Chapter 114: Familiar Stranger
"That's settled, then." Hyuga Hiashi was never one to hesitate.
The team had poured everything they had into merely disabling Deidara, and now, they faced an even more daunting threat—Sasori of the Red Sand. Most of them were on the verge of collapse and hadn't even forced Sasori to reveal his full strength.
"What's the plan?" Mizuki asked. Now that Hiashi was still holding up thanks to the all-purpose serum, Mizuki no longer needed to be the front-line bruiser—a role ill-suited for him, especially in his injured state.
"The serum you made is indeed potent; it's still working. But I've hit my limit too," Hiashi admitted as he issued instructions. "That puppet master isn't agile. We need someone who can close in and crack that defense. We'll rely on Gaara to push forward."
Sasori's abilities changed depending on the puppet he used. His current form, Hiruko, excelled at offense and defense, but lacked mobility. His actual puppet body was faster and deadlier, but also lacked the overwhelming protection that Hiruko offered.
"What about the rest of us?" Mizuki asked. "We can't just stand around."
Temari's offensive capabilities were impressive, but her chakra reserves were limited. She wasn't built for extended combat. Hyuga Ko, though not gravely injured, was physically drained. As for Kurenai, genjutsu was difficult to use on someone like Sasori—someone who had discarded his human form and had no proper mind to fool. And even without genjutsu, Kurenai was a capable fighter but had no openings in this current situation.
"If we can't capture them alive," Hiashi said grimly, glancing at the fallen Deidara, "then kill him if the chance arises." He looked at Kurenai and the others. "Guard him. Rest. We'll need your strength again soon."
The uneasy feeling in Hiashi's gut wasn't going away. Those red clouds on black cloaks—they weren't just any organization. To dare come after a Jinchuriki, these people had to possess terrifying means to subdue tailed beasts. That kind of threat was rare, and it made him question how long such an organization had existed right under their noses.
As Hiashi planned the next strike, Mizuki used the moment to continue self-treatment. The combined effects of Mystical Palm Technique and the all-purpose serum were helping him recover, though the warmth coursing through him from the serum felt artificial and fleeting.
"Fighting both Sasori and Deidara at once? No wonder I've already started burning my life force…"
The last few times Mizuki had faced impossible odds, he at least had backup—someone to hold the line. But this time, he was on the edge, surrounded only by allies running on empty. He didn't even allow himself to hope for reinforcements. The chances were too slim.
"It's time." Hiashi made the call.
Sasori had just finished patching Deidara up enough to keep him stable. Mizuki could see the time ticking away. If Sasori regained the initiative, all would be lost.
They couldn't afford to wait.
"Let's go." Gaara was the first to charge forward, his massive gourd of sand making him slower, but his role was clear—defense and distraction. Mizuki and Hiashi followed close behind.
"Is that really him?" Mizuki asked as they approached. The fear of being fooled again lingered.
"Few clones can deceive the Byakugan," Hiashi assured him. "This is the real one."
Satisfied, Mizuki turned his focus forward. Gaara began sweeping aside Sasori's poison-tipped projectiles with waves of sand, protecting the team as they closed in.
"That fighting style looks familiar…" Gaara muttered.
"He's from the Sand?" Hiashi asked.
"I haven't seen him myself, but the elders might know." Gaara looked grim. "It's obvious now—he's one of us."
Puppet techniques like Sasori's were unique to the Sand Village. Only someone from that legacy could wield them this well.
"Any insights on his weaknesses?" Hiashi asked.
"If Kankuro were here, maybe. But I can only say this—we're at a serious disadvantage."
Not comforting, but Mizuki appreciated the honesty.
"We can't afford to hesitate," Hiashi said. "Fear won't win battles."
"Brace yourselves." Mizuki focused on the field. Sasori's arsenal was endless, his tail swinging like a pendulum of death.
"We'll never get through like this…" Mizuki thought. "Unless…"
Inspiration struck. Sasori's weakness was the same as his strength—his reliance on Hiruko.
Mizuki reached into his pouch and handed Hiashi a windmill shuriken. "I'll take care of the details. We'll bait his tail, then you follow up with this."
A Shadow Clone transformed into a second windmill shuriken. With perfect timing, Hiashi hurled them both—one visible, the other hidden.
Sasori deflected the first easily. The second, cloaked by the shadow technique, slipped through. A near-invisible chakra thread, guided by Byakugan, wrapped around Sasori's tail tip just as Mizuki had planned.
Before Sasori could react, the clone transformed back, revealing Mizuki in mid-air.
A gleaming Chakra Scalpel glowed in his hand.
With a roar, Mizuki slashed down hard, cutting into Hiruko's neck and gouging deep. But the armor was tougher than expected.
Suddenly, Hiruko detonated from within.
Caught mid-attack, Mizuki took the full blast. His Chakra Shield saved his life, but not his shoulder. A blade embedded deep, freezing his muscles and numbing his mind.
"Poison?" he gasped. "Of course…"
Just before blacking out, Mizuki saw Kurenai rush forward to intercept the follow-up attack.
"Finally… she did something useful."
He slumped to the ground, gulping down the last of his serum, and blacked out.
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