Friends From Afar: Leaves in the Sand

"I created your puppets, boy. You never stood a chance.", Sasori states coldy as he stares down Kankuro. He grabs Kankuro by the collar of his shirt, tail gleaming in the dim light of the cave.

Earth Style: Rock Spire Jutsu!

A point forms in the ground below Sasori, shooting out of the ground & forcing him into the cave wall, separating him from Kankuro. "Sakura, go check on him.", Tsachi orders while pointing at Kankuro. Naruto follows, not for Sakura's sake but to question Kankuro. "Stupid, annoying...", Sasori mutters as he breaks away the spire with his tail. He falls away, his cloak being torn off by the jagged wall to reveal his form. "That's....interesting.", Sasuke says as he looks at the Akatsuki member.

Tsachi nods in agreement, looking at the man known as Sasori of the Red Sand. A massive shell on his back shaped like a mask kept him bent over on all fours constantly, while a large metallic tail protruded out of the shell's mouth. A left arm that looked like a torpedo & a mouth that looked like it was segmented into 5 or 6 different parts. 'Interesting' was certainly 1 way to put it.

"Lay still Kankuro", Sakura ordered as she turned him flat on his back. As she began her examination, Naruto kneeled opposite of her, looking down at the fallen shinobi. "Hey, where's Gaara?", he asks the brother of his friend. He goes to turn his head, but Sakura sighs & holds it in place. "he....he's...", Kankuro starts. As the tears started to run down the sides of his face, Naruto knew. He growled, Kankuro's eyes grew wide as he saw the feral like transformation Naruto Uzumaki was in. The host of the 9-Tailed Fox charged with blistering speed, attacking Sasori from behind & sending his head flying.

Tsachi & Sasuke looked, wide eyed themselves, at what had just occured. Sasori's head was literally just punched off. At least, they thought so. Blood did not flow, nothing did. Instead, the body before them opened up to reveal a teenaged boy with blood red colored hair with wide brown eyes. "YOU PIECE OF SHIT! I'LL KILL YOU!", Naruto cried as he swung at the boy. His anger grew as his strikes were avoided, & the chakra of the 9-Tailed Fox began to cover him. "So, you're the 9-Tails....", he stated in some surprise. Sasori couldn't help but be surprised, he just got assigned to capture the child & he appears almost immediately. Whether fate or simply coincedence, he didn't care. He would do what he needs to do: capture the demon host of the 9-Tailed Fox.

Sakura rushes over, a weary Kankuro walking gingerly behind her. "Kankuro says that there is another, & that Temari flew off after him. We looked for Gaara's body but we couldn't find it. However, we did see the Mizukage.", she states as Kankuro makes his way over to them. Tsachi looks over & sees Naruto & Sasori fighting, then looks back at Sakura & Kankuro. "Sakura, stay here with Naruto. Help him fight Sasori.", as he is about to continue Sasuke interjects, "Wait. Is that really the best idea? I mean...", Sakura interrupts him, "I'll be fine.". They all look at her, a fire burning in her eyes before she charges to help Naruto.

Tsachi & Sasuke decide to go after Deidara, while Kankuro has no choice but to go back to his village. This was now a battle for the Leaf Shinobi.

"You aren't very bright, are you?", Sasori asks as he continues to dodge Naruto's attacks. "SHUT UP DUMBASS!", Sakura cries out before going for a punch of her own. Sasori barely avoids it, but he does, jumping up onto the statue of the dragon on the back cave wall. "2 against 1? That certainly is not fair. I should make this even.", Sasori states. He pulls out a scroll & points at a symbol, "Ahhh, this 1 is it.", he remarks before summoning a puppet before him.

The puppet had messy brown hair, & it was wearing a tattered, messy overcoat. The puppet attacked, diving at Naruto with blades shooting out of its arms. Naruto's anger continued to boil, the demon fox's cloak surrounded him now, tail waving in the air. He charged the puppet, swiping a claw at it & breaking the blades. Sakura jumped into the air, going for a vicious chakra-enhanced punch but Sasori moved his puppet before the blow could connect. "Angry teenagers, they're so bothersome.", Sasori muses as his puppet stands before him.

Suddenly, the puppet's mouth opened, & what looked like black sand poured out of its mouth. As it flows freely, running down the face of the stone dragon, Sasori looks at the seething Naruto & feels the deadly gaze of Sakura. Yet, he speaks, "I would assume that growing up in the Hidden Leaf, you wouldn't know about the 3rd Kazekage. He was a great man, some say wise but there were no doubts about his power. He could face a whole army. Guns, even cannons, they could be fired right at him & he would walk away unscathed. It was this challenge however, that made capturing him all the sweeter. Now, now him & his power are mine! You will know why I treasure him so!".

Sakura's gaze intensifies, "You...you turned a man into a puppet? That's disgusting.", Sasori looks down at her with a wicked grin & replies, "You think he is the only 1? He is just a prize in my collection, a personal favorite of mine!". Naruto growls angrily, "I'm done talkin' & listening. It's time to fight, believe it!". He starts to charge toward the statue, when the pile of sand in front of them shoots toward both Sakura & Naruto, binding them. Sasori & the Kazekage jump down & look at the Leaf Shinobi, "Now then, that's better. Let's just end this, shall we?", he says with twinges of anticipation, excitement & impatience in his voice.

You don't even have to guess what time it is! It's time for more Naruto Trivia!

So here is today's question: What is the name of the puppet body Sasori hid himself in?

A. Hiruka

B. Iruka

C. Inari

D. Hiruko

Do you know it?

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Don't worry if you don't. It's ok. Really.

& no, the fight won't last as long as it did in the anime. I mean, 8 episodes? What the hell?!

Ready? The answer is.......

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Wait for it...

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Sasori: JUST TELL THEM ALREADY! GOD!

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Wow, somebody's cranky....Fine.

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The answer is D: Hiruko Some people say he was a human puppet, others disagree. I don't really care either way because it's still freaky.

Hope you enjoyed it, so come on back for more Naruto Trivia! Well, soon anyway.