Natsuhiko's retreat was incredibly swift—clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Kakashi was no slower either.
Perhaps after experiencing that mission against Kakuzu with Natsuhiko, he too had become exceptionally resolute when it came to retreating.
The ANBU and Root members who weren't taken with them were momentarily stunned.
They had heard the exchange between Natsuhiko and Kakashi.
But even with mental preparation, the sheer speed of their withdrawal left them dazed.
Still—
They were elite shinobi, forged under the strict and merciless regulations of Root and ANBU.
No words were needed.
Just a few exchanged glances—
And their decision was made.
Of the seven remaining ANBU, four stayed behind.
The other three immediately followed after Natsuhiko.
As for the Root members—
Every single one of them assumed battle positions.
Even knowing it meant certain death, none of them hesitated.
"How decisive," Sasori's hoarse, icy voice rang out. "As for you… you have courage. But I don't like you."
The ANBU and Root shinobi said nothing.
They stared at him coldly—
Eyes filled with resolve.
The next instant—
Without moving from his spot, Sasori formed a hand seal.
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted from him.
Every Konoha shinobi tensed instantly.
They knew how powerful their opponent was.
But moments later—
One by one, they dropped to their knees.
Thick masks that hid their faces began seeping crimson blood.
"So… die."
Sasori's indifferent voice echoed.
"Once you're poisoned by me, you're already dead. The only question is whether I want you to die now. The more I see how fiercely you protect this mission's outcome… the more curious I become.
What a pity. You won't get to witness my newest artwork."
As his chilling voice faded—
The Root and ANBU shinobi convulsed and collapsed.
Soon, none of them moved again.
From the way they died, one could easily imagine the agony they endured in their final moments.
But Sasori didn't care.
Though perhaps worthy of respect—
They held no value.
Even turning their corpses into puppets would be meaningless.
His gaze remained fixed ahead.
He considered which direction to pursue.
The ANBU had fled down the middle path—
Meaning they had split into three groups.
But Sasori had no interest in the middle route. He was far more intrigued by the two who had been rescued.
If he wanted to uncover what they had done—
Choosing between those two was the best option.
His decision was partly driven by curiosity—
And partly by hatred.
His parents had died at the hands of the White Fang of Konoha.
How could he not hate Konoha?
And now—
A little revenge seemed perfectly natural. Especially since both rescuers had white hair.
That only intensified his desire not to let them escape.
There was just one uncertainty—
The one who used Lightning Release earlier…
Was that Kakashi?
"Judging by the technique, it resembled Chidori. But it wasn't exactly the same." Sasori pondered briefly.
Then his gaze shifted south.
"That white-haired one is the captain. The other white-haired one called him Captain.
I've heard Kakashi is arrogant—and he's the Hokage's disciple.
He wouldn't casually call someone else Captain.
So then…"
Having reasoned it out—
Sasori leapt forward with Hiruko—
And gave chase toward the south.
...
"Damn it." Natsuhiko supported Kusunoki as he retreated at high speed.
All the while, his sensory ability remained locked onto the battlefield behind them.
He had already sensed it—
The ANBU and Root who stayed behind had all lost their life signatures.
At the same time—
Sasori had only paused briefly to think—
Before heading straight toward him.
Though Natsuhiko had been mentally prepared—
The situation still gave him a headache.
Fortunately—
He still had one final trump card to save his life.
"Cough—cough—!" At that moment, Kusunoki suddenly began coughing violently, spitting out a mouthful of dark, blackened blood.
"Hey, are you alright?" Seeing Kusunoki's increasingly pale face, Natsuhiko couldn't help but ask.
"I… I can still hold on," Kusunoki said with difficulty. "Is that man… chasing us?"
"Yes, Commander," Natsuhiko nodded directly. "He probably thinks we're more valuable."
He glanced at Kusunoki subtly.
Earlier, this man had been heavily protected at the center of the group—very likely intentional.
To make Sasori conclude that he was the most valuable target.
Combined with Kakashi casually calling Natsuhiko "Captain" earlier—
The perceived value of their team was probably now far higher than Kakashi's group.
"I heard you possess some sensory ability. It seems that evaluation understated you."
Kusunoki looked at Natsuhiko seriously, then spoke word by word:
"You should put me down. Escape alone and deliver the intelligence back to the village. That is what matters most."
As he spoke, Kusunoki struggled to pull a scroll from his chest and handed it toward Natsuhiko.
Natsuhiko glanced at the scroll—
But didn't reach for it.
Behind his mask, however, his expression changed slightly.
This damn bastard... he's trying to play the hero card to screw me over!
Leave him behind for Sasori? Does this guy even have any fight left in him?
Obviously not. One look at his condition made it clear—he couldn't last even a few seconds.
By speaking with such "noble sacrifice," he was likely trying to bait Sasori into focusing even more on this path.
If Natsuhiko left him and fled alone, Kusunoki would undoubtedly put up a show of "valiant resistance" when Sasori caught him. He'd probably let slip some fake "concerns" or claim they were the decoys to make Sasori hunt Natsuhiko even harder.
In the end, the Root's mission would be safe because Sasori would be too busy chasing Natsuhiko.
Mission first. Every shinobi is a tool to be sacrificed. This Commander was the living embodiment of that creed.
Natsuhiko wasn't just being cynical; he knew exactly who Kusunoki was. This was the same Commander who, in the original story, was a staunch supporter of Danzo!
Natsuhiko's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within. He suddenly realized he had made a mistake. This man wasn't a worthy investment—and frankly, he wasn't worth the effort of saving.
"Commander, what nonsense are you talking about?"
After thinking it through, Natsuhiko suddenly smiled.
His voice became incomparably gentle.
"I'm going to take you back. I'm bringing you home..."
...
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