As for traps...
Unless one reaches the level where others have no choice but to trigger them even after recognizing them,
Otherwise, anyone with a bit of Shinobi experience can see through them.
Ryuji's skill with traps is just average, not quite at a master level.
Under normal circumstances, that Kumogakure's Shinobi would never have fallen for them.
But at this moment, the pressure Ryuji exerted on them was so immense that they lost their usual calm and judgment.
In the end, he died on a trap meant for cannon fodder.
"So, what will you do?"
Looking at the last two, a teasing curve appeared at the corner of Ryuji's mouth. "Make one final desperate attempt? I'm a puppeteer. If you bypass the puppets, you still have a chance to kill me."
"That's indeed a good suggestion, but I choose to retreat."
As Toroi spoke, he shifted his gaze to the Iwagakure's Shinobi. "The mission has failed. We'll scatter and escape, cause destruction within Sunagakure. If he chases me, you seize the chance to breach the gate defenses, and vice versa."
"Understood."
The Iwagakure's Shinobi nodded, turned, and ran.
Troy didn't hesitate either. He performed several backflips to create distance, then turned and fled.
Ryuji did not pursue.
They were very close to the village entrance. At Jonin speed, one could reach it within a minute.
He wasn't confident he could chase down and eliminate one side within a minute, then rush back in time to stop the other.
But allowing two Elite Jonin to wreak havoc in the village would cause immense damage.
"This is the only way. I hope I don't see kunai flying my way later," Ryuji muttered, forming hand seals. "Gin, go kill those two."
…
Crack!
After snapping the neck of the last enemy, Gin's mind echoed with Ryuji's voice.
"Gin, go kill those two."
As the words fell, the images of two people also appeared in her mind.
Gin paused, tossed aside the corpse in her hand, and looked back at the several guards defending the Kazekage Building.
"I'm going to pursue two formidable enemies. I might run low on Chakra. Give me some of your Chakra."
"Huh?"
Their eyes widened in surprise, stammering, "We don't mind, but how do we give you our Chakra?"
"Don't worry about it!"
Gin approached them, extended her hands, and placed them on their shoulders.
Instantly, the Chakra within their bodies surged uncontrollably toward her.
Chakra possesses the ability to connect people's hearts.
The Sage of Six Paths researched the mysteries of Chakra, developed Chakra Extraction Techniques, founded Ninshu... His goal was to use Chakra's ability to connect hearts, enabling everyone to understand each other, thereby abandoning conflict and bringing peace to the world.
Ryuji utilized this characteristic to develop a technique and device for absorbing Chakra.
Well, it's different from Samehada's function.
It can only purely absorb Chakra. It cannot convert Chakra that has already undergone Nature Transformation back into unaffiliated Chakra for absorption.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning.
Although he is the developer of this technique, Ryuji never mastered it himself. His talent as a Shinobi is simply too average.
He only proposed the theory of the technique, then used the Observation Device to deduce and develop it, and finally taught it to his puppets.
"Don't resist."
Seeing the two panicking due to Chakra loss, Gin spoke up promptly. "You still need to continue guarding the Kazekage Building. I won't absorb too much Chakra. Just a little from each of you is enough."
Then, Gin absorbed half of their Chakra before shifting her target to the others.
The Chakra Absorption Technique requires careful control during use. More Chakra isn't always better, and it depends on the body's capacity.
For Gin, half of their Chakra really was just a little. All eight combined provided barely one-tenth of her capacity.
"That should be enough."
Gin sensed the Chakra within her body, nodded, and headed toward the location indicated by the intel Ryuji provided.
…
Consciousness awakened from the depths. The Third Kazekage rubbed his head and sat up.
He looked around, a trace of confusion in his expression.
"Where is this?"
"It's my workshop, Kazekage-sama."
Ryuji's voice echoed in the Third Kazekage's mind.
The Third Kazekage was stunned for a moment. Memories flooded his mind like a tide, bringing intense pain.
"So that's how it is."
A moment later, all memories were assimilated.
The Third Kazekage panted heavily, a flicker of hatred in his eyes. "That bastard, Sasori of the Red Sand, actually attacked me. And to think I considered him a future star of the village."
"Well, he has received appropriate punishment. Later, he'll need to carry out a confidential mission, so let's spare his life."
"He assassinated me."
"But I saved you."
Hearing this, the Third Kazekage fell silent.
He knew he wasn't the original Third Kazekage. He was just an independent personality and will born from the Third Kazekage's Chakra, a puppet to be manipulated by others.
It was only due to Ryuji's purpose that his personality was crafted to resemble the Third Kazekage's.
However,
Since he inherited the Third Kazekage's personality and will, he naturally didn't want to be at the mercy of others.
Even as a substitute, he was still the Third Kazekage.
Those guys in the village, each with their own hidden agendas… how could he allow himself to be controlled by them?
"Don't worry. My goal is also to bring glory to the village."
As if knowing what he was thinking, Ryuji's voice sounded again.
"If you are the Kazekage, then sacrificing for the village is inevitable, isn't it?"
The Third Kazekage's expression darkened. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"
"You don't really think I'd create a puppet capable of rebelling against me, do you?"
"Because you possess an independent personality, I grant you human respect and freedom. But necessary safeguards will still be in place."
Each of Ryuji's autonomous puppets was created through the formula for artificial souls; only their bodies differed.
Their personalities and consciousness all contained a mixture of his Chakra, and their soul components also carried his consciousness. Due to the technique's effects, his will held the highest position.
Therefore, Ryuji could communicate with his puppets over long distances and even swap consciousness with them.
Yesterday, while searching for Sasori, he glimpsed Sasori's secret base from over 300 kilometers away... that was actually him attaching his consciousness to a scarab puppet and viewing things through its perspective.
Moreover, with his own soul consciousness as the core, Ryuji established a vast Sea of Consciousness, linking the mental consciousness of all his puppets to facilitate command in group operations.
Simultaneously, it was also a preparation against Genjutsu-type Shinobi.
He often fantasized about the expression someone would have if they invaded his mind and saw the densely packed army.
"What would happen if I resisted you?" The Third Kazekage asked solemnly.
"Your personality would be reformatted."
"..." The Third Kazekage fell silent.
"Rest assured. Precisely because I want to bring glory to the village, I created beings like you, who carry others' memories and experiences."