Sakumo rubbed his head, feeling a bit guilty: "I'm sorry, but I don't regret it."
"I've killed many people, and each of them had a family behind them. If I regretted every family I destroyed, I would have committed seppuku long ago."
That was just how Sakumo was; he didn't regret his actions. Even abandoning that mission to save his comrades was something he didn't regret.
The thing he likely regretted most in this life was not sticking to his guns. Suicide was a clean break for him, but it left Kakashi to bear the burdens of life alone.
"White Fang—"
Chiyo's face turned ashen, and a malevolent aura surged around her. All she wanted was an admission of guilt from Sakumo.
In the original work, when Chiyo first met Kakashi, she mistook him for Sakumo. However, once the misunderstanding was cleared, she didn't blame Kakashi for Sakumo's actions.
Chiyo was a battle-hardened Shinobi; how could she not come to terms with the death of her son and daughter-in-law?
She didn't know how many relatives or disciples of hers had died on the battlefield; she had long since become numb to such things.
What she still couldn't let go of was her grandson—Sasori.
With her ten fingers, Chiyo manipulated the Kuroari Puppet Squad, closing in on Sakumo's position: "White Fang, once I catch you, I'll take you to my grandson and let him kill you so he can return to the way he used to be."
Sakumo gripped his Shinobi blade and said, "Senior Chiyo, your grandson can't change back anymore. Perhaps the lack of companionship is what caused his fall."
"Senior, tell me, have you ever truly understood your grandson's heart?"
"..."
Chiyo seemed to be struck by a painful thought. Had she spent enough time with Sasori? Did she truly understand Sasori's heart?
Chiyo had taught Sasori the Puppet Technique and Poison Techniques.
Rather than saying she taught him, it was more that Sasori had begged to learn. Chiyo saw Sasori's obsession with becoming strong for the sake of revenge.
She didn't try to soothe that obsession; instead, she used it to make Sasori stronger.
Because Sunagakure had always followed the principle of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
And Chiyo had never properly accompanied Sasori. She was the commander of Sunagakure's Puppet Brigade and had to assist the Kazekage with political affairs.
She had to train the combat strength of the Puppet Brigade and also develop the Ones Own Life Reincarnation.
She wished she could split herself in two to handle everything; how could she have the leisure to play with Sasori?
While Chiyo was busy with the major affairs of the Village, Sasori's heart had perhaps already begun to twist.
After the White Fang died, Sasori instead shifted his target of revenge to the Third Kazekage, who treated him as a confidant. This was something Chiyo couldn't quite understand.
Sasori had already lost his emotions and distorted into a monster.
Chiyo shook her head: "What's with all this chatter? In any case, a battle between us is inevitable! No matter how much is said, it's useless."
Sakumo nodded: "I will accept the challenge, but I must disappear as soon as an outsider approaches. The matter of the Edo Tensei is a taboo and cannot be known by others."
Chiyo sneered inwardly. She was already Ryou's spy now, and she had Ryou's spores inside her.
Whatever Chiyo experienced, Ryou likely knew as well.
In other words, Konoha's strategic move of using the Edo Tensei to turn the tide was already known by his enemy.
...
Above the sea, flying toward Hozuki Castle.
Candy, on Ryou's shoulder, noticed something unusual and whispered to Ryou: "News has come from Sasori's side. Granny Chiyo saw the deceased Hatake Sakumo resurrected in Konoha!"
Sasori was now in charge of Ryou's intelligence processing because Sasori's regeneration core could process massive amounts of information. Thus, Candy had handed over the intelligence tasks to Sasori.
Ryou nodded, stroking his chin: "I suppose Orochimaru dug up Sakumo's grave and brought him back with the Edo Tensei!"
"Those guys are finally becoming somewhat worth watching."
Ryou couldn't just watch Madara complete the Eye of the Moon Plan. It wasn't as if Madara would kindly let Ryou rule as a king in reality and establish the Uchiha Clan once the plan was finished.
Most likely, his fate would be the same as everyone else's—hanging from a tree and dreaming.
But since Ryou couldn't defeat Madara, he could only hope that the Shinobi Allied Forces would be more capable and possess the power to contend with Madara.
For example, if Orochimaru brought Hashirama back through the Edo Tensei.
That way, Madara would have a threat and would need his power, allowing him to gradually strengthen himself amidst the chaos.
Finally, he would look for an opportunity to break free from Madara's control and establish himself as king.
Chaos is not a pit; chaos is a ladder, a ladder for rising.
Ryou wished for the Shinobi World to be as chaotic as possible, and for the Ōtsutsuki people on the moon to get involved as well.
During the first lunar month, everyone should be lively and boisterous.
Then Ryou asked Candy again: "What's the situation with Sasori? Does he have no thoughts at all about the resurrection of Hatake Sakumo?"
Candy shook its head: "None. Sasori is very calm, with no emotional fluctuations regarding Hatake Sakumo, who killed his parents."
"I suspect it's because Sakumo is in an Edo Tensei body! If it were a body of flesh and blood, he would probably have fought him to turn Sakumo into his Human Puppet."
Ryou stroked his chin. Wouldn't a normal person go hysterical seeking revenge upon seeing the person who killed their parents?
However, Sasori's calmness was actually normal; he wasn't someone whose emotions were easily stirred to begin with.
Moreover, he wasn't even human anymore.
Sasori's pursuit was to live like a puppet, and as a puppet, he shouldn't have emotions.
"When we get back, give him a shock. It seems this kid has some psychological issues; a good shock should fix him right up!"
Candy was speechless, then said: "Sasori replied. He sends his regards to your parents."
"Then he definitely needs a shock!"
Soon, the people in the Kusagakure group became excited.
It was the two youngsters, Ryūzetsu and Muku.
"Look, it's Hozuki Castle!"
The Kusagakure Shinobi all stood up, looking ahead excitedly.
"Lord Ryou, we've arrived. Hozuki Castle is right ahead!"
Ryou put the matters of Sasori and Konoha aside and got a clear view of Hozuki Castle.
On the sea ahead, a lonely island lay crouched among the waves like a giant beast.
It was surrounded by jagged reefs, sharpened and made hideous by years of sea breezes and giant waves, exuding a deathly silence that warned strangers to stay away.
Hozuki Castle is a Shinobi prison established on a lonely island in the sea by various nations entrusting Kusagakure. It was named after the 'Hozuki' (ground cherry) plants growing around it.
The prison is located on a lonely island surrounded by the sea, specifically for detaining heinous Shinobi. The castle lord is a Jonin of the Kusagakure 'Grass Fruit' faction, who uses the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison technique to apply fire chain seals on prisoners to suppress their chakra.
According to the original work, the next lord of Hozuki Castle would be Mui.
Ryou patted the Seven-Tails and pointed to the lonely island ahead: "Chomei, fly over there, right ahead!"
"Woof! Woof!"
The Seven-Tails barked twice like a dog, then flew with all its might toward the direction Ryou pointed.