Yashamaru spun around sharply, breaking out in a cold sweat upon spotting Byakuya.
He had no idea who this person was, but one thing was certain: they were definitely not a Sand Ninja. Most likely, this individual was a companion of Sasori. Judging by their composed demeanor, they were highly probable at Kage-level strength.
In the presence of such a powerful individual, Yashamaru realized he had no chance to resist or escape.
All he could do was obediently follow the stranger's instructions and witness this rare battle unfold.
While watching the fight, Yashamaru couldn't help but glance back at Byakuya repeatedly. He felt a sense of relief every time he realized Byakuya wasn't paying him any attention. Meanwhile, he began speculating about the identity of this mysterious young man.
On the other hand, Byakuya also noticed Yashamaru's glances but paid them no mind.
The reason Byakuya had asked Yashamaru to stay was primarily to ensure that he wouldn't be killed in the aftermath of the battle. For someone of Jōnin-level strength, in a fight between Sasori and Shukaku, he was little more than a somewhat sturdier pawn.
Moreover, once Sasori became the Fifth Kazekage, he would need a Jōnin to handle day-to-day matters.
Otherwise, given Sasori's personality, he would inevitably abandon the duties of the Kazekage and hide away in his lab to study puppetry. If that happened, Sunakagure would no longer be able to consistently supply Byakuya with the rewards he desired.
At this moment, Shukaku, who was battling Sasori, noticed Byakuya and Yashamaru. After taking a deep breath, Shukaku charged up and unleashed its Drilling Air Bullet straight at them!
Feeling the pressure rushing toward him, Yashamaru closed his eyes. It would be nearly impossible to dodge Shukaku's attack with his abilities. The best he could do would be to endure it and suffer grave injuries.
However, in the next moment, Yashamaru witnessed a scene that would be etched into his memory forever.
Byakuya raised his hand and effortlessly caught Shukaku's Drilling Air Bullet. Then, as if nothing had happened, he sat back down on the cliffside, continuing to leisurely observe the battle.
A dumbfounded Yashamaru approached Byakuya and stammered, "You just caught Shukaku's attack—an attack strong enough to destroy boulders—with your bare hand?"
Byakuya glanced at Yashamaru and replied calmly, "Is Shukaku really that strong? Heh!, He's nothing more than a raccoon. No matter how much power he wields, he's still just a stupid beast."
Hearing this, Yashamaru fell silent, unsure of how to respond.
Shukaku was considered Sunakagure's strongest weapon. Every Kazekage in history had sought to control Shukaku, using its power to defeat the village's enemies.
Yet here was someone dismissing the creature, which Sunakagure revered as their greatest asset, as nothing more than a foolish beast.
Yashamaru couldn't tell if his understanding was too narrow or if Byakuya's strength was beyond comprehension. But one thing was clear: tonight would mark a turning point for Sunakagure.
Whether it was the mysterious puppet master, likely Sasori, or the enigmatic young man before him, their arrival would shatter the village's tranquility and plunge its future into uncertainty.
...
As time passed, more and more Sand Ninja began to notice the commotion from Sasori and Shukaku's battle.
Upon climbing onto the rooftop and witnessing the towering form of Shukaku, akin to a mountain, as well as Sasori battling it, the Sand Ninja were filled with confusion.
First, they could confirm that the earth-toned monster was indeed their village's One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku.
But wasn't Shukaku sealed inside Gaara? Why was it suddenly outside the village? Did Shukaku overtake Gaara's mind, or was there some other reason? Second, who was the ninja fighting Shukaku? It clearly wasn't the Kazekage, Rasa.
With questions swirling in their minds, the Sand Ninja assembled a large group and advanced toward the battle site. Before long, they saw Sasori and Shukaku engaged in combat on the desert sands.
Even from a considerable distance, they could clearly see Sasori and the numerous puppets he was controlling.
The sight left the Sand Ninja even more puzzled.
They didn't recognize this puppet master battling Shukaku, and the sheer number and quality of the puppets he wielded were beyond belief. Since when did puppets have the capability to battle a tailed beast?
As the Sand Ninja wrestled with their doubts, Shukaku noticed them and began unleashing indiscriminate Wind Release techniques in all directions as though chakra was of no consequence. Several Sand Ninjas, unable to react in time, were struck by the techniques and buried in the desert sands.
With multiple comrades incapacitated, the remaining Sand Ninja grew serious. They realized they weren't dealing with an ordinary enemy but a tailed beast considered a force of nature.
After a brief exchange of glances, they devised a strategy.
One group would retreat to call for reinforcements, another would begin setting up a sealing formation at the site, and the remaining group would directly engage Shukaku to buy time.
Setting up the sealing formation wouldn't take long—about ten minutes—but that was more than enough time for Shukaku to kill them dozens of times over.
As Shukaku's attacks neared the ninja preparing the formation, Sasori quickly deployed his puppets to intercept the attacks mid-air.
Using chakra transmission, he then commanded, "You useless burdens, don't interfere with my battle against Shukaku. Get out of here—now!"
Hearing this, the rescued Sand Ninja looked at Sasori with gratitude in their eyes before promptly retreating. Sasori was right: they were nothing but dead weight in this battle. However, they couldn't ignore a troubling fact: human chakra is limited, while a tailed beast's chakra is nearly infinite.
Though the puppet master seemed capable of holding off Shukaku for now, he would undoubtedly tire as time passed, ultimately leading to his defeat.
Thinking this, one of the Sand Ninja shouted to Sasori, "Puppet master, retreat for now! If this continues, you won't last much longer. Once you fall, none of us will be able to stop Shukaku. Wait for Lord Kazekage to arrive—he'll definitely be able to handle Shukaku!"
"You mean that coward, the Fourth Kazekage? I don't need Rasa's help. Let him stay in the mines, clinging to his impossible dreams."
Sasori of the Red Sand snorted coldly, his tone dripping with disdain for the Fourth Kazekage.
Hearing this, the surrounding Sand Ninja exchanged uneasy glances. They didn't recognize this puppet master, but from his words, it was clear he harbored significant resentment toward Rasa.
Could he be one of Chiyo's subordinates or perhaps a member of another faction?
Seizing the moment when Sasori was distracted, Shukaku swept up all the puppets on the ground and buried them hundreds of meters underground. The immense pressure crushed them all into oblivion.
Having lost a large number of puppets in an instant, Sasori's expression turned grim.
Without utilizing Magnet Release, he truly wasn't a match for Shukaku. Neither his human puppets nor mechanical puppets could withstand the catastrophic power of the tailed beast.
But deploying his Kazekage Puppet now would expose the fact that he had assassinated the Third Kazekage.
After a moment of deliberation, he pulled out the scroll containing the Kazekage Puppet.
His decision stemmed partly from a desire to demonstrate his strength and free Gaara from Shukaku's control.
It was also rooted in his trust in Byakuya. He believed in Byakuya's judgment and was convinced that if Byakuya intended for him to become the Kazekage of Sunakagure, then he was destined to be the Fifth Kazekage.