A Contest Between Insect Control and Puppet Techniques

Hayate Gekko's words fell, and all the genin present froze for a moment.

Qingchuan Tianming and Gaara in Area S did not need to go through preliminaries. If Kabuto Yakushi had not withdrawn, they only needed to determine their ranking. But now that a spot had opened up, things were different.

The genin from Areas A and B exchanged looks as well. To put it bluntly, this Chunin Exams was practically Konoha's civil war.

After Kabuto Yakushi withdrew, only two Sound Village nobodies remained.

The doors of the Central Tower opened, revealing a flat and spacious area. Its design resembled an ancient Roman arena, with seats spiraling outward from heights far above the fighting grounds.

"The method of combat is to choose your own opponent. Cough, cough... begin." Hayate Gekko moved to the edge of the arena as he spoke.

"Let me take the first match!" Kankuro, dressed in a black robe, was the first to speak. Carrying a puppet on his back, he walked to the center of the arena and said, "I won't choose an opponent. You can challenge me!"

"What an arrogant bastard!" Kiba Inuzuka said unhappily. "Akamaru, don't you think so too?"

"Woof woof!"

Just as Kiba Inuzuka was about to feed Akamaru a Soldier Pill, Shino Aburame beat him to it and appeared in the arena.

"Damn it, I was a step too slow!" Kiba Inuzuka was utterly frustrated. Team 8 had witnessed Gaara's murderous methods in the Forest of Death. Though they did not dare fight Gaara, they were very curious about his companions, Kankuro and Temari.

Temari was a girl, and out of gentlemanly courtesy, Kankuro naturally became the popular choice.

"Oh? You're the guy who was spying on us back then." Kankuro recognized Shino Aburame the moment he stepped forward.

"I hope you won't disappoint me." Kankuro licked his lips. As his ten fingers moved slightly, the Crow puppet on his back came "alive."

"Puppet technique?" The jonin by the arena could not help brightening at the sight. Puppet masters were rare among ninja.

Black Destruction Bugs crawled out from beneath his clothes, continuously channeling the chakra within their bodies into Shino Aburame.

"An insect master?" Kankuro barely managed to take an interest in his opponent.

"The first match: Shino Aburame versus Kankuro!" The instant Hayate Gekko announced their names, Kankuro's Crow puppet had already shot forward with nimble movements. Two rows of exceptionally sharp saw blades extended from its ribcage.

"Insect Barrier!" Shino Aburame controlled the Destruction Bugs into a barrier.

"Defense can't stop Crow!" Kankuro hooked his pinky. The Crow puppet took a running charge while spinning counterclockwise, and the saw blades extending from its ribcage formed a whirlwind of blades as it spun, slicing straight through the Insect Barrier!

The dense mass of Destruction Bugs was instantly cut apart, falling like black rain.

"Insect Spear!" As the Crow puppet broke through the Insect Barrier, Shino Aburame retreated while changing hand seals. A black spear formed from Destruction Bugs pierced forward.

The Insect Spear's attack was composed of Destruction Bugs. Shino Aburame only needed to control the insects.

Facing Shino Aburame's new ninjutsu, Kankuro's agile fingers shifted slightly, changing the chakra threads controlling the puppet as well.

The saw blades on Crow's ribcage sprang toward its hands.

A puppet and an Insect Spear fought fiercely.

"Why can't I understand their fight at all?" As a textbook poor student, Naruto Uzumaki displayed the admirable habit of asking whenever he did not understand something.

"Because the Aburame Clan uses insect control techniques. All their ninjutsu must be carried out through Destruction Bugs. Kankuro's puppets work on a similar principle, using chakra threads to control their movements. It's unlikely that either of them will engage in close combat." Shikamaru Nara explained blandly. "Naruto, don't you ever read?"

Naruto Uzumaki scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed. If reading were useful and knowledge could actually enter his brain, he would not be Naruto Uzumaki.

A short distance away from Konoha's group, Temari gave Shikamaru Nara a meaningful glance before returning to normal. "Gaara, should we have Kankuro concede? We have more important matters to deal with."

Their true purpose in coming here had never been the Chunin Exams. What Kankuro was doing was undoubtedly a waste of time.

"No need. It's rare for him to encounter an opponent to his liking." Gaara, usually taciturn, spoke more than usual. "There's plenty of time. You can also challenge an opponent you find interesting."

"Gaara, don't misunderstand. I just think that guy's analytical ability is pretty good," Temari hurriedly explained.

"It's fine, because I also have the desire to fight." Gaara looked toward Konoha's group as he spoke.

Below, the battle between Shino Aburame and Kankuro was nearing its end.

Wave after wave of Shino Aburame's Destruction Bugs had been sliced to pieces by the Crow puppet!

Just as Crow tore through the Insect Barrier with one slash, its blade stopped ten centimeters from Shino Aburame.

Kankuro, who had been certain of victory, had a drastic change in expression and cried out, "What did you do?!"

"I merely had the insects eat the connecting threads," Shino Aburame said calmly. At that moment, several Destruction Bugs slowly crawled out from Crow's limbs.

"I concede..." Kankuro raised his hand. Without his puppet, his combat strength had plummeted. Forcing himself to continue fighting would be unwise.