Chiyo's Satisfaction

There was no other reason—it was simply that there was too vast a gap between Shimizu and Chiyo when it came to puppet control.

Even though Chiyo was not taking things seriously at all, the difference in their displayed skill levels was enormous, like a King-ranked player casually crushing a Silver-ranked one.

If Sasori did not send Black Ant in to help, Little Boy would probably be dismantled.

But even so, Shimizu and Sasori remained at a disadvantage.

Although the pneumatic device had now been upgraded and could continuously unleash Pneumatic Fists, Fatty Puppet was still being suppressed by the Ox-Face Man Puppet.

Under Chiyo's control, this massive puppet displayed unbelievable agility. Though the four extra auxiliary limbs were weaker than its two original arms, the power they contained could not be underestimated.

Chiyo continued controlling the puppets, keeping the battle in a state where Shimizu and Sasori were suppressed but not defeated too quickly.

She had come to test and guide Shimizu and Sasori, so she naturally wanted to see their specific capabilities.

So far, Shimizu's performance had been fairly satisfactory to Chiyo. The power Fatty Puppet could unleash was among the best of all Chunin-level Puppeteers. While it had certain shortcomings in agility, Little Boy Puppet could make up for that weakness.

Among Chunin-level ninja, with these two puppets, Shimizu might not be invincible against opponents of the same rank, but he could at least crush most ninja at his level.

The only thing that did not fully satisfy Chiyo was that Shimizu's puppet-control skill was not among the best of Chunin Puppeteers. It was even a notch below Sasori's.

Still, considering Shimizu's age, it was already quite good.

Becoming a Chunin at eleven was nothing remarkable, but for a civilian ninja with no background or support to become a Chunin through Puppet Technique at eleven purely through his own talent—and perform this well—he was already a genius among geniuses. If the standards were any stricter, even Monzaemon could not have achieved it in his youth.

Given Shimizu's age, Chiyo believed that with her guidance and the inheritances and experience left behind by multiple top-tier Puppeteers, Shimizu would still have a chance to raise his puppet-control skill to the highest level in the future.

As for Sasori's performance, Chiyo was looking forward to it.

Black Ant had already demonstrated combat power no weaker than the main battle puppet of an ordinary Chunin Puppeteer. Reaching that level meant Sasori's strength was no longer comparable to that of an average Genin.

But Ibuse had not shown anything yet.

Sasori pointed his left hand at Ibuse, separating his joined index and middle fingers.

The shield on Ibuse's back clattered as it flipped outward, revealing a black seat in the center. The surrounding shields happened to protect the seat in the middle.

Ibuse in the original timeline could not carry a rider like this. This was a modification Sasori had made after being inspired by Shimizu and developing the same idea of arming himself with puppets.

The sound of metal rang out as the black iron shields transformed again, becoming a pair of heavy wings with feathered edges.

Riding Ibuse, Sasori charged toward Chiyo atop its enormous body.

"Your speed is decent, but your turning is a bit clumsy. Besides, this old woman is not so easy to deal with."

With a tap of her toes, Chiyo's figure retreated at ghostlike speed.

More than twenty years later, Chiyo, in her seventies, still possessed a speed that astonished a Taijutsu ninja like Sakura. Her speed rating in the databook was even higher than that of the Third Hokage at sixty-nine. Chiyo, currently in her prime, was undoubtedly among the fastest in the ninja world.

Seeing that Ibuse could not catch up to Chiyo, and not daring to easily leave Ibuse's protection, Sasori decisively turned around and chose to help Shimizu.

Fatty Puppeteer's material was inferior to that of the Ox-Face Puppet, and it had already sustained damage in several places.

If Sasori did not step in, Shimizu would not be able to hold on much longer.

"Black Secret Technique: Tail Needle."

Ibuse's tail shot out, connected to an iron chain, and smashed down toward the Ox-Face Puppeteer's back with the force of a heavy hammer.

The Ox-Face Puppeteer's arms suddenly bent one hundred and eighty degrees, crossing over its back. Pale blue Chakra light flared across them, condensing into a shield.

Puppet Technique: Mechanism Shield Seal!

Sasori's attack was quite powerful. If she had not used this defensive ninjutsu, the Ox-Face Puppet might have been damaged.

"An opening!"

Shimizu controlled Fatty Puppet to attack from both sides. Its elbows knocked aside the Ox-Face Puppeteer's auxiliary limbs, while its fists were propelled by cylinders and automatically launched toward the Ox-Face Puppeteer's head.

"Clang—"

The Ox-Face Puppeteer's arms folded back into place, its huge hands catching Fatty Puppeteer's fists as they began to wrestle.

Fatty Puppeteer's Pneumatic Fists relied on explosive force. Although the air valves improved its endurance somewhat, it was not like a Human Puppet, which was modified from a human body and possessed complete muscle tissue. In a prolonged contest of strength, more depended on the puppet's own performance and its operator's skill.

Naturally, Fatty Puppet was suppressed again and was even pushed back several steps by the Ox-Face Puppet.

Meanwhile, the four auxiliary limbs beneath the Ox-Face Puppeteer's ribs, each linked by sections of wooden tubing like Black Ant, flew at Sasori with claws and fangs bared.

"Troublesome."

Sasori frowned and controlled Ibuse to fold its shield-wings together, forming an oval that wrapped around him. The Ox-Face Puppeteer's auxiliary limbs could not reach Sasori himself for the moment and could only turn to attack Ibuse instead.

However, Ibuse was a defensive puppet painstakingly crafted by Sasori. Unless Chiyo showed her true ability, it would be difficult for her to break through Ibuse's defenses.

And Chiyo could not possibly strike Sasori with real force.

She treasured that grandson of hers dearly.

Inside the spherical shield, Sasori peered outside through the small gaps between the feathers. With a pull of his fingers, he controlled Ibuse to crash into the Ox-Face Puppet like a bulldozer.

At the same time, both sides of Ibuse's body opened, ejecting two spinning serrated blades that folded forward.

"These two children really are trying to wreck this old woman's puppets."

A faint smile appeared on Chiyo's face.

She was now quite satisfied with Sasori's performance as well.

"But Little Shimizu will be following this old woman to the battlefield in a few days, so I should avoid damaging his puppets."

Chiyo felt that she had assessed them sufficiently, so she used a third Chakra Thread.

The Red-Faced Cat Puppet's speed immediately rose another level, while the Ox-Face Puppeteer's strength increased once more.

Boom!

The Ox-Face Puppet seized Fatty Puppeteer's arms, then directly lifted and hurled the entire puppet away.

Then, the Ox-Face Puppet swiftly turned around. With agility that did not match its size, it rapidly dodged Ibuse's twin serrated blades, leaped directly onto its back, and began dismantling the puppet with both hands.