"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"
The battle between Ren and Kakuzu triggered massive shockwaves that swept across the battlefield, even spilling into the fight between Shisui and Sasori.
The two already shared old grudges. Though briefly affected by the disturbance, they immediately re-engaged, colliding once more without hesitation.
As black iron sand condensed into countless senbon, Shisui let out a low snort. Instead of retreating, he surged forward, charging straight at Sasori.
A faint green chakra enveloped his body. While he didn't dare activate Susanoo on a large scale, using it purely to protect himself was still manageable.
Susanoo's strain on the eyes really is terrifying…
The thought crossed his mind as his hands flew through seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
A blazing dragon of flames roared forth, rushing straight toward the Third Kazekage puppet!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
At the same moment, iron-sand senbon pierced through the flames, shrill metallic sounds echoing around him.
Thanks to Susanoo's defense, Shisui wasn't injured. Enduring the burning pain in his eyes, he accelerated forward.
Against a puppeteer, the best strategy was close combat. If he got caught in a web of puppets, things would become troublesome very quickly.
"Childish."
Sasori instantly saw through Shisui's intentions. He controlled the Third Kazekage puppet and leapt into the air along with himself.
But just as he was about to take flight, he noticed something off—
Shisui's speed had increased again.
That eerie Body Flicker nearly placed Shisui at his side in an instant, even faster than the fire-assisted movement technique Shisui had just used.
"Tch. Annoying."
Sasori reacted instantly. Despite being a puppeteer, his close-quarters combat ability was far from weak. His wrist split open, a sharp blade snapping into place.
Buzz—
Without hesitation, he slashed straight at Shisui.
"Hm?"
The moment the blade landed, Sasori sensed something was wrong.
That hadn't been the real body.
At the same time, two more Shisui figures appeared beside him. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, impossible to distinguish.
Even their chakra signatures felt real.
"Genjutsu? Shadow Clones? Or pure speed…?"
Sasori had no time to figure it out.
In the blink of an eye, he was surrounded.
Flames roared in front of him. Shisui stood to his left, right, and rear. The bizarre formation made judgment difficult even for him.
"Magnet Release: Magnetic Barrier!"
Since he couldn't tell which was real, Sasori chose absolute defense. Black iron sand instantly wrapped around him, forming a dense protective shell.
"Tough as a turtle…"
Shisui's short blade slammed into the iron-sand barrier, numbing his arms from the impact.
As expected of the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release—this defense was infuriatingly solid.
What troubled Shisui more was that Sasori seemed completely unfazed by genjutsu.
He had deliberately made eye contact several times, yet Sasori never once fell for it.
Even without using Kotoamatsukami, Mangekyō genjutsu should have had some effect.
Clearly, continuing like this wasn't an option.
Shisui quickly widened the distance.
"I guess you're out of ideas, kid."
Sasori emerged from the iron-sand defense the moment Shisui retreated.
"You're troublesome, but your power still isn't enough. Now it's my turn."
Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!
Countless iron sand surged out of the Third Kazekage puppet, forming a massive prison in an instant.
Blades of iron sand crisscrossed wildly, sealing off the entire area. Shisui was forced into constant evasive maneuvers.
"Die!"
As Shisui dodged, the Third Kazekage puppet shot forward along the iron sand, closing the distance in an instant.
Seeing this, Shisui made his decision.
His gaze ignored the puppet entirely and locked onto Sasori himself.
Now!
With a sharp shout, the Susanoo protecting him suddenly expanded.
Chakra transformed into bones, muscles, and tendons, weaving together as pressure crushed his eyes. Blood leaked from the corners.
But Susanoo evolved into its second stage.
A towering chakra giant roared into existence.
"Susanoo — Ninety-Nine!"
The chest armor opened.
Countless chakra senbon poured out like a torrential rain, blasting straight toward Sasori!
"What kind of technique is this?!"
Sasori's expression changed completely.
He could sense it—this attack could erase him entirely.
More terrifying than its raw power was its density. It would inevitably strike his core, the secret behind his fully puppetized body.
His greatest weakness.
Crash—!
In an instant, all of Sasori's mechanisms unfolded. Waves of concealed weapons collided with the chakra senbon.
Every defensive component capable of protection sealed around his core.
At the same time, the Third Kazekage puppet retreated at full speed. Within the Iron Sand World Method, its mobility was nearly maxed out.
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion erupted.
Blazing light and violent tremors threw both fighters off balance. The ground shattered and flipped outward as shockwaves tore across the land.
Trees in the distance were flattened instantly.
"What… happened?"
Neither Shisui nor Sasori could continue fighting.
Turning toward the source, both froze.
A pillar of crimson light pierced the sky. The land itself had sunk inward.
Thick smoke churned upward, blurring everything.
And within that hellish scene—
A colossal dragon engulfed in flames slowly rose from the ground, radiating overwhelming pressure.
A single thought surfaced in both their minds.
This is the technique that once ended an age of chaos…
Elsewhere—
"Is this… Obito's Mangekyō space?"
Within the Kamui dimension, Obito launched a ferocious assault on Kakashi, while Kakashi evaded and analyzed his surroundings.
Obito clearly had no intention of fighting outside. The instant they made contact, Kakashi had been dragged in.
Truthfully, Kakashi didn't resist much.
A confined space was better for conversation.
"Obito. Calm down."
Dodging another strike, Kakashi spoke quietly.
"There's no meaning in continuing like this. Turn back."
"Shut up. You have no right to lecture me, you useless trash!"
Obito's attacks became faster and more brutal.
Kakashi was driven back again and again.
"So you really became garbage. That genius who once looked down on everyone—did he die?"
Kakashi couldn't answer.
Clang—! Clang—! Clang—!
The Kamui space echoed with metal collisions.
Both possessed a single Mangekyō Sharingan. In terms of perception, neither held a clear advantage.
But Kakashi held back.
Obito did not.
"What do you want to do, Obito?!"
Seizing an opening, Kakashi grabbed Obito's wrist.
"You've already made so many mistakes—"
"I made mistakes?"
Obito scoffed.
"You're an idiot who understands nothing."
A chain snapped from Obito's sleeve, smashing toward Kakashi.
Kakashi barely blocked it, his kunai sent flying.
"Let me borrow your hand."
Obito locked Kakashi's arm and began forming seals.
"You wanted answers? I already told you."
Kakashi disengaged, summoned another kunai, and stabbed forward without hesitation.
"Now that's more like it."
Obito countered with his black rod.
"Let me say it again. I'm going to break this false world."
"War. Rin's death. All of it—this world is the cause."
"This world is hell."
"I will destroy it."
Kakashi froze.
Break… the world?
Before he could process it, a fist smashed into his face.
"Still spacing out? You really think I won't kill you?"
Pain exploded as Kakashi staggered.
Another seal completed.
This can't continue…
Kakashi kicked out, threw another kunai—
Obito dodged effortlessly.
"Change the world?" Obito said coldly.
"There's no value in changing it."
As flames roared toward Kakashi, a voice interrupted—
"Obito. Something's wrong outside."
A White Zetsu spoke.
Obito stopped, irritated.
"…What?"
"Something big happened."
After a pause, Obito clicked his tongue.
Before leaving, he turned toward Kakashi.
"One last thing to clean up."
He charged.
"End it!"
Space twisted—
Suddenly—
"Lightning Clone?"
Kakashi had baited him.
The clone exploded.
Both were forced back into reality.
Obito stiffened.
Someone had appeared behind him.
"Looks like the battle is over… for now."
In the ruined forest, Ren surveyed the aftermath.
The land no longer resembled a forest—only a massive burning crater remained.
Mokuton really is terrifying… especially when paired with the Curse Mark.
Level 6 Curse Mark. Level 5 Yin Release.
The Wood Dragon's power rivaled a third-stage Susanoo strike.
Shisui nodded silently, blood still streaking from his eyes.
Sasori escaped.
Obito escaped.
But the direction was clear.
Ren's gaze sharpened.
"The organization is tied to Obito."
"And our next target…"
He smiled faintly.
"Kitsuchi."
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