The warehouse was filled with smoke, and the pungent smell of burning metal mingled with the aroma of molten metal.
A few pale rays of moonlight pierced through the broken roof, intertwining with the flickering lamplight and casting dappled shadows on the scattered mechanical wreckage.
Yashamaru's prosthetic eye scanned rapidly through the smoke and dust, a cold, mechanical voice ringing in his ears.
[Target scanning in progress...]
"Left!" he suddenly shouted, his voice echoing through the empty warehouse.
A black puppet suddenly burst through the smoke, its mechanical arms crackling with dangerous blue electricity.
Yashamaru's pupils contracted slightly as the puppet's performance parameters flashed through his mind.
Jonin- level combat strength, Chakra- driven, close-combat specialist.
His right arm rose almost instinctively, the mechanical hand transforming instantly, the cold muzzle of the gun aimed at the target.
Bang--
A blinding blue light pierced the darkness, striking the puppet precisely in the chest.
Metal fragments flew everywhere, leaving deep scratches on the wall.
But what was alarming was that the puppet with a gaping hole in its chest only staggered slightly before continuing its charge.
Cold sweat beaded on Yashamaru's forehead as he cursed under his breath, "Damn it!"
at the same time.
On the other side of the warehouse, Uchiha Inabi was being attacked from both sides by two puppets.
" Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing fireball roared out, forcing a puppet back several steps.
"Captain, watch out behind you!"
Uchiha Inabi lowered his head almost reflexively, and a gust of wind brushed past the back of his head.
The other puppet's claws flashed five times in the air.
He could clearly smell the stench of poison on the claws, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
Without the slightest hesitation, Uchiha Inabi threw three Shuriken her backhand.
Ding ding ding--
With three crisp sounds, the Shuriken precisely pierced the gaps in the puppet's joints.
The puppet's movements froze abruptly, its mechanical joints emitting a piercing grinding sound.
In the center of the warehouse.
Gaara's feet, the fine sand flowed silently, swirling around him as if it were alive.
As a puppet roared and lunged forward, the sand suddenly rose up, transforming into a giant sand hand that swiftly gripped the puppet's metal neck.
" Sand Binding Coffin!"
The Sand Hand tightened abruptly, the creaking sound of twisting metal sending chills down one's spine.
The other side of the warehouse.
The six elite guards of the Council of Elders are already locked in combat with the Special Operations Team of the Inspection Department.
The sounds of clashing metal and Ninjutsu explosions rose and fell, turning the entire warehouse into a chaotic battlefield.
" Earth Release · Earth Style Wall!"
A guard captain slapped the ground with both hands, raising a three-meter-high earthen wall.
But the next second, the mechanical gauntlets of the Inspection Department assault team blasted through the rock wall.
Amidst the flying rubble.
The female ninja, wearing tactical goggles, slid in and plunged her stun gun into the guard's abdomen.
"Ugh!"
As the captain of the guard collapsed, convulsing, he saw his deputy being attacked by three members of the Inspection Department.
One of them was aiming a gun with its barrel rotating on his shoulder, another was leaping into the air with blue flames shooting from his prosthetic legs, and a third was shooting out an electric grappling hook from his wrist.
" Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The deputy hastily Hand Seals, but his wrist was entangled by a hook.
The member of the Inspection Department leaped into the air and delivered a spinning kick, his metal combat boot slamming heavily into his temple.
In his last moments of consciousness, he heard the 'whoosh' of bullets being fired behind him.
The fiercest battle took place in the southeast corner of the warehouse.
Three guards wearing breathing masks formed a triangular formation, Kunai firing Senbon poisoned kunai from their modified weapons.
The metal shields of the Third Squad of the Inspection Department were already studded with poison needles.
Captain Yamashiro gritted his teeth and ordered, "Change to armor-piercing rounds!"
"Click!"
Amidst mechanical sounds, the seven Chakra rifles simultaneously switched modes.
Suddenly, the two guards threw out smoke bombs, and one of them took the opportunity to Hand Seals.
Lightning Release: Earth Flow!
An electric current surged through the damp ground, and two members of the Inspection Department collapsed to the ground.
"Medical team!"
Yamashiro shouted and pulled the trigger, the armor-piercing round leaving a crimson trail in the smoke.
boom--
The explosion was deafening, and Kakkō instantly engulfed the entire southeast corner.
The violent shockwave blew away the surrounding wooden crates and mechanical parts, sending debris flying like raindrops.
"Third squad, report on casualties!"
"I can't breathe! "Yamashiro shouted hoarsely, glancing warily at the thick smoke around him.
Suddenly, a dark figure burst out of the smoke.
It was the guard who unleashed Lightning Release!
His mask was shattered, revealing half of his burned face, his eyes flashing with a crazed light.
"Die!" the guard roared, his Kunai aimed straight for the Yamashiro's throat.
At the critical moment, a flash of blue light appeared.
"Bang!"
A burst of blood erupted from the guard's chest. He looked down in disbelief at the gaping hole in his chest and slowly knelt down.
Behind the smoke, Yashamaru maintained his shooting posture, the barrel of the gun on the robotic arm still emitting blue smoke.
At this moment, the last puppet seemed to realize that the situation was unfavorable and suddenly changed direction and retreated.
Upon seeing this, Yashamaru smirked coldly.
"Trying to run away?"
The leg mechanism emitted a buzzing charging sound, followed by a loud boom as the thrusters emitted a dazzling blue light.
The powerful recoil propelled him forward like an arrow released from a bow.
In mid-air, Yashamaru nimbly flipped over, his mechanical right leg delivering a powerful kick to the puppet's back.
boom--
With a deafening crash, the puppet plummeted to the ground like a kite with a broken string, creating a spiderweb-like crater in the concrete.
Before it could even struggle to its feet, several flashes of cold light appeared.
Several Kunai pierced its limb joints precisely, pinning it firmly to the ground.
The Explosive Tag at the end of the Kunai swayed slightly, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
Meanwhile, the aftershocks of the explosion also reached the main battlefield.
Gaara's sand shield deployed in time, blocking all the flying shards, and then he looked at the Third Elder.
"Give up the resistance, your entire army has been wiped out."
The Third Elder's face turned ashen, and the broken staff in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
The battle scene before him far exceeded his expectations.
Those puppets he thought were invincible were utterly vulnerable in front of these cybernetic ninjas.
He looked around and saw the ground littered with the remains of guards and puppets.
The cybernetic ninjas from the Inspection Department are methodically cleaning up the battlefield and gathering the wounded prisoners for safekeeping.
In the corner, Chief Yamada lay sprawled on the ground like a rag doll, clearly terrified by the horrific scene before him. His lips trembled as he repeatedly murmured.
"It's none of my business... it's none of my business..."
The Third Elder slowly raised his hands, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Ha... the Inspection Department has quite the airs."
He straightened his disheveled collar, maintaining an aristocratic air of arrogance despite his disheveled state.
"They're nothing but a bunch of nouveau riche who rely on mechanical modifications. Do you know why the nobles support the Council of Elders? Because we represent the tradition of Sunagakure!"
Uchiha Inabi sneered upon hearing this, disdainfully saying, "Selling the village's military supplies, is this your tradition?"
The Third Elder scoffed dismissively, "In less than three days, you'll all have to respectfully ask me to leave."
Gaara remained silent for a moment, then gave the order to Yashamaru.
"Take him away and put him in solitary confinement."
As the Third Elder was being escorted past Yamada, the terrified logistics director suddenly lunged at him and grabbed his leg.
"Third Elder! Save me! I was just following your orders..."
"Get out of my way!" The Third Elder kicked Yamada away, disgustedly dusting off his trouser leg. "Useless trash."