In the dim light of the arena, Jogaki Shikasa appeared strangely eerie and mesmerizing. As his countless chakra threads crisscrossed, a massive gale swept across the ground. Threads lunged from every direction, swarming toward Kakashi.
Facing this relentless onslaught, Kakashi—his chakra reserves severely depleted after his earlier complex elemental combinations—patiently played a game of maneuver.
However, Shikasa's control over the threads was becoming faster and more fluid, the frequency of his strikes reaching a fever pitch.
As the leader of the Sand's Jonin Corps, Shikasa had long been dismissed by outsiders as a mere "lackey" who held his position only because of his friendship with Shiraishi.
Many viewed him as nothing more than a traditional puppet master. In truth, as one of the original members of the Shiraishi-Maki-Shikasa trio, his individual strength was formidable.
In his hands, chakra threads were no longer just tools for manipulation, but a sophisticated weapon in their own right.
Though Kakashi was a master of Taijutsu, he found it impossible to find an opening through Shikasa's airtight, high-speed web of threads.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Standard linear fireballs couldn't break through the threads, so Kakashi opted for a multi-angled assault.
Having honed his skills through constant battle, Kakashi now possessed a vast arsenal of jutsu. Though not yet the "Copy Ninja" of legend, his brilliance was already on full display.
The fire dragons roared from six different directions, converging on Shikasa. But in that moment, a clear current surged.
The threads around Shikasa began to spin, merging with water-natured chakra to transform into a brand-new form: Water Threads.
"I've heard rumors that the Sand's Puppet Brigade has transitioned to these water-natured chakra strings for control?" the Fourth Raikage, Ay, remarked with interest.
Seeing the silver, shimmering threads in Shikasa's hands, the other Kage leaned in. The Sand's puppets were already unparalleled; now, they were unveiling entirely new technologies.
Shiraishi did not hide the fact. "It allows for higher precision in control. However, not every puppet master can master them. After all, not every Jonin possesses the affinity to develop water-natured chakra."
These Water Threads were the new standard for the Sand. Compared to traditional chakra strings, they were tougher, more resilient, and far more difficult to sever.
Shiraishi noted that while the mysterious attacker at the Hozuki ruins had used similar tech, their mastery couldn't compare to Shikasa's.
This reinforced Shiraishi's belief in the value of the Ninja Academy in the Land of Valleys, where such hybrid techniques were born.
Dressed in silver and white, Shikasa's hands danced, his Water Threads clashing directly with the fire dragons. Amidst the shattering silver light, Shikasa flicked his fingers, and his Six Scarlet Control Mirrors appeared, circling him to form a specialized sensory field.
Suddenly, a silver flash erupted. Kakashi, blade in hand, launched a fierce direct strike. Amidst a series of explosions, Shikasa's palms—wrapped in Water Threads to form specialized chakra gloves—clamped down on Kakashi's blade with his bare fingers. The two were locked in a stalemate.
"That idiot! He's exposing too many of our new capabilities!"
Arashi's face was grim. He hadn't expected Shikasa's fighting spirit to be so intense that he would abandon traditional puppetry just to engage Kakashi in close quarters.
In the world of ninjas, information is life. By revealing this CQC (Close Quarters Combat) water-thread style, Shikasa was giving future enemies a chance to prepare.
Amidst the swirling currents, Shikasa stepped lightly, his movements following a unique, rhythmic grace. The Water Threads suddenly expanded into a terrifying, explosive flood.
"Water Style: Tilting Explosion!"
A combination of Shiraishi's "Steam Explosion" concept and Shikasa's Water Threads produced instant results.
Under the shock of the high-temperature mist, even the Sharingan struggled to track the movement. A thick strand of water thread shot forward, piercing Kakashi's shoulder.
With a successful strike, Kakashi paled and retreated several steps. Heavily wounded and exhausted, he finally conceded, exiting the arena. Shikasa, turned his gaze upward to where Shiraishi sat on his throne.
Shiraishi, you've gone much further than us... but I will work harder to chase your shadow, so you won't have to walk that path alone.
Shiraishi noticed that Shikasa had held back. If it had been Arashi, that strike would have severed Kakashi's arm entirely. However, Shiraishi also noticed Kakashi's state—his spirit seemed broken and hollow, a far cry from the boy Shiraishi had first met.
Minato Namikaze watched his dejected student walk down. He wanted to offer words of comfort but found himself unable to speak. Kakashi's defeat wasn't just due to the chakra drain of the Sharingan, but the internal darkness he had yet to overcome.
"That high-temperature explosion... is it a secret technique of the Hozuki clan?" Minato asked with an innocent, almost naive curiosity, though the question itself struck at the most sensitive nerve between the Sand and the Mist.
"No. It is a technique Shikasa developed himself," Shiraishi replied flatly.
Minato blinked, seemingly surprised by Shiraishi's blunt denial. Meanwhile, the Mizukage, Yagura, seemed utterly indifferent. However, as Shikasa stood victorious, one of Yagura's guards leaped onto the battlefield.
"Yuriof the Hidden Mist. Please advise."
She removed her mask to reveal a delicate, beautiful face, but her opening move was anything but gentle—a massive storm of water surged forward.
A Water Encampment Wall erupted beneath Shikasa's feet, turning into a raging torrent. Shikasa attempted to block it with his Water Threads, but a bone-chilling cold suddenly swept through the air.
No, this isn't just Water Style!
In an instant, the water wall froze into a massive jagged ice mist, and countless ice mirrors manifested across the field.
"The Ice Style Bloodline Limit..."
According to Sand intelligence, Yuri was a master of Ice Style and a former elite of the Mist's Assassination Unit, known as the "Snow Witch." Ice was the natural counter to Shikasa's Water Threads. Reacting quickly, Shikasa reverted his strings to normal chakra and deployed his mirrors into a defensive formation.
He unrolled a scroll, finally transitioning to traditional Puppet Mastery. But the moment the puppet appeared on the stage, Yuri's face twisted with rage.
"You... you dared to turn him into a Human Puppet!"
Amidst a violent eruption of frost and snow, Shikasa retreated several steps, realizing that Yuri's killing intent had just reached a boiling point.
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