Chapter Four: The Prince of Puppets

Sakura blinked at the question.

It was a little too straightforward for her liking, but she was not in a position to turn away help. So she moved forward as Sasori looked on without expression. "A lot of ways, I guess. Can I use your fire."

"Of course," said Sasori, stepping back. "Fire was the basis for civilization."

"Thank you," said Sakura.

Hovering her hands over the fire, she felt it warm her frozen limbs. The water soaking her evaporated. And all the while, Sasori stood by watching. "Is there anything else?"

"The last time someone offered to help, I ended up disappearing my best friend from existence," said Sakura with a sigh.

Sasori seemed surprised. "Was she really?"

Sakura smiled. "Not really. But I didn't think it was right just to leave her to rot. So I ended up agreeing to this stupid game."

"The stakes?" asked Sasori.

"My soul, I guess," said Sakura.

Sasori smiled for the first time since she'd seen him. The first expression, as well. It was stiff like threads had pulled it to either side. "Ah, Naruto Uzumaki often makes bargains to that effects. He demands the human heart itself from those who worship him."

"I don't worship him," said Sakura.

Sasori's fake smile widened. "That much I can see. No doubt he pursued you anyway."

"Yeah, though I thought he was just some kid from school then," said Sakura.

"It is irritating how he appears in such humble circumstances," said Sasori. "Would you care to get cleaned up?"

Sakura sighed as she looked around the dirty water. "Yeah, I wish. I would, but that doesn't seem an option."

Sasori put a finger to his lips. "One should not underestimate worldly things like showers, money, and clothes. Artists and inventors labored long hours to create them. It is an art in itself, one that endures long after they die."

"Yeah, but there isn't anything like that here," said Sakura, annoyed now. "So I'd appreciate it if you didn't remind me."

"There doesn't seem to be anything like that here," said Sasori in a tone of correction. "One thing you should know about this place, Sakura Haruno, is that nothing is as it seems." Then, behind him, his hut collapsed as a door opened in the ground to reveal a ramp. It led down into the darkness. He turned to walk down it. "Follow me."

"Why?" asked Sakura.

Sasori glanced back. "It's either that or return to the swamp."

Sakura took his point and followed him down. He'd treated her better than anyone she'd run into so far anyway. She soon found herself within what seemed an opulent hotel room. It took her breath away. "This place, it's amazing! What is it doing here?"

"I created it moments ago," said Sasori. "I'm tied to things like this. There is a shower and a change of clothes through there. You can use it if you so desire, I will be over there tending to my art." And he motioned to a wooden puppet with woodworkers tools nearby. It looked unfinished.

"…Thanks," said Sakura.

The feeling of having soap and shampoo combined with water was heavenly. Sakura loved every moment of the shower. Part of her wanted to stay there, basking in the water as it ran down her naked body forever. But she knew she had to move on.

So once she finished, she dressed in the clothes Sasori provided and walked out. She found Sasori carving one of his puppets. "…So you make puppets?" she said.

"In a manner of speaking," said Sasori. "It would be more accurate, though, to say that I inspire others to make them. Puppets are a lot like humans. They have faces, ten fingers, ten toes. Do you know what the difference between a human and a puppet is?"

"Well, puppets are made out of wood," said Sakura.

Sasori looked up at her. Sakura felt suddenly like she had said something very silly. "Some of them. But there are living creatures in this place made out of wood. Is that all you can imagine? Is the only difference between Sakura Haruno and this object material?"

Sakura shifted nervously. "Well no, people can control themselves. Puppets can't move on their own. They can't do anything without someone else pulling their strings."

"Very good," said Sasori. "That is exactly what I would say, as well — people act. Puppets react. No matter how beautiful or lifelike one makes this device, it can never be considered real. At least not in the spiritual sense of the word.

"It's gray matter. No more. No less.

"But there is another kind of puppet. One that can act on its own." Then he stood up, and a door opened. He walked through it, pausing only to glance back. "Follow me."

"But…" began Sakura, even as she followed on reflex. It was like she was being pulled. But her own will was doing it.

They entered a room lit entirely by spotlights. And under each spotlight was a person hanging on strings. Sakura stared at them, wondering who they were before she realized they weren't people. They were puppets, she could tell by the joints.

"Wow, for a second I thought these puppets were real," said Sakura, impressed.

"They are, after a fashion," said Sasori. "They are far more real than the one of wood I carved out there. You see, they were once human."

Sakura stopped. "What?"

Was she in the den of a serial killer? Suddenly fear gripped her, but she found herself held in place. Her arms were drawn to either side of her, and she saw strings of light holding her up. She struggled in them, but couldn't break loose. "What is this?"

"Only temporary if you desire it," said Sasori, before reaching out with a hand. Strings of blue light shot out and grabbed a puppet that walked out in front of her. It was of a tawny-haired young man in a business suit. He had an entitled look on his face. Sasori gripped his cheek. "Look at this man. Do you know him?"

Sakura suddenly found herself no longer desiring to be free. She was fascinated by the puppet before her. She knew she should be screaming, but her mind was turning over old newspaper articles she kept at home. "Yeah, I remember. He was all over the news. He was a total slimeball too, everyone knew he was a crook, but the authorities never did anything about him. Every thought for sure he'd end up in prison.

"But he never did."

"I arranged that," said Sasori.

"What? Why?" said Sakura, curious. Why was she curious? She should have been terrified.

"Here is a creature that loved nothing but his hedonistic desires satisfied," said Sasori. "To bully others to his heart's content without fear of reprisal. To drive fast cars and abuse women without the consequences. To wear the trappings of power and money without having to put the effort to succeed.

"To be admired without doing the admirable. He called on me again and again and each time gave up more of his will. Now he has none left.

"Now, I control him completely.

"He is mine. One more in my collection."

The obvious truth came to mind. "…You're Satan," said Sakura.

"I am the spirit of the material world," said Sasori. " Who you call Satan does not have a sense of poetic justice." He twitched his fingers, and the puppet twitched, moving from side to side in a dance. Its expression did not change, but its eyes were tortured and consumed by itself. Then Sasori halted and returned it to its strings. "This, this is not a very good puppet. I don't even remember his name, and he's not even finished. It was easy to create; it came to me easily. And it teaches certain lessons, but there is no tragedy in it. It is the story behind a puppet that is as important.

"Let us continue our tour."

Sakura had to get out of here. "I… I think I'd like to go back to the swamp."

"I assure you, I have no intention of holding you against your will," said Sasori. "I intend to make you an offer at the end of this, but for now, I merely would like to show you my collection. Think of it as repayment for my hospitality."

"…Is this one of those things where it isn't as it appears?" asked Sakura.

"Of course," said Sasori.

On they walked, Sakura's legs and arms moving on her own. And yet though she felt like she should be screaming, she didn't mind. What was going on here? It was like her will had been taken with her limbs.

Sasori halted and peered over another puppet. He drew it out. It was a redheaded woman, wearing sunglasses and clad in a bikini. Her expression was worried. "Now here is another, one I hold in greater interest."

"Who is that?" asked Sakura.

"Here is a woman who has never worked a day in her life," said Sasori, forcing the puppet to dance and gyrate. It was shaking her hips while pointing mockingly. "She was the prettiest girl in her school, and she knew it. She spent her teenaged years bullying less fortunate people and dating boys. She never apologized for any of her misdeeds, never felt guilty. No one ever told her it was wrong. Eventually, she married a very rich man and had all her whims catered to.

She bore his children, gossiped, looked down at other people, and eventually, began to get old. Despite her best efforts, she could not stop it. She'd spent the first part of her life waiting to be in her prime, and she spent the rest of it trying to stay that way.

"And now she is dead." He released the strings, and the woman collapsed to the ground. It was like Ino had died in front of her, or perhaps how she saw Ino.

"…You turned her into that," said Sakura. One part of her was screaming now. Was he going to do that to her? The other part was fascinated?

"She turned herself into that," said Sasori. "All I did was give her soul the form most befitting it. She was a horrible person, for the most part. That alone would not qualify her for my work, but what ultimately defined her was her lack of action.

"Never once did she take responsibility for her actions or attempt to control her own fate.

She got what she wanted. She is now in the prime of her youth, taken care of. Forever."

"Can we, can we move on?" begged Sakura, now feeling terror. She didn't want to become one of these things hanging in the darkness.

"Of course," said Sasori, leading her on. "Up ahead is an unfinished product. I had only just begun work on it, and then my tools were stolen."

"By who?" asked Sakura, resenting whoever it was.

"Naruto Uzumaki," said Sasori. Then he drew out the puppet and Sakura did scream this time.

"Ino!" she cried. It was Ino. The same haircut, the same eyes, the same expression she'd had in school before all this began. It was a perfect replica, and yet there was no soul in it.

"Not yet," said Sasori.

"You… you were planning to turn her into one of those puppets!" said Sakura. "I was preparing one for her to dwell within, yes," said Sasori. "All the hallmarks were there, as you yourself can attest. Didn't you wish she'd disappear yourself?"

"Well yes, but…" said Sakura.

"You needn't worry," said Sasori. "Those who become my puppets are not tormented by me. They are merely trapped with themselves, and all that entails. Ino was looking to be a very interesting one. The materialism and cattiness were there, but there was enough kindness to make her unique.

"I was hoping she would marry for looks and be trapped in an unhappy marriage. I think an expression of perpetual grief would look good on this one." He cupped the cheek of the puppet. "Unfortunately, she no longer exists."

"Why did you bring me down here?" asked Sakura. "Are you… are you going to turn me into one of these?"

Sasori moved forward and set a hand to her face. It was a hand of wood. The hand of a puppet. As he did, the room around faded into the purest blackness. "There are two reasons. First, I want to make you an offer. The second can wait until after I've made the first."

"What is the first?" asked Sakura.

"Well, I was wondering if you might want to take Ino's place," said Sasori.

Sakura found herself blushing as though Sasuke had asked her out on a date. "What? Why would I…"

At that moment, the blackness gave way to reveal a great ballroom. Sasori was no longer dressed in black robes, but a white military uniform like a Prince out of the stories. Sakura found her hand clasping with his as she was clad in a beautiful pink dress. Before she could respond, they began to dance. And as they did so, many other puppets appeared and began to play the most beautiful orchestra she'd ever heard. They were perfectly coordinated. Around them, other puppets appeared and began to dance, with them in the center.

She and Sasori moved as one. They were perfectly coordinated, like one being. "By wishing Ino away, you have taken on aspects of her life. Because of this, my work on Ino has now been adapted into work on you."

"Why would…" Sakura gasped as Sasori clasped her behind the back, and she bent backward. "why would I ever accept something like that?"

Sasori rested his head on her shoulder, cradling her in wooden arms. "Because I can give you whatever you want. Anything at all. Money, power, love. Give me the entirety of your being, and I can create for you any life you want."

"Oh right, so I can spend eternity hanging in a display case," said Sakura.

Sasori drew back, and the dance became one where both were far from each other. Their movements were in perfect unison. Sakura found his still face more appealing than any other. "You would not," said Sasori. "I have never had someone willingly give themselves to me. If you were to submit to me, you would be akin to my queen. I would move you according to your deepest desires. My threads will embrace the totality of your being."

"I…" Sakura had to resist.

"And I can also save Ino for you," said Sasori.

"What?" said Sakura.

The ballroom was gone. Now they stood upon a clifftop overlooking the entire world. Sakura was at the edge and cornered. Sasori was once more in his robes. "Oh come now, you do not seriously think that you can free Ino on your own? So far you've been put to flight by among the weakest of Naruto's subordinates.

"But I have a legitimate claim to Ino's soul. I need only claim my rights and, with you mine, he would be forced to yield her to me. From there, I could return both of you to the mortal realm, just as if nothing had changed.

"I can change it if you desire. For instance, I could make Ino, your inferior.

"Have you considered that you will have complete control over your own life? You will be able to determine ahead of time where you go and what happens. Of course, there will be some limitations, but consider how much good you could do? For those around you?"

"Ino… you'll still try to get her, won't you," said Sakura, backing toward the edge.

"Of course," said Sasori. "But I am entirely fair. Humans turn themselves into puppets. All I do is forge the vessels that they become. It is inevitable that Ino may fall into my sway. This is beyond my control, for I perform essential functions in this world.

"However, as my queen, you would be able to see her any time you desired. Perhaps even control her and any others you might desire." He surged forward, and his strings were now all around her, connecting to her every limb and joint. "Think of it, Sakura. A world where there is no possibility of failure. The future preordained, all struggles mere illusions. Ones whose only purpose is to complete your triumph."

She saw it before her, truly beautiful. Like the most wonderful painting, she'd ever seen. Wonderful to look at. But not alive. None of it was alive. "I won't have any choice."

"But you do have it," said Sasori. "You can make a choice right here and now to give Ino a second chance. You can use the life I give you total control over to make whatever changes you want. In yielding to me, you will be influencing the lives of thousands, perhaps millions of others.

Isn't that a sacrifice worth making?

"And how do you know it is bad to be a puppet?"

Sakura felt the threads trying to connect to her. Trying to pull her down, make her into Sasori's. A part of her wanted it to happen, the idea of all her problems disappearing. But she knew it was wrong in her heart. "…I said I'd save Ino. And I'll do it on my own."

Sasori sighed for a moment. Then everything faded, and they were back within the apartment. "Very well, then. I'm sorry you won't be joining me.

"Even so, I will still help you."

Sakura was surprised at this. "Why?"

"You want to return Ino to her own world," said Sasori. "I'd rather my work not be entirely wasted. Unfortunately, you will never reach Ino on your own. You do not know the way, and my own business prevents me from helping you.

"Fortunately, I know the means by which you can get one."

"How?" asked Sakura.

"There is a spirit named Neji Hyuga," said Sasori. "He is the Chief Lieutenant of Naruto's wife, Hinata. He can see across all the lands of this world, and he is immensely powerful.

"However, his loyalty is held by force, not love."

"So he might be willing to help me?" asked Sakura.

"If you free him from Hinata he may," said Sasori. "But that will be no easy task. His soul was separated from his body by Hinata's father and lies within a cage in the form of a hawk. But the hawk is guarded by a nine-tailed fox that never sleeps. It is far more deadly than it's appearance dictates.

"Fortunately, I have found a means by which it can be put to sleep." He drew from his flute a long pink flute.

"A flute?" asked Sakura.

"This flute can put any that hear it under a spell, sending them into a deep sleep.," said Sasori. "If you can get close enough to the fox to use it, you may be able to free the bird. Do this, and Neji Hyuga will be under no further obligation.

"But he will be indebted to you. You may then ask him for his help."

"…How close is close enough?" asked Sakura, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Ten feet," said Sasori.

Sakura sighed. "Well, I guess I can do that."

"And the fox breathes fire," said Sasori.

Sakura felt odd about all this. Minutes ago he'd been trying to tempt her into selling her soul; now he was helping her free of charge. "…Well, I guess I have to try. Naruto did say the challenges wouldn't be beyond my power to get through."

Sasori smiled sadly. "Then follow me."

A passage opened, and he walked into it. This time Sakura followed of her own will.

Author's Note:

So yeah, I'm a Sasori Sakura shipper. I'm not sure why. Any kind of relationship between would probably involve Sasori eviscerating Sakura and turning her into a sentient puppet before using her to kill her friends. Admittedly Sasori and Sakura have more chemistry than Sakura and Sasuke. But then, Sakura has more chemistry with Haku than Sasuke, and they never exchange words at all. Actually, Sakura probably has more chemistry with characters from different universes because while the chemistry level may be zero that is still higher than negative twelve billion.

I think I've figured it out. Sasori represents the high point of Sakura's character arc. In her fight against Sasori, she is genuinely awesome and managed to defeat a more powerful opponent than the one Naruto failed to beat. Once Sasori dies, Sakura goes right back to her old moping for Sasuke. Part of what makes good chemistry is bringing out the best in the other character. Sasori brings out the best in Sakura while trying to murder her. Sasuke brings out the absolute worst in her while trying to murder her.

Come to think of it; I think Sasori turning Sakura into a living puppet would be a less unhealthy relationship than the one she has with Sasuke in canon. At least Sasori would appreciate her. And he wouldn't leave her to raise a child on her own for ten years.

Of course, most people who ship Sasori and Sakura ignore Sasori's serial killer nature and make him normal. To which I answer; Why? Surely the entire appeal of Sasori and Sakura is the mind game aspect. Take away Sasori's psychopathy, and you basically remove an essential part of his character.

One of the things I liked about Sasori as a character is that no one pretends as though his Freudian excuse justifies his actions. His backstory provides context for his character and is important to Chiyo's character. However, no one acts as though it means he isn't responsible for his actions; it merely makes him a much more interesting character.