Radiance of Motherhood": This ability has a special effect on people who grew up as orphans and carry deep emotional scars.
As for how it developed… ever since the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Chinatsu had been the one managing most of the affairs within the Uchiha compound. Taking care of Naruto, Sasuke, and later even Gaara had unknowingly pushed her nurturing instincts to an absurd level. It was no surprise that her strange "motherly aura" had become so powerful.
In Chinatsu's eyes, even though Sasori was older than her, he was still just a child trapped in the past. Ever since the deaths of his parents during the Second Shinobi World War, he had been unable to escape the loneliness and insecurity of his childhood, eventually walking down the path of turning both himself and others into puppets.
Under Chinatsu's radiant smile and her somewhat clumsy attempt at persuasion, Sasori gradually lowered his head and fell into deep thought.
Chinatsu knew that this was already enough. Truly bringing Sasori back to normal could never be accomplished through a few words from her. The only person who had a real chance of reaching him was his grandmother, Chiyo.
In the original timeline, Chiyo had been unable to save Sasori. Yet this time things were different. Chinatsu was fully capable of dragging Sasori all the way to Sunagakure and forcing him to sit down in front of Granny Chiyo until he listened to every single word she wanted to say.
After all, Chiyo had secretly developed the forbidden puppet technique One's Own Life Reincarnation, a technique powerful enough to exchange the user's life for another's. She originally created it because she regretted being unable to protect Sasori's parents and wished to make amends for the suffering he endured as a child.
Unfortunately, the original story ended in tragedy.
As she spoke, Chinatsu extended her hand toward Sasori.
Sasori lowered his head and remained silent.
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Three minutes passed.
Chinatsu continued holding out her hand, though her smile was beginning to look somewhat stiff.
"Have you made your decision yet?"
"…Fine. I'll go back with you and meet Granny Chiyo."
If Chinatsu could actually see favorability values, she would discover that Sasori was currently stuck at a dangerous score of fifty-nine.
As for Deidara beside her, his situation wasn't especially important. Chinatsu hadn't completely rewritten his personality with Kotoamatsukami because doing so would destroy the essence of who Deidara was.
This was enough.
Besides, if Deidara truly betrayed them in the future, she could always use Kotoamatsukami again. The same applied to Sasori. If even Granny Chiyo failed to reach him, Chinatsu would not hesitate to use Kotoamatsukami on him as well.
Using Kotoamatsukami didn't cost money.
It just hurt.
Even now, Chinatsu's eyes still felt sore. She had forcibly used Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan technique before its natural recovery period, and this discomfort was the price she had to pay.
Outwardly, Chinatsu maintained a bright smile.
Inwardly, she let out a long sigh of relief.
This matter was finally settled.
More importantly, she could finally leave the humid Land of Water behind. She truly didn't want to remain there for another second.
"Deidara, summon a ride."
"No problem! C2!"
Deidara confidently raised an arm.
A massive white clay dragon immediately formed and soared into the sky.
After creating the C2 Dragon, Deidara deliberately glanced at Sasori with a smug expression, as if asking:
See? Isn't my art amazing? Can your puppets do this?
Normally, Sasori would have started another argument about the nature of true art.
Unfortunately, he wasn't in the mood.
The three lightly jumped onto the dragon's back.
Just as the C2 Dragon prepared to take flight, Chinatsu suddenly turned toward Isobu, who remained quietly floating on the surface of the lake.
"Isobu, just in case, lend me a tiny bit of your chakra. Just a little."
"A little? Is that really enough?"
Isobu separated a tiny portion of his chakra and sent it into Chinatsu's body.
A little truly meant only a little.
Chinatsu didn't need more than that. She merely wanted a chakra signature that could function as a future tracking marker.
"Then we're leaving. Until next time."
Chinatsu waved toward Isobu.
The C2 Dragon flapped its wings and began the long journey back toward the Land of Fire.
Meanwhile, Hidan and Kakuzu had already arrived in the Land of Lightning.
Their assigned targets were the Two-Tails, Matatabi, and the Seven-Tails, Chōmei.
Naturally, neither of them intended to seriously hunt tailed beasts.
They were only there to maintain appearances in front of Pain.
"We've reached the Land of Lightning. What now?" Hidan asked.
"Send a report to the boss and then wait," Kakuzu replied calmly.
"Oh."
Hidan pouted in boredom and began drawing on the ground with the tip of his foot.
Kakuzu glanced down and twitched an eyebrow.
At first, he assumed Hidan was drawing another one of Jashin's ritual circles.
However, after watching for a while, he realized it wasn't.
Every Jashin ritual circle shared the same outer structure.
The thing Hidan was drawing was crooked, asymmetrical, and completely incomprehensible.
"Hidan, what exactly are you drawing?"
"Huh? You can't tell?"
Hidan looked genuinely surprised.
"I'm drawing the young lady! Didn't expect me to have artistic talent, did you?"
With a smug grin, Hidan picked up his triple-bladed scythe and continued drawing enthusiastically.
Kakuzu stared at the picture.
No matter how he looked at it, it didn't resemble their boss.
Actually…
Did it even resemble a human being?
Kakuzu wisely chose silence.
Discouraging Hidan's artistic enthusiasm seemed more dangerous than letting him continue.
Drawing pictures was still preferable to going around sacrificing people to Jashin.
Kakuzu sat down on a nearby rock, removed a pouch of money from his pocket, and began counting the bills one by one.
After counting them once, he counted them again.
And then counted them a third time.
A day later, thanks to the incredible speed of Deidara's C2 Dragon, the trio successfully returned to Konoha.
Since she was bringing back two highly dangerous Akatsuki members, Chinatsu naturally didn't dare escort them through the village's main entrance.
After all, Konoha's walls were more symbolic than practical.
Entering from almost any direction was easier than walking through the heavily monitored front gate.
Therefore, Chinatsu led the two directly toward the Uchiha compound.
The moment they arrived, Torune Aburame and Fū Yamanaka immediately appeared, staring warily at Deidara and Sasori.
"Relax," Chinatsu said.
"They're future colleagues. Take them inside first. I'm heading to the Hokage Tower. I'll be back soon."
She left without the slightest concern.
Deidara was already under the influence of Kotoamatsukami, while Torune and Fū were completely loyal.
Even if Sasori suddenly attempted to escape, a three-versus-one situation would make success nearly impossible.
Not to mention that Sasori had already exhausted himself fighting Isobu.
Compared to that issue, Chinatsu cared far more about something else.
The Hokage Tower.
The Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And most importantly…
The territory she had requested from the Fire Daimyō.
Chinatsu practically burst into the office with anticipation.
She had been hoping to hear that the land near the borders she wanted for her future organization had finally been approved.
Unfortunately
Hiruzen Sarutobi awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"Well… about that…"
"Sorry."
"We weren't able to get it."
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