The legendary figure of Sasori of the Red Sand is one of the more liked antagonists in the original lore.
His story is a tragedy—a boy who lost his parents to the "White Fang" and tried to fill that void with puppets, eventually losing his humanity to his art. Because of this, even non-die-hard fans like Hagoromo know who he is.
Hagoromo knew that a puppeteer's weakness is proximity, but he also knew that an elite S-rank ninja like Sasori is most alert when an enemy is close. Breaking the guard of a vigilant ninja is nearly impossible.
So, Hagoromo's earlier retreat wasn't a flight; it was a tactical reset. By putting 50 meters between himself and Sasori—a distance far beyond the reach of most standard ninjutsu—he forced Sasori to relax his guard, if only by a fraction.
Then, Hagoromo pivoted.
The Third Phase: Lightning Spear
In an instant, the air hummed. Hagoromo's white hair stood on end as he unleashed his "esper" trump card.
Lightning Spear!
This wasn't a jutsu you could dodge with reflexes. It didn't travel at the speed of a projectile; it moved at the speed of electricity. To the human nervous system, it was instantaneous. Even a Kage-level ninja cannot outrun light.
Hagoromo mentally dubbed it "Chidori Sharp Spear: Third Stage" to keep up appearances for any future observers. A lance of blue-white destruction connected Hagoromo and Sasori, piercing through trees and boulders in a straight line of ionized air.
"Tch!"
Hagoromo stood on a thick branch, clicking his tongue in annoyance. He had aimed for the neck, intending to decapitate the puppeteer. Against someone like Sasori, even losing a head might not be fatal, but it was the best opening move.
However, Sasori's survival instincts were peerless. The moment Hagoromo's forehead had flared with light, Sasori's body had reflexively lurched to the left.
The spear didn't take his head. Instead, it cauterized and severed Sasori's right arm at the shoulder.
Hagoromo's eyes narrowed. No blood. The arm fell to the forest floor like a piece of dry wood—Sasori had already begun his transformation into a human puppet.
The advantage of information was slipping away. Hagoromo knew Sasori's secrets, but Sasori was rapidly learning Hagoromo's.
Despite losing an arm, Sasori didn't stop. Chakra threads erupted directly from his shoulder stump, re-linking to the Third Kazekage puppet. He realized Hagoromo was hiding a terrifying long-range capability and decided to end this quickly.
The Third Kazekage's jaw unhinged. A black mist began to swirl and coalesce in the air.
Magnet Style: Iron Sand Drizzle!
It was like Hiruko's needles, but infinitely more dense. A curtain of black iron pellets saturated the air, leaving no room for evasion.
Hagoromo stood his ground. He wasn't afraid; he was almost amused.
Iron sand? You're playing my game now.
As the black rain descended, Hagoromo simply extended his palm. Blue sparks danced across his skin.
Like a whale swallowing water, the "unstoppable" Iron Sand was forcibly diverted. It gathered into a swirling stream, obeying Hagoromo's magnetic will rather than Sasori's chakra threads. Within seconds, the massive mass of iron had been compressed into a large, dense iron gourd.
Thud.
The gourd, nearly as tall as Hagoromo's shoulder, slammed into the tree branch beneath his feet.
Sasori's mind momentarily went blank. He had lost control of his Iron Sand—the "strongest weapon" in the history of the Sand Village.
Hagoromo, caught up in the absurdity of the moment, hoisted the heavy iron gourd onto his shoulder. Whether it was a stroke of genius or just a bug in his brain, he pointed the mouth of the gourd directly at Sasori and shouted in an exaggerated, dramatic tone:
"Sasori of the Red Sand! I call your name—do you dare to answer?!"
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