Chapter 160
Kankurō leaped straight into the mecha, taking his place as a proud mecha pilot.
"Mecha is the ultimate romance for men!"
The mecha's primary colors were blue and white. Covered in striped plating, its massive frame, reinforced arms, and enormous fists gave off an overwhelming sense of power. Just at a glance, it exuded strength, and those clenched fists looked like they could crush a few unfortunate souls with a single punch.
"A mecha without swords? Unacceptable!" Kankurō's personality shifted the moment he entered the cockpit. His excitement surged as he activated the controls, and from the mecha's fists, sharp blades extended like claws—reminiscent of Wolverine's.
"Huh? Is this... a puppeteer?" Choji, watching from the opposite side, was momentarily stunned. Even the barbecue in his hand lost its appeal. By common logic, puppeteers were strong, but only through their puppets. Their actual bodies remained fragile. That was why the best strategy was to take down the puppeteer directly—eliminate the mastermind, and the puppets would fall.
That was precisely why he had felt confident at the start. The battle arena was relatively small, and with his Chōjū Giga (Super Beast Imitation Drawing) technique, Kankurō's real body would have nowhere to escape. Once cornered, he could easily be subdued.
"This... This is a mecha! A mecha is just a puppet on a different level! It looks like Kankurō has found a new path as a puppeteer! Unlike the Akatsuki organizat—uh, I mean, unlike traditional puppeteers..." The mustached commentator abruptly corrected himself, as if he had been warned mid-sentence.
However, his enthusiasm remained undiminished. Fortunately, he was narrating from a private commentator's booth; otherwise, his spit would have showered the audience.
"Contestant Kankurō has chosen to merge himself and his puppet into one. In the past, puppeteers were always at a disadvantage due to their vulnerability, but with this innovation, he has completely eliminated that weakness! What a bold move! This technique could revolutionize puppet-style combat!"
As the commentator spoke, Kankurō and Chōji clashed.
Just as expected, Chōji employed a partial transformation technique. Instead of a full-body change, only his left arm expanded, ballooning to an enormous size—similar to Luffy's Gear Third—five or six times larger than his normal form.