Gaara suddenly appeared behind Sasori, unleashing a massive sandstorm.
Sasori retreated quickly, manipulating his Sharingan puppet to perform Wood Release: Wooden Wall to block the crushing waves of sand.
Gasps echoed throughout the arena. In this world, those who could wield Wood Release were exceedingly rare. And now, a puppet had just used it.
A puppet with Sharingan… and Wood Release.
From the sidelines, Orochimaru had appeared without anyone noticing, his golden eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the puppet. The longer he stared, the more familiar the design became. The features were modeled after the Second Hokage, Tobirama, while the ability used was from none other than the First Hokage, Hashirama.
Beside him, Tsunade folded her arms. "Seems someone in Akatsuki has mastered your techniques."
Orochimaru's face twisted with cold disdain. He uttered a single name.
"Kabuto."
Yakushi Kabuto, the boy who had spent his life yearning for power, for acknowledgment. He was born without natural gifts, without Kakashi's brilliance or Uchiha Itachi's genius, who mastered every forbidden art with terrifying ease. Kabuto had none of that—but he had patience. He could wait, he could learn, he could endure. Years of concealment and study had finally borne fruit.
For Orochimaru, Kabuto was both a disappointment and a tragedy.
Back in the arena, Sasori's puppet deflected the sandstorm with ease, shocking even Gaara. He hadn't expected a puppet to wield Wood Release. Sasori's mastery of puppetry had truly reached its peak. No one in the shinobi world could match him.
But Gaara had no time to dwell on it.
"Wood Release: Tree Bind Flourish!" From the puppet's arms sprouted a dense forest of trees, surging toward Gaara like a living tide.
Gaara narrowly dodged, only to be assailed from the opposite side—the Third Kazekage's puppet launched its magnetic iron sand, hemming him in from both sides. Gaara's sand defenses strained under the assault.
Naruto clenched his fists, sweat beading on his forehead. He wanted to rush in, but then…
"Relax," the Nine-Tails growled from within. "Shukaku may be weak, but he's still a Tailed Beast. Gaara won't lose so easily."
Naruto bit his lip, then forced himself to stay put.
Meanwhile, Gaara was pushed to his limit, retreating further and further until he nearly stepped outside the boundary of the arena.
"Not good! One more step and Gaara's out of bounds!" Ino cried. "That'll be an automatic loss!"
The once empty battlefield was now littered with black iron sand and towering wooden walls—an entire landscape of traps and barriers. Gaara's footing grew scarce.
"So that's his real plan." Kakashi's sharp gaze pierced through Sasori's strategy. "He didn't enter the exams to place in the top three. He came to send a message on behalf of Akatsuki."
"To intimidate, huh?" Guy muttered.
"And maybe," Kakashi's tone turned wry, "to make sure Sasuke ends up in the top ten. As if that boy even needs help."
Sasori's puppets then unleashed their ultimate assault, both activating their grand techniques at once. No one could possibly escape such an onslaught.
Everyone's breath caught. Was this the end for Gaara?
But before the devastating strike could land, a thunderous explosion erupted from the opposite side of the arena, shaking the ground and scattering clouds of sand into the air.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]