Chapter 369: Fate, Part Three
Rasa's words, devoid of vulgarity, nonetheless stoked Sasori's ire.
"Die!"
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Order!"
Like Rasa, Sasori was a capable ninja, and once he got serious, he didn't hold back, unleashing his deadliest techniques as fast as possible to eliminate his foe. Seeing the Third Kazekage's puppet unleash an attack, Rasa's expression darkened. He knew the Iron Sand World Order to be the most formidable move in the magnet release arsenal of their lineage. The technique created an irregular, massive iron sand cage where every inch held lethal intent.
However, magnet release had a unique characteristic its foundation lay in magnetism and magnetic fields. Rasa wielded a similar power, and by nature of equal force, he could counteract it.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust World Order!"
Rasa's golden sand clashed with Sasori's black iron sand in an intense struggle, neither giving an inch. Together, they formed an unusual metallic structure a massive sand tower made of iron and gold. Seeing that the Third Kazekage's trump card couldn't prevail over Rasa, Sasori's expression darkened, and he pulled out a scroll, unfurling it in mid air.
This scroll, a storage scroll, released a white mist as Sasori performed hand seals. One by one, red silhouettes emerged from it.
As Sasori removed his cloak, his horrifying body was revealed. Rasa, still entangled in battle with the Third Kazekage's puppet, was taken aback by Sasori's form.
"You madman! Making a puppet of the Third Kazekage wasn't enough; you even turned yourself into a human puppet," he cursed, unable to stifle the horror creeping into his voice.
If he'd known Rasa's thoughts, Sasori would have scoffed. Rasa was merely a traditionalist, someone who relied on inherited knowledge. But Sasori was different a genius in the art of puppetry who had pioneered a path to eternity. Only a true visionary could appreciate the timeless beauty of his art.
"Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!"
Sasori opened the compartment in his right chest, releasing numerous chakra strings to connect with the summoned army of red clad puppets. His infamous jutsu, one said to be capable of conquering a small nation, was now on full display.
With Sasori directing them, the puppet army charged toward Rasa, unwavering and relentless, fearlessly closing in for the kill. Rasa's scalp prickled at the sight. Despite magnet release's reputation as the puppet technique's nemesis, the sheer volume of puppets put him at a disadvantage.
Magnet release varied in strength, after all, and the Third Kazekage's iron sand far surpassed Rasa's gold dust in quantity and potency. With much of his sand tied up by Sasori's techniques, Rasa struggled to mount a defense against the oncoming assault.
Backed into a corner, Rasa's frustration mounted. What had started as a mission to secure his allegiance had devolved into a desperate battle for survival. He was on the verge of becoming the weakest Kazekage in history.
Noticing Rasa's predicament, Sasori showed no sympathy. Instead, he sneered, reaffirmed in his decision to leave Suna to pursue eternal beauty. Under his skilled command, the encircling puppets reduced Rasa's defensive capacity even further.
"The time has come. Die, weak Fourth Kazekage.
"Magnet Release: Thousand Spears!"
In a flash, the surrounding iron sand dispersed, transforming into a thousand razor sharp spears. Sasori's killing intent surged as he commanded the spears to converge on Rasa.
Despair filled Rasa's gaze. The gold dust left in his control was insufficient for a proper defense, and his fate seemed sealed: death.
The array of spears was so intimidating that even Jiraiya and Orochimaru, fighting nearby, momentarily paused to witness the terrifying spectacle.
Sasori's sense of triumph was short lived. A flicker of unease passed over his face as he noticed two new chakra signatures one immense and awe inspiring, the other all too familiar.
As the dust settled, the source of his tension became clear.
Standing in front of Rasa was a colossal red giant cloaked in a spectral robe. Its monstrous face appeared as if a beast was clamping down, exposing two menacing eyes. The giant wielded a massive shield, blocking Sasori's previously inescapable strike.
The figure was none other than the Susanoo a divine power renowned among the Uchiha. And the wielder of this Susanoo was none other than the current Uchiha clan prodigy, Itachi Uchiha.
As Rasa caught his breath, Itachi, maintaining a cool demeanor, spoke.
"Are you alright?" he asked Rasa. Although the Leaf and Suna had begun to merge their ranks, Itachi harbored no particular goodwill for the former enemy. But he'd mastered restraint; he saved Rasa with only the necessary courtesy.
Observing the legendary Yata Mirror on Itachi's Susanoo, Ye Wen, concealed in the shadows, scrutinized the fabled weapon closely. Its nature was enigmatic was it a tangible object or merely an extension of Susanoo's abilities? The original series hadn't clarified it, making it all the more fascinating.
"When all's said and done, I'll have to examine it properly," Ye Wen mused. "Something tells me there's more to Susanoo than meets the eye."
Refocused, he settled back to watch the live spectacle, albeit with some "creative" adjustments to the original tale.
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