"It's not that strong!"
Ryuji seemed to know what Pakura was thinking and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Although Gin can also act autonomously, it's just based on action programs engraved in her mind. She doesn't have autonomous consciousness, nor can she refine Chakra. It requires me, as the puppeteer, to supply it."
Hearing this, Pakura secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside.
Even if it was only this, it was still powerful, but at least it wasn't as terrifying as she had imagined earlier, giving her a suffocating sense of oppression just from thinking about it.
"Even so, it's scary enough." Pakura was inwardly shocked, but her expression remained calm. "If the effects of your secret techniques spread, it would definitely cause an uproar throughout the entire Shinobi World."
"Uproar throughout the Shinobi World is an exaggeration, it's more like within the puppeteer circles."
"Even that would be shocking enough."
As the two conversed, the dust ahead cleared, revealing a dark cave entrance.
"To have a cave in a place like this, it's really hidden!" Pakura was slightly surprised.
As Shinobi from Sunagakure, they often passed through this rocky desert.
Yet they had never discovered there was a cave here.
But in other words, if even Sunagakure's Shinobi who frequently passed through here couldn't find the cave entrance, then whoever knew about this place must be more familiar with the area than they were.
If the Third Kazekage was really inside this cave, then the perpetrator must also be from Sunagakure.
"There are many traps inside. Let me force the person out." Ryuji raised his right hand and pointed forward.
Dense swarms of scarab beetle puppets emerged from the sand and advanced into the cave.
These bugs' shells were engraved with Earth Release burrowing and Fire Release eruption Ninjutsu Seals, and they were equipped with Chakra Storage Scrolls.
They could freely burrow underground and shoot flames from their mandibles, possessing excellent reconnaissance abilities and decent combat capabilities.
Soon, flames and explosions sounded from inside the cave.
The continuous rumbling made the entire rocky cliff tremble, with sand and gravel falling from above from time to time.
Suddenly, the commotion stopped.
The two looked grave, staring intently at the cave entrance.
A gale blew out from inside, countless rock fragments and sand, along with the destroyed scarab beetles, flew out.
Gin took a swift step forward, blocking Ryuji's front, her hands forming seals.
[Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!]
A wall rose from the ground with a rumble, blocking the wind and sand for everyone.
Boom!
The wall shattered, a huge and sharp weapon breaking through.
Gin's hands tightly gripped the sharp weapon, trying to hold it back.
But despite her tremendous strength, with her legs firmly planted on the ground, she was still dragged backward like plowing a field, leaving trails on the ground, pushed toward the rocky cliff behind her.
Pakura's expression changed. She leaped up onto the wall, hands forming seals.
[Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!]
A fiery sphere as scorching as the sun rose, the surrounding air rapidly heating up and distorting.
Pakura swung her hand, throwing the fireball into the cave as if tossing a ball.
Instantly, dazzling light bloomed, an unparalleled shock wave carrying terrifying high temperatures erupted, melting everything.
Boom!
The earth shook, the mountain quaked.
The 20-30 meter high rocky cliff crumbled layer by layer from the inside, then melted from the high temperature. Terrifying energy waves spread, forming a huge glowing sphere that rose like the sun.
Sunagakure's hero, Scorch Release Pakura!
Although she had been promoted to Jonin for less than half a year and her strength couldn't be compared to when she achieved fame in the future…
But in terms of Ninjutsu power alone, she already showed signs of her future achievements.
Moments later, the dust settled.
The rocky cliff had disappeared, leaving only a crater 20-30 meters in diameter.
In the center of the crater was an iron sand black sphere.
Seemingly affected by the explosion impact, the iron sand black sphere couldn't maintain its integrity, continuously shedding.
Pakura watched this scene, her expression grave.
Meanwhile, Ryuji, hiding behind the wall and seeing this through a hole, let out a deep sigh.
Although he had known this would happen, seeing it with his own eyes still made him feel somewhat rueful.
The strongest Kazekage in Sunagakure's history, assassinated by a young rising star from his own village... it was too ironic.
In fact, Ryuji had initially thought about preventing this assassination.
Unfortunately, Sasori was no ordinary person.
The puppets he sent out were easily detectable, and he couldn't possibly watch him 24/7.
In the end, this event that would cause Sunagakure's decline still occurred.
All the iron sand fell to the ground, revealing the person inside.
It was a boy somewhat resembling Ryuji.
Reddish-brown short hair, delicate features, about fifteen years old, wearing black Shinobi attire.
Behind him was a puppet.
Its face and clothing somewhat resembled the strongest Third Kazekage. Although clear assembly marks were visible, it gave off an uncanny valley feeling of being a real person.
This feeling made Pakura frown deeply.
Sasori was a famous puppeteer genius in Sunagakure, and she had never heard of him possessing the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
Now, with the Third Kazekage missing, he produced a puppet resembling the Third Kazekage, giving a real-person feeling, and used the Third Kazekage's iron sand secret technique.
This was unavoidably suspicious.
Looking at the girl like this, a faint smile curled at Sasori's lips. "To think I'd be found so quickly. It seems not everyone in the village is trash!"
Hearing this, Pakura's frown deepened.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "...Sasori, why are you here?"
"You've found this place and attacked without hesitation, yet you still ask such a question?" Sasori sneered. "Don't pretend. Call out the other guy."
"The Third Kazekage-sama's disappearance really is related to you." Pakura's expression darkened.
Although Ryuji had said there were clues about the Third Kazekage here, and Sasori's appearance here was suspicious, she had only been doubtful, unwilling to believe it.
After all, Sasori was the grandson of Sunagakure's Elder, Chiyo, and also one of the most genius puppeteers in Sunagakure's history, having made many outstanding contributions to the village.
She simply couldn't connect the Third Kazekage's disappearance with this guy.
But now, he admitted it himself, without any intention of hiding it.
"Third Kazekage-sama..." Sasori couldn't help but sneer. "To have such trash as leader, this village is doomed to have no future."
Pakura stared at him fixedly, killing intent bursting from between her brows.
"I just spoke the truth, and you're already angry?" Sasori couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Perfect. I didn't plan on letting you leave alive anyway. A Scorch Release user is also good material."
"What have you done to Kazekage-sama?"
"Isn't he right here?"
"Here?"
Pakura was stunned, then looked around, searching for any trace of the Kazekage.
But the moment her gaze shifted, Sasori formed hand seals.
[Ninja Art: Iron Sand Drizzle!]
The iron sand that had fallen to the ground rose up, turning into clusters of tiny particles, shooting over like bullets.