Chapter 404: Gap

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

The Iron Sand needles rained down relentlessly as Sasori commanded the Third Kazekage puppet to launch another round of attacks. The iron sand surged in waves, filling the air with deadly precision. Each successive barrage was denser than the last, covering a wide area of over ten meters.

Sasori's strategy was clear—keep Minato at a distance. He knew full well that letting the Yellow Flash get close would spell certain defeat. The weakness of a puppeteer lay in close combat, and Minato's unparalleled speed was not something Sasori could risk confronting head-on.

Minato's deep blue eyes remained focused as the storm of black needles descended. Yet, to Sasori's surprise, Minato made no attempt to dodge.

Sasori's gaze darted across the battlefield, his mind racing. He was certain Minato had left markers for his Flying Thunder God Technique nearby. That must be why he was so calm—Minato could escape at any moment with his space-time ninjutsu.

But then, Minato raised his palm.

A brilliant chakra light began to condense, swirling into a sphere of immense energy.

"Buzz."

In an instant, a Odama Rasengan formed, glowing like a small meteorite in the palm of Minato's hand.

"What is that?" Sasori muttered, his brow furrowing.

With a decisive stomp on the ground, Minato rushed forward, directly into the path of the Iron Sand attack.

"Ding ding ding!"

The Rasengan collided with the Iron Sand projectiles, scattering them with each impact. The chakra sphere carved a path through the deadly storm as Minato advanced without hesitation.

Sasori's eyes narrowed. This was not the fighting style he had anticipated. Minato was abandoning his usual speed and precision in favor of a direct, brute-force approach.

The iron sand swirled and regrouped, forming fresh waves of projectiles to meet the Rasengan. Though the chakra sphere dispersed the attacks on contact, the Iron Sand's toxic properties began to take their toll. Bit by bit, the iron sand eroded the Rasengan's spinning chakra, slowing its momentum.

Minato's expression tightened, but his resolve did not waver. The Iron Sand's resistance was formidable—this was the power of the Third Kazekage, after all. If it hadn't been, he wouldn't have been hailed as one of the strongest shinobi of his time.

Finally, the Rasengan reached its limit.

"Bang!"

With a flick of his wrist, Minato dispersed the Rasengan. The remnants of chakra dissipated into the air, while fragments of Iron Sand fell to the ground like glittering dust.

"Opportunity!"

Sasori seized the moment, intensifying the Iron Sand's assault. The black storm surged once more, covering the sky above Minato.

"He'll teleport away," Sasori muttered, scanning the battlefield for Minato's next position.

But Minato did not teleport.

As the Iron Sand loomed over him, Minato raised his other hand. Chakra light condensed once more, forming another massive Rasengan in the blink of an eye.

"Boom boom!"

The new Rasengan erupted with power, shattering the wave of iron sand and forcing Sasori to recalibrate his offensive.

Sasori's composure faltered. This unrelenting, head-on style of combat was entirely different from the intelligence he had gathered on Minato. The man who relied on speed and spatial ninjutsu was now overwhelming him with raw force.

"Oh no!" Sasori thought, his heart racing.

In the instant it took for Sasori to recover, Minato had already closed the distance. The Rasengan dissipated as he withdrew his hand, his piercing gaze fixed on Sasori from mere meters away.

At this range, Minato could strike in a heartbeat.

Sasori's ten fingers trembled as he frantically commanded the Third Kazekage puppet. The puppet's arms shifted, transforming into razor-sharp short blades with a metallic screech.

"Swish!"

The puppet lunged forward, its blades slicing through the air toward Minato.

But Minato's movements were like the wind. He sidestepped the attack with ease, his three-pronged kunai flashing in his hand. With a swift upward swing, he forced the puppet's blades apart.

"Clang!"

Just as Minato prepared his next move, the puppet's mouth opened, releasing a hidden arrow. Minato deflected it effortlessly with his kunai, but the distraction gave the puppet enough time to re-engage. Its blades rotated rapidly, forming a spinning whirlwind of steel.

Minato's eyes narrowed. Channeling wind chakra into his kunai, he swung it with precision.

"Bang!"

The weapons clashed with a thunderous impact, sparks flying as both combatants were forced to retreat. The puppet returned to Sasori's side, while Minato maintained his calm stance, kunai at the ready.

Sasori's hands trembled with frustration. Despite his best efforts, Minato had not only evaded every attack but had also refrained from pressing his advantage. It was clear now—Minato was holding back.

Minato's voice broke the tense silence. "Not only does this puppet retain the Kazekage's abilities, but it's also equipped with mechanisms to amplify its combat potential. You've turned it into something extraordinary."

He paused, his expression thoughtful. "The months the Third Kazekage was missing… you weren't just hiding him. You were perfecting this. This puppet isn't just a weapon—it's a masterpiece of engineering."

The acknowledgment stung. Sasori's pride clashed with his growing sense of inadequacy.

"Impossible… This is impossible!" Sasori shouted, his voice cracking.

He couldn't believe it. He had preserved the Third Kazekage's body and abilities, crafted a puppet worthy of legend. Yet, even with this power, he was being utterly outclassed.

Minato's voice remained steady. "You've captured the Third Kazekage's strength, but a puppet can never replicate what made him truly powerful. His instincts, his will—those are things no machine can reproduce."

Minato's eyes bore into Sasori's, unyielding. "This is the gap between you and me. No matter how powerful your puppet is, you're not strong enough to kill me."

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