As White as Blood
Chapter Thirteen
Sasori of the Red Sand
Fourteen Years Old
Sasori was spending his day off in Chiyo's puppet room, reading a scroll he'd 'borrowed' from the Kazekage's secret library. He was enthralled by the information that detailed an experiment designed to give Kekkei Genkai to people who hadn't inherited any. Previous trials had attempted this with adults, but all had failed, so according to the scroll, they'd inserted solid DNA into twenty unborn test subjects instead.
Seventeen died shortly after birth, but three had lasted beyond one week. One of these died at the one-month mark, while the second lasted an entire year before dying from a common cold.
There were detailed notes about the single survivor.
'Subject to facial deformities and weak immune system. Placed into Ninja Academy. Graduated at age seven. Placed into Team Three under the guidance of Misaki Satomi.' The hand writing changed, and he instantly recognised the writing style of his Sensei. 'Daichi's Dojutsu/eye technique is capable of summoning tornadoes. He's devoted to his friends, Sasori and Karura. Has been especially drawn to Sasori, probably because of the similarities in their situations. Loyal to village for now, but too loyal to friends. Killed at age eight by Sasori Yoshiko. Body never recovered. Good riddance.'
Sasori closed the scroll and sat in quiet contemplation. He didn't notice his balled fists, or his clenched jaw, he just focused on the logical information.
The ability to give anyone a Kekkei Genkai…
"Sasori!" called a voice from behind, although the redhead didn't need to turn around at the sound of running footfalls. "Here you are!" He instantly regretted his decision to not go to his Den as Komushi, Chiyo's messenger, reached his side. "Whatcha doing?"
Of course, Sasori couldn't admit he'd been reading a secret scroll stolen from the Kazekage's library, so instead he just opened another scroll he'd taken from Chiyo's shelf. It was on prosthetics.
"Oh! Is it true puppet masters can make prosthetics that move with only basic chakra manipulation?"
Rather than answer him, Sasori put his head down and pretended to read, hoping the idiot got the hint. He was not about to get buddy-buddy with the one person who would report anything he said back to Chiyo. Better to say nothing at all if he could.
"Oh, I nearly forgot!" said the annoyance as he placed a piece of paper on the desk. "Granny Chiyo has a puppet request for you. With the whole war thing going on, expect your puppets to be in high demand!"
Sasori took the written request and glanced it over, resisting the urge to cringe when he saw it was a request for puppets identical to Crow, Black-Ant and Salamander. Puppets should be uniquely made, not just manufactured, but against Chiyo he had no choice. "Of course," Sasori said at last. He instantly stood and surveyed the room for the necessary materials to create the requested puppets.
"Woah! You're already working on them? You should-"
"I don't like to make people wait," he said firmly as he grabbed some spare joints. "I know the war is important."
-x-
"There's a large group coming from the North," Sasori said to his patrol partner, Rasa. "I'm not sure how many there are, but it's the largest group we've seen so far."
"Any odd characteristics?" Rasa asked, on edge.
Sasori dropped his vision of the other Rats and focused on the northern puppet. "The clothes they're wearing aren't from a single nation. As far as I can see, there are people from the Earth Country, Rain Country, and Lightning Country. Some are wearing Shinobi headbands, but most look like refugees."
"I'll question them."
-x-
The group reached Rasa and cautiously stopped. "Yo dude," said a girl in a Kumogakure flak jacket and headband. She appeared to be the group's leader. "We're Shinobi and refugees who're goddamn sick o' this war already. You hearin' me, bro?" She clicked her fingers. "Well dude, we're here ta bring any peace-lovin' peeps o' Suna to safety. We're gonna set up a place in the Land o' Tea 'til this war blows over. Anyone is free to join, even the two o' you if ya want." She motioned to Rasa and Spit, not knowing the latter was a puppet.
"I will talk to my associate," said Rasa with an uncharacteristic uncertainty. "Sasori, I want your input on this. Come on up."
There was a disturbance of sand as Sasori surfaced his puppet Roan. The people were shocked when the giant scorpion appeared, but they relaxed a little once the hatch opened to reveal the young puppeteer inside. He remained seated as he silently surveyed the crowd.
There were hundreds of people seeking refuge and peace, although a few were Shinobi. Could this be an elaborate trap? The Suna Shinobi shared a look of agreement and then faced the people. "Our people are perfectly safe without your 'help'," answered Rasa with more certainty.
"Chill dude," the woman said as she waved her hands in surrender, "we ain't here to disgrace ya. A lot o' innocent peeps got killed in the last war." The Kumo Shinobi clicked her fingers a few more times. "It's what's best for your village."
Sasori realised right then and there that all these people – even the families of refugees - would feel the wrath of Rasa.
"What's 'best' for my village? How dare you come here and say you know what's 'best' for my home! I'll tell you what would've been best for everyone?" The prideful man spat at the Shinobi. "If you had never come here!"
The brunette shot the redhead a certain look, and Sasori knew exactly what he had in mind.
Roan's hatch snapped shut and Spit tilted its head. Poisoned senbon launched at the large group. The Kumo Jonin easily dodged, but those behind her were not so fortunate. Screams filled the air and the slaughter began. Although Sasori had hit many with his poisoned needles, he had barely made a dent in the group. He did, however, succeed in dividing them into two, and fortunately more had fallen onto his side than Rasa's.
Sasori rotated Spit and the cloak flew off to reveal the deadly weapons beneath. The people screamed, but it didn't stop him from sending his merciless puppet into the throng. Spit hacked up anything that came within range. Blood oozed into the sand.
The redhead summoned Turquoise and Salamander and sent them directly into the fray of refugees and Shinobi. Turquoise knocked victims to the ground and bowled over their bodies to impale them with its many spikes, whilst Salamander made short work of its prey with hot blasts from its flamethrower.
A few Shinobi regained their composure from the initial attack and - familiar with the art of puppetry - lunged at Roan. If they could kill the puppet master, then the puppets would stop. The redhead rolled his eyes and stayed safe inside his scorpion as he fended off anyone who came too close. Whether it was from the poison on Roan's tail or its giant claws, the puppet made short work on the enemy.
Blood was everywhere. The smell was so strong, even inside his puppet, that he could practically taste it. Even so, Sasori was starting to struggle.
There were so many people and he was growing impatient. He hadn't even killed half of them yet, and they were fleeing in all directions in their panic. Sasori had to make a split-second decision.
He summoned all the marionettes he had brought, including Cephalo, Phoenix, Black Ant, Crow, and Tyke, and then released the strings on his Rats.
He divided his Chakra Threads between his nine-puppet militia. One Chakra String per marionette, excluding Roan who had two attached to him.
The puppets stilled at first and he gasped at the sudden strain on his chakra. It felt like he was trying to move mountains with his fingertips. Fear swept through him, made him dizzy, but then an old voice entered his mind.
So, before you even think about the puppet, you must concentrate on your own chakra … To control this bird, first you must guide your chakra from your heart to your hands.
Chiyo's instructions from when he'd first learned how to become a puppet master. He inhaled deeply and focused on the wellspring of chakra inside his chest. It thumped with the thrill of fear and battle.
The Puppet Master Jutsu is a balancing act. Too much chakra and your creations will fall to bits, but not enough and they'll collapse on their feet.
He needed to use more chakra. He couldn't be fearful that he'd break them. They were his own creations, made and repaired and upgraded by his own two hands. His chakra would forever flow through their joints, even long after he was gone.
The power swirled in his chest and he finally released it. Chakra shot through his arms like electricity, and the weight of mountains suddenly felt like nothing at all as he took control. The world through their glass eyes became clearer than his own.
He felt awakened.
His puppets, now lighter than air, resumed their chaos.
Sasori felt the power and bloodthirst take hold of his body and he laughed a sadistic laugh as he threw his puppets full force at the fleeing weaklings. The first one to be killed in his revitalised rampage was the Kumogakure Shinobi who'd had the bright idea to lead the people to their fate.
Sasori was an army.
-x-
They were all dead. The silent air was disturbed by the sound of Roan's hatch opening as Sasori stepped out and surveyed the battle scene with his own two eyes.
The sand was dyed red with the blood of the innocent and the guilty.
Sasori commanded his puppets to his side. They stood like soldiers waiting for orders, loyal only to him. Blood was splattered across them. "I'm proud of us," he said affectionately. His arms still trembled from the amount of chakra that moved through him.
"I haven't seen puppetry that expert since your grandmother was still on the battle field." The redhead turned to Rasa, who had successfully accomplished his massacre as well. "It must run in your blood." The man walked to his side and Sasori sealed away every puppet but Roan and finally allowed the chakra to seep back into his chest. A wave of exhaustion swept through him and the shaking of his arms transferred to his legs, but he remained standing. Rasa's gaze swept across the pool of blood and gore that spread out before them and proudly said, "You really are a Jonin."
He glanced at Rasa's side of the battlefield. The sand shimmered like gold, and although he could spy unmoving limbs sticking out from beneath the ground, there was not a trace of blood to be seen.
"Thank you." Sasori felt eerily content with what he'd done. He had just killed so many people - Shinobi, men, women, children, babies - and he was happy.
Sasori had ultimately become what Sunagakure wanted: a heartless killing machine. If his parents could see him now, they would feel just as proud.
Rasa dipped his fingers into the pool of blood and faced the fourteen-year-old with formal grace. His dripping hand reached for the redhead's countenance, and Sasori allowed it. His fingers fell directly over the red fingerprints of his face paint, replacing each dab with equally crimson blood.
"From this moment onwards, you shall be known as…Sasori of the Red Sand."
-o-
That name became ingrained in my identity. For the rest of my life I carried it. In every conversation, in every assignment, in every Bingo Book, I was Sasori of the Red Sand.
The monster inside me was recognised, and Sasori Yoshiko was gone.
Thank you, Rasa, the future Fourth Kazekage.
-o-
Sasori and Rasa stood before the Third Kazekage personally as they reported the carnage. He sat as he had last time, with his hands beneath his chin and a thoughtful expression on his face.
Their report concluded, and the Third spoke at last. "I am glad you acted so quickly. The last thing our village needs is unrest." He turned in his chair and watched the sunset through the small round window of his office. "How many were there again?"
"Around two hundred," said Rasa. "Most were refugees, but there were approximately thirty-five who ranged between Genin and Jonin."
Jishaku turned back to them. "You did what was best for our home. I am proud of you both. You will be known throughout the world as heroes, Rasa and Sasori of the Red Sand. Heroes who singlehandedly saved our village from a hoard of ruthless invaders."
-x-
"Wow," Karura cooed from across the Den, "Sasori of the Red Sand? Now that's a sexy name!"
The redhead rolled his eyes and continued to remove the organs from the Kumogakure Shinobi. After he'd left the Third Kazekage's office, he'd returned to the area of his victory and secretly retrieved the girl's body as a tangible trophy.
Karura sat on the opposite side of the Den with Pakura sleeping in her lap. She affectionately stroked the six-year-old's hair while she teased the redhead and watched him work.
"The only title they'd ever give you would be 'Karura of the Loud Mouth'." Sasori turned in his chair and started to work on the heart. "Kumo Shinobi specialise in lightning abilities, don't they?"
"As far as I'm aware." Karura shrugged. "Misaki Sensei specialises in lightning as well, doesn't she? I think she's lightning and wind." Sasori nodded in agreement. "I'm just wind elemental, which is pretty typical around here. Any idea what you are?"
"Why would I need elemental Jutsu if I have puppets? If they're Human Puppets I'm free to use any Jutsu I want. Why bother limiting myself to only one or two elements?
"Two would never be enough for Mr. Perfection."
"Two isn't enough." Sasori put the finished heart down and turned to continue his ministrations on the corpse. "And I am not Mr. Perfection."
Karura snickered far too loudly, "Yeah, more like Mr. Anal."
Sasori slipped and accidentally broke two of the cadaver's ribs. The redhead shot her a daggered glare, but she just put her hands up innocently. "What the fuck is with you and gay jokes?" he growled out.
"Whoa, what's with the colourful language, Sweetie?" Karura covered Pakura's ears. "Honestly, I don't know if I approve of you fighting these people if you're just going to pick up their vulgar vocabulary. You're a hero now, you have to set a good example."
Sasori gave up on trying to repair the broken ribs and simply tossed them into the pile of organs as he set to work on scraping away the flesh. "Hey, Karura, do you remember your little brother?"
The blonde made an odd sound. "Yashamaru? Course I remember him, silly! He's still a Genin in Sensei's group, but he's now got two Genin teammates instead. Personally, I think he should become a Chunin, but oh well. He's been a bit down since you can't teach him anymore, what with patrol and-"
"First of all, you're twins, so of course I didn't mean that 'little' brother." Sasori finished scraping the flesh from one arm and started on the next. "I meant your brother who was stillborn. Do you remember him?"
Karura was strangely quiet, and when she finally talked her voice was odd and detached. "The carving of him is still on the wall outside. It's weather worn and barely distinguishable, but I still see him every time I come here." She'd never talked about it with Sasori, and although he'd never thought too deeply about that when he'd been young, he now found it peculiar.
If she hadn't talked to him, had she talked to anybody about it? Even when her father died at war, she'd never wanted to talk.
"How did you feel when he died?" pressed Sasori when he finished on the second arm and started on the legs.
Karura shuffled into a more comfortable position, while Pakura remained asleep on her lap. "It depends," she said at last, her voice still detached. "It was hard back then… But now it doesn't mean anything to me. Why should it? It was something I was powerless to stop. Death is inevitable, and when it's your time then it's your time. All that will remain of me once I'm gone is my family, and once they're all gone I'll slip into the sweet abyss of forgotten things."
"You want to be forgotten?"
"Every human will inevitably be forgotten."
Sasori didn't agree with the idea, but he understood her sentiment. "When I was five, I felt bad for crying when my parents were gone. The war was important to them. I tried to convince myself that their absence was justified, yet it never sounded fair. Back then, all I could see was me. I was a stupid runt who couldn't grasp the concept of danger, let alone war. Even now, part of me insists I never needed parents, or a grandmother who was there for me. I turned out better without them."
Karura stood and carried Pakura back into the cell. She put her down without waking her and locked the doors as she traipsed to Sasori's side. Karura was completely unfazed by the sight of flesh being scraped from skin. It was something they were desensitised to from a young age. "What about the other part?"
Sasori placed his tool down and turned to face her. "I crave companionship. I wonder what my life would be today if my parents had been strong enough to return to me. If parental love is so powerful, how can parents let themselves die? My parents, your parents, Pakura's parents: if love is supposedly all powerful, how did they die?"
Karura's smile was sad as she pressed their foreheads together, but his Sunagakure headband kept him from feeling her warmth.
They stared into each other's eyes. There was no light to be found in Sasori's, yet Karura's teal orbs were still filled with their old enthusiasm. "Don't you know?" she whispered. "Love is sacrifice."
Karura pressed their lips together in their first kiss.
Sasori pressed his blood covered hand against her cheek, first with the intention of pushing her away but then with the intention of holding her there. He didn't know what was happening or why Karura was kissing him, but for some reason it was happening.
It wasn't good. The smell of blood overpowered her natural scent, his lips were dry, and his leg was itchy. Her short hair brushed his cheeks unpleasantly, and the sound of her breathing through her nose annoyed him. However, despite everything, he didn't want it to stop.
Whether he wanted it or not, it was quickly over. Karura pulled their lips apart and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Sasori let the girl hold him, put refused to let himself return the gesture. Finally he asked, "Can I get back to work?"
Karura released him immediately and grinned. "Of course!" She moved to the water tank and washed the cold blood from her cheek. The topic of the kiss didn't come up, and Sasori was happy to let it go forgotten, yet the topic Karura probed was far worse. "Do you want to talk about Daichi?"
Sasori felt like he'd been punched in the gut. He froze, but quickly forced himself to continue working. "No. People die and we live on. I'm going to live forever, so death is going to become a good friend of mine."
"…What if I died? Would you be upset?"
His fingers shook, but he forced himself to continue. "I would be angry." Sasori had never contemplated the death of his best friend. He wanted to live forever, yet he couldn't imagine how he could live without her. She was the only one who agreed with him, no matter what he said or did. Whether he was a monster or a hero, Karura would remain loyal to him. She was his favourite puppet.
The girl laughed at his simple answer. "Okay then, but if I die, then please don't turn my body into a puppet. Not that I wouldn't love to be one, but I'd rather my body be in the ground rather than on display." Sasori just nodded and continued to work. "So what should we call this one?"
Sasori looked over the unfinished body and considered it. "Well, she was an idiot for leading all those refugees into enemy territory, so I'm going to call her 'Baka'."
Karura laughed so hard she nearly fell over. "Baka? I think that's the best name you have ever come up with! So how much longer will it be?"
"Another hour. I won't keep you waiting. Give Asuko that bucket of blood to drink."
"Can do!" Karura finished washing the blood from her cheek and picked up the bucket, carrying it over to the plant. "Hello Asuko!" The Venus flytrap barked as if it were a dog and lapped up the blood as soon as Karura placed the bucket beside it. The blonde laughed and sat down next to Sasori. "Honestly, you have the coolest stuff ever! A plant that barks, a secret Den, and even a human pet! Consider me jealous."
"I got all this 'stuff' through a little thing called 'Hard Work'. You should try it sometime." He glanced at her briefly. "You missed a spot." Karura groaned and rubbed the blood off at last.
Wait… Blood…
"I think I have an idea," he said as his mind wandered.
"Huh? An idea about what?" Karura grinned. "An idea about how to become the Fourth Kazekage so you can marry me?"
"No," Sasori growled as he shot her an annoyed look, "and shut up about that. Like hell I'd become the Kazekage just to marry an idiot like you."
"Whatever you say, Sweetie."
The redhead sneered and glanced over at Pakura in her cell, before he finally returned to de-fleshing the torso. "I just had an idea for an experiment I've been thinking of."
Dear Reader,
Ever wanted to hear my voice? What? No? I mean, neither, but now you can hear me rant about SasoDei and how cute they'd be in a coffee shop AU on episode 10 of 'The Shipping (pod)cast', free to listen to on SoundCloud, Tumblr, iTunes, Fandomish and several other sites.
Admittedly I initially hated episode 319 of Shippuden (The Komushi-Chiyo episode). It sorta sucks when you write a dead character's life story and then the anime goes 'lOl JoKeS oN yOu SuCkEr!' and adds a character to their backstory who was supposedly 'integral'. However, I've grown to adore the episode, although it's going to mess up with my timeline a bit, especially with the scene of Sasori inevitably leaving the village (is that even technically a spoiler?) but I'll make it work.
I love Chiyo's moment of 'Komushi was Sasori's only friend!' and then her realisation of 'Oh god he wasn't!'. Great episode. I'm also happy that Pakura's episode didn't mess with my timeline either, so yay!
In all honesty, my knowledge of later Naruto is iffy. I watched the anime entirely up to the point Hidan 'died', then read the last 50 chapters of the manga to find out how everything ended. I know they've added in a tonne of other Akatsuki stuff that not only messes with my timeline but with the timeline of the show as well, so I'm going to be very picky about what I take from the anime.
Oh, and the scene of Sasori vs. Konan from the game (as cool as it is) is definitely not canon, so sorry to let you down!
If you haven't seen episode 319 of Shippuden with Komushi, I recommend giving it a watch. Sasori is a murderous cutie pie and Chiyo is actually shown to be neglectful of him!
Yours Faithfully,
Woolfy