One Punch Explodes Puppet

Hanzo, who was preparing to flee, was sucked in. He watched in terror as he was pulled through the air, the world around him receding.

"Bang!"

Deva Path Pain kicked Hanzo to the ground. Hanzo crashed through a wall and landed, spitting up blood.

At this moment, the other Pains had also arrived, following behind Deva Path Pain.

Hanzo looked at the group exuding a terrifying aura. He remembered what the Konoha brat had said before, that someone would come to kill him. He couldn't recall when he had angered these terrifying individuals. He questioned them resentfully.

"Who exactly are you people?! Why are you invading my Amegakure!?"

Deva Path Pain looked at Hanzo with icy eyes, the person who had caused him such painful, unforgettable memories.

"What, you don't recognize this face anymore?"

Hanzo stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him, his pupils suddenly contracting, then widening.

"H-how is this possible! You're still alive! I personally witnessed..."

Hanzo couldn't believe it. He had personally witnessed this person's death, killed through a conspiracy between himself and Konoha's Danzo. How could he possibly be alive!

Deva Path Pain looked at the terrified Hanzo before him and said coldly.

"Minato is dead! My name is Pain now!"

He stomped on Hanzo, his heart filled with pain, grief, and sorrow for Yahiko's meaningless death.

"Minato dying at the hands of someone like you, how detestable! Damn it!"

"So, use your blood to accompany Yahiko in death! Hanzo, feel the pain!"

"One bag of rice, carry it upstairs!"

"Ah!!"

A scream echoed through the buildings of Amegakure.

From that day on, Amegakure's fate changed! The years of chaos and war ended, ushering in an era of oppressive yet peaceful rule under Pain.

Meanwhile, in Konoha.

The preliminary matches for the third exam had already begun. Gekko Hayate, looking sickly, explained the content of the third exam.

"Due to the large number of people who passed the second exam, a preliminary round will be held. Each team participating in the Chunin Exams will engage in one-on-one battles here to determine the strongest contenders, before the final match held before the Daimyo and the Kages."

As he spoke, Gekko Hayate coughed a few times, appearing extremely frail, which made Qinglong watching from the stands worry for him.

"Qinglong, this time, I hope to have a match with you!"

Sasuke, enduring the pain in his shoulder, approached and said to Qinglong, ignoring Sakura's pleas.

"What are you saying! Sakura is so worried about you, and you still want to fight!"

Naruto was furious, but then Sasuke also said to Naruto.

"Naruto, I want to fight you too!"

As he spoke, the corners of Sasuke's mouth curled up, a sign of his acknowledgment of Naruto and his own confidence. He would not back down from a battle where he could spar with skilled opponents!

"Okay! I won't hold back if I end up facing you!"

Qinglong laughed. This Sasuke always acted tough but took the worst beatings! If they faced each other, he had to give him a good thrashing!

"I want to fight too! I want to fight too! I want to fight you all!"

Naruto butted in.

"Alright!"

Qinglong was fearless. He wouldn't stop until he beat that foxy tail out of you!

"How can such a grand event be complete without me, Konoha's Blue Beast, Rock Lee! I also want to fight you all! This is passionate youth!"

Rock Lee squeezed in, striking a pose, his eyes almost spewing flames of passion.

"If it's Qinglong, then count me in!"

Neji, always cool and understated, also spoke up. Since he couldn't escape his fate, he might as well live as freely as possible within his cage.

Shikamaru, with Choji engrossed in eating potato chips, approached and shook his head helplessly at the group of combat-loving individuals.

"What kind of people are these! So troublesome."

Hinata and Ino, who were initially nervous about the upcoming matches, couldn't help but smile upon seeing the camaraderie among the boys.

"Now, let the matches begin!"

Gekko Hayate announced from the stage. Sasuke's name appeared on the electronic screen.

"Sasuke VS Akado Yoroi!"

"Don't lose!"

Qinglong said to Sasuke and turned towards the spectator stands.

"I will not lose!"

Sasuke said with confidence, a smirk on his lips.

On the spectator stand, Qinglong watched the Iwagakure trio approach: Gaara of the Sand, Temari, and Kankuro.

The two sides took their positions at that moment, locking eyes with each other.

"Gaara, I'm looking forward to our battle!"

After a moment of silence, Qinglong spoke.

"Do you want to die?"

Gaara, his panda eyes radiating killing intent, glared menacingly at Qinglong.

This guy's killing intent is so heavy, just like the young Nezha.

"That depends on your skills. I just want to test how powerful the authentic Gaara of the Sand truly is."

Qinglong couldn't help but recall the knockoff Sand Burial he encountered in the Land of Birds, having long wanted to test the power of the real Gaara.

"Heh! If you want to fight Gaara, you'll have to get past me first!"

Kankuro stepped forward, saying. He cared about his younger brother, and how could he stand by if someone challenged Gaara!

"Kankuro, right? You'd better not run into me!"

Qinglong said, looking at Gaara.

This attitude infuriated Kankuro.