Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

With a fierce roar, a chakra like black flames erupted from Hattori's body. In that intense black blaze, a skeletal structure of chakra quickly began to form, centering on him.

Once the skeleton formed, muscles and armor followed, and in mere seconds, a towering, twenty-meter-tall half-bodied chakra giant materialized.

**Susanoo!**

This power, born from the Mangekyō Sharingan and called the "power of god," symbolized pure destruction. It's said that anyone who lays eyes on it rarely escapes alive.

Now, Hattori once again displayed this power before the world.

Seeing this, Onoki, who had been hiding with his men at the top of the valley, was instantly filled with shock.

"This… this is… Susanoo!"

Never having seen his father so unsettled, his son Kitsuchi quickly asked, "Father, what jutsu is this? Why does it surprise you so?"

"This isn't a regular jutsu; it's a dojutsu!"

Hearing his son's question, Onoki turned with a solemn look.

"This is a Mangekyō Sharingan technique. The last person to wield it was Madara… Uchiha Madara!"

"Uchiha Madara?" Kitsuchi echoed, his face showing equal astonishment. "But wasn't he killed by Senju Hashirama?"

"Yes, but Susanoo didn't die with him—it's right there!" Onoki pointed toward Hattori below, his eyes filled with dread.

"I will never forget. My teacher, the Second Tsuchikage, and I were nearly killed by Uchiha Madara using this technique. And back then, it didn't even look as fearsome as this!"

Clapping Kitsuchi's shoulder firmly, Onoki's face grew somber.

"The Mist Village is doomed. We need to retreat immediately, or we're next. Let's go!"

He turned away without hesitation, flying swiftly into the distance.

Seeing this, Kitsuchi turned to the Iwa-nin around him and issued orders: "Everyone, retreat immediately! Do not linger!"

"Yes, sir!" Though confused, the thousands of Iwa-nin promptly withdrew from the valley, moving so quickly that it left the Mist-nin on the opposite side dumbfounded.

They couldn't understand why the typically unyielding Iwa-nin fled the moment Hattori deployed some strange defense.

But they would soon understand.

Standing within his half-complete Susanoo form, Hattori slowly raised the twin black chakra swords of Susanoo and brought them down on both sides of the valley.

**BOOOOM…**

With a shattering roar, the hundreds of meters of valley were leveled in a single strike, reducing it to flat ground!

The Mist-nin hidden above were instantly annihilated, with no survivors.

Seeing this, the Iwa-nin who had just withdrawn showed visible relief, speeding up even more to avoid being followed by Hattori.

But Hattori showed no interest in pursuing them, instead focusing all his attention on the two Anbu who had killed Pakura.

"Tell me—why?"

Having witnessed his earlier terrifying display, the two Sand Anbu now looked at Hattori in pure fear.

"You… monster!"

"Wrong answer."

At his words, a giant Susanoo hand clenched the two Sand Anbu, squeezing until they coughed up blood.

Hattori's voice echoed once again in their ears.

"I'll ask you once more—who ordered you to do this?"

"I… I'll tell you!"

Seized by the terror of death, the two Sand Anbu blurted out, "It was… Advisor Ebizō!"

"He's the one who gave us the orders!"

Upon hearing their response, Hattori clenched his fist tightly.

**Splat!**

With a sound like a tomato bursting, the two Sand Anbu were crushed to a bloody pulp within Susanoo's grip.

Hattori's voice sounded once more.

"Wrong answer."

He looked toward the remaining Sand Anbu nearby, as well as the elite puppet forces, all of whom wore expressions of fear.

"From the moment you betrayed me, I knew who was behind this. I just wanted to hear it from your own lips."

The Sand-nin stood in silence, and instead of replying, they launched an attack on him.

In an instant, shuriken, kunai, and a barrage of uniquely designed puppets shot toward him.

**Clang, clang…**

The assault was effortlessly deflected by the black Susanoo, leaving Hattori unscathed.

As he had expected, Hattori's expression remained unchanged, not a trace of emotion on his face.

Even his tone was as calm as before.

"Impressive… I never thought Rasa would have such loyal dogs."

"Enough!" the Sand-nin shouted in anger, expressions hardening.

"Don't insult Lord Kazekage!"

"You monster!"

"Die!"

Despite their shouting, Hattori's expression remained calm as he nodded slightly.

"Hmm. Now I understand. You're of no more use to me."

He swung Susanoo's black sword once more, killing the dozen Sand-nin in front of him with a single stroke.

Afterward, Hattori activated his sensory ability to survey the area.

Seeing that no other ninjas remained alive, he finally deactivated Susanoo.

In the instant he released it, his vision blurred, like a frosted window fogged by warm breath.

But he paid no mind and slowly walked to where Pakura lay, gently wiping the blood from her lips.

"I'm sorry. I failed to protect you. If I had used Susanoo from the beginning, this would never have happened. I'm so sorry."

Looking at her now-pale, beautiful face, memories stirred within Hattori of the time he had once promised to marry her. She had replied with a teasing smile—

"You cheeky kid! Don't forget I'm over ten years older than you. You want to marry me? Wait another ten years. By then, I'll be too old!"

With a soft chuckle, he smiled, pulling her close and resting his cheek against her cold face.

He softly whispered the words he had once spoken:

"It's okay, Sister Pakura. You're ten years older than me. In another ten years, we'll be the same age. And by then, you can marry me. Right?"

*(End of Chapter)*