Squeak!
The threads tightened, but what was strangled by Yubi's Death Waltz... was merely an afterimage.
Although Yubi couldn't see the enemy's movements or trajectory, he instinctively deployed the technique the moment the enemy vanished.
If it wasn't a long-range Ninjutsu... then it must be a close-quarters Taijutsu killing blow.
The threads did not transmit the feeling of touching a solid object... Yubi heard an explosive sound near his ear.
Following that, there were fragments of a scattered puppet.
"Watch out!"
Yubi immediately realized that while dodging the threads, the opponent had seized the opportunity to attack Sasori, who was nearby.
He issued the warning.
Controlling a flying knife, he shot it toward the direction of the sound source.
Given such a vast gap in strength, counterattacks in brief moments... had to rely mostly on instinct.
Because when comparing details and combat experience, he and Sasori were undoubtedly not on the same level as this Konoha Jonin.
"Yubi..."
His sight was too slow to catch it.
Just as he struck, before his voice faded, he heard Sasori's slightly trembling cry instead.
One of his fingers suddenly relaxed.
A thread snapped... "The enemy's weapon... can be infused with Chakra. It's a special ninja tool, just like Asuma's Chakra Blades..." Yubi arched his back, ready to leap away like a startled feline.
He sensed a wave of emotion and deadly danger in Sasori's voice... As his body twisted, he glimpsed a Chakra Thread shooting out from Sasori's fingertip, trying to attach to him, seemingly attempting to pull him away from his current position.
But, it was still a step too late.
"Good combat instincts and reaction time... too bad, you're still just brats."
The sound of the Konoha Jonin's sneer came from behind once again.
Under Sasori's gaze, just as Yubi's feet left the ground and he leaped into the air, the enemy stuck close to his back... Mid-air, following the Konoha Jonin's thrust, Yubi's body immediately shuddered, and he was instantly sent flying like a sandbag.
He traced a straight parabola in the air before crashing far away.
Along with him flew a large amount of dazzling blood... Yubi's mind went blank, his body felt weightless, and he lay on the ground, his eyes wide.
His consciousness was drifting away.
On his back was a shocking wound, deeply pierced by a sharp weapon... judging by the injury, it was fatal!
"Too fast, so fast that I couldn't even use my Ninjutsu... I didn't have time to react. The opponent's combat changes are hard to analyze, and their judgment of Sasori's and my actions and thoughts is extremely accurate. First, he dodged my threads, attacked Sasori's puppet, feigning a shift in target... but in reality, the first person he wanted to kill was always me; he was just distracting me..."
A sweet, metallic taste surged up Yubi's throat, and after being stabbed, his body seemed to lose all strength.
He could sense his life force gradually draining away... The direction his head was facing as he lay down, under his fading vision, allowed him to see the Konoha Jonin closing in on Sasori.
After dealing with him in one move, the enemy turned toward Sasori without hesitation.
The movements were clean and decisive.
"I was practically killed instantly... so strong..."
"It seems merely learning some Medical Ninjutsu and diversifying combat methods isn't the key... No matter how many cards you hold, they're meaningless if you don't know how to use them."
"The enemy's speed prevented me from even having time to use the Medical Ninjutsu: Yin Healing Destruction, or to mobilize my Chakra in advance. I couldn't predict where the attack would land... Even possessing a skill that allows the body to regenerate, I am helpless against this kind of opponent."
"In the end... I'm just too weak..."
Thoughts flickered intermittently in Yubi's mind.
His senses were fading; he could no longer see or hear the battle between Sasori and the Konoha Jonin.
"I must look quite pathetic right now..."
"Sasori... you have to survive."
Before his consciousness plunged into darkness, Yubi thought to himself... Bang!
Another puppet exploded.
On the other side, Sasori was controlling several puppets to surround and attack the rushing Konoha Jonin.
It was clear that this Jonin excelled in Taijutsu.
The puppets he had created were as fragile as paper dolls when faced with the Jonin's overwhelming physical strength.
The mechanisms and hidden weapons built into the puppets... were also easily dodged.
Most importantly, this man seemed to have extensive experience fighting Puppeteers, knowing their weaknesses... and constantly tried to close the distance.
Even his 'core puppet,' Karasu... had been destroyed.
The only reason he had lasted this long was the sheer number of puppets stored in his scrolls.
Furthermore, he avoided direct confrontation, maintained a high frequency of movement to prevent the opponent from closing in again using the Body Flicker Technique, constantly controlled a sufficient distance, and utilized the versatility of his various puppet mechanisms to provide interference.
Beneath Sasori's constantly dodging form lay scroll after scroll that had been 'emptied' and discarded.
His reserves were rapidly dwindling, and the pressure he could put on his opponent only served to waste a little time.
"This red-haired brat is different from the previous one... The dead brat had immense physical strength and clearly excelled in Taijutsu. When I made my first move to kill him, the moment the Kunai touched his skin, his limb movements had already begun... And although my follow-up strike hit his vital spot, I felt obvious resistance as the Kunai entered his body. He was consciously contracting his muscles to mitigate the damage... This is not something an ordinary Ninja can do, let alone a child."
"This red-haired boy... possesses terrifying Puppeteer talent. Even though I have fought the Hidden Sand Village many times, I have never seen a Ninja who can control so many puppets simultaneously on the battlefield, especially at this range. His offense and restraint against me are not only precise but also extremely flexible... Moreover, his use of Chakra Threads is different from other Puppeteers; they seem to possess additional effects."
"I didn't expect the Hidden Sand Village to have such a prodigious junior... No wonder Arai personally led the team."
"If someone like this is allowed to fully mature... they will be a huge threat to our Konoha!"
Otani flashed aside, dodging a volley of Senbon. After landing, he formed hand signs and deployed the Clone Technique.
Even though it was a very simple Clone Technique, the effect was different when he used it.
His clones had'substance'... they wouldn't be easily destroyed.
Otani prepared to have his clones block the puppet attacks while his main body charged forward with full force to attack the red-haired brat himself.
Just like he killed the previous brat, he aimed for a single, decisive blow.
To end this farce.
Crack!
A puppet flying overhead was shattered by the clone's mid-air kick.
The powerful Taijutsu stirred up a strong gale.
Otani spun the Chakra Kunai in his hand, looked at the discarded scrolls on the ground, and gazed at the somewhat exhausted red-haired brat, "Give up... You and that other brat are destined to die here!"
He pointed a finger at the spot where Yubi lay and spoke coldly.
Sasori ignored him, reaching for his lower back and pulling his 'trump card' out of his bag.
It was the one besides Karasu.
His most satisfying and most specially meaningful 'puppet' to date.
His... first masterpiece!
And it was the very last scroll he had left.
Bang!
As a puff of white smoke rose, two humanoid puppets, cloaked in red robes, floated to Sasori's left and right behind him.
A male and a female... guarding Sasori between them.
'Father and Mother'.
A family of three.
...
Otani squinted slightly.
Experienced as he was, he could tell that the quality, composition, and inherent danger emanating from these two puppets... were incomparable to the shoddy toys used before.
They were true 'Humanoid Puppets'.
This startled Otani somewhat.
He had never seen puppets... that looked so human, as if they were made from living people.
Sasori's eyes were cold... showing no hint of wavering.
Even using Father and Mother, he knew his chances of winning in a one-on-one fight were slim.
After all, he had only lasted two or three minutes while exhausting all his scrolls and puppets and maintaining full alertness.
"Hmph!"
Looking at the red-haired brat's serious expression, Otani let out a cold snort.
Just as he was preparing to coordinate with his clone and begin the attack.
Suddenly, a strange noise came from nearby, which not only caught his attention but also caused Sasori's expression to change.
They saw the youth, who should have died already and was lying in a pool of blood on the grass, strangely coming back to life... His body swayed, and he stood up.
"Hmm?"
This sight made the Konoha Jonin's pupils contract sharply, his gaze filled with disbelief.
"The refreshing blue sky... I truly... still can't bear to leave this beautiful scenery..."
"And... this fresh air..."
The youth spread his arms, closed his eyes in intoxication, as if embracing the world.
There was no sign of fear or shock from having 'died once'; instead, he was filled with ill-suited relaxation, completely out of place in the current battlefield.
"The feeling of being alive... is truly wonderful."
Yubi raised the corner of his mouth, sighing in admiration.
"I'm truly sorry... I seem to have disappointed you."
Yubi reached up and brushed back the hair that was stiff and matted with blood.
His arm blocked part of his face, revealing the blood-stained half, which wore a faint smile.
A cold eye looked toward the utterly stunned Konoha Jonin.
"Your expression... is truly interesting."
"Come on... let's continue the slaughter that hasn't ended between us... Let's happily... perform!"
Yubi said gently.
To Sasori, his voice sounded strange.
Because the Yubi right now was not 'the person' he was familiar with.
"Hurry up and start... what are you waiting for?!"
Yubi naturally lowered his arm, urging them on with a smile.
...
Otani quickly calmed down.
After steadying his mind, he dashed toward the newly standing Yubi.
And erupted with astonishing killing intent.
"Hahaha!"
Sasori moved accordingly.
However, what he heard was Yubi's excited and maniacal laughter.