"Is that so?"
Determination flashed in Kawaki Aoba's eyes. "How will we know unless we try?"
He took a deep breath and gathered every last bit of Chakra in his body. His hands flew through Hand Seals. "Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" A massive Rasenshuriken formed in his hand, surrounded by vicious Wind Blades and radiating a terrifying aura.
It was the strongest Wind Release Ninjutsu Kawaki Aoba had mastered, powerful enough to cleave through a mountain.
"What?!"
Shock finally appeared in Sasori's eyes when he saw the Rasenshuriken in Kawaki Aoba's hand. "Wind Release Ninjutsu at this level... How could a brat know it?"
"I developed this jutsu specifically to fight powerful enemies."
Kawaki Aoba shouted and hurled the Rasenshuriken at Sasori's chest. "Captain Kankuro, keep him occupied!"
Though badly wounded, Kankuro gritted his teeth and stood. He pulled a Kunai from his ninja-tool pouch and threw it at Sasori's eye.
"I'm on it!"
Sasori was so focused on Kawaki Aoba's Rasenshuriken that he never noticed Kankuro's Kunai.
The Kunai struck his eye hard. It did no damage, but it stopped him for an instant.
That instant was enough. The Rasenshuriken was already upon him.
Boom!
A tremendous explosion rang out as the Rasenshuriken slammed into Sasori's chest. The force blasted a huge crater into the sand, sending dust billowing into the air and obscuring everyone's view.
"Did it work?"
The Sunagakure ninja stared nervously at the crater, their hearts full of hope.
As the dust settled, Sasori appeared at its center.
The puppet shell around his chest had been shattered by the Rasenshuriken, exposing a core glowing blue inside.
A faint Chakra Barrier surrounded the core. It had evidently blocked most of the Rasenshuriken's force.
"I never thought... you could actually break my shell."
Surprise tinged Sasori's voice. "Brat, you've