Volume One, Chapter 16: Support for Scorpion

At this moment, Fengtian was in a state of utter wretchedness. Not only was his chakra completely exhausted and his presence fading to a whisper, but his robes were also soaked through with blood seeping from several deep gashes.

He had become a man of blood, unable to walk normally, and could only move with great difficulty by leaning on Shisui for support.

"What happened? How did you end up in such a sorry state?" Shisui asked, his tone laced with concern as he guided Fengtian slowly forward.

"Sigh... don't ask," Fengtian replied with a bitter smile. "I misjudged my own limits. I originally thought that tampering with 'causality' and changing a person's fate would be a simple matter. I didn't expect to underestimate the backlash of this 'causality' so severely."

He slowly raised his head, looking toward the direction where Sasori was fighting. Although his vision was blurred, he could roughly make out a silhouette.

"Did you get the item?"

"Yes, the operation went smoothly. Now, the only thing left to do is to escape unscathed, which would be perfect."

"That might be difficult. Given your current state, it’s a question of whether you can even make it out of Sunagakure," Shisui noted.

Hearing this, Fengtian stopped. Relying on his sheer force of will, he reached a building and leaned against it, speaking in a low, heavy voice: "Shisui, the situation with Sasori might be dire. Go to the front gate and provide support; I will follow shortly."

Shisui looked at him with hesitation, confused. "What about you? What will you do?"

Fengtian merely shook his head gently and spoke with confidence: "Don't underestimate me. I just need a moment to rest and recover some chakra, then I can use 'Reversing Cause and Effect' to restore my state. As for how to reunite with you, that’s even simpler. You have an object marked with my 'Flying Thunder God' seal on you. Just return to the cave where Sasori is, and I have my own ways of getting out."

Seeing that Fengtian was determined, Shisui didn't press the matter. He nodded and, without further hesitation, rushed toward the front gate.

Once Shisui was gone, Fengtian endured the agonizing pain and slid down into the shadows beside the house. The surrounding silence stood in stark contrast to his inner turmoil. He closed his eyes and concentrated, attempting to draw the last shred of power from the depths of his weakened body to replenish his chakra. The air was filled with the faint scent of blood—a warning from his body that the "causality" he had shouldered had far exceeded his limits.

...

Front Gate of Sunagakure

"Lord Rasa! The puppets have been mostly cleared. What are our orders now?" a Sunagakure ninja asked beside Rasa. After such a long battle, everyone except Rasa was covered in wounds. Some were even suffering immensely from the toxins carried by the puppets, and the very air at the front gate seemed thick with poisonous mist.

"You have all done well. Leave the rest to me," Rasa said calmly, his voice filled with authority. He signaled for the others to retreat, intending to deal with the flickering candle that was Sasori on his own.

The Sunagakure ninjas, including Baki, withdrew. Of course, some who were not severely injured spontaneously blocked the rear of the battlefield, their faces twisted with rage, eager to tear Sasori to pieces.

Rasa stood alone at the front, staring at Sasori not far away, and said grimly, "Sasori, you have gone too far."

His voice was low and powerful. "Your puppet art, while formidable, has deviated from the essence of art. True art is the blooming of life, not cold machinery."

Sasori sneered, offering no retort. He knew that any conversation with Rasa was meaningless; the most important thing now was waiting for news from Fengtian.

"Now, your puppets are nearly depleted. If you have any last words, speak them now," Rasa continued. He stepped closer, and under his control, the surrounding gold dust began to form a circle around Sasori, threatening to swallow him at any moment.

"Tch, boring tricks," Sasori scoffed, putting away the damaged Third Kazekage puppet. He looked toward Sunagakure, a strange emotion flashing deep in his eyes. "As expected, the ninjas of Konoha are unreliable. The only things I can trust are my own puppets."

The corner of Sasori's mouth curled up in a look of relief. He no longer had any means to block Rasa's attack. He did not intend to flee; instead, he stood still, quietly waiting for his moment of death.

Seeing this, Rasa's face hardened with malice. He raised his hands, and the endless gold dust surged toward Sasori with overwhelming murderous intent.

...

"Are you planning to give up just like that?"

Just as the gold dust was about to engulf Sasori, Shisui’s voice echoed from a distance. Though his voice was soft, it reached every ninja in Sunagakure.

Immediately after, his figure appeared instantly beside Sasori. As his "Mangekyo Sharingan" activated, a massive, imposing green "Susanoo" manifested, instantly scattering the gold dust surrounding Sasori.

"Tch, you're really slow," Sasori remarked, his voice filled with blame.

Shisui did not argue. He knew full well how difficult it had been for Sasori to hold out this long against nearly the entire combat force of Sunagakure.

"These eyes... you are from the Uchiha clan of Konoha!" Upon seeing Shisui's "Mangekyo Sharingan" and noting his age, Rasa instantly guessed his true identity. "You are... the Body Flicker Shisui of Konoha?!"

Hearing this, Shisui temporarily dissipated his "Susanoo." He stepped forward, shielding Sasori, and spoke to Rasa: "A correction: I have already defected from Konoha. If you must insist, you may call me the Body Flicker Shisui of the Uchiha clan."

Shisui drew the short sword from his back, pointing its tip toward the ground, and looked at Rasa with a stern expression.

"Body Flicker Shisui, I have heard that your reputation in Konoha has always been excellent. Why would you associate with a rogue ninja from our village? Do you realize what you are doing?" Rasa narrowed his eyes at Shisui, his tone laced with a hint of threat.

However, Shisui merely shook his head slightly, his "Mangekyo Sharingan" spinning as his actions declared his stance: "I have a purpose that must be fulfilled. For the sake of saving this world filled with war and smoke, I must do this. I am determined to protect this man. If you want to fight, then come."