A pale blue Wind Release: Great Breakthrough spun violently,
enveloping the bright yellow, high-temperature Extremely Steaming Murder fireball that Pakura had unleashed with the White Phoenix Mecha's amplification.
Carried along by the unusual Wind Release, the fireball spun into the tunnel.
The wind fed the fire, and the fire rode the wind.
The new Extremely Steaming Murder fireball, its temperature vastly increased, began producing clouds of steam the moment it touched the tunnel.
The moisture in the soil evaporated, and the flames, nearly 1,700 degrees hot, empowered by Wind Release,
quickly conducted heat into the soil and rock surrounding the tunnel.
Most of the tunnel floor was paved with stone slabs created using Earth Release: Earth Shore Return.
Mukai had specifically tested this rock, which was made by compressing soil with Chakra.
The material was similar to sedimentary rock and could generally melt into magma at 1,500 degrees.
The rest of the earth was mostly a mixture of sand and stone, and most of those materials could soften or even liquefy within that temperature range.
Even materials that were especially resistant to heat would be enveloped by the other molten magma and eventually cool into a single mass.
That was why he had been guiding Pakura and helping her raise the temperature of her flames.
The more active the ionized state of the flames, the higher their temperature.
The Wind Release whirlwind gathered the flames together, allowing the intense heat to be concentrated entirely on the tunnel walls they touched.
The localized heat would not dissipate, but would continue advancing along with the whirlwind.
As the Extremely Steaming Murder fireball was enveloped by the whirlwind-shaped Great Breakthrough,
the wind fed the flames, and the walls all around the tunnel began to melt, only to be squeezed outward by the violently spinning Wind Release.
The molten, lava-like material was compressed into a denser mass, while the soil and rock deeper within liquefied and were compressed in turn.
As the wind swept the fireball forward, the material gradually began to cool.
Now even Konan, who had been puzzled, understood Mukai's idea:
"Wow! So Mukai's going to melt this tunnel into one solid piece of lava!
What a genius idea!"
Sasori had seen Mukai use Wind Release and Fire Style to reinforce the turbine generator installation room bit by bit.
Mukai wasn't particularly skilled at Fire Style, so reinforcing the turbine generator room back then naturally hadn't been nearly this spectacular.
He had discussed the plan with Mukai, so he was familiar with the idea.
Even so, the sheer power of Mukai and Pakura's combined Ninjutsu took him completely by surprise.
With wind and fire working together, the change was obvious from the cross section at the tunnel exit.
A full thirty centimeters of the soil and rock surrounding the tunnel had turned into solidified magma!
As the tornado of flame continued advancing, they could see the inner walls of the tunnel, more than two meters across,
turning into a single solid structure marked with tiny wind spirals!
It was incredible!
Chiyo, standing nearby, couldn't help remarking:
"Chakra Nature Transformation and an efficient combination of Ninjutsu.
That boy Mukai already has strength far beyond a Chunin's.
Sasori, Konoha will be organizing a joint Chunin Ninja Exam next year.
The Kazekage will send different teams to take part.
Your Chunin status was never made public, so the village has decided to have you form a squad and participate.
You're still one member short. Who would you like to join you?"
"Go to Konoha?"
Sasori clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, and asked in a somewhat low voice:
"Will the village let me take revenge?"
Chiyo shook her head firmly:
"No, Sasori. The Konoha White Fang has Kage Level strength. Even if the Third Kazekage fought him personally, he couldn't claim he'd be sure to win.
Going after him for revenge would only get you killed.
Now you have a wonderful companion like Mukai, and your strength keeps growing.
I'm sure that one day, you'll surpass Hatake Sakumo
and defeat him honorably on the battlefield.
Besides, Hatake Sakumo should be my opponent. You and Mukai are the village's future.
In this Chunin Ninja Exam, you can show Sunagakure's strength to your hearts' content.
Defeating Konoha's new generation head-on and proving yourself would be a victory too."
Sasori was still somewhat downcast. He stared blankly at Mukai and Pakura as they solidified the tunnel, saying nothing more.
Chiyo's heart tightened, and she looked at Sasori's profile with concern.
She hadn't expected mentioning Konoha and Hatake Sakumo to stir up Sasori's painful memories again.
Now, she didn't even know how to comfort him.
Nearby, Mukai was concentrating fully on controlling the whirlwind Great Breakthrough.
If the whirlwind guided the molten magma to solidify too slowly, it would drip down from the ceiling.
That would naturally make the overall result much less effective.
In this distorted world, where there was no reinforced concrete but extraordinary powers existed,
this was the best way he currently had to ensure the tunnel was sturdy and durable.
The two continued scorching the tunnel with their combined Ninjutsu for ten meters before it finally dissipated after moving beyond their range of control.
"Good boy! That's my disciple, all right!
You've really got the hang of that whirlwind Great Breakthrough!"
Pakura folded her arms, her usual proud expression returning.
Every strand of hair in her green bun seemed to radiate pride.
The temperature of her Extremely Steaming Murder fireball had risen, more than doubling the power of the entire technique!
With the White Phoenix Mecha's amplification, if she used its full-body flame mode, an opponent's ninja tools would melt as soon as they came near!
It was all thanks to Mukai, the dead-last Genin she hadn't thought much of at first.
She had originally thought he was just Sasori's little sidekick, but it turned out he was not only the brains of the team,
his understanding of Ninjutsu and his own strength had long since surpassed the level of a Genin.
Now, few Chunin in the village were a match for him!
At this rate of growth, it probably wouldn't take more than a few years for Mukai and Sasori to become leading experts among the village's new generation!
Mukai merely smiled at Pakura's praise.
When he saw Sasori standing beside Chiyo, his expression cold, he could guess roughly what had happened.
Elder Chiyo had already told him about the Chunin Ninja Exams.
And Konoha, as well as its top expert Hatake Sakumo, would naturally bring back Sasori's painful memories.
He had Konan bring out food for Chiyo and Pakura, then went over to Sasori and nudged him with his shoulder.
"Hey, stingy Sasori, are you jealous after seeing me show off my might?"
"Tch, your amateur Ninjutsu is no match for the Mountain God Mecha. What do I have to be jealous of?"
Seeing Sasori refuse to admit it, Mukai pointed up toward the top of the deep water-storage well.
"Since you're not jealous of my magnificent self, how about coming up for a walk with me?"
Though Sasori was feeling somewhat down after Konoha and Hatake Sakumo had been mentioned,
he naturally didn't refuse his best friend's invitation.
Neither of them was wearing a mecha. They channeled Chakra to their feet and ran straight up.
They sat down atop the small hill of Iron Sand beside the puppet workshop,
quietly watching the dust that occasionally swept across the land outside the oasis and the campfires rising from the scattered oases in the distance.
After a long while, Sasori suddenly said,
"The village is sending us to Konoha for the joint Chunin Ninja Exam.
It's set for next year."
Mukai nodded, then suddenly said,
"Sasori, you're afraid, aren't you?"