Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 161: Am I Late?

The full moon hung high, with sandstorms raining down like showers.

In the boundless desert, within a towering pale red barrier, under the merciless moonlight, Uchiha Ci's blade swiftly struck forth.

Breaking through the white smoke, Ebizō strode out, clutching two Wind Release: Vacuum Blades in his hands.

Clang!

The blades collided!

Ebizō, using his own body, firmly blocked Uchiha Ci's Kusanagi Sword.

Immediately afterward, five puppets leapt forth from behind him.

They brandished three long swords and two spinning four-bladed chakra cutters, all aimed directly at Uchiha Ci's face.

Faced with this relentless assault, Uchiha Ci's eyes narrowed.

He kicked Ebizō away, spun around, and maneuvered the Kusanagi Sword to parry the puppets' attacks. Amid the dazzling flashes of blades, he defended himself with ease.

With a sweeping circular slash, as radiant as moonlight, he sent two puppets flying.

Seizing the opening, Uchiha Ci forced his way through the puppet formation, delivering a powerful downward strike at Ebizō!

But at that critical moment, Ebizō summoned another puppet—a white-robed female wielding dual blades—to replace the shattered red-and-white-faced puppet.

With a deft flick of his fingers, chakra strings attached to the puppet caused its twin blades to fly apart and attach to Ebizō's massive arms.

"Human Puppet Art: Mechanical Twin Blades!"

With this technique, Ebizō wielded the giant blades and launched a flurry of slashes at Uchiha Ci.

Clang!

The sheer force of the strike left Uchiha Ci's hands trembling, nearly causing him to lose his grip on the Kusanagi Sword.

The blades, trailing blue flames at their ends, unleashed a powerful thrust, sending Uchiha Ci hurtling backward with unstoppable force.

The remaining puppets immediately seized the opportunity to launch a coordinated attack.

Three puppets leapt toward Uchiha Ci, aiming their sharp blades at his back just as he landed and steadied himself.

Feeling a chill down his spine, Uchiha Ci instinctively rolled to evade.

As he tried to stand up, Ebizō was already airborne, descending upon him with the massive blades poised for a killing blow.

Forced to act swiftly, Uchiha Ci formed a single-hand "Dragon" seal and unleashed Wind Release: Gale Palm, propelling himself backward and landing unsteadily on his feet.

This unexpected turn left Uchiha Ci momentarily stunned.

He narrowed his crimson serpent-like pupils, carefully observing the panting, pain-stricken Ebizō and his six puppets.

These puppets were unmistakably familiar:

the Second Kazekage's masterpiece, White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets.

They included:

A female puppet with twin great blades,

A blue-faced puppet with sharp-pointed ropes,

Two red- and white-faced puppets with spinning four-bladed chakra cutters,

Three "Buddhist Monk" puppets,

A white-haired puppet with extendable arms for launching spikes and bombs,

And a bull-headed puppet designed for close combat and defense.

Unlike Chiyo, who masterfully controlled all ten puppets for devastating offense and impenetrable defense while excelling in medical ninjutsu,

Ebizō could only command five of the puppets, failing to fully utilize their potential.

However, Ebizō employed a forbidden technique, Dance of the Puppet Companion, to enhance his own capabilities.

By merging puppet abilities into his body, he turned himself into the sixth puppet—

A Human Puppet!

The synergy of six puppets vastly enhanced his close-combat prowess.

But that wasn't all.

In the blink of an eye, Ebizō summoned the remaining Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets, one by one.

Puppet components flew forth, embedding themselves into his body, splattering blood everywhere.

He transformed into a colossal puppet form, with his left arm wielding a great blade, his right arm sporting a spinning four-bladed chakra cutter, his chest adorned with concealed compartments for launching ropes and projectiles, and his back and legs covered in additional mechanisms.

The transformation gave Uchiha Ci a fleeting impression of witnessing Iron Man donning his suit.

Once the metamorphosis was complete, Ebizō, bloodied and brutalized, raised his head.

His twisted face, a mix of agony and savagery, locked onto Uchiha Ci.

Spewing a mouthful of blood, he sneered wickedly:

"Brat, you think you're so tough?"

"Come!"

"Today, I'll personally send you to meet Uchiha Madara!"

As his words fell, blue flames erupted from his back, propelling him forward at lightning speed.

With a punch, he unleashed a violent storm!

The four-bladed chakra cutter on his right arm spun wildly, aiming straight for Uchiha Ci's face.

Uchiha Ci's crimson serpent-like pupils contracted sharply.

In such dire circumstances, he barely managed to raise the Kusanagi Sword to block.

Zzzzzzzt!

Sparks flew as the four-bladed chakra cutter ground against the Kusanagi Sword.

Seizing the opportunity, Ebizō's left-hand great blade pierced through Uchiha Ci's abdomen, hoisting him high before flinging him away.

As Uchiha Ci struggled to regain his balance, Ebizō's "Buddhist Monk" puppets activated the ultimate move:

"Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Suction Crush!"

The "Buddha," "Dharma," and "Monk" puppets formed a triangle, activated their mechanisms, and unleashed a devastating vortex.

The resulting tornado engulfed Uchiha Ci, dragging him into its core.

In the air, Uchiha Ci, with a gaping wound in his abdomen, felt the immense pull of the vortex.

The Three Treasures Suction Crush worked like a blender, compressing and pulverizing anything trapped within before ejecting it.

If caught, even Uchiha Ci's substitution techniques wouldn't save him.

Heart racing, Uchiha Ci infused chakra into his Kusanagi Sword. Forming the "Snake" and "Dragon" seals, he unleashed Wind-Water Combo: Hurricane Whirlpool Blade, creating a counterforce that disrupted the vortex momentarily.

But just as he prepared to land, Ebizō shot toward him, plunging a great blade through his neck and gripping him tightly.

"You brat! Shut up!"

"You've caused my downfall!"

As Ebizō's puppet chest released a purple poisonous mist, immobilizing Uchiha Ci,

Ebizō prepared for one final act: mutual destruction.

Just then, a flash of yellow light streaked through the battlefield.

A blond youth in a Konoha jōnin vest appeared, crouching beside a kunai lodged in the ground.

He smiled at Uchiha Ci, raised his hand, and activated the Four Symbols Seal.

The storm halted.

Amidst the stillness, a warm, clear voice echoed:

"Am I late?"