Chapter 296: Dark Clouds Under the Scorching Sun (Part 2)
Within the basin, multiple battles were unfolding, with the most intense being on the western side.
Kakashi dodged several poison needles and slashed at the puppet's arm. The blade cut deep into the wood but failed to sever it completely.
The durability of the puppets astonished Kakashi.
As more poison needles flew his way, in a pinch, Kakashi used a Body Replacement Technique to create some distance.
This red-haired guy wasn't competing; he truly wanted to kill him. Every move was lethal.
Moreover, controlling three puppets simultaneously was something Kakashi had seen from the stands, but facing it was a completely different level of pressure. Obito losing so quickly the other day wasn't unjustified at all.
You never knew where a lethal weapon would pop out from on the puppet.
The best way to defeat a puppet master was to attack the user directly. However, Kakashi tried three times, only to be blocked by the three puppets' agile defense, unable to get close.
Not only was the number of puppets far beyond that of an average puppet master, but the opponent's control precision, combat awareness, and the intricate design of the puppets were all extremely powerful.
Sasori's eyes revealed ruthlessness. He had to kill this guy today. He didn't care how Sakumo Hatake would react, nor did he care about the impact on Sunagakure.
Under the grand environment of the major villages uniting against the Cloud, many people had put aside their old hatreds. Suna, Konoha, and Iwa, rivals for decades, were now huddling together for warmth. Even his grandmother rarely mentioned revenge anymore.
But this didn't include Sasori. He had never given up on avenging his parents. One day, he would kill the White Fang with his own hands.
Today, the White Fang's son was just an appetizer!
The scorching sun overhead accelerated his exhaustion. Under immense pressure, Kakashi soon felt his limits approaching. Although unwilling, he started considering retreat. Instead of clashing head-on with this red-haired guy, it was better to avoid his sharp edge for now.
While fighting and running, they had actually approached the core area. Kakashi could even see other battles taking place nearby.
Clearly, as the encirclement shrank, all survivors were converging on one point. Retreating now and hiding was the correct solution.
In terms of speed, he should still have the advantage.
However, just as he thought this, Kakashi felt a subtle vibration under his feet. He lifted his leg quickly, but he was a step too late. A sharp mechanism sliced open a gash on his calf.
Another puppet burst from the sand. It turned out Sasori had set an ambush here long ago, herding Kakashi in this direction.
"Three wasn't his limit...? He actually has four puppets. I was careless."
In just a moment, Kakashi felt his wound itching and going numb. Clearly, he was poisoned. This affected his speed, making dodging even more strenuous.
At this moment, an explosion sounded in the distance. Familiar with the sound, Sasori immediately knew whose jutsu caused it.
Sure enough, a moment later, Pakura ran over.
"Sasori! Are you okay?"
Sasori remained silent, his eyes red as he manipulated his puppets to launch a fierce attack on the exhausted Kakashi.
He was secretly anxious. The closer they got to the center, the more witnesses there would be.
He wasn't afraid of the consequences of being discovered, but he was afraid someone would try to stop him.
Sasori looked at Pakura warily. Pakura had also hidden Kakashi's identity from him earlier; otherwise, he would have left the team in the first round to hunt down the White Fang's son in the desert.
Pakura sensed Sasori's wariness. She was conflicted, but after a moment, she said to Sasori, "I'll help you. End it quickly! Make it clean!"
Even if it was the Hokage's son, as long as there were no witnesses, dying in the exam shouldn't have overly severe consequences. Ninja exams always had deaths. Helping Sasori untie this knot in his heart was worth it.
Sasori was greatly surprised and somewhat moved.
However, heaven didn't grant their wish. More and more people started moving toward this location.
"Kakashi! Are you okay?!"
Might Guy, with the First Gate of the Eight Inner Gates open, charged over.
Kakashi's vision was already starting to blur.
Guy said urgently, "You're poisoned! Where's your signal flare? Don't be brave!"
Everyone carried a signal flare for forfeiting. Once fired, Suna staff would come to rescue and treat them.
Seeing Kakashi couldn't speak, Guy fired the flare for him.
Seeing the situation turn bad, Pakura used Scorch Release to intercept the flare. It flew only a few meters before being annihilated by a fireball.
Guy was frantic. "What are you doing?!"
Seeing the two pursuers, Guy hurriedly hoisted Kakashi onto his back and ran for his life.
Pakura and Sasori chased relentlessly. Guy fired another flare, but it was intercepted again.
"Damn it! Second Gate: Gate of Healing, OPEN!"
This was Guy's current limit. It removed physical fatigue limits and overloaded the body's energy. Plus, having removed his weights earlier, his speed was incredible despite carrying a person.
Pakura and Sasori couldn't catch up for a moment.
The four chased each other, passing Tetsuo Okine who was fighting someone else, and stepping over Hanzo Rain-Sasori who was hiding in the sand like a camper. Finally, Guy saw the encirclement troops.
Guy was overjoyed. He could finally ensure Kakashi's safety. But he still wanted to continue the competition and was afraid of being caught by the encirclement troops, so from a distance, he threw Kakashi like a sack of potatoes toward them.
"He's poisoned! And he forfeits! Save him quickly! I'm leaving!"
Then Kakashi broke two ribs from the fall.
Dana watched this farce from the sky. The encirclement circle was getting smaller and smaller; soon, only one sand dune's worth of space remained.
Failing to kill Kakashi, Sasori was extremely dejected and almost lost the will to compete, but Pakura dragged him toward the center of the encirclement.
The central sand dune became a chaotic brawl.
Tetsuo Okine, Hanzo Rain-Chiri, Pakura, Sasori, and Might Guy gathered here, gradually engaging each other.
In the air, seeing the competition nearing its end, Dana activated his "Pulse" Vision.
"As expected!"
Unnoticed, Sakumo Hatake, Onoki, and the Third Kazekage had disappeared from his sensory range—or rather, they had blended into the crowd?
Just in case, he decided to bring the Cloud's elite reinforcement unit over early.
Using the golden slug, Dana contacted the Third Raikage on the other side of the ninja world.
"It's almost over here. Those three have disappeared from my sensory range. Is there any unusual movement at the borders?"
The Third Raikage replied, "I had all border troops report via the large red slug every half hour. Currently, no abnormalities."
"Let the reinforcement team come to Sunagakure first."
"Do you need me to come?"
Dana thought for a moment. "No, I'm enough. Hiroto is here too. Plus the elite reinforcements, it's enough to crush them. Old Man, you should stay and guard the village. After this, regardless of the result, war will likely officially begin. We need you in the village to strategize."
The Third Raikage hesitated but eventually agreed to Dana's plan, trusting his judgment.
Ending the call, Dana looked down. The encirclement was tiny now, and the final victor would be decided soon. But Dana's mind was no longer on the competition.
Sure enough, not long after, a roar came from the horizon, and dozens of streaks of light flew in.
On the ground, both the contestants from various villages and the Suna encirclement troops were shocked, not knowing what was happening.
"Look! That's the Cloud's Heavenly Transfer Technique!"
"What's going on? We didn't hear about this! Report to the Kazekage immediately!"
Sunagakure, Kazekage Building.
The Third Kazekage and Onoki were waiting for something.
Onoki was checking his ninja tools, while the Third Kazekage seemed restless.
"Do you think Yotsuki Dana will go berserk and rampage in Sunagakure? I heard he smashed through Konoha a few years ago."
Onoki sheathed his kunai. He hadn't used these tools in a long time, but today's battle was too important, compelling him to prepare thoroughly.
"He won't. Sunagakure is currently filled with merchants and nobles from all over the ninja world. Even if he's furious, he can't do that, or the Cloud will become the public enemy of the ninja world. The Joint Chunin Exams aren't even over yet."
The Third Kazekage felt slightly reassured. In this plan, his biggest worry was whether Dana would attack Suna recklessly.
Just then, faint vibrations came from outside the window. The Third Kazekage and Onoki rushed to look and saw dozens of streaks of light flying from the horizon.
The Third Kazekage said gravely, "It's the Cloud's Heavenly Transfer. That kid seems to have sensed something."
Seeing the Third Kazekage hesitating again, Onoki urged, "The plan has reached the final step. We absolutely cannot give up halfway!"
At this moment, Sakumo Hatake and Minato Namikaze walked into the room. Their expressions were serious; clearly, they had also seen the Heavenly Transfer lights outside.
Onoki said quickly, "Everyone is here. Let's go."
He was afraid the Third Kazekage would be indecisive again.
Sakumo and Minato exchanged a glance, master and disciple nodding to each other.
Minato took out his special kunai—longer than average, with prongs on the sides and the Flying Thunder God formula engraved on the handle.
Sakumo also took out a short blade different from his White Light Chakra Saber. It was only 20 centimeters long, thin and light, black in color, looking more like a throwing knife than a melee weapon.
And on the black thin blade, a Flying Thunder God formula was also engraved.
Minato placed a hand on the Third Kazekage's shoulder, while Sakumo placed a hand on Onoki's shoulder.
Master and disciple said in unison:
"Then, let's go!"
Swish!
The four vanished from the Kazekage building.