Meanwhile...
"What is this?" Kankuro muttered, staring at the scene in front of him in shock.
A thunderbolt? How had it appeared so suddenly?
He tried to take a step back, only to realize he couldn't move. His body felt stiff, his hands trembling uncontrollably, unable to form seals.
"How is this happening?" he wondered aloud.
"It's Lightning Release," Temari said, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "Or rather, a minefield created using the properties of Lightning Release."
Her gaze fell to Kankuro's feet. Something there caught her attention.
Needles?
The weapon used earlier by the Rain Village ninja—Thousand Needles?
Her eyes widened as a realization struck her. She looked around, piecing it together.
"The Thousand Needles and the black umbrellas," she said, her expression growing complicated.
"What are you talking about?" Kankuro asked, confused.
"Think back," Temari began. "The Rain Village ninja we fought earlier used a weapon—those special Thousand Needles and a black umbrella. They're highly conductive and easily infused with chakra. That's why they're so deadly.
"But that same property also makes them perfect conduits for electricity," she continued. "This lightning grid was likely created using those tools..."
Kankuro crouched down to examine the ground more closely. Sure enough, scattered across the battlefield were faintly glowing needles, their blue light flickering with electrical currents.
"They're arranged deliberately," Kankuro said, his voice tense. "Look at how they're positioned—they're not random. They're connecting and amplifying each other, creating a tightly-woven power grid."
But this was just the electricity on the ground. What about the lightning that struck from above?
If the entire area were electrified, it wouldn't have been this powerful. The earth and sand, Gaara's domain, naturally resisted electricity.
He then remembered the black umbrellas Temari had mentioned. His eyes darted around until he found them—each umbrella strategically placed in key locations.
"They're the source," he muttered. "The umbrellas are at the center of this web, amplifying the electricity and spreading it outward."
"What a clever idea," Kankuro sighed, almost in admiration. "A simple Lightning Release couldn't cause this much destruction, but by using the environment like this, even a low-level jutsu becomes devastating."
"What's even more terrifying," Temari added, her voice tinged with awe, "is how he did all this using local materials, all while fighting Gaara."
A Genius Strategy
As a tactician herself, Temari had seen her fair share of ingenious strategies. But this? This was something else entirely.
It wasn't just smart—it was genius. No, it was almost... supernatural.
How had he managed to set all this up under Gaara's relentless assault?
It didn't make sense. Gaara's absolute defense should have prevented anything like this from happening in his domain.
Her thoughts turned to Gaara.
Gaara?
Why had he let them escape so easily? That wasn't like him at all.
She tried to turn and look at him, but her body wouldn't respond.
Paralyzed
"Crunch..."
Temari strained to twist her neck, but it was no use. She couldn't move at all.
Her muscles felt numb, paralyzed by an electric shock she hadn't even noticed during the fight.
The currents must have been weak at first, barely noticeable. But at some point, the intensity had surged, and now her muscles wouldn't obey her.
"Did he plan this all along?" Temari thought, her eyes filled with a mix of wariness and respect.
Gaara's Frustration
Gaara, too, was stunned.
When Satoru had struck him on the head earlier, he'd thought it was an attempt to kill him. Even as a Jinchuriki, a blow to the brain could be fatal.
But Satoru hadn't followed through. He'd just... walked away.
Why?
The beastly pupils of Gaara's eyes flickered with confusion. His thoughts, however, were interrupted by the electrified grid now surrounding him.
When had Satoru done this?
Gaara clenched his fists, rage bubbling within him. Had Satoru underestimated him? Mocked him?
His body radiated murderous intent.
The Unraveling Plan
Gaara focused on the black umbrella in his hand. What he'd thought was a random object was now the source of his paralysis. It had conducted the electricity directly into his body.
The Sand Shield that normally protected him was useless—his muscles were already locked in place. His absolute defense couldn't activate fast enough to save him.
But how had Satoru managed this?
Gaara's thoughts raced back to the moment Satoru had struck his head. At the time, the chakra Satoru had used seemed weak, almost negligible. But now, Gaara realized there must have been more to it.
Satoru must have mixed something into his sand—something that weakened its natural resistance to electricity.
And that slap? It wasn't just an attack. It had been the final step to set his plan in motion.
Gaara's realization filled him with both shock and grudging respect. Satoru had outmaneuvered him in every way.
A Sudden Surge of Resolve
As Gaara processed the events, his confusion transformed into something else.
Admiration. Excitement. Bloodlust.
This was no ordinary opponent. Satoru had pushed him to his limits without using any flashy or overly complex jutsu.
Gaara's beastly eyes burned with a renewed sense of purpose.
"Satoru," he muttered. "I won't forget you."
His murderous intent spilled into the air, sharp and palpable. Even Kankuro and Temari could feel it.
"What's wrong with him?" Kankuro whispered, his voice filled with unease.
"I just hope he doesn't lose control," Temari said softly, worry clouding her expression.
Their mission had a purpose, and drawing too much attention wasn't part of it.
Temari could only hope that things wouldn't spiral out of control.
>>>>>
Complete Story available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
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