Yuji's fingers tightened, and the threads of his Death Waltz snapped inward with lethal precision. However, the sensation that returned through the threads made his heart sink. They had caught nothing but air. What his technique strangled was merely an afterimage.
Although Yuji could not follow the enemy's movements with his eyes, he had still released the attack the instant the opponent vanished. His judgment was simple and correct. If it was not a long-range ninjutsu, then it had to be a close-quarters taijutsu killing strike. Yet the threads transmitted no resistance, no sensation of cutting into flesh. Instead, an explosive sound rang out near his ear, followed by the splintering crash of shattered wood.
His expression changed instantly.
"Watch out!"
He realized immediately that the enemy had used the opportunity to bypass him and strike Sasori instead. Without hesitation, Yuji controlled a flying scalpel and launched it toward the source of the sound. Against an opponent of this level, any counterattack had to rely on instinct. When it came to combat experience and technical detail, he and Sasori were completely outmatched by a Konoha Jonin.
His vision simply could not keep up.
Before his attack even reached its target, Sasori's trembling voice reached his ears.
"Yuji..."
At the same moment, Yuji felt one of his fingers suddenly slacken as a thread snapped.
His mind raced. The enemy's weapon could be infused with chakra, making it function like a special ninja tool, similar to Asuma's chakra blades. Yuji's body arched instinctively, preparing to leap away like a startled animal. He could hear the warning in Sasori's voice and feel the overwhelming sense of danger closing in.
As he twisted his body, he caught a glimpse of Sasori extending a chakra thread toward him, trying to pull him away from his current position.
But it was too late.
"Excellent instincts and reaction speed," the Konoha Jonin said coldly behind him. "Too bad you're still just brats."
Yuji had just left the ground when the enemy appeared directly behind him. There was no wasted motion. The Jonin thrust forward, and Yuji's body shuddered violently as the strike landed.
He was sent flying like a broken puppet.
Blood sprayed into the air as his body traced a helpless arc before crashing heavily onto the ground in the distance.
His mind went blank.
His body felt weightless.
He lay there with his eyes wide open, staring into nothingness.
A horrifying wound had pierced through his back, driven deep into his body by a sharp weapon. From the severity of the injury, it was unquestionably fatal.
His thoughts flickered weakly.
Too fast.
So fast that he had not even been able to use his ninjutsu.
He had not had time to react.
The enemy's movements, their tactical judgment, their ability to read his and Sasori's intentions, everything was overwhelming. The Jonin had first evaded his threads, then attacked Sasori's puppet to create the illusion of shifting targets. But in truth, Yuji had always been the primary target. Everything else had been misdirection.
A metallic taste filled his mouth as blood rose in his throat.
He could feel his strength leaving him.
His life was slipping away.
Through his fading vision, he could see the Konoha Jonin already moving toward Sasori. After eliminating Yuji in a single decisive strike, the man did not hesitate. His movements were efficient and merciless.
Yuji felt a bitter realization settle into his mind.
He had been nearly killed instantly.
He was too weak.
Simply learning medical ninjutsu and expanding his arsenal was not enough. It did not matter how many abilities he possessed if he could not use them effectively. Against an opponent of this level, he had not even been given the chance to activate Yin Healing Wound Destruction or mobilize his chakra for defense. He could not predict the attack. He could not respond.
Even possessing regenerative abilities meant nothing if he could not survive long enough to use them.
His senses faded further.
He could no longer hear the battle.
He wondered dimly if he looked pathetic.
'Sasori…'
'You have to survive.'
Darkness closed in.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, another puppet exploded under the Jonin's strike. Sasori controlled his remaining puppets desperately, surrounding the enemy from all directions in an attempt to stop his advance. However, the difference in power was overwhelming. The Jonin's taijutsu was devastating. Puppets that normally terrified enemies were reduced to fragile toys, shattered apart by sheer physical force.
Their hidden weapons and mechanisms were easily avoided. Worse still, the Jonin clearly had extensive experience fighting Puppeteers. He understood their weaknesses and continuously closed the distance, forcing Sasori into a disadvantage.
Even Sasori's core puppet, Karasu, had already been destroyed.
The only reason he was still alive was the number of spare puppets he carried in his scrolls.
Sasori did not attempt to confront the enemy head-on again. Instead, he relied on constant high-speed movement, maintaining distance and preventing the Konoha Jonin from closing in with the Body Flicker Technique.
At the same time, he manipulated his puppets with precision, using their concealed weapons and mechanisms to interfere with the enemy's advance and disrupt his rhythm.
As he retreated and maneuvered, scroll after scroll fell from his hands onto the ground below, emptied and discarded.
His reserves were rapidly dwindling.
The pressure he could exert on his opponent was minimal. At best, he was only buying time.
Otani observed everything carefully.
"This red-haired brat is different from the other one," he thought coldly. "That boy I killed earlier had astonishing physical ability and clearly specialized in taijutsu. When I attacked him, the moment my kunai touched his skin, his muscles had already begun to react. Even when my follow-up strike pierced his vital point, I felt resistance as the blade entered his body. He had instinctively contracted his muscles to reduce the damage. That level of combat instinct isn't something an ordinary ninja possesses, much less a child."
His eyes shifted to Sasori.
"And this one…"
"He has terrifying talent as a Puppeteer."
Otani had fought Sunagakure ninja many times, yet he had never seen someone capable of controlling so many puppets simultaneously at such distance. The coordination was precise, the transitions smooth, and the attacks relentless.
Even more troubling was that Sasori's chakra threads behaved differently from ordinary puppet strings. They seemed stronger, faster, and more responsive, as if they possessed additional properties beyond simple manipulation.
"No wonder Arai personally escorted them," Otani thought grimly. "If this child is allowed to grow, he will become a serious threat to Konoha."
He sidestepped a volley of senbon and landed lightly before forming hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Even though it was a basic jutsu, the clones he produced were far more solid than ordinary illusions. They possessed substance and combat capability.
His plan was simple.
The clones would restrain the puppets, he would personally close the distance. And kill the red-haired brat in a single strike.
Just like the first one.
Crack!
One of Sasori's puppets was shattered midair by a clone's kick, the force of the impact generating a powerful gust of wind.
Otani spun the chakra-infused kunai in his hand and stared coldly at Sasori, whose breathing had grown heavier.
"Give up," he said. "You and that other brat are destined to die here."
He pointed casually toward Yuji's motionless body lying in a pool of blood.
Sasori did not respond.
His eyes remained cold and focused.
Instead, he reached behind his back and pulled out his final scroll.
His trump card.
Bang!
A cloud of white smoke burst into the air.
When it cleared, two humanoid puppets appeared beside him.
One male and one female, both dressed in red robes.
They floated protectively at his sides.
Otani's eyes narrowed.
He could immediately tell that these puppets were different. Their craftsmanship, structure, and presence were on an entirely different level from the previous ones. They did not look like crude constructs.
They looked human.
Sasori's expression did not change.
Even with Father and Mother, he knew his chances of winning were slim. He had already exhausted nearly all his resources and could only maintain this battle for a few minutes at most.
Otani snorted coldly and prepared to attack.
But suddenly, both he and Sasori froze; A sound came from behind them.
Yuji was standing.
He swayed slightly, blood still covering his clothes, but he was unmistakably alive.
Otani's pupils contracted violently.
'Impossible.'
Yuji slowly spread his arms, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply, as if savoring the air itself.
"The blue sky…" he murmured softly. "I truly wasn't ready to leave it behind."
"And this air…"
He smiled faintly.
"The feeling of being alive…is wonderful."
He brushed his blood-soaked hair back and revealed his face.
"I'm sorry," Yuji said calmly. "It seems I've disappointed you."
Otani stared at him in disbelief.
Yuji's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Your expression," he said quietly, "is very interesting."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Come."
"Let's continue what we started. Let's enjoy this slaughter… together."
Sasori's heart trembled.
Something was wrong.
To Sasori, his voice sounded strange. Because the Yuji right now was not 'the person' he was familiar with.
"Well?" he said. "What are you waiting for?"
...
Otani's shock quickly gave way to killing intent. Without hesitation, he charged forward.
"Hahaha!"
Sasori moved accordingly.
However, what he heard was Yuji's excited and maniacal laughter.
...
Stones PLzzz💎💎