"It hurts when you bump into someone, kid…"
"Don't you know I hate short people the most…"
With just one hand, Kankuro lifted Konohamaru, who had bumped into him, and a provocative smile appeared on his face.
Besides being a Sand Genin, he was also a Puppet Master, the second son of Sand's Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. He was dressed in a black jumpsuit, with purple markings painted on his face, and carried a Puppet wrapped in white bandages on his back.
"Forget it, don't start trouble, Kankuro…"
Seeing that Kankuro had just entered Konoha Village and was already causing trouble, Temari, standing beside him, spoke up to persuade him with some helplessness.
She was dressed in a light purple Ninja short skirt with a black mesh base, and her light yellow hair was tied into four pineapple-like tufts. Although she was the same age as Haku, she had already developed a fine figure, and she carried a huge iron fan on her back.
As the eldest daughter of Sand's Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, Temari had a cheerful personality, was smart, and appeared generous, but she often felt helpless and troubled by her two younger brothers.
"Hmph, just Konoha's Genin…"
Hearing Temari's attempt to stop him, Kankuro didn't say anything, but a trace of contempt rose in his heart. Unlike the ordinary Genin of Konoha, as the children of Sand's Fourth Kazekage, the three of them had undergone Sand's elite Ninja training from a young age. They had come to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams with a special purpose and plan, and Kankuro knew that his true strength was already beyond that of ordinary Genin.
"Sorry, it was our fault…"
"Judging by your appearance, you're probably not Ninja from this country…"
Sensing the unusual aura from the two in front of her, Sakura quickly spoke up to defuse the situation, while silently analyzing the situation in her mind.
"Hey! You giant pig!!"
However, the impulsive Naruto beside her was already shouting and rushing forward with his fist raised. "Let go of Konohamaru right now! Otherwise, I won't forgive you!!"
"You're really annoying…"
Seeing Naruto charging at him, Kankuro's face showed a hint of disdain. "So arrogant at such a young age. I really feel like taking down you two little runts…"
Thud…
Just as Kankuro finished speaking, he used the most basic technique of a Puppet Master. With a slight movement of his fingers, he released fine Chakra Threads that tripped Naruto, who was charging at him recklessly, causing him to fall flat on his face.
"Damn it, what just happened…"
Naruto, who was rather oblivious, fell to the ground, eating dirt, and didn't even realize what had happened.
"Naruto, you're so lame…"
"We trusted you so much, but you're really terrible…"
Seeing Konohamaru being captured and Naruto proving unreliable, the two little kids, Udon and Moegi, were in tears.
"Hmph, overestimating yourself…"
After instantly knocking Naruto down with his fine Chakra Threads, Kankuro's face was full of disdain. "The Ninja of Konoha are really just useless trash…"
Bang!!
Before he could finish his sentence, something suddenly changed. Everyone only saw a flash of orange, and the next moment, the previously smug Kankuro was sent flying with a single punch.
"What… what just happened?!"
The sudden turn of events left all the Ninja present completely stunned.
"Damn it…"
"How did this kid suddenly…"
Kankuro, looking disheveled, struggled to stand up from the ground. He stared in disbelief at Naruto, who had just punched him flying. He couldn't understand how this supposed weakling suddenly became so powerful.
"What's going on…? This is…?!"
However, Naruto, standing in front of him, was also confused. Just moments ago, after being knocked to the ground, he felt as if his body moved on its own. He sprang up and threw a punch that sent Kankuro flying.
"Wait a minute… Chakra Threads?!"
After coming to his senses and taking a closer look, Kankuro noticed five blue Chakra Threads attached to Naruto's body. Following the long threads with his eyes, he finally spotted a young white-haired Ninja at the other end.
"This is a forbidden Puppet technique that even few in Sand can master. How could a Konoha Ninja…?"
As a Sand Puppet Master, Kankuro immediately recognized that someone was using the Puppet Jutsu: Puppet Performance—Skilful Achievement with a Human Body to control Naruto in the fight against him. Suddenly, he recalled the rumors about the strongest Puppet Master in the Ninja world, and his expression changed drastically. "Could that person be…?"
But before Kankuro could think it through, Naruto's attacks, under the control of Puppet Jutsu: Puppet Performance—Skilful Achievement with a Human Body, came at him like a violent storm.
"So it's you, that annoying guy?!"
Taking advantage of the attack on Kankuro, Naruto finally realized what was happening. He noticed Yu, standing not far away, using Chakra Threads to control him. "Damn it… Why are you controlling my body?! I could have beaten this guy without your help!!"
"Wow… What a handsome guy…"
"I never thought Konoha would have such a good-looking guy…"
Following the gazes of Kankuro and Naruto, Temari also noticed Yu, standing a short distance away, with five fingers releasing Chakra Threads to control Naruto. After seeing his elegant and refined appearance, she couldn't help but blush slightly, though a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "But why is he using our Sand's Puppet Jutsu…"
"Helping you? Heh, you're just a stubborn little kid…"
Hearing Naruto stubbornly deny the obvious, Yu's lips curled into an amused smile. Standing beside Sakura, Yu's long, slender fingers danced nimbly, skillfully manipulating Naruto from a distance as he relentlessly attacked Kankuro. "I'm just passing the time, waiting for those guys to arrive, and needed a toy to keep me entertained…"
This was indeed the case. Although Naruto's strength was still that of his usual underperforming self, under Yu's control using Chakra Threads, the speed, power, and technique he displayed completely overwhelmed Kankuro, who already possessed Chunin-level abilities.
"Wow… so powerful… just by casually moving his fingers…"
"He's able to make even Naruto, who's usually so weak, easily defeat this guy…"
Though Sakura had already gained a strong appreciation for Yu's terrifying strength, seeing him effortlessly control Naruto from afar, allowing him to unleash power far beyond his own abilities, left her in awe once again at Yu's seemingly endless array of powerful techniques.
"Damn… it hurts so much…"
As a traditional Sand Puppet Master not skilled in close combat, Kankuro was already bruised and battered within moments, beaten up by the Naruto controlled by Chakra Threads. Furious, he gritted his teeth and reached for the Puppet strapped to his back. "If this white-haired pretty boy really is that legendary figure… then I'll have no choice but to use Karasu!"
Black Secret Technique: Hand Dagger!!
After quickly unwrapping the white bandages from his beloved Puppet, Karasu, Kankuro released ten blue Chakra Threads from his hands, controlling the Puppet as it launched a poison-coated dagger from its wrist, whistling towards Naruto!
"Black Secret Technique? Hmph…"
Seeing Kankuro finally going all out and using his most powerful offensive Puppet, 'Karasu' Yu, who was controlling Naruto from a distance, yawned out of boredom. "If Sasori of the Red Sand ever saw his village's juniors using such worthless scrap metal, he'd probably die of anger on the spot…"
Indeed, traditional Puppet Masters gauge their strength not only by the number of Puppets they can control but also by four difficulty levels: 'Black,' 'Blue,' 'White,' and 'Red,' from lowest to highest. Compared to Chiyo's 'White Secret Technique' and Sasori's 'Red Secret Technique,' Kankuro's 'Black Secret Technique' was hardly worth Yu's attention.
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