Turned into a lunatic? Sasori is interested in lunatics!
He gestured to Yakushi Kabuto, "Go, grab two, we'll dissect them for research."
Yakushi Kabuto was not a normal person. If he couldn't be Orochimaru's assistant, then being Sasori's assistant was fine. The two hit it off immediately. Fifteen minutes later, several "lunatics" lay on the operating table.
Those with good physical qualities were made into Human Puppets, while those with average physical qualities had some parts selected to be "components."
Yakushi Kabuto had acquired a lot of knowledge about "flesh is weak, mechanical ascension" from a certain person, and he now poured it all out to Sasori.
Initially, Sasori didn't pay attention, but as he listened, he felt like he had opened the door to a new world.
It can be done this way? Why didn't you tell me earlier! Hurry, prepare experimental subjects for me, my big axe is already thirsty!
The two began to conduct so-called scientific discussions using the corpses of Hidden Sand Village Ninja.
Machinery indeed cannot transmit Chakra, but it can make his Human Puppets stronger and more artistic.
Thinking of Deidara's clay giant bird, Sasori wondered if he could create a flying puppet?
Flying puppets, giant puppets, invisible puppets, ultra-long-range attack puppets—through his conversations with Kabuto, he generated a large number of fantastic ideas. All of a sudden, he felt a surge of inspiration that he couldn't hold back.
Originally, he planned to investigate and then report the matters of Hidden Sand Village to the Akatsuki Organization, but now his mind was completely filled with puppet research. What was the Akatsuki Organization compared to that? He would deal with his own matters first and worry about the report in a few days.
That's what he thought, and that's what he did.
With Yura's assistance, the two captured ten Hidden Sand Village Ninja one day and twenty the next. They showed no restraint whatsoever, acting with extreme recklessness. Eventually, the Ninja controlled by Yura were kicking down doors to abduct people, and the entire Hidden Sand Village was enveloped in an unknown fear.
"Ino, Shikamaru, I'm exhausted, I really can't walk anymore." Choji sighed, his face covered in sweat, his two plump hands hanging at his sides, looking utterly listless.
Ino shaded her eyes with her hand, also feeling a headache looking at the desert before them.
Their motive as mediators was not pure; they were more intent on fanning the flames.
After leaving the Village, they found that the situation in Hidden Sand Village was changing by the day.
Shikamaru believed that they should not use normal official channels, but rather secretly infiltrate Hidden Sand Village, gather intelligence, and then plan the next step of their mission.
Ino agreed wholeheartedly. It was true that her strength was great now, but if she didn't expose her clay giant bird, being surrounded by thousands of Ninja would still be a tough situation.
The desert environment greatly affected her Water Release and Wood Release, so it was best not to fight if possible.
As a Jonin, she agreed to Shikamaru's plan of "quietly entering the Village, no shooting."
Her physique already had a hint of Sage Body, and her recovery ability was much stronger than ordinary people, so crossing the desert was not a big problem for her.
Shikamaru gritted his teeth and persevered, but Choji was suffering.
The fat man's face was now covered in sweat and sand; the originally fair-skinned plump man had now turned into a yellow-skinned plump man.
Looking at the endless Gobi Desert, he plopped down on the ground, completely out of energy to walk.
Shikamaru, who had never been to Hidden Sand Village before, was also very tired.
Looking at Ino, who was only sweating on her forehead but whose breathing remained steady, he had a black line on his forehead. This companion, born only one day after him, was becoming increasingly inhuman.
"Let's take a break," he said.
His Summoning Beast, Kubisaki, disliked the desert environment. When he summoned him yesterday, the large lizard expressed strong dissatisfaction.
Today, Ino could only perform the Three Rooms and Two Halls Technique.
Under Chakra control, underground plants quickly grew and connected, soon forming a small wooden house.
The fat man was not seeing her Wood Release for the first time; at this moment, he rushed into the room like a gust of wind, as if seeing a relative.
Wood Release could create houses, and naturally, it could also make some tables, chairs, and benches, but not things like pots, bowls, and plates.
Fortunately, they had brought all of those with them.
Ino unsealed the sealing scroll, and Shikamaru sorted and placed various items. They would set up camp and rest here tonight.
Compared to staying in a cave or under a rock face, they at least had a house here, and could even boil water and cook, which was already excellent conditions.
The fat man was not ungrateful. After resting for a while, he quickly got up to cook. Shikamaru killed two wild wolves outside, dragged them back, gutted them, and bled them, to eat roasted wolf meat.
Ino summoned some clear water, roughly washed her face and hands, and the three began to eat.
"Ino, you're amazing!" Eating a steaming roasted wolf leg, the fat man gave two thumbs up, expressing his admiration for Ino's abundant skills.
The three of them were no longer Genin and couldn't always be on a team. He occasionally went on missions with other Ninja, and the conditions then were incredibly harsh! No place to stay, no cooked food, not enough drinking water, only able to chew soldier pills; the conditions were simply incomparable to what they had now.
Ino nodded, accepting the compliment. Her conditions were indeed good.
While eating roasted wolf meat, she gossiped: "I heard Sakura say that a girl one year below us has a crush on you?"
Choji was greatly alarmed. A woman? What woman? It sounded like an extremely terrifying creature! How could a woman be as tempting as barbecue?
Shikamaru tilted his head, showing an expression of watching a good show.
It was unlikely to marry at fourteen or fifteen, but many people set a goal and then married when they reached the age.
Choji's Ninja talent was relatively low, so continuing the family bloodline was a path he had to take.
Shikamaru had a clever mind and exceptional memory, which was a very rare talent in the Ninja profession.
Ino had no other virtues; she was just good at fighting!
The pressure to marry wouldn't fall on them, but Choji was different.
In the original timeline, Ino chose Sai to represent the Yamanaka Clan and assist Naruto alongside Shikamaru. At that time, even with Karui, the cun hua, as an aid, Choji still fell behind.
The Akimichi Clan felt that this generation might not be able to compete with the Yamanaka Clan and the Nara Clan, so they placed their hopes on the next generation, which was very normal.
At this moment, Ino didn't think so much; she just thought that for a girl to have a crush on the fat man, her taste was truly unique.
"You don't like the junior? Then let me introduce you to a good-looking one? How about Karui from Hidden Cloud Village? Her skin is as smooth as silk, she's our age, and with her Cloud Style Sword Technique, if you marry her, she'll definitely be a great cook."
"Or how about Temari from Hidden Sand Village? Temari is a bit strong, and three years older than us, but she's caring. As they say, 'three years older, ah, ah, don't leave!'"
Ino's words kept the fat man awake all night. Marriage? Too terrifying! He was still a child!
Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, he pushed open the door and left the wooden house to find a place to relieve himself.
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