Sasori's final scroll-the one he had refused to use even in death!

Whoosh!

Sasori unfurled the Scroll horizontally, revealing ten summoning formulas arranged in a single row!

He formed a seal with two fingers, pouring chakra into the formula marked "One" at the far left!

"After taking Human Puppet technology to its pinnacle, I gradually discovered the limitations of making puppets from human bodies. I was no longer satisfied. A new idea came to me: if I could combine the power of tailed beasts with puppet mechanisms, I could take my puppet art to new heights!"

"Once this technique is complete, it will undoubtedly become a puppet mechanism capable of destroying a great nation!"

"Akatsuki's Leader approved of my idea. He promised that once Akatsuki completed its grand undertaking of collecting the tailed beasts, he would make my dream a reality!"

"For now, I have completed a Prototype using Shukaku's Chakra, which I collected years ago. It is still far from my ultimate dream, but without question, it is a weapon of slaughter that rivals a true tailed beast!"

From an enormous cloud of white smoke, a colossal figure descended onto the river at Tenchi Bridge!

It had the same shape and size as Shukaku the One-Tail. High-strength puppet armor covered its entire body, powerful puppet mechanisms filled its interior, and Shukaku the One-Tail's Chakra served as its driving force!

—Puppet Colossus: Shukaku of the Sand!

Sasuke said, "A Puppet Colossus modeled after a tailed beast? So this is Red Sand Scorpion's trump card."

Orochimaru said, "I see. Was Sasori the inspiration behind Nagato's original Tailed Beast Weapon Plan? Obito, who wanted to bring about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, naturally had no desire to see that become reality. So, not long after Akatsuki began collecting the tailed beasts, Sasori became its first member to die in service. Then Obito replaced him, stepping into the open as Tobi, officially taking the position of Jade Maiden of Akatsuki. And Sasori's final Scroll vanished without a trace..."

Whoosh!

Sasori put away the Scroll and leaped onto the Puppet Colossus's head. The steel cable in his abdomen slotted into an opening in its forehead!

—Puppet Art: Feigning Sleep Technique!

Sasori's puppet eyes closed, and the Shukaku colossus's star-shaped eyes lit up with a metallic gleam!

"Even its control method imitates the Feigning Sleep Technique used by Shukaku's jinchūriki. This is going to be a trial by fire!"

Sasuke activated his skeletal Susanoo again and braced himself!

Clack!

The Shukaku colossus opened its enormous mouth. Its built-in Wind Release Puppet Mechanism unleashed a powerful suction force ahead!

Whoosh!

The river churned. Under the force of the inward-blowing wind, Susanoo's massive body was pinned firmly to the water's surface!

Sasuke said, "This Wind Release is similar to that of Danzo's summoned beast, Baku..."

Splash, splash, splash...! Sheets of water rose in the wind and rushed toward the Shukaku colossus's mouth!

Sasuke said, "And since we're fighting on the water, the Fire Release counter I used before won't work. Still, this simple inward-blowing wind can't actually damage Susanoo!"

Clack!

The Shukaku colossus raised its left arm. A Grappling Hook shot from its wrist, its claws catching Susanoo's ribs!

Sasuke said, "I see. The Wind Release holds Susanoo in place so this claw mechanism can grab it!"

Whoosh...!!

As the claw retracted, Susanoo hurtled forward!!!

The inward-blowing wind abruptly stopped, and the Shukaku colossus spat a compressed ball of wind from its mouth!

—Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!

Boom...!!!

The violent collision between those opposing forces multiplied the destructive power several times over. Susanoo shattered, and Sasuke tumbled clumsily into the water!

"It broke through Susanoo's first-stage defenses so easily. He's nothing like he was before..."

But this is exactly what I wanted!

Slap! Sasuke rolled across the water and brought his hands together.

—Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!!

A forest erupted from the water and wound toward the Shukaku colossus!

Clack! Clack! Bzzzzz...!

Hundreds of Spiral Blades sprang from the Shukaku colossus's armor. Spinning at high speed, they shredded every tree that approached!

Shukaku's mechanical eyes locked onto Sasuke!

Shing, shing, shing!

The Spiral Blades detached from the Shukaku puppet's shell and screamed toward Sasuke, who no longer had Susanoo's protection!

Crackle!

Sasuke wrapped Lightning Release around his ankles and sprinted across the water, only to see the Spiral Blades turn in midair and follow him like shadows!

"Guided attacks...?"

Clang, clang, clang...!!

Sasuke knocked several Spiral Blades down with the Kusanagi Sword. Glancing back, he saw that the Shukaku puppet's eyes never stopped tracking him!

He understood at once. I see. Those Spiral Blades change course according to where the Shukaku puppet looks. In that case...

As he ran, Sasuke threw one Ninja Smoke Bomb after another. The rising clouds blocked Shukaku's vision. Unable to identify their target, the Spiral Blades stopped tracking him and struck the water in succession, sending waves splashing up!

Whoosh...!!

Sasuke flashed out of the smoke, ready to launch a counterattack, only to see a horrifying sight.

Terrifying black light was gathering inside the Shukaku puppet's wide-open mouth!

"It can even use a Tailed Beast Bomb!"

Sweat finally appeared on Sasuke's face.

"My current Wood Release can't block that. Only Susanoo's third form can stand against it. But I've already overdrawn my ocular power. If I force it, these eyes might not last through the Second Match..."

"To hell with it... Orochimaru will find a way for me!!!"

Boom...!!

Susanoo rose once again. Wary of the Grappling Hook, Sasuke swiftly retreated to a safe distance!

Susanoo rapidly progressed from its skeletal first form to its flesh-and-blood second form. As Sasuke released even more of his ocular power, the blazing purple light became a suit of imposing armor that covered Susanoo's body. This third form closely resembled the mythical Crow Tengu, earning it another name—Crow Tengu Susanoo!

Sasuke held a hand loosely over his eyes. "This is the form I once unleashed against Kakashi after killing Danzo. As the final form of Susanoo available to the Mangekyo, its effect on the Mangekyo's sight is devastating. Honestly, I still don't understand how Itachi preserved his sight until our battle after activating this form of Susanoo..."

Boom...!!

The Heavenly Magatama Bow reappeared, but this time, its arrow was made from Kagutsuchi's black flames!

The Tailed Beast Bomb had finished forming before the Shukaku colossus's mouth. The pressure of its highly concentrated chakra depressed the water's surface by ten meters!!

Boom...!!!

The Tailed Beast Bomb blasted forward.

At the same time... the Kagutsuchi arrow shot out!!

Boom...!!!

The two collided, creating a ferocious whirlwind of explosive flames above the river!!!

Boom...!!

Hot winds swirled and river water surged. Crack! Crack! Tenchi Bridge's cables snapped, then its entire deck was ripped up by the storm and towering waves. The surrounding forest was mercilessly torn apart by the gale!

With no other choice... Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi retreated to a distant cliff to watch.

Kabuto Yakushi marveled, "This truly is a battle between monsters. I never imagined the First Battle would be this intense..."

Orochimaru smiled into the wind. "A shinobi's strength isn't determined by destructive power, but by whether he can effectively harm his opponent. The Second Match certainly won't be this spectacular, but the life-or-death trial Sasuke faces may be unlike anything before..."

The black flames scattered by the bursting Tailed Beast Bomb ringed the riverbanks, dancing exuberantly!

Whoosh!

The Shukaku puppet fired the Grappling Hook in its left arm!

Shing!

A greatsword of black flames blazed to life in Susanoo's right hand, severing both the Grappling Hook and the Shukaku puppet's left arm!

An enormous quantity of sand poured from Shukaku's severed arm. Some became Sand Shot that blanketed the sky... forcing back Susanoo's charge!

Sand gathered in Shukaku's right hand, forming an enormous Sand Spear. It was—Shukaku's Spear!

Clang, clang, clang, clang...!

Then... within the arena ringed by black flames, the two colossal figures exchanged thunderous blows!!

The black-flame sword held the advantage in offense, but every time it was about to land, the sand spontaneously formed an enormous defensive shield to block the attack for Shukaku.

Sasuke had to admit, "With only a portion of Shukaku's chakra, he has used puppet mechanisms to reproduce the power of the real Shukaku of the Sand. Red Sand Scorpion truly has no equal in Puppet Technique. If he actually built complete Tailed Beast Weapons for Akatsuki, destroying a great nation would be well within his reach..."

He silently resolved, So this isn't just about the First Battle. I have to eliminate this threat to the Shinobi World for good...

Dark clouds loomed overhead, holding back muffled thunder.

On the mountaintop, Orochimaru looked up. "Look. The weather is changing..."

Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses and said solemnly, "That technique should be Lightning Release: Kirin..."

Orochimaru watched eagerly. "Kirin alone clearly won't be enough to destroy the Shukaku colossus. Sasuke-kun knows that perfectly well. So what will he do?"

Boom...!!!

After another collision, Sasuke and Susanoo shot back toward the cliff. The black-flame sword died out in Susanoo's hand, and Sasuke covered his trembling eyes.

"This third form really is at its limit. After those exchanges, I have a rough idea of that Shukaku puppet's defensive strength. To destroy it completely in one strike, I'll have to use that technique after all..."

Whoosh...!!!

Susanoo raised its hand high!!

Boom...!!!

The lightning gathering in the sky became a furious-eyed Kirin. But instead of descending toward the enemy, it gathered in Crow Tengu Susanoo's palm!!!

Kabuto Yakushi exclaimed, "He's using Kirin through Susanoo as a Chidori!!!!"

Orochimaru smiled. "No... there's more. He's going to combine the White Cursed Seal with Susanoo, too!"

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...!

Sasuke pulled open the front of his white kimono. White cursed seal markings spread from his own body onto Susanoo's outer armor!

Orochimaru sighed in admiration. "I thought we wouldn't see this application of the White Cursed Seal until the Third Match at the earliest... It seems Sasuke-kun's growth during this battle has exceeded my expectations!"

Crackle...!!

Infused with White Cursed Seal Power, the Chidori lightning formed from Kirin in Susanoo's palm suddenly turned white!!

Before the cliff on the other side, Red Sand Scorpion opened his feigning-sleep eyes atop the Shukaku puppet's head. His expression shifted in alarm as he watched the extraordinary sight across from him.

"So that's his full power? What a monster. If he keeps growing like this, he might really be able to kill Itachi!"

Whoosh!

Another Tailed Beast Bomb gathered in the Shukaku puppet's mouth, and Shukaku's Spear swept sideways into it!!

Boom...!

On the river between towering cliffs, the two colossal figures launched their final charges!

—Shukaku Colossus: Black Sand Spear!

—Susanoo: White Kirin!