After walking for about the time it took to burn an incense stick, Kawaki Aoba suddenly stopped and raised a hand for silence. His eyes turned wary, and he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Don't make a sound. He's behind the sand dune ahead. I can sense his chakra, as well as the chakra of the Third Kazekage Puppet. It's powerful—and cold."
Yuhi Shinku immediately stopped and held her breath, following Kawaki Aoba's gaze. Not far ahead stood a massive sand dune. Behind it, she could vaguely make out a black figure sitting there as though resting. A chilling aura radiated from him, enough to make one shudder.
"That's him!"
Yuhi Shinku's eyes instantly sharpened. Her hands formed seals instinctively as chakra gathered in her palms. She was about to rush forward when Kawaki Aoba grabbed her.
"Don't act rashly!"
Kawaki Aoba kept his voice low, a warning in his tone. "Look at the puppet beside him. That's the Third Kazekage Puppet. If you charge in now, you'll only be throwing your life away.
"Let's observe him first. We need to find out what he wants—and just how many tricks that puppet has up its sleeve."
Yuhi Shinku calmed down. Kawaki Aoba was right. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms as blood dripped from her fingertips. Her voice was filled with hatred. "That's the one who killed my comrades. I have to avenge them! But the Third Kazekage Puppet is too powerful. Can the two of us really beat him?"
"Hard to say."
Kawaki Aoba shook his head, his gaze fixed on the figure behind the dune. "The Third Kazekage Puppet is comparable to a Kage-level fighter. Puppets don't feel pain, and they don't tire. As long as there's enough chakra, it can