"With enough human puppets, I can vastly expand the scope of my abilities!"
"Combat, defense, perception..."
"As long as I wish it, I can do anything through puppets, and this ability will not fade with the passage of time."
"It is true eternal art!"
Elsewhere.
Unlike Uchiha Shingen's team, which had caused a huge commotion, or Kirigakure's team, which treated hunting as a game—
Ever since Pakura had had Uchiha Shingen's blade pressed to her throat at Konoha's gates a few days ago, she had become much more rational in her actions.
At this moment.
Pakura lowered her head to look at the pitch-black scroll in her hand, then at the unconscious Konoha genin beside her. The furrow in her brow gradually eased.
"Using a smoke bomb hidden inside a scroll is such a boring trick."
"Though it was a little troublesome, we have now completed the prerequisite mission. All we need to do next is reach the watchtower before the time limit expires, and the mission will be complete."
At that moment, a subordinate standing beside Pakura said sinisterly, "Lady Pakura, we still have plenty of time. Should we ambush our opponents here in advance?!"
"Although the second exam is somewhat difficult, it is far from troublesome for the elites who came from all across the shinobi world."
"If we can bury these opponents here, the village will have a few fewer dangerous enemies in the future."
Pakura considered it, but ultimately abandoned the idea.
She could not help reaching up to touch her neck. The feeling of having a blade pressed against her throat remained vivid in her memory even now.
Even as proud and confident as she was, she had to admit that in a direct confrontation, she would most likely be no match for Uchiha