Kannazuki launched high-energy laser beams at Sasori's monstrous puppet.
The monstrous puppet's body suddenly turned black. The high-energy laser beams hit the creature, but caused no damage whatsoever.
Shindai frowned slightly and murmured, "Hardening technique?"
"No!" Chiyo's voice rang out. "This isn't hardening technique—it's Kekkei Genkai, Steel Release!"
Sasori sneered, "As expected, you've got knowledge, Lady Chiyo. This is definitely not a normal human puppet created through simple puppet-making methods—it's a human puppet composed of Kekkei Genkai bearers from their living days!"
Suddenly, the massive puppet began spraying large amounts of viscous liquid in all directions.
Shindai quickly leapt into the air to dodge, while Sakura and Chiyo immediately scattered away as well.
This liquid was corrosive enough to eat through even stone.
And this was the Kekkei Genkai—Boil Release.
Sasori looked up at Shindai in the sky and said, "This is my greatest masterpiece yet; it will kill you right here!"
Shindai scoffed, "Anyone can talk big. They're just a bunch of useless failures gathered together."
While Sasori and Shindai exchanged threats, Chiyo suddenly sprang into action, controlling the Chikamatsu Collection puppets to attack Sasori.
Sasori shifted his gaze toward Chiyo. "Since you're looking for death, I won't mind sending you off myself."
Despite its bulky appearance, the monstrous puppet blitzed forward in an instant, reaching the Chikamatsu Collection puppets in the blink of an eye.
Shindai narrowed his eyes. If these were all puppets made from Kekkei Genkai users, then that completely unreasonable speed from just now… Was it Swift Release?
The ten puppets of the Chikamatsu Collection coordinated, launching attacks against the monstrous puppet.
However, the enormous puppet remained continuously protected by Steel Release, making the Chikamatsu Collection utterly unable to breach its defense.
Instead, because of the sticky Boil Release liquid on the monster puppet's body, two of the puppets became stuck onto it, immobilized and rapidly corroded.
Sakura grew extremely anxious and looked toward Shindai in the sky.
Yet Shindai had no intention of intervening and simply watched from the sidelines.
The monstrous puppet braced against the assaults of the eight remaining Chikamatsu puppets and attempted to forcefully strike down Chiyo.
Sakura took a deep breath, concentrated chakra into her fists, charged toward the giant puppet, and landed a punch on a spot of its body untouched by the corrosive Boil Release slime.
Even such a massive puppet was sent flying backward from Sakura's punch.
However, thanks to Steel Release, it suffered nothing worse than being sent flying backward.
The monstrous puppet continued rushing toward Chiyo, and Chiyo tried using five of the Chikamatsu Collection puppets to block its path.
The remaining three Chikamatsu Collection puppets formed a triangular formation.
[Puppet Technique: Three-Treasure Vacuum Collapse!]
A powerful whirlwind surged into existence, pulling Sasori toward the triangular formation. If Sasori were sucked into it, he would be completely crushed.
Sasori's cold, lifeless eyes locked onto Chiyo. "Fighting you is truly boring."
Suddenly, the monstrous puppet fired beams of lightning-style chakra—Kekkei Genkai attacks known as Storm Release.
The laser beams obliterated the three puppets forming the triangle in an instant, their speed too overwhelming to react to.
Several more Storm Release blasts shot toward the remaining puppets, Chiyo, and Sakura. Even Shindai, hovering in the sky, wasn't spared from a surge of Storm Release energy.
Shindai tilted his head and dodged the beam effortlessly. At the same time, he controlled his Iron Sand Body to grab Sakura's foot and fling her out of the way, saving her from the deadly laser.
Chiyo? Whatever happens, happens. Better if she dies.
However, Chiyo was an experienced powerhouse after all, and remained calm even under these circumstances.
Chiyo immediately commanded Mother and Father Puppets to block in front of her, using Machine Light Shield Seal to stop the incoming Storm Release attack.
Unfortunately, two more of the Chikamatsu Collection puppets were destroyed.
Originally ten puppets strong, only two remained.
Chiyo frowned at Sasori from afar. It had been many years since they last met, yet his power had grown so immensely.
And that monstrous puppet was too well-rounded.
Offense, defense, agility—it had perfected all aspects.
Sasori no longer paid attention to Chiyo and Sakura. His gaze locked onto Shindai. "What? You're just going to stand there watching?"
Shindai descended from the sky and faced off with Sasori. Suddenly, he clapped his hands together mockingly. "Not bad, this is actually quite interesting. That disgusting waste of space has become somewhat amusing. But... his weakness is glaringly obvious. Surely you've prepared countermeasures against such an obvious flaw..."
As Shindai spoke, a spear made of iron sand suddenly shot from behind Sasori, aiming directly at his regeneration core.
Sasori swiftly sidestepped with incredible speed, narrowly dodging Shindai's ambush.
Scoffing, Sasori said, "You haven't changed one bit—still fond of cowardly tactics. Still, you're right; my weakness is indeed apparent. I am its weakness, and it requires my direct control."
Instantly, a hand shot out from within the monstrous puppet, grabbed Sasori, and pulled him inside as both the hand and Sasori merged into the puppet's body.
Sasori's voice echoed from within the puppet: "How arrogant of you, Shindai. You know my weakness, yet you let me operate unchecked. Could it be because of excessive confidence in yourself? Don't worry, soon I will crush your ego, and you will die by my puppet."
Shindai looked eagerly at the monstrous puppet. "Is that so? I'm indeed confident, but my confidence suits me just fine. Then, round two begins!"
...
Outside the cave.
Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Hinata were chasing Deidara.
Deidara was launching relentless explosive attacks against Naruto and the others.
But right now, Deidara himself was also in a tight spot.
His weakness—Lightning Release—had already been exposed.
Besides Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Hinata all wielded Lightning Release techniques.
However, as long as his explosions remained dense enough, even with the advantage of Lightning Release, they couldn't possibly neutralize all of his Explosive Clay.
Yet... his proud mobility advantage had vanished.
Out of these four people here, three could fly.
Hinata wore a specially designed Chakra Armor developed by Shindai, granting her the ability to fly.
Although neither Naruto nor Sasuke could fly on their own, the upgraded Naru-5 and Naruko-5 puppets could. The two of them lay atop their respective puppets, using them to fly and pursue Deidara.
As for Kakashi… Kakashi alone was stuck chasing on foot like a suffering soul.
Watching Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata soaring through the sky, Kakashi had already made up his mind—he would definitely ask Shindai for a personal flying device upon returning to Konoha, no matter what it took.
Hinata, being the closest to Deidara, aimed her right hand at him and fired a laser beam.
Deidara dodged Hinata's laser beam.
"Close call, close call~"
Deidara molded a pair of bird wings and flew rapidly toward Hinata.
[Lightning Release! Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!]
Hinata shot out a shockwave infused with Lightning Nature Chakra from her palm. The shockwave struck the bird wings, instantly nullifying their effect due to the advantage of Lightning Release.
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