Chapter 267: Flesh and Blood are a Weakness
The sudden, violent attack of the Morning Peacock far exceeded Bunpuku's imagination.
"Air Sand Shield!"
He brought his hands together, and the sand around him rose, forming a massive shield.
Rumble! The scorching air bombarded the sand wall. The sand and gravel melted into a glassy consistency under the intense heat and then shattered. The immense force violently shook the entire wall, and a trace of solemnity finally appeared on Bunpuku's emaciated face, who involuntarily stepped back.
The powerful Morning Peacock not only suppressed Bunpuku but also enveloped Ruriyu and Arashi within its range. Had it not been for the monk's quick reaction, both would have probably perished.
"How despicable! A powerful Kage disguised as a common genin. Truly insidious!", Arashi thought. The "watermelon skin" outfit and his youthful demeanor were designed to deceive the enemy.
Just as Bunpuku was defending himself, a pair of crimson eyes appeared in his mind. "Illusion: Stake Binding!"
Shun took the opportunity to unleash his most powerful genjutsu. A vast and cold spiritual force dragged him into a world of illusion. Shukaku, inside him, roared in shock, his chakra instinctively colliding with the spiritual energy. The monk's mental state was incredibly high; with a simple grunt, he broke free from the terrifying genjutsu. However, this brief pause was a fatal flaw.
"Water Style: Water Cutting Wave!"
Sasuke took the opportunity to spit out a high-pressure line of water. Just as it was about to hit him, a sand arm covered with blue marks extended from Bunpuku's shoulder, allowing him to barely dodge.
Seeing that Shun's body was swaying after the genjutsu activation, Duy finally unleashed his full power. "Seventh Gate, open!" Instantly, his entire body erupted in blue steam, reaching his maximum speed.
"Morning Rooster!"
"Morning Peacock!"
For a moment, even the Perfect Jinchūriki could only defend himself passively. Fortunately, in the desert, despite his lack of combat experience, the monk's instinctive defense was quite effective.
Faced with this situation, Sasuke knew that continuing the fight was useless.
"Secret Technique: Divine Water Syrup Binding!"
He took advantage of Duy having the monk immobilized and unleashed a large number of super-active syrup ropes, trapping him. He developed this jutsu in preparation for sealing the Ten-Tails; although still in its early stages, its power was formidable.
While Bunpuku was held back, Sasuke ordered the stitched mecha puppet to evacuate, taking Shun and Duy with it.
Sasuke, accompanied by nine mecha puppets, decided to stay behind. The monk's air training rounds were powerful, but with his puppets at a high altitude, they had the advantage and were not intimidated.
Bunpuku pursued him for a long way before stopping. He put his hands together and murmured: "Amitābha..."
"Master Bunpuku, goodbye!", Sasuke greeted, extending his wings and rushing towards the Land of the River. Less than a hundred miles away, he met Chōza and a large force. He had already stationed himself in several cities and key passes along the border.
Meanwhile, at the Oasis Defense Camp, Ebizō had not left the front. Even with his legs completely destroyed, he was still a force to be reckoned with.
"Uncle, how are you feeling?", Ruriyu entered with a bowl of medicinal soup. She noticed that her uncle was looking more and more like her husband, Arashi.
Ebizō did not respond, but instead fixed his gaze on Arashi, who had just entered, specifically on his mechanical left arm.
"Yu'er, there are many wounded who still need your care. Don't waste your time with me."
Ruriyu had no choice but to leave, but Arashi stayed. "Uncle, what have you considered?", he asked, tapping the joints of his mechanical arm.
"Mmm", Ebizō hummed.
"Uncle, don't you think flesh and blood are too fragile?", Arashi's voice rose, tinged with a morbid frenzy. "Look at my left arm! This is chakra metal, this is power! This is the supreme form of a ninja's pursuit of power!"
He leaned in, his eyes bloodshot. "Uncle, why feel the pain of losing your legs? As long as you continue to transform your flesh and blood, no matter how powerful the White-Haired Demon's mecha puppet is, it will never be our opponent!"
The word "revenge" hit Ebizō's heart like a hammer. Unbridled hatred finally overcame all reason. "Ran, you're right", Ebizō's voice was low and hoarse. "Flesh and blood are truly too fragile. For Sunagakure, for revenge, what is this small price to pay?"
A few days later, in the underground chamber of the camp, Arashi carefully manipulated the intricate tools, connecting the gleaming metal components to Ebizō's organs and nerves. Each pang of pain deepened his hatred for Sasuke. When the last metal plate was installed, two mechanical prostheses, shining with a cold light, replaced his lost legs.
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