Kakashi! Gai! Keep drawing his attention. We'll be on the lookout for an opening!
Nara Shikamaru lowered his voice, speaking just softly enough for only Hatake Kakashi to hear, so there was no fear of Sasori catching on.
"I understand. Same plan as before—Gai, you go on the offensive, I'll create the openings."
"Ohhh! My youth is burning even brighter!"
Might Guy once again charged forward, leaping toward the head of the Third Kazekage puppet with a flying kick, completely unbothered by the storm of iron sand rushing to intercept him.
This time, Kakashi wasn't bluffing. He was genuinely creating opportunities. As the iron sand closed in around Gai, Kakashi flung several kunai, swiftly weaving through two or three hand signs before channeling lightning chakra through them, linking arcs of electricity together into a web.
Sasori's voice rumbled coldly:
"So… the Ino-Shika-Cho formation has a plan, hm? I didn't hear what you whispered, but I don't think you can fool me. Watch as I kill you all!"
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"
Just as Kakashi had blocked one wave of attacks for Gai, another barrage of iron sand shot skyward. It was relentless. Kakashi cursed under his breath—there was no time to think, only to defend.
His hands flashed through seals, completing them within a second. But the iron sand was fast, already pelting toward Guy. Miraculously, Guy avoided every strike; the deadly rain slammed into the ground instead.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A great stone wall rose—its surface carved with the unmistakable likenesses of Kakashi's ninken. Front and center was Pakkun's head, smug as ever.
Perched nearby, Aoyama chuckled, pointing to the wall.
"Look at those dog faces. Don't they feel like they're mocking you? Seems like Kakashi's saying you're beneath him."
Sasori's anger spiked. Somehow, he felt insulted, especially with those carved faces looking so smug.
Meanwhile, Kakashi thought grimly to himself:
"Damn it, Aoyama's getting back at me. I shouldn't have stolen his barbecue… this could get me killed!"
The Third Kazekage's reputation as the strongest Kazekage was no joke. He was far stronger than the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who had fallen to Orochimaru with ease.
Sasori's control of the Third Kazekage puppet, relying solely on Magnet Release without even using hidden weapons, had already forced Kakashi and Gai purely on the defensive. Neither dared risk an attack—survival meant enduring until a chance appeared.
Then suddenly, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio shifted formation.
Akimichi Choza curled into a massive spinning ball of flesh, barreling forward and smashing through Sasori's two ordinary puppets. His shadow was still linked to Nara Shikaku's, who swung him around like a giant yo-yo.
The enormous spinning body came hurtling in unexpectedly, slamming into the Third Kazekage puppet. Its attack was cut short, the iron sand losing its chakra control and crashing uselessly to the ground.
"Now, Kakashi! Do it!" Shikaku shouted.
Kakashi instantly seized the chance. In less than half a second, his hands blurred through seals. His Sharingan gleamed crimson as he pressed his hand against a surge of lightning.
"Lightning Release… Raikiri!"
An improved version of Chidori, refined into a forbidden-level technique—Raikiri, could slice through thunder itself.
Meanwhile, Yamanaka Hiichi's fingers formed his clan's signature seal, eyes snapping wide open as he cried:
"Secret Technique: Mind Body Switch Jutsu!"
The Yamanaka clan's jutsu could instantly suppress an enemy's will and invade their body.
But Sasori, who had long abandoned his human flesh, could not be affected. The jutsu struck his mind briefly, giving him a fleeting sensation, but nothing more.
Still, Choza's colossal rolling body crashed into the puppet, splintering a third of its wooden frame. The once-mighty Kazekage puppet was battered and broken, its strength diminished.
Kakashi charged forward, Raikiri crackling in his hand. To everyone's surprise, he wasn't aiming directly for Sasori—but for the Third Kazekage puppet itself, determined to destroy it before it could be used again.
"Not a chance!" Sasori snarled.
With a sharp pull, his chakra threads reeled the puppet back to its feet. Even missing an arm, it still controlled iron sand. From its back, a hidden mechanism snapped open, ejecting razor-sharp blades straight toward Kakashi.
Guy crossed his arms, his chakra bursting outward in a wave of force as he opened several of the Eight Gates. Surging ahead of Kakashi, he intercepted the puppet head-on, unleashing a thunderous kick at its face.
Sasori's expression darkened.
"Again with the face! Do they think puppets don't need dignity?"
Yet Aoyama still didn't move. To him, a true master should fight with their pride. Even if Sasori was pushed to the brink, as long as he hadn't asked for help, Aoyama would not interfere.
After all, Sasori was a genius—his pride was untouchable.
Guy's kick, amplified by the Gates, carried the destructive force of an A-rank jutsu.
Sasori made a ruthless choice—better to sacrifice another limb than let his puppet's face be shattered. The puppet lost both arms, but the mechanisms remained. A blade slashed downward, threatening Guy.
Kakashi arrived in the nick of time, his Raikiri slicing through the descending weapon.
Guy grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.
"As expected of you, Kakashi! My eternal rival, my dearest friend!"
Kakashi ignored him, focused only on dismantling the puppet completely before Sasori could recover control.
Sasori's thoughts raced in desperation. He had miscalculated—once Ino-Shika-Cho broke formation and disrupted him, his tempo had been stolen away.
Shikaku tugged at his shadow, swinging Choza's massive body once again, this time hurling him toward Hiruko—Sasori's outer shell. With Kakashi and Guy tied up, dismantling the Kazekage puppet, Shikaku judged Hiruko to be Sasori's true body. Take out the puppeteer, and the puppets would all fall.
Sasori clenched his teeth, abandoning the Kazekage puppet entirely. Hiruko's mouth opened, revealing a hidden barrel.
"Accursed fools… die!"
Chakra surged, the cannon glowing a scorching crimson.
"Shikaku! Change direction now!" Yamanaka Hiichi cried in alarm.
Instinctively, Shikaku twisted his shadow, yanking Choza's body off its trajectory.
A heartbeat later—
A blast of searing flame erupted from Hiruko's mouth, the heat so intense it liquefied the very stone it touched.