The Third Kazekage Human Puppet at the center slid backward a hundred feet under the tremendous force before barely regaining his footing.
Shukaku had broken free of his restraints completely.
His massive claw swept across the battlefield, smashing more than a dozen puppets into pieces in an instant. Most of the sealing formation collapsed once again.
The candidates lost their strength at once. Some slumped amid the ruins, while others felt their legs give way. The hope that had just kindled in their hearts nearly crumbled.
Only then did Sasori finally twitch his five fingers.
The instant his fingertips curled inward, the Sealing Scroll behind him opened wide again. More than thirty fresh puppets dropped to the ground and raced into position, seamlessly filling the gaps in the battle formation.
"Puppets have no emotions."
His voice was flat, as though stating the simplest of facts. "But he does."
"For every bit I expend, I replace it. Every time he flies into a rage, I wind another loop of chain around him. Every puppet he smashes, I summon another."
"I have all the expendables I need."
Shukaku's scarlet eye swept coldly over the edge of the battlefield, settling on Gāngtài, Lian, and the panting candidates.
Tiny, exhausted, utterly vulnerable.
"Very well."
A low growl rumbled in his throat, his savage bloodlust surging to its peak. "Then I'll crush these companions of yours first!"
A third Tailed Beast Bomb spun rapidly deep inside his chest, swelling into shape.
The pitch-black sphere revolved ponderously, its destructive pressure blanketing the surroundings and nearly suffocating the entire Capital.
His jaws shifted slightly, the cannon of death taking precise aim at the exposed ruins of the Official Inn and the exhausted ninja there.
"Run... we can't get away..."
The gaunt candidate's legs buckled, and he dropped