Still Using the Performance of a Hundred Puppets? Times Have Changed! Take This Sage Technique!

Ninja World.

In a forest, the once lush vegetation was now shrouded in an evil force.

Thick mist permeated the area, filling every inch of space and obscuring vision, adding an extra layer of gloom.

Thick trees grew wildly, their twisted branches like vicious tentacles spreading madly in every direction.

Between those branches hung white figures—countless White Zetsu.

Their once hollow, puppet-like expressions were now filled with struggle.

Their white bodies twisted and warped under the branches’ constriction, like prey trapped in an invisible net. They writhed desperately, yet could not break free.

Those branches seemed alive, burrowing deep into the White Zetsu’s bodies and constantly draining their life force.

The White Zetsu gradually shriveled up, gray-black streaks spreading across their white skin like plants deprived of all moisture.

They occasionally let out low, hoarse howls that echoed through the mist-shrouded forest, carrying endless pain and despair.

As time passed, the White Zetsu struggled less and less, their breaths growing weaker. Gradually, their bodies became completely entwined within the branches, turning into nourishment for the trees’ growth. The forest returned to its seeming calm, with only the occasional swaying branch silently recounting what had just happened.

At the forest’s edge, Sasori of the Red Sands stood quietly. His signature puppet shell, Hiruko, gleamed coldly in the dim light.

Sasori peered through Hiruko’s eyeholes into the depths of the forest, his gaze grave as he muttered, "Hidan’s been in there for so long. Why hasn’t there been any movement?"

"He calls himself immortal. There should at least be some noise, right? Don’t tell me that idiot got lost?"

After thinking for a moment, Sasori of the Red Sands controlled Hiruko into the forest.

Wherever Hiruko passed, fallen leaves crackled beneath it. The sound was especially jarring in the silent forest.

As he ventured deeper, broken white limbs began appearing in Sasori’s sight. His heart tightened, and he quickened his pace.

When he finally saw the horrific sight of White Zetsu being wrapped by branches and reduced to nourishment, Sasori could not help sucking in a cold breath.

This!

This!

This was far too artistic!

However, this was the art of death, not the art of eternity and explosions.

"Oi."

A cheerful voice rang out above Sasori of the Red Sands. Sasori looked up and saw Uchiha Yu, his Mangekyō Sharingan glaring down at him.

"It’s you!"

Sasori had rarely lost in his life. The two battles he remembered most were his battle against Konan, which had brought him into the Akatsuki, and his encounter with Uchiha Yu, whom he had let escape.

Their last parting had infuriated Sasori beyond measure.

Letting a Konoha ninja escape right under his nose—especially the son of the White Fang of Konoha—had left Sasori too angry to eat or sleep. He had not even wanted to maintain his puppets. All of it was the result of Uchiha Yu.

"I never expected Konoha to send you as the vanguard."

"What a shame, what a shame." Hiruko’s strange voice continued. Sasori of the Red Sands smiled. "During the last invasion of Konoha, I had little chance to fight you. Now, I finally have the opportunity to kill you."

"Oh?" Uchiha Yu, hanging upside down from a tree, lightly raised a brow. "You think Deva Path Pain is inferior to you?"

Sasori of the Red Sands crawled out of Hiruko, apparently preparing to directly activate his Human Puppet form. "That man killing you is only a matter of time. As for me, I can definitely kill you."

Only a few months had passed since they last parted. Sasori did not believe a person could grow to such an exaggerated extent in half a year. "Speaking of which, did you take care of that fool Hidan?"

Uchiha Yu nodded. "Yep! Took care of him easily. You probably won’t fare much better."

"Arrogant!"

Before Sasori could attack, Uchiha Yu struck first.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" The fireball tore through the forest and set it ablaze. Hiruko’s shell twisted and deformed in the flames. Sasori’s true body leaped from the charred puppet, his pale fingers tearing open the Sealing Scroll on his chest.

The grinding of iron sand drowned out the crackling flames. The Third Kazekage Puppet floated behind Sasori, its pitch-black iron sand forming suspended pyramids as the setting sun reflected a poisonous snake’s cold gleam from its surface.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!" The instant Sasori’s chakra strings trembled, the shrill scream of iron sand needles tearing through the air made even the rubble within a hundred meters shake.

Yu’s Sharingan caught the trajectory of every needle, and his hands formed the Rat-Tiger hand seals at afterimage speed!

This was…

The improved Water Dragon Bullet that the Second Hokage had taught him not long ago!

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A water dragon condensed behind Uchiha Yu. The spiraling dragon sent every iron sand needle flying, and Uchiha Yu leaped atop it, his right fist wrapped in Armament Haki as he charged at the Kazekage Puppet!

Sasori controlled the Third Kazekage Puppet to raise triangular, cylindrical, and conical iron sand barriers. Yet the instant Yu’s fist touched the iron sand, it was violently scattered! The shapes formed by the iron sand began collapsing at the point of Uchiha Yu’s impact, scattering across the ground!

"Bang!" The iron sand exploded into a rain of metal. Sparks flew as scattered grains collided, and Sasori’s true body was blown thirty meters away by the Havok. The instant his regeneration core was exposed, he hid behind the Kazekage Puppet again.

Yu landed amid the iron sand fragments covering the ground and flicked smoking iron filings from his fist. "Maybe don’t bring out toys like this?"

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!" Sasori’s roar carried the hoarse scrape of metal as the cubes burst into an iron prison made of countless spikes.

Yu chuckled, and the Flying Thunder God kunai hidden in his sleeve precisely nailed itself into a seam in the Kazekage Puppet’s shell.

The instant the iron sand spikes closed in, Yu’s figure vanished into thin air!

"Too slow." Uchiha Yu drove his knee heavily into the Kazekage Puppet’s chest cavity, denting its hardened steel body into an exaggerated curve before smashing it viciously into the rock wall!

Sasori behind the Kazekage Puppet was sent flying along with it!

When Sasori rose from the pile of rubble, the Third Kazekage Puppet’s core components had already scattered across the ground.

He wiped away the puppet oil leaking from the corner of his mouth as Sealing Scrolls unfurled one after another behind him. "I didn’t expect to be pushed this far."

Sasori of the Red Sands’ regeneration core erupted with dazzling bloody light as the Sealing Scrolls opened!

Over a hundred red-robed puppets were summoned!

This was not over yet!

He tore open the final Heavenly Fire Scroll, raised both hands, and aimed the flame emitters toward Uchiha Yu!

Seeing Sasori’s response, Uchiha Yu could not help shaking his head. "Sir, times have changed."

"Scroll: Flame Prison Technique!"

A hundred-meter-wide wave of fire suddenly swallowed half the battlefield!

Uchiha Yu’s black hair whipped wildly in the heatwave. The instant he pressed his palms together, Natural Energy spread from the corners of his eyes throughout his entire body!

When the first Performance of a Hundred Puppets puppet broke through the wall of fire, a thousand-meter-tall phantom image of the Thousand-Armed Kannon rose behind Uchiha Yu! A thousand glowing golden arms unfurled like a peacock spreading its tail!

"Opening with my ultimate move is my ninja way!"

"Sage Technique!"

"Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill!"

The Kannon Statue’s fists unleashed tangible shockwaves, instantly blasting the first ten puppets into a rain of wood chips.

Sasori’s chakra strings were torn apart in swathes, the breaking sounds like the mournful snap of pipa strings.

Ten flying puppets attempted to circle around and ambush him from behind, only to be crushed into metal pancakes by three hundred Buddha hands suddenly reaching out from the void. Gear fragments vaporized into green smoke amid the golden light.

Sasori’s puppet army was forced back by the meat grinder formed of Buddha hands. The remaining twenty puppets tried to form a defensive formation, only to be slammed a hundred meters underground by the Kannon Statue’s palm.

The entire battlefield collapsed as though struck by a meteor. The Havok flung up every layer of rock within a kilometer, while Sasori’s true body bounced among the rubble like a rag doll. Cracks like spiderwebs spread across his regeneration core’s shell. He could not have been more miserable!

"Th-This is impossible! This… this is impossible!" Sasori coughed out puppet oil, his trembling fingers tugging on his final sixty chakra strings. The remaining sixty puppets formed a suicidal charge formation, only to be frozen midair by the Vacuum Wave created when the Buddha hands clapped together!

The Kannon Statue suddenly opened a Sharingan eye in the center of its brow, and a thousand arms transformed into a golden torrent that poured down!

"Rumble—"

The unceasing barrage lasted a full ten seconds!

When the smoke and dust were swept away by the gale, only a hundred-meter-wide meteor crater remained at the center of the battlefield!

Puppet wreckage hammered into thin sheets of metal lay scattered around it. Sasori had only one puppet eye left, blankly staring at the sky above the crater.

The last thing Sasori of the Red Sands saw was Uchiha Yu standing on the tip of the Kannon’s finger, looking down at him.

In those eyes, where Golden Tomoe revolved, reflected a dawn forever beyond the reach of mortals.

Sasori suddenly remembered something Deva Path Pain had said in passing. Now, it was vividly displayed in this enemy.

Kami!

Become this world’s…

God!

Inside the dim hideout, the atmosphere was so heavy it was nearly suffocating.

Deva Path Pain floated expressionlessly in midair, radiating an invisible sense of oppression.

Obito stood to one side. Only the Sharingan behind his mask could be seen, flickering with a cold and ghostly light.

"Sasori and Hidan’s connections have been cut off." A low voice broke the silence. The White Zetsu responsible for relaying intelligence slowly emerged from the shadows, its voice carrying barely concealed terror.

Deva Path Pain slightly furrowed his brow upon hearing this. A faint, imperceptible ripple passed through his distinctive Rinnegan. "Cut off? What happened?"

Obito crossed his arms, leaning forward slightly, his tone filled with confusion and shock. "How long has it been? They’ve already lost contact? Hidan is immortal, and Sasori is a powerful puppeteer. What could they have encountered?"

Konan gently bit her lower lip, concern in her eyes. "It seems the situation ahead is far more complicated than we imagined."

At that moment, the White Zetsu hurriedly reported the intelligence gathered from the front lines in detail. "According to the response from my clone hiding nearby, it was Uchiha Yu. He has mastered an extremely powerful ninjutsu capable of defeating Sasori and Hidan in a very short time. Its power was astonishing. The surrounding forest has been devastated beyond recognition."

At the mention of the name "Uchiha Yu," Obito’s body trembled slightly, and a complicated look flashed through his Sharingan.

Deva Path Pain was silent for a moment before speaking. "Uchiha Yu… I never expected his growth to be so rapid."

Everyone fell into thought. For a time, the only sound in the hideout was each other’s faint breathing.

After a long while, Obito raised his head, determination flashing in his eyes. "I suggest we avoid the locations guarded by Uchiha Yu for now and concentrate our forces on attacking Konoha. As for Uchiha Yu, send the Sunagakure forces to delay him. Once Konoha is invaded, no matter how difficult Uchiha Yu is to deal with, he won’t be able to turn the tide."

Deva Path Pain nodded slightly, approving Obito’s proposal. "For now, Uchiha Yu must be eliminated. His abilities are troublesome, and we cannot kill him in a short time. For the sake of our plan, this is our only option."

"Konan! Go notify Sunagakure and have them arrange troops to proceed to the designated location immediately!"

Konan gave a slight nod. "All right. I’ll handle it right away."

With that, she transformed into countless sheets of paper and swiftly disappeared from the spot.

Obito watched the direction Konan had departed in, then glanced at Deva Path Pain. In a low voice, he said, "I hope everything proceeds as expected. Uchiha Yu is ultimately just a minor interlude in our plan."

Deva Path Pain did not respond. He merely hovered silently, his Rinnegan gazing into the distance.

Konan could fly, and before long, she arrived at the Sunagakure camp.

At that moment, Rasa was discussing matters with a group of high-ranking officials. Konan’s sudden appearance instantly put everyone on guard.

"What is it?" Rasa asked in a low voice, staring sharply at Konan.

Konan remained calm as she relayed the Akatsuki’s proposal in full.

The moment she finished speaking, one of the officials beside Rasa jumped to his feet, his face filled with rage. "Absolutely not! You want Sunagakure’s forces to serve as cannon fodder and delay Uchiha Yu for you? This is utterly ridiculous!"

The other officials immediately echoed his objections, and soon the council chamber was filled with opposition.

Rasa did not state his position immediately. He frowned slightly and fell into thought.

A moment later, he raised his head and said resolutely, "I will personally meet this Uchiha Yu."

Everyone was shocked upon hearing that.

Rasa continued with his orders. "Assemble the main force and proceed to the location guarded by Uchiha Yu. Bring the village’s Tailed Beast Jinchuriki."

He did not mention a single word about the fact that the Jinchuriki was his young son. At that moment, he seemed to be nothing more than a war maniac making decisions for the village’s interests.

Meanwhile, within a dense forest in the Land of Fire, Jiraiya was traveling with an Anbu squad led by Uzuki Yugao.

Their objective was to head to the southern side of the battlefield and wipe out the Amegakure ninja who had suddenly entered from the flank, as well as that strange White Zetsu Army that did not fear pain or injury!

Suddenly, Jiraiya came to an abrupt stop, his expression turning grave.

Seeing this, Uzuki Yugao hurriedly asked, "Lord Jiraiya, what happened?"

Jiraiya made a shushing gesture, signaling for her to remain quiet.

Immediately afterward, he rapidly formed hand seals, and chakra began surging around him.

Not far ahead, space seemed to tear apart as three ninja slowly appeared.

The moment Jiraiya saw their faces, his pupils contracted sharply!

Clearly, he had seen something very bad!