Not just Kankuro—even Temari and Gaara looked grim.
These Konoha genin…
Their words showed no regard for them.
"They're not lying," Sakura said, clutching her arms, glancing at the approaching Kankuro with a pang of shared insecurity. "Their strength… it's beyond normal reasoning."
"Are they all idiots?" Kankuro laughed, enraged.
Just a bunch of kids, younger than him, acting like they were unstoppable.
Not just him…
Even Gaara, who hadn't planned to stir trouble, stayed silent.
As if allowing Kankuro to teach them a lesson.
"You still don't get it?" Sasuke said, eyeing Kankuro, his hand gripping the sword hilt behind him.
He stepped forward.
Swish—
His figure vanished.
"So fast—!" Temari gasped.
That speed was invisible!
"Where is he?" Kankuro scanned around, his face darkening.
"Behind!" Gaara growled.
Kankuro started to turn, but froze.
A sheathed sword rested against his neck from behind.
"I'm not looking down on you," Sasuke's icy voice came. "I'm just stating a fact—your strength doesn't even warrant me drawing my sword."
"Sasuke's so cool!" Sakura squealed, hands on her cheeks, eyes sparkling.
Since Sasuke got the Swordsmanship Series cans, he'd gotten even cooler.
"Damn it," Naruto pouted. "Sasuke's always stealing my spotlight."
Neji, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes.
Though not using Byakugan…
His heightened senses caught Sasuke's movements—a sophisticated footwork creating optical illusions.
What series had Uchiha Sasuke opened? How many cans?
Kankuro, pinned, looked uglier by the second.
But then he grinned. "Big talk for someone just a bit faster."
Crack, crack.
Odd sounds came from Kankuro's body.
His torso twisted unnaturally over 180 degrees, four warped bamboo poles shooting out, binding Sasuke tightly.
"Whoa, what's that?!" Naruto's eyes widened.
Neji raised a brow, surprised.
"Kankuro, that guy," Temari said, hands on hips, chuckling. "He swapped already?"
"In another village, you gotta be cautious," Kankuro's voice came from the bandaged bundle beside him.
The bandages twitched.
They unraveled, revealing another Kankuro!
"I see," Neji said, understanding. "Hidden Sand's puppet technique—swapping himself with a puppet. Most would mistake the puppet for the real thing, but Byakugan sees through it."
Not just Byakugan.
If Sasuke had used Sharingan, he'd have seen it too.
"Hmph, stop boasting," Kankuro said, fingers twitching, tightening the poles with creaking sounds.
His face gleamed with pride and satisfaction.
"Nice speed, but didn't Konoha teach you ninja need brains? Your speed's useless now!"
This Konoha brat spouted big words.
Now he was caught.
Life and death in Kankuro's hands.
Sure, it was a bit of trickery, but a win was a win!
"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura grabbed Naruto, worried. "His injuries aren't fully healed. Naruto, save him!"
"Tch, that guy doesn't need saving," Naruto said, more annoyed, pouting hard.
Sasuke's injuries weren't fully healed, but close.
And…
Since that battle, their dynamic had been odd—close yet at odds.
"Tch, tch," Kankuro smirked playfully. "You're teammates, right? So this is Konoha's vaunted camaraderie? Hey, don't surrender, and… it'll get ugly."
The puppet's grip tightened.
Kankuro's eyes gleamed with malice.
That speed was impressive, so—
Cripple him here! Keep him out of the Chūnin Exams!
But then…
Sasuke looked up at Kankuro, his handsome face still wearing a cold smile. "All that talk, and I thought you'd have something better. Just this boring trick? Disappointing."
Sasuke was genuinely let down.
Hearing "puppet technique," he'd hoped for something powerful, unexpected.
Just binding?
Indeed…
Ordinary genin were meaningless before him.
"Still talking big?!" Kankuro's face blackened. "Don't blame me then!"
His puppet hid blades!
Temari turned away slightly.
She didn't want to see such a cool guy bleed.
"Pointless trick," Sasuke said, sneering.
He took a breath, his hand on the hilt tightening, then struck.
Swish—!
Flashes of cold light—Kankuro's puppet, in his disbelieving gaze, shattered into pieces, scattered on the ground.
Sliced apart.
Sasuke's Qingfeng Sharp Sword, repaired with rare can minerals, gleamed fiercely.
Shen Mo, watching, couldn't help but sigh.
Not easy.
Sasuke's first win since opening cans.
"See?" Naruto turned to Sakura. "Told you, nothing to worry about."
But Sakura, starry-eyed, didn't hear him.
Naruto felt worse.
But the worst was Kankuro.
He collapsed to his knees.
Staring at the wreckage.
His puppet… his most trusted, powerful partner… shattered so easily!