zetsu’s eyes.

However, a thought quickly came to his mind.

"If I say I have a way to revive your grandmother and parents, are you willing to come with me?"

Saying "come" was actually "run." If it was to escape, Zetsu was confident he could help the other party leave.

"Hmm?"

Sasori suddenly looked at him. Revive? Impossible!

However, at this moment—

"Run? None of you are getting away!"

Ryoho Kyohiko’s voice sounded.

Then, he clapped his hands together, and the patterns of Sage Mode appeared on his face. On the way, he had already used a shadow clone to cooperate with the Amber Jutsu to absorb natural energy, letting the shadow clone absorb sage chakra, so he could instantly activate it now.

The next second, Ryoho Kyohiko’s figure disappeared from his spot. Whoosh! One by one, puppets closed in on Kyohiko from all directions. Weapons, hidden weapons, and ninjutsu rained down on the center, but... when Ryoho Kyohiko reappeared, he had already passed through all the puppets.