Puppet masters usually start their battles at a distance, and this time was no exception. Termite and Little Boy opened their mouths simultaneously, unleashing a torrential rain of Senbon toward the two Konoha ninjas.
"Konoha-ryu Kenjutsu: Whirlwind!"
The sword-wielding Konoha ninja spun his blade skillfully, deflecting most of the Senbon with precise movements.
A few needles managed to land on his arms and legs, but none were in critical areas.
Without the Sharingan or superhuman dynamic vision, this was the best he could do.
"This is troublesome. These puppeteers love to coat their weapons with poison."
The middle-aged ninja warned his comrade, pulling out kunai to throw in an attempt to disrupt the attacks.
"It's fine. I have Tsunade-sama's detoxification pills—enough to neutralize most poisons."
The sword-wielding ninja swallowed an antidote pill that had been in his mouth since the beginning of the battle.
"Black Secret Technique: Hand Dance."
Sasori flicked his fingers, activating Termite's hidden mechanism.
With a metallic creak, six puppet arms extended outward like an octopus, sharp conical spikes at the tips lashing out toward the sword-wielding ninja.
It was clear that Sasori had upgraded this puppet since the previous exam, enhancing its speed and lethality.
Meanwhile, Little Boy, Hiriito's puppet, had a mechanical claw in one hand and a spiral-toothed blade in the other, darting around the battlefield with incredible speed.
Despite being a B-rank puppet, Little Boy's agility gave it the edge, allowing it to pressure chunin-level shinobi with precise and relentless attacks.
Together, Termite and Little Boy suppressed the sword-wielding ninja—but he wasn't alone.
His comrade pulled a summoning scroll from his back and released hundreds of shuriken in an instant.
The metal projectiles scattered like falling leaves, covering every angle of attack.
Termite's six arms froze mid-air, restrained by nearly invisible steel wires.
Looking closely, each shuriken was connected by nearly imperceptible threads, locking Termite in place.
Little Boy barely escaped, relying on its superior speed and razor-sharp weapons to slice through the wires before they could ensnare it.
"It's not over yet!"
The middle-aged ninja gritted his teeth, pulling at the steel wires with his mouth while forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A stream of blazing fire shot from his mouth, igniting the steel wires coated with kerosene.
Hiriito's eyes narrowed.
"He planned this from the start!"
He quickly pulled his chakra threads, commanding Little Boy to cut through the wires in a desperate attempt to free Termite.
But the sword-wielding ninja had anticipated this.
"Now!"
Stabbing his sword into the ground, he mirrored his partner's attack.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The sudden gust of wind fueled the flames, turning the fire into an inferno.
Sasori reacted first.
"Black Secret Technique: Full Shield!"
With a sharp movement, he controlled his puppet, deploying its protective shield just in time to block the firestorm.
But his eyes darted toward Hiriito, filled with urgency.
"Hiriito, watch yourself!"
Hiriito didn't panic.
He stepped forward—right into the danger zone.
Inside his Fat Puppet, Hiriito pulled all five chakra strings, activating its pneumatic pistons.
With a sharp hiss, the compressed air filled the cylinders, priming the puppet's fists for battle.
"Konoha-ryu Kenjutsu: Crescent Moon Dance!"
The sword-wielding ninja channeled wind chakra into his blade, extending the cutting range by nearly a meter.
With a swift arc, the wind-chakra-enhanced slash slipped past Salamander's defense, heading straight for Scorpion and Hiriito.
Not far away, Nanaken and Nanako instinctively raised their hands, ready to intervene.
But Hiriito didn't wait for help.
"Black Secret Technique: Air Fist!"
The towering Fat Puppet rotated sharply, swinging a piston-powered punch with bone-crushing force.
The enhanced sword strike met the fist head-on—
And shattered instantly.
The ninja's sword broke apart, sending shards of metal flying.
A moment later, his entire body was lifted off the ground—
And flung backward like a ragdoll.
He hit the sand hard, skidding several meters before coming to a stop.
His body twitched once, then lay completely still.
"One down."
The mighty Fat Puppet slowly turned, its steel-plated frame towering over the remaining Konoha ninja.
"Only one left."
The middle-aged ninja felt his stomach drop.
He was an elite chunin, not a weakling. He had survived countless battles, climbing the ranks with sheer grit and discipline.
Despite lacking natural talent, he had mastered several fire-style jutsu over twenty years of service.
He had even survived encounters with jonin-level enemies.
But this—
This was hopeless.
"Black Secret Technique: Swarming Disassembly."
Sasori sneered, manipulating Termite's half-destroyed body, using its scattered parts to cut off all escape routes.
The middle-aged ninja gritted his teeth.
Even if escape was impossible, he would fight to the end.
With renewed determination, he formed hand seals—
And dodged the Fat Puppet's next punch by a hair's breadth.
Despite its immense power, Fatty had a flaw
Ninja combat relied on agility, and compared to human fighters, Fat Puppet's bulk made it slower than most shinobi.
This was Hiriito's only weakness—and the chunin planned to exploit it.
But—
Hiriito had two puppets.
As Fat Puppet swung its powerful fist, Little Boy zipped around behind the chunin—
Blades gleaming.
Sasori and Hiriito worked seamlessly, applying constant pressure.
It was only a matter of time.
Nanako watched, eyes filled with shock.
"These kids… they're monsters."
Hiriito, despite being only eleven, fought like a seasoned veteran.
Even Nanaken, an experienced special jonin, was taken aback.
"Sasori's progress isn't surprising, but Hiriito…"
"I didn't expect this level of combat ability."
Nanaken exhaled.
"This training exercise has gone on long enough."
He turned to Nanako.
"Let's finish this."
"Agreed."
Nanako formed hand seals, ready to end the battle.
But at that moment—
Something unexpected happened.
(End of Chapter)