25: Three Minutes Between Life and Death

Chiyo and Sasori wonder how Sakura can still move. Sakura used the antidote she developed for Kankurou. She still has one dose left. It will continue to work for three minutes during which time the poison will be broken into harmless proteins. The fight has to be won in three minutes. She gives the last dose to Chiyo. Sasori refuses to believe Sakura could have made an antidote so quickly based on Kankuoru's blood. Sasori knows even Chiyo couldn't make the antidote. He sees Sakura healing Chiyo and realizes she's a medical ninja with possible training from Tsunade the legendary healer from Konoha and it was Sakura who must have made the antidote. After healing Chiyo, Sakura is exhausted but she also heals herself.

Meanwhile Deidara uses his remaining explosive clay to take out Kakashi with his little spiders. They blow up near him and line his path. Kakashi analyzes the legs and sees they are jumping types. He tests their speed and they're just as fast. He falls behind while Naruto continues his pursuit. Kakashi jumps back and still they follow. He leaps ahead but the bugs latch onto him and explode. Deidara thinks he's taken him out and stops to taunt Naruto, but Kakashi reappears. It was his shadow clone that exploded. Deidara pauses to think what to do next as Kakashi explains to Naruto that since Naruto specializes in close combat his long range style is the worst possible match. Two ways to fight him are: first draw the enemy into close combat and defeat him there; other way is to use attacks with an even greater range than his and defeat him from a distance. He needs a comrade who specializes in long range attacks or has support techniques meant for long range fights. If you don't have either, the battle is lost unless you're as smart as Shikamaru. Naruto gets impatient. Kakashi coolly explains he's a jounin who's about as smart as Shikamaru and has support ninjutsu that can be used in long range fights. Naruto wants to fight but Kakashi says Deidara is not going to show them any openings if they just chase him. Then he tells Naruto his plan.

Sakura has healed her most serious wounds and is ready to fight. Sasori says he hasn't used himself since he joined Akatsuki and takes off his cloak. Chiyo says he hasn't aged at all since he left because he turned himself into a human puppet. Sakura notes all his weapons have been dipped in poison and a minute has already passed and she needs to draw him into close combat. Sasori attacks first with flames from his palms.

End: Deidara asks Sasori why Orochimaru left. Sasori says probably because Itachi turned him down and Orochimaru developed his Soul Transfer technique to take over someone else's body. He tried to take over Itachi's body and failed. He has moved into younger, stronger bodies in an attempt to gain eternal life. Deidara scoffs and says life is only beautiful because it's so fleeting and transient. His butterfly of clay explodes into fireworks. Sasori scoffs and says true beauty lies in things that last forever, never rotting or fading. He climbs into his Hiruko puppet.

Review: Yea, Kakashi!

Notes: The antidote gives immunity for three minutes.

Thoughts: Sasori apparently had to fight someone to get into Akatsuki.