Chapter 76

Ebizo and the Third Kazekage buried their "soul cores" deep within an underground factory before launching their puppet bodies toward the surface.

Boom! Boom!

Two massive explosions later, the two puppetized shinobi burst through the wooden barriers sealing the ceiling, emerging into the war-ravaged landscape of Roran.

Before, Ebizo had only seen this scene through the eyes of his puppet.

Now, the Third Kazekage witnessed it firsthand—and he was utterly shaken.

A country. A full-fledged nation, sprawling across the desert!

Sunagakure had worked hand-in-hand with Roran, using their expertise in puppetry to erect these towering structures.

And yet, that "monster" had blanketed everything with a single use of Wood Release.

If I had faced him before becoming a puppet, I wouldn't have even had a 1% chance of victory.

Ebizo's gaze fell upon Uchiha Shin, standing amidst an endless sea of flowers and trees—like a god looming over the battlefield. A deep, primal fear settled in his chest.

I used every ounce of my puppetry skill before, and he still obliterated me.

Now, even with the Third Kazekage by my side, I'm not sure we can win.

"Kazekage... do we stand a chance?"

After a brief silence, the Third Kazekage's lips curled into a confident smirk. "We will win."

Ebizo exhaled, feeling a strange sense of relief at those words.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shin watched them from a distance, his Sharingan gleaming.

What are these two talking about?

By reading their lips, he picked up a particular phrase: "We will win."

"The hell? Did these two suddenly get possessed by 2.5 Satoru? These old geezers—wait a minute..."

Shin's gaze sharpened.

Their bodies feel... different.

A realization dawned upon him.

They actually did it. They used the Dragon Vein to turn themselves into puppets!

Well, it makes sense. In the original timeline, some rogue Sunagakure shinobi pulled off something similar. And now, the entire village is behind it.

Shin clapped his hands together. Immediately, the dense vines carpeting the ground lashed out, launching toward the airborne puppets.

"Puppet Art: Dragon Vein Marionette!"

Ebizo reacted instantly, unleashing a barrage of chakra threads from his body.

Chunks of high-rise buildings, loose clay puppets, and debris gravitated toward him, assembling into a massive puppet—nearly 100 meters tall.

The battlefield trembled under its weight.

"Puppet Art: Spinning Blade Tempest!"

Dozens of massive, rotating saw blades emerged from the colossal puppet's body, whirling at high speed.

The razor-sharp discs shredded the approaching vines with ease.

Even the thickest ones were diced to pieces, and the resulting vacuum slashes ripped through the battlefield, hurtling toward Uchiha Shin like a relentless storm.

"Wood Release: Adamantine Wood Spear!"

Dozens of dense wooden pillars erupted from the ground, clashing with the vacuum slashes mid-air.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The shockwaves rippled outward, sending gusts of wind whipping at Shin's cloak.

His crimson eyes narrowed as he gazed at the towering puppet.

I'm getting sick of fighting these regenerating Gundams.

This is just a goddamn waste of my time.

"Wood Release: Giant Hand Technique!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ground quaked violently as massive wooden hands erupted from below, each one half the size of the gargantuan puppet.

They shot toward Ebizo from every direction, leaving him no time to react.

His giant puppet slashed at a few incoming hands, but the next wave smothered him completely.

Massive wooden palms seized his limbs, pinning him in place. His main body was locked in an unbreakable grip, unable to move an inch.

Even as Ebizo channeled the Dragon Vein's power, struggling to break free, it was useless.

The Third Kazekage's eyes widened in shock.

Ebizo was crushed in just two moves?!

He had planned to wait for an opening, but now, he had to face Uchiha Shin alone.

The initial panic faded, replaced by something else—the intoxicating power of the Dragon Vein.

As long as he stood in Roran, he was invincible!

Immortal! Infinite chakra!

Who could possibly stand against him?!

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Tsunami!"

The Third Kazekage formed a series of seals, summoning waves of iron sand from the earth.

More and more iron sand coalesced, spiraling into a massive vortex—a tornado of iron sand stretching from the ground to the heavens!

"Hahaha! Let's see you survive this!"

Without the Dragon Vein, this attack would've drained him instantly.

But now? He could fire at full power without a care in the world!

The iron sand tornado rampaged forward, like a god of destruction.

Even the towering buildings caught in its path were obliterated in an instant!

The Third Kazekage was sure—there was no way Shin could block this—

"Dust Release: Original Realm Stripping Blade!"

A massive, translucent blade of pure destruction materialized and slashed forward in an instant.

SHING—

The iron sand tornado was cleaved in half.

So was the Third Kazekage.

His severed lower body plummeted toward the ground, but he quickly manipulated chakra threads to stitch himself back together.

His face darkened. "What the hell?! How is he using Dust Release so fast?! Even Onoki needs time to charge!"

The Third Kazekage couldn't even see Shin making hand seals. The bastard just yelled out a technique, and it happened!

As he reassembled himself, Shin analyzed the situation.

These bodies aren't their real ones.

It must be like Sasori in the future. They hid their true "core" somewhere safe.

His gaze flickered toward Ebizo, still struggling against the wooden giant hands.

Tch. Annoying.

"Just stay put, old man."

"Sage Art: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Shin's eyes sharpened as he entered Sage Mode, clapping his hands together.

BOOM!

Hundreds of thick chakra chains erupted from his back, surging toward the restrained Ebizo.

"Oh, come on!"

Ebizo was completely immobilized, his puppet body utterly powerless against the sealing chains.

"The Uzumaki Clan's sealing technique?!"

The Third Kazekage inhaled sharply, eyes filled with dread.

This masked man…

First, Hashirama's Wood Release.

Then, Onoki's Dust Release.

And now, he's using the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Arts?!

The horrifying thought crossed his mind.

What if he pulls out the Uchiha's Sharingan next? Or worse—my own Magnet Release?!

That moment of hesitation…

Was all Shin needed to prepare his next move.

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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones