The First Battle

The blade flashed, emitting a shrill hum!

The momentum was bone-chilling!

However, just as the blade was about to strike Chen Xiaoxi, his body suddenly dissolved into a blur, vanishing from the spot and reappearing in the distance.

The Kazekage Puppet's blade sliced through empty air, and Sasori of the Red Sand couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Tsk, the Body Flicker Technique, is it?"

"I suppose I couldn't expect to finish you off that easily."

"In that case—"

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Shower!"

As the words fell, Sasori's gaze sharpened. His chakra threads twitched, and the Kazekage Puppet's hands instantly completed the Ram seal!

Countless grains of iron sand gathered immediately, hovering before the Kazekage Puppet like a towering black tidal wave, radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Then, all the iron sand rapidly condensed, transforming into a swarm of black needles that shot toward Chen Xiaoxi at high speed!

It was like a downpour of steel!

Watching the sky-filling Iron Sand Shower surge toward him, Chen Xiaoxi felt neither panic nor fear.

His gaze remained indifferent.

As calm as a frozen lake.

He slightly raised his left hand, parted his lips, and spoke calmly:

"Binding Way #81—"

"Splitting Void."

As he spoke, a massive, water-blue barrier suddenly manifested.

Like a wall of heaven severing space itself, it instantly intercepted all the iron sand needles blasting toward him! Every needle that struck the barrier was like a mayfly trying to topple a tree, failing to cause even the slightest impact!

Ten seconds passed, and even after the barrage of iron sand needles had ceased, the Splitting Void remained unchanged.

Seeing this, Sasori's eyes flickered, and he was momentarily stunned.

What was this?

Was it... a hand-seal-less ninjutsu?

A secret Wind Release technique?

No, that wasn't it... could it be some kind of unique Kekkei Genkai?

Realizing this, Sasori was slightly startled, but immediately after, a surge of excitement rose in his heart.

Seeing this peculiar power only made him more determined to turn the brown-haired youth before him into a human puppet.

Perhaps he would become a super-weapon no weaker than the Third Kazekage!

Meanwhile, Chen Xiaoxi frowned slightly as he looked at Sasori.

He had originally intended to leave and ignore this arrogant fool, but he hadn't expected the other party to lead with a lethal move.

It seemed that a fight was unavoidable.

Just then, a prompt sounded in Chen Xiaoxi's mind.

Ding, system mission triggered:

Defeat the Genius Puppeteer Sasori of the Red Sand (0/1), reward: one lottery draw.

A mission?

After hearing the prompt, Chen Xiaoxi was taken aback, then felt a surge of joy.

In that case, he was sorry, but this would be the perfect opportunity to test his current strength.

Thinking this, Chen Xiaoxi raised his eyes to look at Sasori, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

With his current 100% Bankai strength, defeating a Sasori who wasn't yet in his complete form would naturally be no problem at all.

"You, who are about to be turned into a human puppet, perhaps this is the only time you can still smile."

"By the way, I am quite interested in the technique you just displayed."

"So, I have decided... to end this quickly."

As his voice fell, Sasori raised his hands high, the chakra threads at his fingertips becoming even more solid, and countless black iron sand grains appeared once again before the Kazekage Puppet's hands.

"Heh, what a coincidence."

"I was just planning to end this quickly myself."

As the words fell, Chen Xiaoxi pressed one hand against the scabbard and gripped the hilt with the other, gently drawing the silver blade from his waist.

Zanpakuto, Senbonzakura!

The moment the blade left its sheath, a flash of light crossed Sasori of the Red Sand's eyes.

"Tsk..."

"It seems this is that ninja tool from before, the one exuding such an unusual aura?"

"Come then, let me see exactly what kind of performance it can deliver."

Sasori said, his expression devoid of emotion.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaoxi merely chuckled, raising the blade in his hand until the tip pointed directly at Sasori of the Red Sand.

"You might regret saying that in a moment."

Chen Xiaoxi said with a smile.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

The instant the words left his lips, spiritual pressure erupted from Chen Xiaoxi's entire body.

Chen Xiaoxi held the Zanpakuto upside down and slowly let go.

As the blade fell, it transformed into countless cherry blossom petals, drifting like a pink ocean as they swirled around him.

Sasori's gaze jolted.

"How beautiful!"

Sasori of the Red Sand's eyes grew somewhat dazed, captivated by the petals dancing across the sky, and he spoke subconsciously.

Yet he did not know that beautiful things are often accompanied by immense danger!

Though Senbonzakura looked beautiful, in reality, every single petal was composed of a tiny blade!

"Fall!"

He extended his slender fingers and slowly closed them.

The pink sea of cherry blossoms roared forward, instantly engulfing Sasori of the Red Sand!

The red-haired youth, Sasori, had not expected this black-haired fellow, who looked so harmless, to launch an attack without a word of warning.

However, as if he had anticipated it, he instantly manipulated the Kazekage Puppet to bring its iron sand flying over, positioning it just in time to block his front.

Countless grains of iron sand gathered in an instant, forming a wall of iron sand that blocked the scattering blades.

Yet, only a moment later, That thick wall of iron sand was instantly pierced by the tips of the blades, which sliced directly toward Sasori of the Red Sand's left arm!

Squelch!

Blood sprayed, and Sasori's expression shifted abruptly.

In that briefest of moments, his arm had actually been sliced open by the blades.

"As expected of a Kage-level powerhouse, you dodged it through sheer combat instinct?"

"It seems that trying to finish you off with just the Shikai is indeed quite a struggle."

Chen Xiaoxi said, smiling as he looked at Sasori of the Red Sand opposite him.

"To be able to break through the Kazekage's iron sand wall, the power is indeed impressive. It's a pity, though—both your speed and accuracy are lacking."

"If this ninja tool is your final trump card, then..."

"I am disappointed."

As he finished speaking, Sasori remained expressionless and immediately began manipulating the Kazekage Puppet once more.

Although his arm had been cut, to him, such an injury was completely negligible.

This time, a black seal flashed on the Kazekage Puppet's right hand, and in an instant, it summoned thousands of arms, surrounding Chen Xiaoxi from all sides.

Hidden within these arms were countless mechanisms rigged with poisonous mist; as long as the opponent was trapped, victory would be instantaneous!

To this day, he had used this move to eliminate countless powerhouses in the ninja world.

However, even at this moment.

Chen Xiaoxi raised his blade once again, pointing it straight ahead.

"Since I said I wanted a quick battle, I have no intention of continuing to waste time with you."

"So, for what comes next, don't blink."

"Bankai—"

"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi"