Chapter 120: A Rough Start
Chapter 120: A Rough Start
"What's our chance of winning?" Just as everyone was bracing for what could be a final battle, Hiashi Hyuga suddenly asked Mizuki.
"Uh?" Mizuki, still recovering and busy laying out traps and barriers—though unsure how much they'd matter against Sasori's Iron Sand—was caught completely off guard. Focused on defense, he hadn't expected such a question at this critical moment.
"Our chances? A bit better than earlier..." Mizuki replied cautiously. When speaking with someone like Hiashi, being careful always paid off.
After all, Sasori's Hundred Puppets had been overwhelming. While many top-level ninja scoff at quantity over quality, that only holds true when you're strong enough to ignore numbers entirely. In this case, each of those puppets had been a deadly human puppet crafted by a master.
"Your tactical sense is excellent. Without you, we wouldn't have lasted this long." Hiashi, ever the seasoned veteran, spoke with measured calm. He continued, "Do you have any new strategies?"
Mizuki shook his head. "We're out of options. Everyone's played their cards. At this point, it's just a matter of who can last longer."
Hiashi nodded in agreement. He understood the grim reality—they had pushed Sasori and Deidara far, but those two weren't ordinary enemies. The horrifying gravitational force from the Rinnegan-clone's Chibaku Tensei was something even veteran ninja might only see once in a lifetime.
"Can you use that terrifying technique again?" Hiashi asked, though he tried not to sound too hopeful. It was clear he was referring to the technique unleashed by the clone—the one that had shaken the battlefield and everyone on it.
"No, that was a one-time deal," Mizuki answered. "We don't have another one like that."
Hiashi looked disappointed. He had hoped for a trump card, something to keep the enemy at bay. But Mizuki's response made sense. A technique that could bend the laws of gravity and summon meteors from the sky wasn't the kind of thing you pulled out twice—especially not without enormous consequences.
As they spoke, Deidara's white owl puppet circled overhead once again, its shadow casting a grim omen. From its back, Deidara and Sasori scanned the field below.
"What do we do now? Sasori's puppet techniques have absurd range." Of the group, only Kurenai remained unscathed. But illusion techniques weren't much use at long range, especially against seasoned veterans like Sasori or a clay bomber like Deidara.
"We just have to wait for them to come closer," Hiashi said. "The longer the chakra strings, the easier they are to target."
"Right now, things are better than before," Mizuki added. "At least there's a fighting chance. No more puppet tsunami…"
"Is there anything we can still do?" Temari and Gaara approached. They were clearly on their last legs—chakra nearly gone, physical strength drained. Mizuki looked at Gaara, worried not just for his health but for what could happen if Shukaku broke loose.
"Protect yourselves," Hiashi instructed. "That's enough."
Mizuki could barely hide his concern. "If I faint again like in the Wave Country, we're screwed. No one will be able to save me this time…"
Suddenly, a new threat emerged from above.
Sasori released his most prized puppet: the Third Kazekage, now transformed into a human puppet. The sight of the once-glorious Wind Shadow, twisted into a weapon, stunned the group. Even Gaara's expression shifted.
"That… that's the Third Kazekage?" Kurenai asked, shaken.
Temari nodded, pale. "Yes… Sasori turned him into a puppet. That's his specialty—human puppets. They retain their jutsu, chakra, and bloodline powers."
"Bloodline powers?" Hiashi frowned. "That puppet… is made from a real person?"
Temari gave a bitter nod. "It's why he's so feared. The Third Kazekage was said to be the strongest Kazekage in our village's history. And now…"
A tense silence fell. Everyone realized what this meant.
Hiashi looked grim. If Sasori defeated him here and turned him into a puppet… his Byakugan would be exposed to the world.
He could not die.
Not here.
…
Without wasting time, Sasori unleashed the Third Kazekage puppet's signature jutsu: Iron Sand. A barrage of metallic limbs rained down like a storm. Mizuki narrowly dodged, but others weren't so lucky. Gaara, too slow to react, took several hits.
Poison gas followed, spreading rapidly.
"Use the antidote!" Mizuki shouted.
He didn't know if his universal elixir would work, but it was all they had. Especially for Gaara. If he died, not only would this mission fail—they might all go with him if Shukaku emerged.
In the smoke and chaos, Hiashi suddenly exploded into motion.
"Rotation!"
A powerful chakra vortex blew the toxic fog back, giving everyone a brief reprieve.
Kurenai, Temari (carrying Gaara), and Hinata's cousin all managed to stagger free.
"Take the antidote. Now," Mizuki ordered.
They obeyed without hesitation.
…
But there was little time to rest. Sasori wasn't finished.
"Steel Rain!" he commanded. From above, the puppet sent hundreds of poisoned projectiles raining down.
Mizuki gritted his teeth.
There was only one hope left.
They had to hit Sasori's core.
"Hiashi-sama," he whispered. "If I can create an opening… can you hit his core?"
Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "You can't get close."
"I don't need to. I just need one chance."
Hiashi nodded.
"Then let's take it."
As the sky darkened under the shadow of Iron Sand, Mizuki whispered, "Let's see whose will breaks first…"
To be continued...
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