章 221: Kakashi vs. Sasori

Kabuto was once a double agent. He served both Orochimaru and Sasori, acting as Orochimaru's pawn placed beside Sasori. But from what Kabuto knew, wasn't Sasori already dead?

How could this be? Could it be that Orochimaru's jutsu just now can actually resurrect the dead? Like Kabuto, Sasori himself was equally confused. He raised his hands and looked at his arms and body. Everything felt so real, convincing him—

He had indeed been brought back to life.

However, when Sasori saw that the person in front of him was Orochimaru, his initial joy was immediately replaced by suspicion and anger. He harshly questioned Orochimaru:

"Orochimaru, what have you done to me?"

"Heh heh," Orochimaru chuckled maliciously, slowly saying, "Weren't you always in pursuit of eternal beauty? I used the Reanimation Jutsu to revive you. This jutsu grants you infinite chakra and a truly immortal body. This is the eternal puppet you've always been seeking. I've fulfilled your dream of immortality, so why are you angry?"

"Hmph." Sasori's eyes were cold, not believing Orochimaru's words. Knowing his old partner well, Sasori knew Orochimaru to be a thoroughly sinister and treacherous man.

But, since Orochimaru revived him and gave him an immortal body, Sasori decided to accept it.

With that thought, Sasori's eyes turned cold. He immediately formed hand signs, intending to kill Orochimaru right there.

However, the next second, Sasori was shocked to find that his body wouldn't obey him. He couldn't move.

Orochimaru shook his head and walked towards Sasori: "You're still as impatient as ever. Do you think I revived you just because of our partnership? The price of immortality is becoming my servant."

With that, Orochimaru stood behind Sasori and pulled out a kunai engraved with mysterious symbols. Smiling, he drove the kunai into Sasori's head, instantly causing Sasori to stiffen and his eyes to dull.

Orochimaru could erase Sasori's consciousness through this method, turning him into a pure puppet. This was the cruelest aspect of the Reanimation Jutsu.

However, "Out of respect for our partnership, I'll retain some of your emotions and will, of course, as long as you're 100% loyal and obedient to me."

Orochimaru smiled evilly as the kunai fused completely with Sasori's brain, completing the "factory reset."

*Click, click.*

Sasori's head turned 180 degrees on his neck, staring at Orochimaru. "You're despicable, using such a jutsu on the dead."

"Flattery will get you nowhere. This is a forbidden technique invented by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Compared to him, I'm just a poor imitator in terms of cunning and evil," Orochimaru said modestly.

Kabuto approached, marveling at Orochimaru's methods, feeling a deep admiration. He realized that if Sasori could be resurrected, then stronger ninjas like the recently deceased Uchiha Dan and Akatsuki's leader Pain could also be revived. If that happened, they would be invincible, wouldn't they?

Seeing Kabuto's thoughts, Orochimaru shook his head, smiling. "The jutsu isn't perfect yet. Reviving someone too powerful could be risky."

This was the weakness of the Reanimation Jutsu. If the resurrected individual's strength far exceeded Orochimaru's or if they knew the hand seals, they could break free from his control.

To avoid mishaps, the cautious Orochimaru first revived Sasori as a test. Once he perfected the jutsu, he could create an army of reanimated soldiers. By then, not even the Uchiha clan or the entire ninja world would stand a chance.

"Kabuto, your next task is to gather the bodies of powerful ninjas. Start with Konoha; its history is full of strong shinobi," Orochimaru said with a gleam in his eye.

"Yes," Kabuto responded, excited by Orochimaru's grand plan.

At that moment, a piercing alarm sounded in the lab.

"Oh? The barrier of the Sound Village seems to have detected intruders," Orochimaru said, surprised, as he walked to the surveillance screen. "It's Kakashi and Yamato. I heard they joined the Uchiha clan."

Kabuto's face changed, kneeling before Orochimaru. "They must have followed me here, Lord Orochimaru. It's my fault for being careless."

He remembered losing consciousness in an alley in Sunagakure and realized he had been tracked, leading them here.

"Don't panic," Orochimaru reassured Kabuto. "Only Kakashi and Yamato are here. Let's see how Sasori fares in his reanimated state."

With that, Sasori followed Orochimaru's command and walked out the door.

Simultaneously, Orochimaru ordered Kabuto to pack up and prepare to abandon the lab. He had many hideouts and had always planned for such contingencies, so he remained calm.

Outside the Sound Village, Kakashi and Yamato observed from a tree.

Tobi had already fused with Yamato, seeming to enjoy being with him due to their compatibility in Wood Release. Together, their combined strength could rival even a Mangekyō Sharingan user.

"Byakugan, activate!" Kakashi activated his Byakugan, scanning Orochimaru's underground lair, his expression turning surprised.

"Impressive, Orochimaru. You've built a ninja village in such a short time," he remarked.

Just then, two prisoner ninjas burst from the ground, charging at Kakashi and Yamato.

Have we been discovered?

Kakashi and Yamato exchanged a glance and leaped from the tree to engage the enemies.

*Sizzle, sizzle!* Lightning crackled as Kakashi quickly dispatched one enemy with Chidori.

On the other side, Yamato's Wood Release controlled the other, subduing him.

However, Kakashi's Byakugan noticed chakra strings extending from the enemies to a nearby bush.

"Yamato, don't be careless. The real enemy is a puppet master," he warned.

"Got it," Yamato replied, also noticing the anomaly. Both looked towards the bush.

Controlling humans with chakra strings and using them as puppets was unheard of. This opponent was formidable.

After some rustling, a handsome red-haired boy emerged from the bush.

This person…

Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he saw the boy wearing an Akatsuki cloak. But wasn't Akatsuki destroyed?

Furthermore, Kakashi's Byakugan revealed that the boy's chakra only flowed from his heart, making him seem odd.

"Are you Kakashi, the son of the White Fang?" the red-haired boy spoke first, reminiscing, "Your father invaded Sunagakure and killed my parents. I couldn't avenge them because he died too early, so I vented my anger on the Third Kazekage. It's his fault for letting Konoha invade and kill my parents…"

The Reanimated Sasori seemed more talkative, possibly because his soul wandered alone in the afterlife, longing for conversation.

"You're… Sasori of the Red Sand?!" Kakashi exclaimed.

Kakashi deduced his identity based on the boy's words and puppet techniques.

"Yes, it's me," Sasori confirmed, continuing, "Strangely, I was angry and resentful about my resurrection minutes ago. Now, I see it as fate that we meet here. Your father killed my parents, so now I'll kill his son for delayed revenge."

Over the years, Sasori had never forgotten his hatred.

*Whoosh.*

As soon as Sasori finished speaking, he tore off his Akatsuki cloak, revealing his puppet-modified body, especially the conspicuous "Scorpion" mark on his heart.

In Kakashi and Yamato's surprised gazes:

*Swish!* Sasori's abdomen opened, a steel cable shooting out like lightning towards Kakashi.

Kakashi frowned and dodged, the cable piercing a tree and pulling Sasori towards them.

Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!

Yamato quickly formed hand signs, unleashing a barrage of wooden vines to capture Sasori.

Sasori countered by ejecting windmill-like blades from his back, rapidly slicing through the vines.

However, Yamato's Wood Release, enhanced by Tobi, had a regenerative nature, growing back even stronger.

In moments, numerous vines bound Sasori, immobilizing him.

*Chirp, chirp, chirp!* The sound of chirping birds filled the air as Kakashi, like a silver flash, used Raikiri to pierce Sasori's regenerating core in his heart.

He had already identified Sasori's weakness.

"I regret your parents' death, but war is cruel and unforgiving. As shinobi, our hands are stained with innocent blood, and we must accept the inevitability of death," Kakashi said calmly, withdrawing his arm as Sasori fell limp.

"Let's go after Orochimaru before he escapes," Yamato urged, moving with Kakashi toward the underground base.

However, they had barely taken a few steps when Sasori's voice rang out behind them:

"Did I say you could leave?"

Huh?

They turned, seeing dust flying to Sasori's heart, restoring his damaged body.

"Orochimaru wasn't lying. This truly is an immortal body. My regenerating core was my only weakness, and now it's gone," Sasori murmured, feeling conflicted.

He had pursued an eternal puppet in life, failing in the end. Now, Orochimaru's Reanimation Jutsu had granted Sasori his long-sought dream of an eternal body. However, this time, he was the puppet being controlled.

So be it.

Sasori steeled himself, deciding to test the limits of his new body. He charged at Kakashi and Yamato once more, attacking without any regard for defense.

In the lab, Orochimaru watched the battle on the surveillance screen, a smile forming on his lips. This was the true power of the Reanimation Jutsu. Though Sasori's movements were a bit stiffer and slower than in life, his reanimated body's infinite chakra and regenerative capabilities more than compensated for any deficiencies.

Flame Dragon!

Sasori raised his hands on the ground, shooting two streams of fire from his palms, sweeping across the forest. The intense flames melted even rocks, turning them into molten lava, and reducing the surrounding trees to ashes.

Water Release: Water Wall.

Kakashi quickly formed hand signs, raising a wall of water to block the advancing flames. He knew he couldn't hold out for long and needed a plan. Yamato seized the opportunity, charging towards Sasori and summoning a giant tree to engulf him.

Wood Release: Violent Tree Burst.

This powerful technique restrained Sasori once more, killing him yet again. But with the dust reforming around him, he emerged from the tree, completely restored.

"Senior, it seems this guy really can't be killed," Yamato noted, his expression serious.

Kakashi remained calm, analyzing the situation. "His eyes and the cracks on his body... this is the Reanimation Jutsu, a forbidden technique of the Uchiha clan. Those revived by this jutsu can't be killed, only sealed. We need to seal his soul and send him back to the afterlife."

Understanding the plan, Yamato nodded, and their years of teamwork allowed them to strategize without words.

However, Sasori had also caught on to their plan. "So, you intend to seal me. It's a good idea, but I won't let you succeed. This battle ends now."

Sasori produced a scroll with a cold tone, summoning his entire collection of puppets.

*Boom, boom, boom!*

Over a hundred puppets, all wearing red robes, appeared in the forest. Each was equipped with different weapons, all controlled by Sasori's chakra threads.

A puppet master's strength is often measured by the number of puppets they can control. Normally, a human's limit is ten puppets, given their number of fingers. But Sasori, having transcended his human form, could control far more.

Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets once allowed Sasori to destroy an entire country single-handedly.

Kakashi and Yamato found themselves surrounded by a sea of puppets, each moving with deadly precision.

"Yamato, stay close. We can't afford to be separated," Kakashi instructed, his Sharingan and Byakugan scanning the battlefield.

Lightning Cutter.

Kakashi charged forward, slicing through the puppets with his lightning-infused blade, each strike precise and lethal.

Wood Release: Wood Dragon.

Yamato summoned a massive wooden dragon, coiling around the puppets, crushing them with its immense strength.

Despite their efforts, more puppets replaced those destroyed, their numbers seemingly endless.

"This isn't working. We need to seal him quickly," Kakashi noted, frustration seeping into his voice.

"Understood," Yamato replied, focusing his chakra on a more powerful technique.

Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison.

He created a massive wooden structure enclosing Sasori and his puppets. The wooden walls rose high, creating an inescapable barrier.

"Now, Kakashi!" Yamato shouted, maintaining the structure with all his strength.

Kakashi formed a series of complex hand signs, gathering his chakra for a sealing technique. "Sealing Jutsu: Four Symbols Seal!"

The barrier began to glow with intricate symbols, slowly tightening around Sasori, attempting to bind his soul.

But Sasori wasn't done yet. With a fierce determination, he summoned even more chakra, his puppets attacking the wooden prison with renewed vigor.

The prison walls began to crack under the relentless assault, and Sasori's chakra threads lashed out, trying to disrupt the sealing process.

"Just a little longer..." Kakashi muttered, pouring more chakra into the seal.

The symbols intensified, closing in on Sasori. For a moment, it seemed the sealing would succeed. But Sasori, with a final surge of power, shattered the wooden prison, breaking free.

"No!" Yamato exclaimed, his energy nearly spent.

Kakashi, exhausted but undeterred, prepared for another attempt. "We can't let him escape. Yamato, one more time."

Before they could act, Sasori launched a surprise attack, his puppets converging on them from all sides. Kakashi and Yamato were forced to retreat in the chaos, narrowly avoiding fatal blows.

As they regrouped, Sasori spoke, his voice mixed with admiration and contempt. "You two are strong, but you're no match for me in this state. Orochimaru was right; this body is truly invincible."

Breathing heavily, Kakashi realized they needed a different approach. "Yamato, we need to retreat and regroup. This isn't a fight we can win head-on."

Reluctantly, Yamato nodded. "Agreed. We need to find a way to seal him properly. Let's fall back for now."

They moved swiftly, disappearing into the forest and leaving Sasori behind. For now, he let them go, confident in his newfound power.

In the lab, Orochimaru watched them retreat, a satisfied smile on his face. "Interesting. Very interesting. This will be a fun game to watch unfold."

Meanwhile, Kakashi and Yamato regrouped, planning their next move. They knew they needed to find a way to counter the Reanimation Jutsu, and time was of the essence. Their fight with Sasori was far from over, and the fate of Konoha might depend on their success.