Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 450 What is Eternity?

The same applies to scorpions.

Although he possesses an unlimited amount of chakra through the puppet heart, his mental will cannot control this unlimited amount of chakra.

At this moment, Sasori's manipulation of the Sand Iron Lightning Boundary to suppress Shukaku's immobile chakra was approaching the limit of chakra he could control.

He was unable to seal Shukaku using a sealing technique formed by manipulating a large amount of chakra.

Therefore, the amount of chakra in the sealing technique spreading from the sealing teapot he was controlling was small, and the sealing binding effect was naturally weak, so it had no effect on Shukaku.

This is the limit for a scorpion.

No matter how hard he tried, it was no use; he couldn't seal Shukaku by himself.

The moment Sasori's flesh and soul were transformed into chakra and soul flames, it was destined that he had already sealed his own limit.

His spirit, will, and soul will never improve again.

Even though Sasori poured a large amount of chakra into his soul flame, in Li Yao's soul perception, Sasori's soul flame remained the same as before, without any increase in intensity.

"But... what if we could improve it?"

Li Yaofeng suddenly had an idea when he tried to use his clone.

Nothing in this world is absolute; chakra is a magical energy that turns the impossible into the possible.

Sasori could even achieve mechanical ascension, so who can say it's impossible for him to increase the intensity of his chakra soul flame?

Even if you can't do it now, it doesn't mean you can't do it in the future.

If Sasori can increase the intensity of his chakra soul flame, it means that a new path for enhancing soul abilities has emerged.

This is great news for Li Yao, who has always hoped to improve his soul abilities.

"We must not miss any opportunity to enhance our soul abilities!"

"No matter what your choice is, you will survive."

At this moment, Li Yaofeng's clone had already made up his mind.

Even if Sasori chooses to side with Chiyo and the others, Li Yaofeng's clone will not kill Sasori.

He will let Scorpion live, so that Scorpion can properly study how to improve the strength of his soul.

"As expected, this is my limit."

On the Shukaku puppet's head, Sasori stopped his "ferocious" performance. This performance, which showed the physical manifestation of a human unleashing their inner power, did not bring him any improvement.

He still couldn't control the chakra he couldn't control.

"Is this... the timeless art I've always longed for?"

Scorpion was confused. Although he could continue to research and create many more eternal puppets in the future, the upper limit of these puppets was already determined.

"Eternity... what is that?"

"What... is it eternal?"

Scorpion began to seriously consider this proposition: Is eternity something that exists forever and remains unchanged?

"No, absolutely not!"

Scorpion immediately denied it; the eternity he sought was definitely not something unchanging.

If eternity is merely about remaining unchanged and never improving, what's the difference between it and death?

Death means the end, it means that nothing will ever change again.

"Only eternity has no end."

Scorpion's thoughts gradually became clearer.

Eternal art should be an art that never ends.

He pursues immortality and mechanical ascension so that he may have time to pursue the endless art forever.

"Therefore, eternity does not mean unchanging, but rather constantly breaking one's own limits in endless change. This is the eternal art I pursue, which has no end and is therefore worth pursuing forever."

The scorpion's soul fire pulsed and grew ever brighter. At this moment, his mind broke through its limitations, and his entire soul seemed to break free of a shackle, making his understanding of the world clearer.

Although it didn't improve his control over chakra, it greatly advanced his future.

"Since I'm limited by my soul's will, then I'll enhance my soul's will!"

At this moment, Scorpion was full of confidence. As long as he had a clear direction and future, no difficulty could defeat him. He was sure he could break through the limits of his soul's will.

"Rip!"

Sasori released the hand seals, causing the sand and lightning barrier binding Shukaku to dissipate. Shukaku leaped away from Sasori, laughing mockingly, "Haha, out of energy now, huh? Next up..."

It's sizzling!

Shukaku's joy lasted only a second before his body in mid-air was tightly bound by the Sand Iron Lightning World tentacles that erupted once more.

Shukaku looked completely bewildered, staring at the scorpion on the head of its puppet, and said, "Weren't you out of strength?"

Shukaku had just seen the Sand and Lightning Barrier binding him dissipate weakly and assumed that Sasori had lost the strength to control it. Little did he know that Sasori had dissipated it on his own.

Otherwise, Sasori, with his unlimited chakra and energy, could have suppressed Shukaku indefinitely.

"Shukaku, I will let you go, as long as you promise not to attack anyone from Sunagakure again."

Sasori manipulated the Shukaku puppet to stand in front of Shukaku and said calmly.

Having clearly defined his future goals, Sasori was too lazy to get entangled with Shukaku here. As long as he protected the Fourth Kazekage and maintained the stability of the village, he could focus on researching how to enhance his soul strength and pursue the art of eternity.

He doesn't have time to waste here with Shukaku.

"Impossible, I will not spare a single one of you humans."

Shukaku refused outright, saying it was impossible for him not to kill humans. The evil deeds humans had inflicted on him over the years, the accumulated resentment, could only be relieved by killing and death.

Even if humanity becomes extinct, this resentment will not dissipate in Shukaku's heart.

"Then there's nothing we can do!"

With a thought, the scorpion's arm split open, and a small bird puppet flew out and flew towards the village's high wall.

Soon, the little bird puppet came to Chiyo and said, "Grandma, quickly seal Shukaku."

Amazing... Chiyo, a puppet master herself, looked at the talking bird puppet in front of her and could immediately see the exquisite design that even she found astonishing. She was proud of her grandson's powerful puppetry skills.

She just didn't like what her grandson had said.

"Sasori, you must seal Shukaku alone."

The third-generation matriarch's face left no room for negotiation as she said, "Only in this way can you become the Fifth Kazekage without any obstacles."

In that attack, all the major ninja clans, led by the three major families, suffered heavy casualties.

The Fourth Kazekage, who defeated Shukaku with an unstoppable performance, established himself as the strongest Kazekage of all time in that attack.

Most of the villagers are worshippers of the Fourth Kazekage.

When the Fourth Kazekage was in the village, even though Chiyo and the others knew that the attack back then was very likely a setup by the Fourth Kazekage, they only dared to keep it to themselves and didn't dare to show it.

Why?

It's because they no longer have the power to fight against the interest groups behind the Fourth Kazekage.

Even though the Fourth Kazekage is now missing, they have finally gotten their chance.

However, if Sasori cannot demonstrate the strength to seal Shukaku single-handedly, he will face many opposition if he wants to take the position of the Fifth Kazekage.

If things aren't handled properly, an internal conflict could break out.

Chiyo wanted a complete Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure, not a Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure whose power had been greatly reduced due to internal strife.

(End of this chapter)