Chapter 64: Lion Ape (Part 1)

All jutsu have their own strengths and weaknesses — the Puppet Technique is no different. Once someone gains even a basic understanding of this combat method, its flaws become painfully obvious. After all, puppets are just puppets; they can never replace living, breathing ninja with thinking minds and flexible offensive capabilities.

Think about it—why would history's most gifted puppet master go to the trouble of creating a replica of the Third Kazekage? Was it just on a whim? And even further, could that ultimate puppet, crafted from the very corpse of the Third Kazekage himself, possibly match the strength of the original?

Practically impossible.

The more he learned, the more Haseo came to believe that so-called Puppet Technique was nothing but controlling sophisticated toys.

A ninja's true strength starts with raw talent. However, for those who use Puppet Technique, their potential isn't just limited by their personal abilities—it's also inherently restricted by the narrow scope of the technique itself.

No matter how skilled, even the best puppet master could never be the ultimate ninja.

"Old man, don't think your toys will work forever—or even now, like they did last time."

Menzuomen's Chikamatsu Collection shot toward Haseo at blistering speed. Upon entering their attack range, the fully armed puppets instantly unfurled their arsenal:

Guns, swords, poison needles.

Blades, hooks, axes, and halberds.

A torrent of deadly steel—seemingly capable of turning Haseo into minced meat in an instant, in a single clash.

But right when death was closing in, Haseo didn't even flinch. As those toxin-coated blades were about to slice his flesh, violent arcs of lightning suddenly surged across his body, crawling onto the weapons protruding from the puppets. In the blink of an eye, Haseo twisted and turned between the onslaught, until his hand seals completed in rapid succession.

Menzuomen had no idea just how much Haseo's battle style had evolved since their first clash. Perhaps at first, Haseo had been nothing more than a ninja who relied on long-range techniques—albeit in slightly unconventional ways. Back then, his overall combat effectiveness hadn't seemed particularly impressive. Now, sure, his close-combat was still rough around the edges. But the insane jump in speed more than made up for it.

Menzuomen was an old-school ninja. Maybe he'd forgotten how drastically a young ninja could change in such a short time. Even if he realized that now, though, it was already too late—because there wouldn't be a third meeting between them.

Haseo took a deep breath, then parted his lips, exhaling with force a thin yet scalding stream of water:

[Water Release: Rising Water Slicer]

It might not have looked flashy, but it packed a deadly punch.

This technique was among the most representative and powerful Water Release Ninjutsu ever created by the Second Hokage, the so-called "Water Release God." Sansho had given it to Haseo as a reward when he returned to the village.

The thin, high-pressure water blade sliced through metal and stone like butter. As someone who had once been hit head-on by this technique—and possibly the only survivor to survive such a direct impact—Haseo understood it intimately. It was truly...a sensation that began with a bitter thrill, went beyond bitterness, started with pain, and surpassed pain.

Naturally, the same jutsu wielded by different people would vary in power. No one could expect Haseo at his current level to use Water Dragon Blast as skillfully as the Second Hokage, but regardless, Water Dragon Blast would always be Water Dragon Blast—it should be more than enough to handle the current situation.

The slender stream of water carved a wide arc through all the puppets surrounding Haseo. After nearly completing a full circle, every member of the Chikamatsu Collection was cleanly cut at the waist…If those toys were still usable afterward, they would probably only serve as members of a new "Chikamatsu Expansion."

Menzuomen's chakra threads suddenly slackened. Compared to the unexpected damage dealt to his puppets, what intrigued him even more at this moment was a different question:

Who, exactly, would teach such a high-level ninja technique to someone so young?

Water Dragon Blast was a survival-level ninjutsu technique given to Haseo by Sansho, and what did "survival-level" imply? It meant first and foremost, it was an S-rank forbidden technique. Secondly, in terms of offensive lethality, it didn't wound—it delivered instant death.

It was also the same technique Haseo previously mentioned he wanted to "test out" on the battlefield.

With the puppets destroyed, the puppet master found himself completely exposed. Now, just how strong was Menzuomen's taijutsu fighting ability as a puppeteer? Different puppeteers might have different circumstances, but when facing a ninja like Haseo who used Lightning Release Ninja Taijutsu, even those skilled in hand-to-hand combat wouldn't necessarily be able to display their full abilities.

Blue lightning overflowed from Haseo's body as he seemingly transformed into a surge of electric energy. Like a bolt of lightning, he vanished from the spot where he had just been surrounded by the puppets and reappeared before Menzuomen in an instant.

He gripped his sword with his left hand and slashed downward in a cold arc toward the opponent's shoulder.

Menzuomen's eyes barely managed to follow Haseo's movement, yet relying solely on decades of accumulated battle experience, he instinctively raised one arm as a defense.

"Clang!"

The dagger struck the arm and produced a sound entirely unlike flesh being cut; the blade didn't penetrate either. Instead, the counter-force violently rebounded, sending Haseo's arm flying upward, causing half his body to momentarily lose balance.

Yet, despite successfully blocking the attack, Menzuomen felt no relief or joy, nor did he see an opportunity to counterattack, even against an off-balance Haseo…Ninja combat wasn't turn-based after all. At this very moment, he saw clearly the flickering blue lightning gathered at the tips of Haseo's fingers, pressed together like a blade.

It was the final move Haseo had prepared.

"Well done, young man," said Menzuomen.

To an old ninja, dying by the hand of a talented young enemy isn't sad—it's kind of comforting, really. It proves that until the end, he was still fighting… Eventually, both ninja and ordinary men face death. But what sets ninja apart is that with death always near, the way they die matters most.

"So-so, old man."

Haseo raised his right palm forward. The Lightning Release he'd gathered surged outward rapidly, instantly transforming into a blade of lightning. It pierced first through Menzuomen's heart, then with Haseo's upward swing of the arm, cleaved open the chest cavity before bursting out from the shoulder. This wasn't cruel—puppet masters often altered their own bodies, so Haseo needed to make sure Menzuomen died with one strike.

Haseo lifted his arm, and the blade of lightning slashed into the air.

[Lightning Release · Kurigara]

This was the second technique he didn't need to test—but tested anyway.

PS:

Still chasing recommendation votes this Monday!

Even those of you who criticize my short chapters, I want your recommendations too.

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