Chapter 160: A Surprising Spoil of War
Ishiro controlled the slurry, layer by layer, to seal the Third Kazekage human puppet.
Sasori had evidently sensed the crisis as well. He no longer bothered with his falling main body but, while he still had strong control, fully manipulated the Third Kazekage human puppet, desperately trying to pull it towards his main body.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Under Sasori's control, the Third Kazekage human puppet, mimicking Ishiro's earlier tactic, wrapped its body in Iron Sand and, with terrifying impact force, broke through Ishiro's blockades layer by layer.
However, gradually, a smile appeared on Ishiro's face. This was because each time the Third Kazekage human puppet struck, the slurry would turn into rock in advance at the point of impact. Each time the Third Kazekage human puppet broke through a blockade, its speed would decrease somewhat.
After the Third Kazekage human puppet broke through four or five of Ishiro's sealing lines, its speed was no longer what it was initially. Now, there were still two blockades in front of the Third Kazekage human puppet. Ishiro believed that once it broke through these, the speed of his slurry would then be greater than its descending speed.
Then, the obstructions in front of the Third Kazekage would only increase.
Just as victory seemed within reach, Ishiro suddenly felt a palpitation. Then, Ishiro instinctively controlled his body to dodge to the side.
But he was a beat too late. Pfft, pfft, two sounds, and Ishiro clearly felt two steel needles pierce the sole of his left foot.
These were hidden weapons launched by Sasori of the Red Sand; without a doubt, they were poisoned.
However, this was not the time for Ishiro to be distracted, because the Third Kazekage human puppet was about to break through the final blockade.
Ignoring his injured right foot (Translator's note: text says 左脚 - left foot, then 右脚 - right foot, then back to 右脚 for treatment. Assuming the initial injury was to one foot and subsequent mentions refer to the same injured foot. For consistency, I will assume "left foot" was the one hit based on the first mention, and the treatment section will refer to the "injured foot" or "left foot"), Ishiro continued to control the slurry to intercept the Third Kazekage human puppet.
Everything went much as Ishiro had expected. After breaking through multiple blockades, the Third Kazekage human puppet's speed grew slower and slower, and Ishiro easily surrounded it with slurry.
At this time, Sasori, due to his rapid descent, was already hundreds of meters below Ishiro and the puppet, and he was still falling quickly.
Gradually, Sasori's control over the Third Kazekage human puppet weakened, and finally, Ishiro successfully enveloped the Third Kazekage human puppet with slurry.
Not daring to waste time, Ishiro went up and performed a simple sealing jutsu, then packed it, along with the slurry, into a sealing scroll.
Only then did Ishiro have the mental energy to deal with the injury to his foot.
Ishiro took off his shoe and sock and saw that his entire foot had already turned completely black, and this blackness was spreading upwards, having already passed his ankle.
If it had already spread past the ankle on the outside, who knew what it was like on the inside.
Ishiro took out his kunai, made several forceful cuts on the already numb sole of his foot, and then extended his right hand to use Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull).
With a hiss, two steel needles and a large amount of black liquid immediately flew out.
Ishiro dared not relax. After flinging the steel needles away, he continued to use Banshō Ten'in to draw out the poison.
After a while, feeling that the blackness was no longer spreading upwards, Ishiro breathed a sigh of relief, took out a large number of antidote pills, and swallowed them all in one go.
Then, without bothering to see if Sasori of the Red Sand had fallen to his death below, Ishiro returned to the eastern front encampment at his fastest speed.
During the flight, Ishiro would still use Banshō Ten'in from time to time to draw out the poison.
Although Ishiro had already expelled a large amount of poison this way, because the treatment was not timely enough, by the time Ishiro returned to the encampment, the poisoning was already quite severe.
Seeing Ishiro return in such a battered state again, Kitsuchi and Shiden were both greatly alarmed. Fortunately, the medical-nin were now used to Ishiro getting injured. The Jōnin medical-nin, with practiced ease, examined Ishiro.
Although Sasori's poison was potent, it was used in haste. The poison on the senbon used in that final attack on Ishiro was probably not his most powerful. Coupled with the fact that Ishiro had expelled a large portion of it, the medical-nin indicated they could handle it.
"Phew~~" Hearing the medical-nin say they could handle it, Ishiro let out a sigh of relief. The poisons concocted by Sasori in the original story were enough to leave the entire Sand Village helpless. It was truly fortunate that he could overcome this crisis.
However, Kankuro in the original story had been poisoned for a long time. Unlike Ishiro this time, who, although fighting continuously after being poisoned, was doing so by controlling slurry, meaning his body wasn't undergoing strenuous movement. So, it was relatively better. Plus, with a large amount of poison expelled, the Jōnin medical-nin at the encampment dared to say they could treat it.
Of course, part of the reason was that Iwagakure's medical ninjutsu was actually quite good at this time. This was mainly Ishiro's contribution.
When Ishiro was under Kitsuchi, he had obtained Nonō Yakushi's notes. When under Shiden, he had gained considerable knowledge about Sasori of the Red Sand's use of poisons.
It was because of these two factors that the Jōnin medical-nin at the encampment were now able to treat the poison Ishiro had contracted.
After the medical-nin performed initial treatment and stabilized the poison in Ishiro's body, Ishiro took out the scroll sealing the Third Kazekage human puppet and handed it to Kitsuchi and Shiden.
Kitsuchi took the scroll with a curious expression. Just as he was about to open it, Ishiro said, "Captain Kitsuchi, it's best not to open it here. You and Captain Shiden should go to your office and open it only after confirming no one else is present."
Upon hearing this, Kitsuchi and Shiden became even more interested in the scroll's contents. So, they paid no more mind to Ishiro and went directly to the office.
The encampment was not large, and Kitsuchi's office was not far. In a short while, Ishiro heard exclamations of shock from Kitsuchi and Shiden coming from Kitsuchi's office.
Then Kitsuchi rushed in front of Ishiro with an expression of disbelief. Looking at his expression, if Ishiro hadn't been receiving treatment, Kitsuchi might have grabbed Ishiro and demanded a clear explanation.
Kitsuchi looked at Ishiro, his hands gesturing wildly, trying several times to speak but not knowing what to say. Ishiro understood the reasons: one, others were present; two, the fact that the Third Kazekage had been turned into a puppet was too monumental, leaving Kitsuchi at a loss for words.
After a good while, once Shiden had resealed the Third Kazekage human puppet into the scroll, Kitsuchi gradually came to his senses.
He then said to Shiden, who was holding the scroll, with a wry smile, "Shiden, your composure is much better than mine."
Shiden shook her head. She was actually just as stunned, but her long tenure in the Anbu had made her personality more cautious. Although equally surprised internally, she wouldn't leave the Third Kazekage human puppet in the office and run out alone like Kitsuchi.
Next, because they wanted firsthand information, they stayed by Ishiro's side, watching him receive treatment.
After a while longer, Ishiro's three disciples returned. Seeing Ishiro in such a state again, the three of them were somewhat speechless.
Chiko Tomoe whispered to her two companions, "I think we just can't let Sensei go out alone. Every time Sensei goes out alone, he comes back covered in injuries, and it's worse each time."
Kajiyama Ri nodded. "Sensei definitely needs someone to watch him. Yesterday, when we went to the coastline for the match against the Cloud ninja, if we hadn't been there to make Sensei a bit more cautious, I think Sensei would have fought that Tanimoto Naoto from the Cloud until both were grievously injured before stopping."
"I think so too. Although Sensei was the one who proposed a draw that day, his eyes told me he was very unwilling," Kawakita chimed in, agreeing with Chiko Tomoe and Kajiyama Ri.
Ishiro glared at his three disciples irritably. "Stop your chattering over there. I'm almost done here. You three go train first. I have things to discuss with Captain Kitsuchi and Captain Shiden."
Hearing this, the three youngsters hurriedly left the medical room.
After a while longer, the Jōnin medical-nin finished treating Ishiro's injuries. Knowing that the esteemed adults had matters to discuss, they simply vacated the medical room for them.
Seeing the others leave, Kitsuchi impatiently asked Ishiro, "Was that really the Third Kazekage? How did he end up like that? Who turned him into a puppet? Where did you get this puppet?"
Seeing Kitsuchi ask so many questions at once, Ishiro said, "Captain Kitsuchi, if you think about it carefully, you should be able to guess."
Kitsuchi was taken aback, then slowly calmed down. Once calm, he quickly figured out the gist of the matter.
"It's that genius puppet master from Sunagakure, Sasori of the Red Sand! He ambushed and killed the Third Kazekage and turned him into a human puppet."
"You snatched the Third Kazekage human puppet from Sasori of the Red Sand's hands. The poison you contracted was also Sasori's doing."
Ishiro nodded and said, "That's right. Sasori of the Red Sand was in the Land of Moon, practicing his human puppet techniques on civilians."
"Relying on my ability to fly, I initially didn't pay much attention to his threat. Who knew he would directly pull out this Third Kazekage human puppet that can fly."
"If he hadn't been careless and underestimated his enemy, and if I didn't have Banshō Ten'in as a backup, I most likely wouldn't have made it back."
Shiden said, "This matter must be reported to Lord Tsuchikage as soon as possible, to let Lord Tsuchikage decide how the Third Kazekage human puppet should be handled."
Indeed, Iwagakure could not openly use a human puppet made from the Kage of another village. Otherwise, it would be tantamount to declaring war on Sunagakure.
Currently, Sunagakure and Iwagakure were more or less allies. Most importantly, Sunagakure was currently locked in a fierce battle with Konoha.
If Sunagakure could also use the Third Kazekage human puppet, perhaps it could inflict a major blow on Konoha.
Kitsuchi nodded, then looked at Ishiro and said, "This is urgent, Ishiro. You yourself should take this human puppet back to the village. Then, recover fully in the village before returning."
Ishiro nodded and accepted the task.
This time, returning to the village meant waiting until his injuries were completely healed before coming back. So, before departing, Ishiro gave his three disciples a few more instructions, then took the scroll and flew towards the village.
It was already night when he fought Sasori of the Red Sand. By the time Ishiro returned to the encampment, it was late at night. Conversely, the medical-nin didn't spend much time treating Ishiro's injuries. The sky had not yet brightened.
Under the cover of darkness, Ishiro flew continuously towards the village.
Because he had some speculations about the terrain of the Land of Moon, Ishiro, while flying, would subconsciously observe the topography below, looking for more traces of that great battle of sages.
Unfortunately, on the way from the encampment to the village, Ishiro made no discoveries.
The next morning, Ishiro returned to the village.
♧♧♧
We've hit 200 Power Stones goal As promised This week, here's the bonus chapter. Thank you for your support—please keep it coming!