"It's been a long time since you've seen this, right?"
"The Third Kazekage stood at the top thanks to this ninjutsu!"
The Iron Sand World Method descended from the sky like an all-encompassing net, crashing towards the ground. Chiyo and Ebizō remained unfazed, controlling their puppets to line up in front of them: "Puppet Technique: Mechanized Light Shield!"
Twelve puppets joined their arms together, and chakra condensed to form a massive shield, blocking all the iron sand needles outside.
"Oh? It's one thing for Uncle Ebizō's puppets, but Grandma Chiyo, you've modified the puppets I made as well? You even added a chakra shield, not bad, it can actually withstand my enhanced iron sand..." Sasori of the Red Sand commented lightly.
"Hmph! It's somewhat unsettling to be praised by a junior..."
Ebizō muttered under his breath, quickly waving his arm. The puppets, which had just been defending, immediately switched to offense, launching numerous projectiles towards Sasori.
His goal had been clear from the start: to focus on Sasori's body, ignoring his puppets.
As puppet masters, they were well aware of the greatest weakness of their profession.
Sasori smirked coldly, as if he had seen through Ebizō's tactics: "Do you still think I'm the same kid as before? Uncle Ebizō, the weakness of puppet masters... I overcame it long ago!"
"Blazing Inferno Formation!"
Sasori raised his hands, and panels quickly opened on his palms, revealing two mechanical pipes.
In the next moment, intense flames burst from the pipes in his palms. The flames were extraordinarily hot, unlike ordinary fire.
The instant Ebizō's projectiles touched the flames, they were swiftly melted into ashes, leaving no trace.
Ebizō's pupils widened in shock: "Sasori! Did you... turn your own body into...!"
Chiyo's face darkened: "I knew it. Seeing you look exactly the same as when you left my side, I suspected this would be the reason..."
"You've turned yourself into a human puppet!"
"Tch!" Sasori smirked, retracting the mechanical pipes in his palms: "What's there to be surprised about? True art should be eternal and immortal, just like life..."
"Seeing your aged appearances, knowing your bodies will soon decay, rot, and be consumed by the desert... how pathetic."
Ebizō: "My fate is not for you to remind me of!"
With that, Ebizō exerted his strength again, tightening his chakra strings, about to activate them, when he suddenly realized his puppets couldn't move.
The residue of the iron sand had infiltrated the joints of his puppets!
No matter how skilled Ebizō was in puppet techniques, he could no longer control these puppets...
"I told you before, as long as there's iron sand, your puppets pose no threat to me."
"Give up. Although it's easy to deal with you, I don't wish to kill you. I'm an immortal being now, and I came back only for the One-Tail Jinchūriki. I have no interest in your lives."
"In light of the fact that you are my kin, I'll give you a chance to die of old age..."
Chiyo's face darkened, lowering her brows:
"My dear grandson, you are a traitor to the village. No matter what, even if I die here today, I won't let you take a single step away from me..."