In an instant, hundreds of Narutos appeared across the battlefield, charging at Sasori from all directions.
But before they could get close, a storm of sand blocked their path. Gaara glanced at Naruto.
"Let me fight him alone."
Naruto met his gaze, then nodded knowingly. He dispersed his clones and retreated behind the stone wall.
Seeing him withdraw, Shikamaru and the others quickly pulled back as well.
"Why him? Why does Gaara get to take him on?" Ino muttered discontentedly. "That's Sasori we're talking about. I've heard he's one of Akatsuki's strongest. And that puppet… that's the Third Kazekage! A Kage-level shinobi!"
"He'll be fine." Shikamaru had already analyzed the situation. Sasori, after all, was a puppet master—his attacks relied on range and precision. Gaara, on the other hand, had absolute aerial control and overwhelming large-scale jutsu. With Shukaku backing him, he held a massive chakra advantage.
The only real problem was Sasori's Magnet Release. According to intel, it could pierce even Gaara's absolute defense. The question was—how would Gaara overcome that?
And then there was the Sharingan puppet, capable of reading and predicting movements. Combined with Magnet Release, it was almost impossible to counter.
Shikamaru's worry proved true immediately.
A storm of sand swept by, and Sasori moved the Third Kazekage puppet into position. Its mouth opened wide, releasing a barrage of enormous black iron needles.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Giant Needles!"
Gaara's sand shield automatically rose to defend him, but the magnetic needles tore straight through, piercing the barrier apart.
At the last moment, Gaara leapt aside, avoiding a direct hit.
But the iron sand attacks only grew denser. Needle after needle rained down, each infused with magnetic power, as though tracking Gaara relentlessly. Unless they struck something, they never stopped pursuing.
His defense was shattered and rebuilt again and again. Gaara twisted, dodged, his face tightening as the exhaustion grew.
"Can Gaara really win against him?" Choji asked, eyes wide as he watched the battlefield.
It wasn't just them. Every shinobi present was now watching intently.
For those not directly involved, it didn't matter who won—Gaara or Sasori. Either way, one dangerous competitor would be removed from the exams, while the other would emerge weakened.
Most chose to wait, observing from the sidelines.
But the shinobi of the God's Nation couldn't stay calm. To them, Gaara wasn't just another contestant. He was their comrade.
The magnetic barrage intensified.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Pyramid!" The Third Kazekage puppet rapidly formed hand signs, black triangular prisms of iron sand surging toward Gaara.
He dodged the first, only to be struck by another from behind.
The iron prism pierced straight into Gaara's body. Gasps erupted from every direction.
"Did… did Gaara just—die?"
Cold sweat ran down foreheads.
But within moments, the fear subsided. The pierced Gaara crumbled into sand. His real body was nowhere to be seen.
From the start, Gaara had already crafted a sand clone the moment Sasori unleashed Magnet Release. His true body was lying in wait for the right moment.
Naruto let out a long breath of relief.
"Damn, I thought Gaara was done for."
(End of Chapter)
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