If it weren't for absolute trust, with Naruto's personality he would've already rushed in to fight alongside Gaara.
Just as the words left Shikamaru's mouth, Gaara was surrounded by countless puppet clones.
The sheer power of these puppets was almost unbelievable. Even the spectators in the stands, watching the hellish trial unfold, had their attention completely drawn to the fight.
Gaara stood alone in the vast arena, surrounded by snarling puppets, each one glaring at him with blood-red Sharingan.
In this chaotic free-for-all, it seemed everyone instinctively knew that striking first would put them at a disadvantage. After the opening mist faded, most participants had chosen to hide themselves with their own techniques. Only a handful of foreign shinobi prowled for weaker prey.
But in the center of the stage, only Gaara fought head-on against this nightmarish puppet.
What drew the most attention wasn't the puppet itself, but the one controlling it.
Everyone knew puppeteers normally stood behind their creations when fighting—Kankurō was a prime example. Gaara was no stranger to this kind of battle. But this time… it wasn't just Gaara. Every experienced ninja in the audience felt the same sense of unease.
This puppeteer's strength was terrifying. Someone who could hide completely and fight through puppets alone… who was this, really?
Gaara's sand sharpened into countless spears, erupting outward in all directions. The puppet clones shattered instantly, dissolving into chakra threads that vanished into the air.
For a moment, it seemed Gaara had prevailed—until a shadow loomed above him.
The puppet opened its jaws wide, unleashing a storm of razor-sharp chakra threads.
"Damn it! If they pierce him, Gaara's chakra will be drained!" Shikamaru had already seen through the technique. The threads weren't useless—they were the core of the puppet's attacks.
Gaara responded in an instant. Sand surged upward, forming a colossal barrier that shielded him from the downpour of chakra needles.
The spectators marveled. So much chakra, from someone still so young.
But before the awe could settle, Gaara vanished in a blur. He appeared directly above the puppet, his sand hand clamping down hard. With a deafening crash, he slammed it into the ground.
Dust and sand exploded outward. When the air cleared, the puppet lay in pieces—its head and limbs scattered across the arena floor.
Was it over?
The crowd murmured in surprise. Many had expected more. It felt like a performance cut short before its climax.
Gaara strode forward, crouching to sift through the fragments in search of the pass token.
"Gaara, it's a trap!" Shikamaru suddenly shouted. His shadow raced across the ground, shooting toward Gaara's back.
In that same moment, a dark figure lunged at Gaara with a kunai, its tip less than a centimeter from the back of his skull.
The audience gasped—if Shikamaru had hesitated even a heartbeat, Gaara might've been struck down.
But those who truly knew Gaara understood: his absolute defense was not so easily breached.
A second later, the attacker was shredded into a cloud of sand bullets. Another puppet.
Naruto, Ino, and Chōji stepped out from hiding, joining Shikamaru's side.
"Come out," Shikamaru said coldly, his gaze fixed on the shadows behind Gaara.
"Sasori."
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]