Chapter 391: Chapter 391: The Third Kazekage
Chapter 391: Chapter 391: The Third Kazekage
Scorpion -> Sasori
A screeching, metallic noise rang out, sharp enough to send chills down the spine.
The Third Kazekage flinched as instinct took over, jerking his head to the side just in time.
In the blink of an eye, the edge of a blade skimmed past his face, cutting so close it sliced a blue strand of his hair. The atmosphere seemed to freeze as the smell of iron filled the air; a trickle of blood appeared on his cheek, rolling down in a crimson bead.
I'm bleeding?
The Third Kazekage stood, stunned, as though the realization took a moment to sink in. His proud defense-his Magnetic Release-had been breached so simply, almost casually. He'd built his reputation around this power, and here he was-cut.
If his reaction had been even a fraction slower, it wouldn't have been just his hair. The blade would have pierced straight through his face.
Even now, a shallow wound-barely more than a scratch-marked his cheek, but it was a mark nonetheless.
The Kazekage... injured?
Pakura's eyes went wide, her disbelief almost palpable.
She knew the kind of power Magnetic Release held. Not just from the Third Kazekage, but even Rasa, her constant rival, had been a formidable foe thanks to his mastery of it. But now, the indomitable Kazekage had been hurt. The impossible had happened.
Pakura couldn't make sense of it, but Sasori wasn't quite so rattled. His mind, ever calculating, focused on one thing: the weapon Takuya wielded. The piercing speed, the raw power behind the blade-it wasn't just any ordinary weapon. It was something with incredible force, something that could breach any defense. It was lightning. The nature of that weapon-using Lightning Release to its absolute max-was a direct counter to his magnetic manipulation.
If it had been him standing there could he have blocked it?
I need new puppets," Sasori mused, his thoughts drifting to contingency plans.
"Die!"
The Kazekage's rage boiled over, his normally composed demeanor shattered. The sting of that shallow wound on his face felt like an insult that burned his pride.
He roared, and suddenly, the sky itself seemed to darken as a tidal wave of iron sand surged toward Takuya, swallowing him whole. The sheer volume and speed were staggering. This was the power of the "Strongest Kazekage" unleashed without restraint.
And Takuya was too close, still recovering from his attack. He hadn't yet pulled back his stance, leaving him entirely exposed. In an instant, he was enveloped, iron sand swirling around him like a living storm.
Is it over?
Sasori glanced at the scene, considering his next move. If Takuya didn't have some kind of trump card, this was the end of the line. Sasori had seen what happened to those caught in that iron sand—the Kazekage made sure there was nothing left to recover.
"I told you," Pakura said, her voice cutting through the tension like ice, "you had no chance. It's impossible to stand against the Kazekage."
She stared at Sasori, her gaze cold. "You better start thinking about how you're going to explain this to him."
Sasori didn't react. He had no intention of letting Pakura's taunts get under his skin. His plan was already set-retreat. That was until, out of nowhere, something shifted.
Suddenly, Takuya's chakra flared, a surge of raw energy that forced the swirling iron sand to swell outward, bulging unnaturally as if something inside was about to explode.
"What... what the hell?"
The Third Kazekage's eyes widened, disbelief etched into his features. He tightened his fists, growling in anger as he roared again:
"Magnetic Release: Iron Sand Burial!"
He poured more chakra into the sand, determined to crush whatever resistance there was. He would squash Takuya until there was nothing left, until the sand itself was dripping in his remains.
BOOM!
A massive black spear erupted from the heart of the iron sand, tearing through its density with overwhelming force. It moved like a missile-straight for the Kazekage.
Startled, the Kazekage leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. The iron sand, as though it had lost its will, fell to the ground like a cascading waterfall of black powder, revealing what had burst free from within.
A giant-a towering figure-stood in the midst of the fallen iron. Its shape was humanoid, a black colossus holding a knight's lance. Its massive body seemed to pulse with dark chakra, like swirling, glowing tattoos. In the moonlight, it almost looked like a part of the night
itself.
Susanoo!
The Kazekage felt his stomach tighten as the word left his lips. The intelligence had been right: Takuya possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. But this... this wasn't what the Mist Village had reported. The sheer power of the Susanoo-its physical presence-was beyond anything he'd imagined.
Sasori turned, his eyes meeting Pakura's for just a moment. They both understood the significance of what they were seeing.
They had thought Takuya was finished-but they were wrong. The eerie glow of those crimson eyes, the massive black form of the Susanoo, shook them both. The information they had on the Sharingan-on its potential-was pathetically lacking compared to the reality now before them.
Pakura could barely comprehend it. "Is this... his trump card?" she whispered.
Within the Susanoo, Takuya looked almost relaxed. He smiled, his face exuding confidence.
"That was close," he admitted, his voice almost casual. "Gotta say, you've got some serious power. Your control over that iron sand is something else-way beyond what Rasa or even Gaara could do. Makes sense though, right? You don't get called the Strongest Kazekage for
nothing."
The Kazekage stared back, seething, his fists clenched in rage.
Takuya tilted his head, as if considering something. "You've heard of the Mangekyō Sharingan before, haven't you? It's gotta be from the stories about Madara Uchiha. That's what's got you so on edge, right?"
The Kazekage sneered, his pride bubbling over. "Madara Uchiha? Hah! Just an old ghost, long buried in the past. Today, I'll show you what real strength looks like. Let's see if your
Mangekyō and your Susanoo can stand up to me!"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The title of "Strongest Kazekage"-it wasn't just a name. It was a mantle he carried, one that symbolized his prowess and unmatched strength.
Takuya smirked, a faint grin spreading across his face. "Mere grains of sand, daring to challenge the radiance of the full moon?"
Pakura blinked, speechless. Sasori glanced at her, then back to Takuya and the Kazekage.
If they hadn't been standing in the middle of a battlefield, they might've thought they were at some sort of exaggerated boasting contest.
The Kazekage's face darkened with anger, his pride now stung beyond repair. "Grains of sand? You think so little of me?"
Takuya only laughed. "If you're gonna boast, you better be ready to back it up," he said, his voice full of taunting amusement.
The massive black figure shifted, moving with an almost unnatural swiftness. The lance it wielded was brought to bear, thrusting forward like a lightning bolt aimed right at the
Kazekage.
BOOM!
Iron sand responded, surging forward to intercept the oncoming lance. The black sea of sand roared and crashed, forming wave after wave against the giant's assault. The lance cut through, but the resistance slowed it down, robbing it of the momentum needed to land a
decisive blow.
"Is this your so-called moonlight, Takuya?" the Kazekage spat, sneering. "You'll have to do
better than that."
Next Bonus: 1400-> 1900 power stone
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 450+ at Patreon.com/Emiko1.