Chinatsu was currently a little over 1.6 meters tall. Considering that most kunoichi had already entered their major growth period by this age, she would be fortunate if she gained another centimeter or two in the future.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke were both around 1.5 meters tall. Right now, they still looked like little brothers standing beside her, but Chinatsu knew exactly what would happen.
Within a few years, both of them would shoot upward like bamboo after rainfall.
By adulthood, Naruto would stand around 180 centimeters tall, while Sasuke would be slightly taller still.
At that point, both of them would easily tower over her.
The current relationship between the three siblings would be completely reversed.
Height had always been one of Chinatsu's few weaknesses.
To grow taller, she drank milk every day.
She exercised.
She slept on time whenever possible.
She had made countless unseen efforts.
Therefore
When Sasori indirectly pointed out her height issue...
Chinatsu instantly became annoyed.
She puffed out her cheeks slightly as she glared at Sasori.
Sasori immediately sensed the dangerous aura radiating from her.
However, he could not understand why.
After all, he had merely noticed a difference in height.
Why was she suddenly angry?
Sasori cautiously observed Chinatsu while calculating possible escape routes.
Unfortunately, behind him stood Isobu.
Ahead stood Chinatsu.
A wolf in front and a tiger behind?
No.
A tailed beast behind and a monster ahead.
That description seemed much more accurate.
Sasori silently abandoned several retreat plans.
Of course, he still possessed one final trump card.
However, after witnessing everything that had happened so far, even he wasn't confident it would change the outcome.
"...Fine."
"I'll gamble everything."
Compared to the Three-Tails behind him, the seemingly harmless girl before him should be easier to break through.
At least that was what logic suggested.
Sasori opened his chest compartment.
A scroll emerged.
"Release!"
Smoke exploded outward.
The puppet of the Third Kazekage appeared before everyone.
This was Sasori's proudest Human Puppet.
The strongest Kazekage in Sunagakure's history.
The wielder of the feared Magnet Release: Iron Sand.
Sasori immediately manipulated both his own puppet body and the Third Kazekage puppet simultaneously.
The two rushed toward Chinatsu.
He intended to carve a path straight through her.
Unfortunately
Sasori had completely misjudged the distribution of power on this battlefield.
Compared to Isobu behind him...
The girl in front of him was significantly more dangerous.
"Sorry."
"Road closed ahead."
Chinatsu raised one fair and delicate hand.
Sasori frowned.
His puppet sensors immediately analyzed her chakra flow.
Nothing unusual.
No signs of a large-scale ninjutsu.
No signs of a defensive barrier.
No signs of preparation.
A bluff?
The Third Kazekage puppet accelerated.
Iron Sand gathered around it.
Then it launched forward.
Chinatsu remained completely motionless.
Under normal circumstances, nobody would believe that such a delicate hand could stop the strongest Human Puppet in Sasori's collection.
But then again
This was Chinatsu.
A slight smile appeared on her face.
The power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan surged outward.
Not chakra.
Eye Power.
"Susanoo."
Crack
A gigantic skeletal arm materialized instantly.
The enormous hand grabbed the charging Third Kazekage puppet.
The puppet struggled.
Iron Sand erupted.
The puppet attempted to tear itself free.
However, Chinatsu continued increasing her ocular power output.
The skeletal frame rapidly expanded.
Bones.
Meridians.
Muscles.
Armor.
The gigantic warrior continued evolving.
The skeletal Susanoo transformed into a far more complete form.
An enormous armored giant appeared above the lake.
The pressure it emitted was enough to make even Isobu stare.
Crunch!
The Third Kazekage puppet was crushed in the giant hand.
Its body shattered apart.
Iron Sand scattered everywhere.
Sasori's expression finally changed.
"This..."
"Those eyes..."
"You're an Uchiha?"
"One of the survivors Itachi failed to kill?"
For the first time in years, genuine alarm appeared in Sasori's voice.
The sensation of the Third Kazekage puppet being destroyed transmitted directly through his chakra control.
This woman was even more dangerous than Itachi.
Escape?
Impossible.
Fight?
Also impossible.
Behind him was a tailed beast.
Ahead of him was someone capable of wielding Susanoo.
Sasori stopped moving entirely.
He simply stood on the water.
Surprisingly calm.
After all, he had already turned himself into a puppet decades ago.
Unfortunately, puppet bodies couldn't sweat.
Otherwise he would probably be drenched right now.
Seeing Sasori stop resisting, Chinatsu nodded with satisfaction.
The gigantic Susanoo disappeared.
She descended lightly onto the lake surface.
Susanoo: You finally summoned me, and only for a few seconds?
Chinatsu: There can't be helped. Competition for employment is fierce.
Susanoo: ...
Wood Release: Number One Employee.
Regeneration Ability: At least you still get screen time.
Wood Release: That's true.
Regeneration Ability: I barely appear anymore. Unless Master intentionally gets injured, nobody even remembers I exist.
Chinatsu stood casually on the water.
One hand rested on her hip.
She had no intention of using Kotoamatsukami on Sasori.
The reason was simple.
Sasori was not Deidara.
Deidara's personality was straightforward.
Sasori's wasn't.
Deep beneath the cold exterior was a child who had lost his parents during the Second Shinobi World War.
A child raised by his grandmother, Chiyo.
A child who desperately longed for permanence and companionship.
His obsession with puppets had begun because he wanted his parents to stay with him forever.
That sort of person...
Wasn't beyond saving.
Or at least that was what Chinatsu believed.
After all
Orphans.
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Gaara.
And herself.
The similarities felt oddly familiar.
"Relax."
"I don't intend to kill you."
"I didn't kill Deidara either."
"Hm?"
"Speak of the devil."
As soon as Chinatsu spoke, footsteps sounded nearby.
Deidara emerged from the forest.
His expression looked completely normal.
"Yo."
Deidara scratched his head.
Then he waved casually.
"Hello, Sasori."
"Hello, Boss."
Sasori stared.
Then stared again.
"This idiot is actually alive..."
He genuinely sounded surprised.
After all, Deidara's personality made him incredibly easy to provoke.
Sasori had assumed he was already dead.
"I told you."
"We still have room to talk."
"If you don't believe me, then just pretend you're listening to a bedtime story before dying."
Chinatsu smiled brightly.
Talk-no-Jutsu?
She wasn't very good at that.
However
She was exceptionally skilled at handling problem children.
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Gaara.
Years of practical experience had already proven that.
Chinatsu spread her arms.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
Then she launched her strongest attack.
An emotional attack.
Sasori originally intended to remain cold and indifferent.
Unfortunately
The moment he looked directly at her
Something strange happened.
His eyes widened.
He blinked.
Then blinked again.
He rubbed his eyes.
Nothing changed.
He even shook his head violently.
Still nothing changed.
"What..."
"What is this..."
Sasori's voice trembled slightly.
In his vision
Chinatsu seemed to be radiating golden light.
Warm.
Gentle.
Comforting.
The kind of warmth capable of melting years of loneliness.
The kind of warmth that made people instinctively want to move closer.
The kind of warmth he had not felt since childhood.
Sasori stared blankly.
His thoughts completely froze.
This...
This feeling...
Could it be...
The legendary...
Radiance of motherhood?!
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