Gold and black intertwined fiercely in midair, tearing and colliding, each clash erupting in a shrill clang of metal against metal. The crystalline structure of the dragon crystal sand threw off dazzling sparks as it met the iron sand, like two primordial beasts fighting in the wilderness, each clash of fang and claw leaving trails of light that lingered in the air.
Sasori's expression changed at that instant.
He could clearly sense his iron sand being suppressed.
It was not simply a matter of chakra quantity, but of their underlying natures.
The crystalline outer layer of the dragon crystal sand severely interfered with his magnetic control over the iron sand. Whenever his iron sand tried to envelop those golden grains, their crystalline shells blocked the transmission of magnetic force, preventing his iron sand from effectively restraining them.
What made Sasori's heart sink even further was the chakra nature carried by the dragon crystal sand-Yang Release, taken to its utmost extreme, even carrying a trace of searing heat akin to Lava Release. It was steadily eating away at his iron sand defenses.
Tufeng stood behind the golden sand dragon, his hands forming hand seals with mountainlike steadiness.
His gaze pierced the chaotic battlefield and fixed on the Third Kazekage Human Puppet. There was no fear or hesitation in his eyes, only an eager desire to put something to the test.
He had waited far too long for this moment.
Ever since Uchiha Makoto had brought him out of that sunless laboratory, he had been modified, trained, and pushed beyond his limits using the Third Kazekage as a template. One question had always occupied his mind: had he surpassed the original, or was he merely a copy? Today, with the actual Third Kazekage Human Puppet standing before him, he could finally find