Not Only the Uchiha Can Pilot Gundams

"I'm finally out! Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

Amid the endless yellow sands, a gigantic tanuki covered in cursed seal patterns raised its sharp claws and howled at the sky.

"Yes, yes, you're out."

A calm voice came from nearby.

"Who is it?" Shukaku warily looked toward the source of the voice.

"It's you!" Shukaku narrowed his coin-like pupils and spotted Keiko standing atop a nearby dune.

"Yes, it's me."

"I'll kill you!"

"Come on, you stinking tanuki." Keiko showed no fear as he pulled out a scroll. With a bang, a mass of black Iron Sand poured out, instantly forming a steel barrier before him.

Shukaku ignored the situation in front of him and roared madly, "Wind Release: Air Bullets!" "Wind Release: Sand Scattershot!"

Countless enormous wind spheres and sand bullets condensed from high-density Tailed Beast chakra rained down upon Keiko's iron wall, producing ear-piercing grinding sounds. Shukaku unleashed them tirelessly, seemingly determined to drown the tiny human before him beneath endless waves of attacks.

On a distant dune, Pakura and Rasa were making tea inside a hastily erected tent.

"How long has it been?" Pakura asked worriedly as she looked toward the battle.

"Still early, still early. It's only been a little over two hours. Let the monk sleep a while longer." Rasa did not even raise his head as he fussed with the tea set.

"Hey, look, Shukaku stopped. Is he about to fire a Tailed Beast Bomb?" Pakura pointed toward the fight.

"Really? Heh, the best part is here!" Rasa quickly handed Pakura a cup of tea, then carried a little stool to the front and sat down.

Shukaku opened his huge mouth. Vast amounts of chakra rapidly gathered and condensed as an enormous black chakra sphere took shape.

Sensing that the attacks had stopped, Keiko quickly withdrew the Iron Sand barrier, pulled out two more scrolls at lightning speed, and released even more black Iron Sand. Then his hands flew through a series of seals.

"Magnet Release: Gundam Technique!"

With Keiko's shout, countless grains of Iron Sand rapidly piled together and assembled. Before long, they transformed into a steel giant roughly the same size as Shukaku. The giant wore armor and held a pair of iron maces, looking exactly like a fearsome guardian deity. It radiated murderous intent and imposing majesty.

"So cool!" Pakura and Rasa's eyes sparkled with stars.

In an instant, the Tailed Beast Bomb arrived before them. The steel giant crossed its twin maces and forcibly withstood the continuously churning sphere, sending sparks flying everywhere. Standing atop the Iron Construct's head, Keiko gave a low shout and swung both maces upward. The Tailed Beast Bomb shot into the sky and exploded, blasting the once-dense clouds clean away.

The Iron Construct took two quick steps forward and swung an iron mace at Shukaku. Shukaku instinctively raised his right claw to block it. Iron was heavier than sand, and Shukaku's right arm was instantly smashed to pieces. Before Shukaku could recover, the Iron Construct swung its left mace for another blow, tearing another chunk out of Shukaku's waist.

"Serves you right for being disobedient. Disobedient!" Keiko muttered, but his hands did not slow in the slightest. The twin iron maces struck from both sides, whipping Shukaku like a spinning top. Such attacks did not cause Shukaku any real damage, but the repeated blows prevented him from gathering a stable form. Under the twin maces' merciless battering, he gradually turned into a pile of "mud." And with every strike from the Iron Construct, Shukaku let out a shrill scream. It seemed it really did hurt.

"How did Big Brother come up with such a cool ninjutsu?" Pakura still had stars in her eyes.

"I heard Big Brother created it by drawing inspiration from First Hokage Hashirama's Wood Human Technique and the Uchiha Clan's Susanoo. Still, only someone with Big Brother's absurd chakra reserves could maintain an Iron Construct for so long. He's been beating Shukaku for three hours, and it still hasn't fallen apart. Incredible!" Rasa said as he slowly sipped his tea.

"By the way, how is your Golden Human Technique coming along?" Pakura turned and asked.

"Don't mention it. Even today, it's still not even half as large as Big Brother's Iron Construct. And Gold Dust is too heavy, so it's difficult to control. It's not bad as a Sealing Technique, though." Rasa let out a long sigh.

"Don't think only the Uchiha can pilot Gundams. My Iron Construct is no worse than theirs." Keiko muttered to himself.

That was right. This was the new ninjutsu Keiko had developed based on his Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai: the Gundam Technique. In the original story, the Third Kazekage had already become Sasori of the Red Sands' human puppet by the time he appeared. His so-called Magnet Release: Iron Sand Technique merely controlled Iron Sand mixed with poison, shaping it into various forms to stab or crush people.

A proper Magneto of the Shinobi World had been reduced to an indestructible wrecking ball. What a waste of talent. Having been reborn, Keiko would never squander his gifts. He developed all manner of powerful, targeted ninjutsu based on his own traits. The Gundam Technique was one of them, using Magnet Release to shape Iron Sand into a combat Iron Construct capable of constantly changing form. It was the perfect choice for suppressing Tailed Beasts and opposing Susanoo.

It was even superior to Hashirama's Wood Human Technique. Ever since Keiko devised this technique, he would occasionally come to Bunpuku for practice. At this point, Bunpuku was still far from becoming a Perfect Jinchūriki. To resist the restless Shukaku within him, he could only force himself to stay awake and dared not sleep, often suffering terribly from exhaustion.

This worked out perfectly. Whenever Keiko came, Bunpuku would use the Feigned Sleep Technique to temporarily release Shukaku, while Keiko would use the Gundam Technique to fight him. On one hand, Keiko could continually refine his technique. On the other, Bunpuku could finally get some much-needed rest.

As time passed, their battles grew longer and longer. They had gone from fighting for two hours at the beginning to handling it with ease now. Keiko had also gradually reached Kage Level.

"It's been about six and a half hours. The sun is about to set, and Big Brother needs dinner." Pakura said to Rasa.

"Mm. Dinner can't be delayed." Rasa took a firework from his robes.

"Screech—bang!"

As the firework blossomed in the sky, Keiko leaped over to Bunpuku, who was sleeping within a pile of "mud," and flicked the bald monk hard on the forehead.

"Ah!" Bunpuku yawned comfortably and stretched in satisfaction. Then he bowed to Keiko once more.

"Thank you for helping me, Benefactor."

"Think nothing of it. I'll be here during this time. Whenever you're sleepy, Master, just call for me."

"Hehe, you are too polite, Benefactor. Shukaku told me just now that you have been hitting harder and harder lately, and he truly cannot endure it anymore. He says he will not make trouble again. If this monk gets sleepy, I can simply release him. He promises not to cause trouble or hurt anyone."

"Oh, really? But Shukaku has always been cunning. I'll need to watch him for a while longer."

"That is not quite right, Benefactor. So long as they can sincerely accept one another, humans and Tailed Beasts are no different."

"No matter. It might be nice to chat with Shukaku. Every time we meet, we just fight. We've never had a proper conversation."

"Big Brother, this is the battle report from the Land of Rain front. It should be from a week ago." Rasa handed over a stack of reports.

"Any news about Hidden Leaf Village and Hidden Stone Village?"

Keiko took the reports and asked casually.

"According to intelligence from ANBU Baki, a large number of Hidden Stone Village ninja have been spotted along the border between the Land of Rain and Earth Country. Hidden Leaf Village's Third Hokage has currently stopped accepting missions and issued a ninja mobilization order."

"This is bad." After reading the reports, Keiko could not help sighing.

Hidden Rain and Sunagakure were locked in a stalemate. Due to the Land of Rain's year-round wet weather, many of Sunagakure's ninjutsu were severely weakened. Fortunately, Chiyo had neutralized all the poison Hanzo of the Salamander released on the battlefield. She had also discovered Ibuse's weakness: it needed five minutes to replenish its poisonous gas. This gave Hanzo quite a headache. Although Sunagakure held the advantage on the front lines, quickly ending the war was no longer possible. Hidden Stone Village and Hidden Leaf Village were already stirring. The situation was developing in an unfavorable direction.

"Draft a letter to Elder Ebizo immediately." Pakura quickly took out paper and pen to record his words.

"Given the current grim wartime situation, I propose the following recommendations:

First, raise Sunagakure's alert level and increase the number of hidden and mobile sentries.

Second, request fifty million ryō in war funding from the Land of Wind's daimyo.

Third, all Chunin and Genin who have not joined the war and are currently carrying out missions elsewhere must immediately terminate their missions and purchase as much food as possible locally, then transport it back to Hidden Sand Village in the shortest possible time. The mission reception office will handle all compensation for breached contracts.

Fourth, inventory the ninja tools and supplies in storage, and assign personnel to guard the wells.

Fifth, purchase a batch of ninja tools on credit from the Land of Crafts."

"Big Brother, even if we commit all these forces to the front lines now, I still don't think we can win this war." Rasa said to Keiko with a bitter expression.

"What makes you think this is for the front lines?" Keiko raised his head and looked at the bright moon.

"We have already lost this war. I'm preparing for the next one."