Human Puppet

Sasori's pupils constricted violently, his hair standing on end!

The scent of death coiled around him like a python, wrapping him tightly in its suffocating grip.

What is this?!

Why was this guy able to break through his puppet defensive perimeter?

To appear here in an instant!

This is irrational!

This defies common sense!

This cannot be real!

Is this Genjutsu?

In an instant, Sasori's thoughts raced.

He could not fathom how someone could just...

Appear here in the blink of an eye!

As if jumping from one space into another!

Wait...

As Sasori's thoughts reached this point, a flash of inspiration struck him.

Space-time movement?

"So that's it!" Sasori's consciousness snapped back from his fleeting thoughts, and he exclaimed in sudden realization, "A miraculous technique! However..."

A cruel arc curled at the corners of Sasori's mouth.

He continued in a high-pitched tone, "Aren't you underestimating me a little too much!"

Click, click, click!

A mechanical roar echoed from within Sasori's body.

Puchi—!

From behind Sasori, mechanical arms pierced through his clothes and extended outward.

The palms of the arms opened, revealing tubular mechanisms.

Hum—!

Those tubes spewed out intense Wind Style chakra!

Under Sasori's control, that chakra transformed into a hurricane!

The hurricane, carrying unparalleled cutting power, thrust, and repulsive force, surged toward the lunging Uchiha Yuzhen with the momentum of a collapsing mountain!

"I knew it wouldn't be that simple." Uchiha Yuzhen's Sharingan narrowed; he was astonished by Sasori's transformation.

Just a moment ago, he had thought his surprise attack had been effective.

He had believed that before Sasori could reveal his true capabilities, he would use the Flying Thunder God Technique Formula to achieve the feat of an Elite Jonin slaying a Kage-level powerhouse!

Seeing the hurricane about to slam into him, Yuzhen cut off his train of thought and shifted his focus.

His figure vanished from the spot, dodging Sasori's hurricane attack.

At this moment, Sasori, having revealed his puppet body, prepared to unleash his full power.

"Be honored, Uchiha brat. Ever since I completed this research project..."

"You are the first person to witness me in this form!"

Sasori stood in the arena with a look of absolute dominance.

This was his Human Puppet Secret Technique!

In his pursuit of eternal art, once he felt he had mastered the subject of human puppets, the first thing he modified was himself!

Upon seeing Sasori in this state, Uchiha Yuzhen immediately knew that this guy intended to deal with him seriously.

In his human puppet form, the number of puppets Sasori could control would be calculated in the hundreds!

"Hoo~" Yuzhen exhaled a breath of stale air, gripping the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his left hand. "Is that so? To be the first to see it... I am truly honored!"

Having said that, he lowered his eyelids slightly.

His scarlet, bewitching Sharingan trembled faintly.

The three tomoe within his pupils began to rotate at an accelerated speed.

The Ninja Blade in his hand began to flow with Great Fire.

He was well aware that since Sasori had transformed himself into a human puppet, the genjutsu of the Sharingan would be ineffective.

You couldn't expect genjutsu to fool a head made of steel, after all.

Since genjutsu was useless, he would simply increase his chakra output.

He would make the lethality of his Uchiha Style Nintaijutsu even more ferocious!

He didn't need to worry about the amount of chakra.

During this period, [Uchiha (Purple)] and [Natural Energy Affinity (Blue)] had allowed his body to grow even further.

The growth rate of his chakra had increased significantly.

After all, setting aside the Senju and Uzumaki, the Uchiha's chakra reserves were truly not afraid of anyone in the Ninja World.

Coupled with the bonus from 'Natural Energy Affinity'.

He wouldn't dare say too much, but he certainly had the chakra reserves of 'twenty Kakashis'!

And so...

He would now let himself battle Sasori, a powerhouse comparable to the Kage of a village, to verify the gains and training of these past few months.

Just how high...

Was his purity!

Sasori, watching the expression on the young man before him, knew that his opponent was going to fight for his life.

Having unfolded his human puppet mode, he stared into Yuzhen's scarlet eyes.

He smiled indifferently:

"Sharingan... a fine collection. I've decided..."

"I will turn you into the first 'weapon' other than myself!"

The creation of a human puppet could preserve a Kekkei Genkai.

He felt that having his first human puppet weapon be a Uchiha who had shaken the Ninja World...

That wasn't bad at all!

With that, Sasori spread his hands, and the scroll in his grip slowly unfurled.

Then, a violent surge of chakra ignited at his heart.

That blue chakra began to squirm, splitting into countless threads.

When the scroll was fully opened.

Bang!

Hundreds of puppets appeared out of thin air.

And the numerous chakra threads splitting from Sasori's heart immediately connected to them.

This was Sasori's ultimate technique—

[Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets]

Facing those overwhelming puppets, Uchiha Yuzhen responded calmly: "If you can do it, then bring it on!"

He then lightly twisted the hilt of his blade, pointing the edge directly at Sasori's heart.

He might not know much else, but he knew exactly where Sasori's "Core" was located.

In his past life, he still had vivid memories of the beginning of Shippuden!

These puppets looked numerous, but against someone like him who possessed the Flying Thunder God, they were truly of little use.

After all—

If they couldn't land a hit, these puppets were nothing more than useless trinkets.

It seemed that his mission to stall for time would be under no pressure at all!

Once both sides finished their trash talk, they locked eyes.

Killing intent swirled within their gazes.

Riiip!

Uchiha Yuzhen's figure vanished in an instant.

Just like that, the two sides began to clash.

While Uchiha Yuzhen was locked in combat with Sasori, Kakashi and Aburame Shibi had successfully broken through into the main hall.

They also managed, quite smoothly, to find the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers and his son.

"Thanks to Yuzhen's Fire Style for scattering those Sand Ninja, otherwise we wouldn't have had it so easy." Kakashi walked out of the main hall and turned his head to look at the spot where Yuzhen and Sasori were fighting.

He spoke with a hint of admiration.

Who hadn't heard the name Sasori of the Red Sands!

As one of the few signature figures currently in Sunagakure, this Genius Puppet Stylist and leader of the Puppet Corps had long since made his name ring throughout the Ninja World.

When one's reputation reached a certain level, people would instinctively place them on par with the Kage of a village.

This was the same for the Sannin of Konoha.

Now, seeing it for himself, Kakashi realized this was different from their own sparring sessions. Uchiha Yuzhen was truly locked in a life-or-death struggle with a Kage-level powerhouse!

It was impossible for him not to be shocked!

He was growing too fast!

It simply defied common sense!

Deep down, he had clearly wanted his own strength to catch up to Yuzhen's.

But looking at Yuzhen's rate of growth during this period, could he really achieve that?

However, when Kakashi saw the surrounding Sand Ninja recovering from Yuzhen's Fire Style assault and beginning to converge on their position, he cut his thoughts short!

Now was not the time for such reflections.

The mission targets had been rescued; it was time to retreat.

With that thought, he said to Aburame Shibi beside him, "Fire the signal flare for retreat. I'm going to see if Yuzhen needs any help."

Having said that, he leaped forward, dashing toward the site of the battle between Yuzhen and Sasori.