Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi continued holding off the remaining Sunagakure Jonin, preventing them from interfering with Kawaki Aoba and Sasori's battle.
Kawaki Aoba gripped the Lightning Blade and walked toward Sasori step by step, his voice icy. "Sasori, you colluded with Asuma, framed me, and even tried to seize the Tailed Beast's secret files. What exactly is your goal?"
Sasori gave a cold laugh, his tone contemptuous. "My goal is none of your concern.
Kawaki Aoba, hand over the files obediently, or I'll make sure you die horribly."
"If you want the files, you'll have to get past me first!"
Kawaki Aoba shouted and charged at Sasori with the Lightning Blade in hand. Blue lightning flashed through the forest, dazzlingly bright.
Sasori's expression did not change. With a wave of his hand, a puppet immediately stepped in front of him. It held a longsword and thrust it at Kawaki Aoba.
Kawaki Aoba sidestepped the strike and drove the Lightning Blade viciously into the puppet's chest. With a crack, its chest was pierced through, yet it showed no reaction at all. Instead, it swung its sword again and stabbed at Kawaki Aoba.
"A puppet is still a puppet. It has neither feelings nor pain."
Sasori sneered. "Kawaki Aoba, do you think your Lightning Blade can destroy my puppets? How naive."
Kawaki Aoba frowned. These puppets are made of some unusual material. Ordinary ninjutsu can't destroy them at all. I have to find their cores to destroy them completely.
Sasori seemed to see through Kawaki Aoba's thoughts and sneered. "Do you think I'll let you find the puppets' cores? Dream on!"
Sasori waved a hand, and more puppets emerged from the forest, charging at Kawaki Aoba. Their roles were clearly divided—some attacked, some defended—and they worked together seamlessly.
Kawaki