Chiyo found a mirror from somewhere and looked at her restored youthful appearance, then smiled somewhat narcissistically.
What woman would want to see herself grow old?
Chiyo was the same; in her youth, she was the 'flower' of Sunagakure, with suitors lining up all the way to the Village entrance.
But time is a butcher's knife, dealing critical blows to Chiyo's face with every strike.
Since when did it start?
She gained weary wrinkles, her hair gradually lost its luster, and her once-vibrant eyes became cloudy, no longer able to support that pride and beauty.
When did it begin?
Perhaps it was after getting married and becoming pregnant, realizing she was to be a mother; or perhaps when her man died in battle, and she cried her eyes out, no longer caring about her makeup...
Too many, far too many!
Chiyo put the mirror back, and her recently vibrant eyes were clouded over once again.
Having experienced those people and those events, even though her body had become young, her heart remained old.
Chiyo looked at Ryou; now that she had regained her youth, her chakra was majestic, and her strength was about ten times greater than before.
But Chiyo only had to look at the towering Wood Golem outside the wooden house and Shukaku held in one of its hands.
Even if she were ten times stronger than she was now, she would be no match for Ryou.
Ryou glanced at Chiyo; why would such a beautiful person insist on pretending to be old?
Ryou shot another spore at Chiyo, and she did not dodge.
The spore parasitized Chiyo's heart; her life was now at Ryou's mercy.
In the current Sunagakure, Rasa and the Elder Council had all been killed by Sasori; it could be said that Chiyo and Pakura were the last backbone of the Village.
If these two were gone, Sunagakure would basically fall to a second-rate Shinobi Village.
Since both of them were controlled by Ryou, it could be said that in the future, Sunagakure would be whatever Ryou says.
Ryou said to Chiyo and Ebizo, "You two, I won't hide it from you. I didn't kill Pakura, but I won't let her go either. She's controlled by me just like the old lady."
Chiyo frowned at Ryou, "Uchiha Ryou, what do you want with our Sunagakure?"
Ryou then spoke about some of his ideas.
Ryou was preparing to break free from Madara's control.
Konoha was too strong, Kumogakure and Iwagakure were too far, and Kirigakure already had Madara's influence.
After picking and choosing, Sunagakure was still the best.
A broken desert; not many people cared about it.
In reality, it was a matter of fate. If Madara had sent Ryou to Iwagakure or Kumogakure to capture Tailed Beasts, then Ryou would have controlled those other Villages instead.
Ryou was satisfied with the Land of Wind.
Iwagakure's Kurotsuchi was likely still an infant; Kumogakure's Samui, Mabui, and Nii Yugito were all too young as well.
The same went for Mei Terumī of Kirigakure.
Thinking about it, Pakura's beautiful back was nice, and there was also a kingdom called Roulan in the desert of the Land of Wind.
Queen Sara was someone Ryou was thinking about.
As he thought, Ryou showed a perverted smile.
Chiyo and Ebizo were repulsed, wondering what evil things this wicked Uchiha was thinking about again.
Hearing Ryou's words, Chiyo and Ebizo exchanged a look, both believing that Ryou was not on the same side as Madara.
This was a good thing!
Previously, they had looked down on Ryou's power, but now, with just Ryou's Wood Golem, he could flatten the entire Sunagakure Village.
Of course, it would be best if they could win him over to fight Madara with them.
But at this stage, Ryou clearly didn't want to mix with the Shinobi Allied Forces.
Chiyo and Ebizo had no way to escape Ryou's control; their lives and Sasori's life were all firmly held by Ryou.
They could only help him.
Ryou then instructed Chiyo and Ebizo, "Ebizo, take note; I'm making the following deployments..."
"After I leave, you two will support Pakura to become the Kazekage, then continue with the previous plan to participate in the Five Kage Summit and form the Shinobi Allied Forces to crusade against Uchiha Madara together."
"Additionally, Granny Chiyo, don't forget to develop the Ones Own Life Reincarnation. If I come to Sunagakure next time and you haven't developed the technique, I'll roast Sasori."
Sasori rolled his eyes helplessly.
Chiyo quickly promised, "Don't worry, don't worry, I will definitely develop the Ones Own Life Reincarnation. Now that my energy has returned to its peak, everything I do is smoother than before."
Ryou nodded.
Chiyo pleaded again, "Since I've regained my youth, can you also restore Ebizo?"
Chiyo was now as young as a girl in her twenties, while Ebizo still looked old.
As an older sister, if she had something good, she naturally wouldn't forget her younger brother.
Ebizo shook his head and refused, "No need, Sister. I'm fine like this; I have already finished my mission."
A wise man like Ebizo had long ago come to terms with life and death.
A man should not fear death, but fear never having lived. — Marcus Aurelius.
Ebizo had already experienced those people and those events; his life was already complete.
If he regained his youth, he would have to face those squabbles again!
He was someone who didn't like conflict in the first place.
Chiyo looked at Ebizo and said understandingly, "I know, but I've become young, and I hope someone can continue to walk this path with me."
"..."
Ebizo was silent; his sister was also someone who feared loneliness.
Ryou looked at Ebizo and said, "I can restore his youth, but only after you develop the Ones Own Life Reincarnation."
As a leader, one couldn't just use threats on subordinates; there had to be appropriate rewards too!
The carrot and the stick!
"Alright, that's all for my instructions to you. When the war with Uchiha Madara starts, remember to slack off; don't be foolish enough to become Konoha's cannon fodder."
"Also, when you go to Konoha, don't let the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan investigate you."
Ryou then ignored Chiyo and Ebizo, going to deal with the other people he had captured.
After Ryou left, Chiyo finally had space to talk to Sasori.
"Sasori, are you also being controlled by Uchiha Ryou?"
Sasori nodded.
Chiyo clenched her fist, "Don't worry, I'll find a way to rescue you."
Sasori snorted, "You're a puppet of his yourself, and you're going to rescue me?"
"..."
Chiyo's lips moved, but in the end, she was speechless.
Their whole family was controlled by Ryou.
Sasori wasn't used to staying by Chiyo and Ebizo's side; he felt that if he continued, he would become emotional again.
He turned to leave.
Chiyo called out, "Sasori, can you give me your regeneration core technology?"
Sasori had just lifted his foot but froze in place, as if pulled by something invisible.
"What do you want that for?"
Chiyo smiled, "Don't you think the puppet concept Uchiha Ryou just proposed is very good? Using the spiritual energy in chakra to give puppets intelligence."
Sasori nodded; he admitted that intelligent puppets were indeed better than puppets that still needed to be controlled with chakra threads.
Moving on its own and being controlled are two different things.
Moreover, a top Puppeteer like Sasori didn't just have one puppet, but hundreds or thousands.
No matter how impressive the Hundred Puppet Technique was, Sasori still had to control them one by one; how could that be as convenient as puppets fighting autonomously?
But Sasori believed Chiyo's purpose wasn't that; she still wanted 'Father' and 'Mother' to have consciousness to accompany her.
"Old lady, don't waste your energy. I come from hell!"