"Beep~ [Strength+385], [Speed+430], [Stamina+425], [Spirit+395], Would you like to claim?"
Hearing the broadcast in his mind, Tatsuma found it hard to believe. This was the most talent he ever picked up in a single instance. Therefore, he immediately chose to claim them.
However, Tatsuma also knew that the cost of such gains was too high. Both allies and enemies had paid a total of sixty to seventy lives just for this one gain.
After claiming the talents, Tatsuma looked towards Hoshi. Tatsuma didn't rush forward recklessly, knowing that Hoshi, as a Jonin skilled in Puppet Jutsu, would be formidable if he could easily get close.
Despite Hoshi appearing somewhat absent-minded at the moment, Tatsuma was willing to bet that if he had just rushed towards Hoshi, Hoshi would have used the countermeasures he had prepared long ago.
As a descendant of the Second Kazekage Shamon, Hoshi has only brought out three Puppets so far. One was destroyed by Tatsuma using the Rasengan, and another, the Spider Puppets, was damaged by Tatsuma using Explosive Tags.
There's also a humanoid Puppet, which was dismantled by Inuzuka Makoto last time. However, when Hoshi arrived to attack Tatsuma's team just now, he used that humanoid Puppet.
Since the humanoid Puppet has been repaired, Tatsuma will assume that the Spider Puppet has also been restored. Moreover, just because Hoshi has only used three Puppets doesn't mean he only has three.
Furthermore, Shamon's expertise isn't limited to Puppet Jutsu; he also knows Sand Control's Secret Jutsu and the Ninjutsu of Sand Control hasn't been lost. After all, there's still a ninja-like Rasa in the future Hidden Sand Village.
The three signature techniques of the Hidden Sand Village are Puppets, Sand Control, and Wind Release. The Second Kazekage Shamon was one of the pioneers of the first two. Hoshi, as his descendant, has only used Puppets, but that doesn't mean he only knows Puppet Jutsu.
Before Tatsuma became a Ninja, Jiraiya warned him that Ninjas needed to keep some cards hidden. Tatsuma doesn't believe that the Hidden Sand Village would be unaware of this principle.
Hoshi felt a twinge of disappointment when he saw Tatsuma not initiating an attack. He had indeed prepared himself for Tatsuma's assault, but Tatsuma unexpectedly refrained from acting impulsively.
Tatsuma's Nine-Tails Chakra was almost depleted, severely diminishing his strength and endurance. However, at the same time, the negative emotional impact of the Tailed Beast Chakra was also decreasing.
Tatsuma noticed this, and Hoshi also took note, which was why Hoshi didn't leave at that moment.
If Tatsuma had continued in his previous state, perhaps Hoshi would have reconsidered, and most likely would have chosen to leave, which sounds good in theory, but in harsher terms, it would be called fleeing.
Even Hoshi would still face many consequences after fleeing because, as the Squad Captain, he had lost all of his subordinates and had not been able to completely resolve the enemy.
Even though Hoshi is a disciple of the Third Kazekage, he would have to pay a considerable price upon returning, just to quell the grievances in the village, he was willing to endure it for the sake of survival.
But now things were different. Tatsuma's condition had obviously declined, no longer possessing that eerie strength he had just displayed.
This sparked a thought in Hoshi's mind: he could kill Tatsuma! While killing Tatsuma wouldn't bring back his subordinates, it could significantly reduce the punishment he would face.
He could easily exaggerate Tatsuma's threat, portraying him as a genius on par with the Third Hokage, no, even surpassing the Second Hokage or the extraordinary duo of the Warring States era.
As long as Tatsuma's threat was significant enough, Hoshi believed that any cost he paid to kill him would be worthwhile.
Moreover, this brat was Tsunade's disciple and wielded the weapon once used by Konoha's White Fang. He must be a highly valued talent in Konoha Village. If handled properly, not only could he avoid punishment, but he might even gain credit.
With these thoughts in mind, Hoshi looked into Tatsuma's eyes with increased determination.
Tatsuma also noticed the sudden murderous intent emanating from Hoshi. He glanced at the Chakra short sword lying not far away on the ground but chose not to pick it up.
Because he couldn't really claim proficiency in swordsmanship, that Chakra short sword in Sakumo Hatake's hands could enhance Sakumo Hatake's abilities, but in Tatsuma's hands, it would only hinder him.
Moreover, his Chakra levels were still quite sufficient at the moment, thanks to the multiple layers of the Lone Soul buff and the Nine-Tails chakra reserve, keeping his physical condition at its peak. However, he felt mentally exhausted.
Blinking his eyes and sensing the fatigue creeping from deep within his mind, Tatsuma shook his head lightly, trying to muster up his spirits as he looked at Hoshi.
Hoshi, at this moment, didn't wait any longer either. He raised both hands, Chakra Threads gathering at his fingertips. With a wave of his hands, two dormant Puppets were pulled out from the forest.
It was the humanoid Puppet and the spider puppet. Now, with only two individuals facing each other, Tatsuma carefully observed the two Puppets and noticed traces of repair on them, which eased his tension slightly.
He feared that Hoshi might have two more identical Puppets. Seeing the repair marks now, it was highly likely that Puppets weren't commonplace for Hoshi.
On the two Puppets, there were small nameplates. The nameplate on the spider Puppet read "Shinki" while the nameplate on the humanoid Puppet read "Nozori."
While Tatsuma was still observing, Nozori suddenly moved. Under the control of Chakra Threads, it swiftly lunged towards Tatsuma, its hands reaching out to embrace him.
Its mouth gaping wide, revealing jagged teeth coated with a black substance. Seeing Nozori's mouth full of black teeth, Tatsuma's expression turned grim.
It was Inuzuka Makoto who was fatally bitten by Nozori and poisoned, leading to his demise at Hoshi's hands.
However, this was not the time for reminiscence. Tatsuma dodged Nozori's embrace, lifting his leg to kick at its ankle.
"Clang~"
But a metallic reverberation echoed as Tatsuma gasped, using Body Flicker to escape and ending up in the distance, where he couldn't help but start to move his own ankle.
The remaining Nine-Tails Chakra quickly eased Tatsuma's pain at this moment. Just as Tatsuma turned around, Nozori once again lunged towards him.
This time, Tatsuma didn't counterattack but began to dodge, maneuvering around trees and boulders. However, after dodging several times, he abandoned this method.
Because Chakra Threads, unlike stealwires, were unaffected by the terrain.
As Tatsuma landed again, he swiftly turned around, forming hand seals. Opening his mouth, he unleashed a fiercely burning ball of oil towards Nozori. The oil exploded upon Nozori, and flames quickly engulfed its body.
"Fire Release! Flame Bullet!"
"Hmph! Useless!"
Hoshi, controlling the Chakra Threads, sneered, flicking his fingers. Nozori broke through the flames, with only its clothes burning to ashes and leaving behind faint black traces on its body.
Seeing this, Tatsuma wasted no time, once again using Body Flicker to escape. Nozori pursued relentlessly. Tatsuma landed on a tree, turning to face Nozori as he completed hand seals.
"Wind Release! Wind Cutter Technique!"
With a wave of both hands, invisible wind blades appeared and cut through Nozori. Hoshi maintained a disdainful expression, raising his hand to manipulate again, only to find that Nozori had not moved.
In this momentary delay, Tatsuma quickly rushed towards Hoshi's original body.
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