The team from the Hidden Sand Village had already entered the second stage, passing through the gate inscribed with the character "玉" (Yu), before Naruto and the others arrived.
Walking on the pedestrian path, surrounded by ordinary housing and shops, it was evident they were on a commercial street, more specifically, an antique street.
*Crack.*
Kankuro accidentally stepped on and crushed a clay doll. His gaze fell upon the small stalls scattered on both sides of the road. "There seem to be no civilians around," he murmured, "and the enemy's whereabouts are unknown. Should we split up?"
"No need."
Gaara's gaze lingered for a moment. The sand in the gourd on his back spontaneously drifted out. The three of them simultaneously stopped and looked towards the figure slowly emerging from the end of the street, or perhaps, it couldn't be called a person.
A scorpion's tail, made of metal, swayed in the air. Blood dripped from its sharp stinger, looking as if it had just finished a slaughter.
"Newcomers again? I hope your bodies are sturdy enough and don't fall apart so easily."
Sasori's voice, hoarse and chilling, came from within Hiruko.
"Is this... a puppet?"
As a beginner and enthusiast of puppets, Kankuro excitedly examined the scorpion's tail as it slowly retracted. What a perfect masterpiece!
This must have been made by a master. Although Kankuro wasn't sure if what he was seeing was a puppet or human modification, the opponent was undoubtedly a master of modification.
"Kankuro, calm down. The other party is clearly our target. Don't let your guard down."
"I know."
Although Temari reminded him, Kankuro couldn't help but gaze at Hiruko, clad in a black robe with red clouds. If this were a puppet, it was far more advanced than his Crow.
However, there were no chakra threads emanating from the figure, which is why Kankuro was unsure if it was a puppet or a real person.
Gaara stepped forward. "If we defeat you, we pass, right?"
"If you can."
As Sasori's hoarse voice fell, the ground around Hiruko suddenly collapsed.
"Sand?"
Gaara extended his palm, controlling the sand to envelop Hiruko, and shouted, "Sand Burial!"
The sand that wrapped around Hiruko rapidly contracted. The immense pressure was enough to crush ordinary ninjas to death. Temari, standing beside him, showed a pleased expression, not expecting the opponent to be so careless. Even if they didn't die from this move, they would be heavily injured, and they should be able to pass this stage.
Meanwhile, Kankuro, as a puppeteer, had a grim expression. The fact that the opponent could withstand this move with their physical body without any blood spilling meant the worst-case scenario had occurred: the opponent was a puppet, and one with extremely high defense.
Then, where was the manipulator?
Kankuro untied the Crow puppet from his back, his eyes constantly scanning for potential hiding spots.
Suddenly, a metallic scorpion's tail broke through the sand blockade and lunged at the three of them. Its speed was so great that there was no time to defend.
"Scatter!"
At the critical moment, a sand wall instantly materialized before them, blocking the metallic scorpion's tail. However, it was pierced through after only a few seconds.
*Bang!*
The ground was gouged by the scorpion's tail. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro had already vanished. The scorpion's tail slowly retracted, and Sasori, buried by the sand, controlled Hiruko to emerge. The Akatsuki uniform draped over him was slightly torn, causing Sasori, hidden inside, to frown.
Should I take it off?
But Sasori immediately remembered the first rule of the organization: never undress during a battle, or death is certain!
Although Sasori wasn't superstitious, there were cameras everywhere. If he were reported to Pain, it would be miserable. His already not-so-prosperous situation would be worsened!
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"
"Black Secret Technique: Needle Jizo!"
Regardless of why Sasori was distracted at this moment, Gaara and the others wouldn't miss this opportunity. They found the right timing and used their signature ninjutsu against Hiruko.
"This kid is also a puppeteer?"
Seeing Kankuro controlling Crow to shoot poison needles at him, Sasori couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing. He controlled the metallic scorpion's tail on his back to block the needles and then let the wind style buffet Hiruko.
*Puff, puff.*
More tears appeared in the Akatsuki uniform, especially on the back, where a grinning mask could be faintly seen.
"Sand Shower!"
From the sky, sand that fell like raindrops flew towards Hiruko's head.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*
Although most of it was blocked by the metallic scorpion's tail, several needles pierced through the mask on Hiruko's face, revealing a non-human countenance.
"It really is a puppet!"
Kankuro blurted out from not far away. He then said to Gaara and Temari, "I've checked. There are no chakra threads around, so his true body must be hidden within the puppet!"
Gaara stepped in front of the other two, his expression solemn. This puppet's defense was too high; stronger means were needed to break it, or it would just be a waste of time.
"Can you hold him off? I need some time."
Although Gaara was reluctant, this was the only way to pass.
"I don't know if I can hold him off, but I will definitely protect you, Gaara!"
"Me too!"
Kankuro and Temari exchanged glances, then stood together in front of Gaara. Gaara's eyes flickered with an inexplicable emotion, and he then placed his hands on the ground. He was not one for empty words, and could only express his intentions through actions.
Gather, gather! He needed to mobilize more sand to inflict damage on the puppet before him. Gaara slapped the ground with his hands, his chakra surging into the earth.
Meanwhile, Kankuro and Temari had engaged Sasori in close-quarters combat. Kankuro knew that puppeteers feared close-quarters combat the most, and in such a fight, the metallic scorpion's tail wouldn't be able to strike easily.
However, the reality was contrary to his expectations. After only a few exchanges, both of them were already covered in wounds. Their ninja outfits were torn, their blood stained their clothes, and they felt a strong sense of dizziness.
Poison!
Seeing Kankuro and Temari's pale faces, Gaara could only roar internally, Faster, faster!
"Hissing Poison Needles!"
However, Sasori showed no mercy. Even though the novice puppeteer used a puppet he had made, it didn't mean he would hold back. He would fight with his full strength.
Instantly, countless poison needles flew out from the cannon Sasori launched, so dense that their number was countless.
Gaara looked up. Countless poison needles flew towards him. He wanted to condense his Sand Armor for defense, but if he let go, all his efforts would be in vain. However, between his life and the opportunity, Gaara would undoubtedly choose the former.
Just as he was about to raise his hands to control the sand, a large amount of sand drifted from the gourd on his back and spontaneously formed a shield in front of him.
How could this be? Gaara's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't controlled it, so why did the sand automatically protect him?
But in the next moment, a metallic scorpion's tail pierced through the sand defense and struck directly at Gaara's head.
*Ch-ch!*
*Drip, drip...*
Feeling the scorching hot blood dripping onto his cheek, Gaara looked up and murmured, "Why?"
The metallic scorpion's tail pierced Kankuro's shoulder, which he tightly gripped. He allowed the sharp blades on it to pierce his palm, not letting it harm Gaara in the slightest.
Even though the poison had invaded his body and paralyzed his nerves, Kankuro still managed a pale smile at Gaara, "Because... you are my brother. Does a brother need a reason to protect his brother?"
*Thud!*
A sound of falling came from the side. It turned out that the scorpion's tail had pierced the sand defense, allowing a few needles to shoot in from the side. To protect Gaara, Temari had been struck by several needles. The poison invaded her body, and she fell.
Kankuro endured the pain, blood spilling from his mouth. Tremblingly, he said, "Gaara, you must..."
*Ch-ch!*
The metallic scorpion's tail was violently pulled back, and Kankuro's body slowly fell before Gaara's eyes.
"Win..."
*Boom!*
The entire second stage area collapsed. Most of the houses were in ruins, and the ground undulated as if it had sunk into quicksand. Gaara's eyes turned red, and he clapped his hands together.
"Sand Flow River!"
A sky-obscuring torrent of sand descended upon the second stage, like a sandstorm that blotted out the sun. Hiruko was like an ant before this vast sandstorm, easily buried if not careful.
"The Hidden Sand Village has produced a remarkable individual." As Sasori's voice fell, Hiruko was completely engulfed by the yellow sand.
On the sand layer, Gaara, panting heavily, looked at the submerged Hiruko. He clapped his hands on the sand's surface and roared, "Desert Imperial Mausoleum!"
*Rumble, rumble!*
The ground trembled twice more, then returned to stillness. Gaara's chakra was completely depleted, and he finally couldn't hold on and collapsed. Kankuro and Temari, whom he had propped up in the air with sand, also fell onto the sand's surface, their survival uncertain.
Just as Gaara struggled to get up, intending to take Kankuro and Temari for treatment, a cold voice echoed from beneath the ground.
"You actually destroyed my artwork. I don't know whether to praise you or use your body to compensate for my loss."
*Bang!*
A string of black sand iron broke through the sand layer, and then a humanoid puppet in a large coat flew out. A red-haired youth sat atop it, his expression cold as he looked at Gaara, who lay on the sand layer. His gaze was inscrutable, whether of joy or anger unknown.