Chapter 113
The Tournament's First Round
As Gaara left the battlefield, he used his sand to restore the venue as much as possible. Although the original layout was unrecognizable, the sand had solidified enough to serve as a makeshift arena.
There wasn't much to say about Haku and Gaara's match. Haku had only recently arrived in the village and was still adjusting to both the environment and the way people interacted—especially the use of firearms in combat, which he found difficult to accept.
On the other hand, Kankuro was a veteran who had lived in the village for several years. As a puppeteer, his creations had to evolve with the times. The firearms technology integrated into the village suited him well. When the village transitioned into a mechanized era, he immediately began modifying his puppets. However, unlike Orochimaru, he lacked sufficient research funds, forcing him to save money for his upgrades. Over time, his puppets had nearly reached perfection.
Kankuro grinned, lifting a scroll and kissing it. "Alright, my little darling—show yourself!"
With a puff of smoke, a towering mechanized puppet appeared at the center of the arena.
The puppet was a blue-and-white humanoid construct with three heads, its body covered in barbed spikes resembling eerie tendrils. A thick tail extended from its back, ending in a claw-like appendage, while its arms bristled with various integrated weapons. Some attachments looked like flamethrowers, others resembled pistols, some took the form of electric fans, and a few appeared to be lightning rods. The entire machine had a crude, patched-together aesthetic—less like a refined puppet and more like a stitched-together monstrosity created from salvaged parts due to financial constraints.
As soon as the puppet was summoned, chakra threads extended from Kankuro's fingertips, linking to the construct. Under his control, the mechanical beast stirred to life.
With a grating "crunch, crunch," its three heads turned toward Haku, lifeless eyes staring blankly. The puppet's mouths opened, launching three metallic hooks straight at him.
Although Haku didn't fully understand the nature of the strange puppet before him, he knew one thing—he had to dismantle it. As the hooks shot forward, he gripped his sword, Yukigetsu (Snow Moon), and leaped into the air.
A layer of frost coated the blade, and with a swift slash, he severed the hooks mid-air. The freezing energy spread rapidly, encasing the severed chains in ice. Seizing the opportunity, Haku tightened his grip on his scabbard and followed the frozen chains toward the puppet.