Chapter 152 Arrogance

“Scorpion, you’ve got the wrong idea…” Shiraki quickly turned awkwardly to dodge the tail sting of Hiryuko.

“After you die, let your puppets do the talking,” Scorpion said, curling his finger. The Hiryuko puppet nearby, still undergoing modifications, twisted its long steel tail and launched another sting attack at Shiraki.

Shiraki didn’t dare slack off even a bit—he dodged and blocked with all his might. Each of Scorpion’s weapons was coated with a deadly poison; even Granny Chiyo herself couldn’t find an antidote back then and had to seek help from Sakura later.

He certainly wasn’t counting on the half-baked medical ninja skills of Yano and Karin to counter Scorpion’s venom.

“Stop fighting! Scorpion! I have something to say! They’re good people! An Lushan locked everyone up…” Sarah hurriedly stepped in front of the tail sting.

Before Sarah could finish, Scorpion flicked out a thread of chakra wire that wrapped around her, binding her up and throwing her to the ground.

“Sorry, I’m with An Lushan’s faction,” Scorpion said coldly, looking at Sarah with no emotion.

Shiraki could guess it—Scorpion’s sudden appearance in Loulan City was likely at the behest of An Lushan, who foresaw the future. The endless energy from the Dragon Vein was the temptation. Both were rogue ninja from the Sand Village and highly skilled puppeteers, making them natural allies.

Most likely, Sarah’s feelings were one-sided—she admired this boy whose handsomeness surpassed the bounds of the universe, a little more attractive than herself. After all, a puppet without feelings like Scorpion couldn’t possibly like a girl, and only tolerated Sarah’s presence because of her unique status, refraining from violence.

“Scorpion… you even… knew…” Sarah stared blankly at him, crushed by the fact that her secret crush was actually the enemy who destroyed her nation. The dual blow nearly broke her.

She liked how seriously Scorpion worked, often coming to the Dragon Vein underground to see him. Although Scorpion rarely spoke to her or touched the food she brought, she cherished just quietly watching him. Whenever she had free time, she’d come to accompany him, nurturing a strange affection.

“You’re a woman—your presence only slows down my puppet-making speed. Now it’s clear,” Scorpion said mercilessly, finally voicing the thoughts he’d kept bottled up for years.

So annoying! Even just being nearby was irksome. Girls were nothing compared to puppets’ beauty.

Overwhelmed by the ruthless blow, Sarah broke down in tears.

“Scorpion… is that really you? How are you here…” Maki looked at the unchanged face of Scorpion, shocked beyond words.

“Oh? Maki, huh? Long time no see. You’ve finally come after all,” Scorpion said, calmly looking at his former comrade. His eyes were still as indifferent as water. He never expected the news of him killing the Third Kazekage would remain a secret for long. Though he’d taken the body away, someone would inevitably connect his defection with the incident.

“Scorpion… the grandson of Elder Chiyo, the missing prodigy puppeteer?” Yekura stared at Scorpion’s face, slightly dazed. She was several years younger; by the time she debuted, Scorpion had already left the village.

“Things are getting more complicated… such a small Loulan tribe hides so many talents… Who exactly is this guy, and what does he want?” Yano frowned, looking at Shiraki.

“Scorpion, we’ve been searching for you all along, Elder Chiyo too. How did you end up here? What happened?” Maki stepped forward cautiously, treating Scorpion not as an enemy. After all, the official designation was ‘missing,’ just like the Third Kazekage.

Whizz, whizz, whizz—dozens of kunai shot rapidly from the mouth of the Hiryuko puppet, each aimed at Maki’s vital points, clearly intending to kill.

Fortunately, Maki was no pushover. Drawing his Wind Blade, he clashed and blocked all the kunai with ringing metal sounds.

“Stop pretending. You should know I hate nagging the most. Since you’ve come here, you must already know everything,” Scorpion said, assuming these people came to capture him. Even if he was wrong, killing them was the same result.

He hated trouble.

“Know what…?” Maki was dumbfounded, never imagining Scorpion would attack him.

Had he really betrayed the village?

Impossible! Scorpion was Elder Chiyo’s grandson, a pillar of the young generation in Sunagakure, a trusted aide of the Third Kazekage, and a candidate for the Fourth Kazekage. If not for his habit of wearing a hood, he would undoubtedly be the village heartthrob, adored by countless girls.

Maki would rather believe Shiraki was a good man than accept Scorpion’s betrayal.

“We know everything…” Shiraki quickly answered. If Scorpion revealed the truth, there would be no turning back—only a fight to the death.

“We understand your intentions. The Third Kazekage was killed by Shimura Danzo. You were gravely wounded by him too, forcing you to abandon your human body and live in a puppet. Although the Third entrusted you not to plunge Sunagakure into war because of his death, you still want to take revenge on your own without dragging down the village…”

“Lord Scorpion, we know your intentions. No matter how much you distance yourself from Sunagakure, we won’t abandon you. Come back. We will avenge the Third for sure,” Shiraki pleaded with deep emotion.

Scorpion looked at Shiraki coldly, as if watching a poorly acted clown or listening to a joke that wasn’t funny at all.

“So that’s how it is… Scorpion, Sunagakure may be poor and weak, but we will never fear Konoha nor give up on revenge,” Maki said, seeming to understand everything. Scorpion’s heart was still with Sunagakure.

“What are you talking about? I’m the one who killed the Third Kazekage,” Scorpion said calmly, as if telling his grandmother what he had for breakfast, showing no sympathy for Shiraki’s plea nor any intention to hide the truth.

“This is over… looks like we have no choice but to fight…” Shiraki sighed, holding his forehead.

“No… this isn’t a joke… Scorpion, how could you kill the Third Lord… this isn’t funny at all…” Maki shook his head stupidly, like someone who just discovered his father was actually the neighbor’s man.

“Why? Why kill the Third Lord?” Yekura frowned, strangely believing it.

“Does killing someone need a reason?” Scorpion tilted his head. No one expected such an angelic, handsome face to say something so morally bankrupt. “If I had to give one, it would be because I hated him cutting my puppet funding, or maybe because I coveted his magnetic release power.”

His tone was light, as if stealing melon seeds was the most natural thing in the world.

“Impossible… just for such petty reasons, you killed the Third Lord!” Maki clenched his teeth tightly. He had been the Third’s personal guard and had received countless favors.

“No matter what I say, it doesn’t matter, because you’re all about to die. I don’t want to waste time. Accept your deaths calmly. I’ll turn you all into human puppets and add you to my collection.”

Scorpion continued sitting in his chair, wearing magnifying glasses, assembling mechanical parts. With just his pinky, he extended a thread of chakra wire, directing Hiryuko to attack.

It wasn’t arrogance—it was impatience. Or perhaps he thought they weren’t worth the time. One pinky was enough.

But Shiraki thought he was just outrageously arrogant! Unbelievably arrogant!