Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

As Hattori's most favored aerial summoning beast, the Giant Winged Dragonfly had never disappointed him with its speed. In just two days, it carried him back to Sunagakure.

Of course, this was also because he didn't stop along the way.

Although two days of travel left him slightly exhausted, the thought of finally confronting Rasa and avenging himself kept him from resting even a single day.

To Hattori, letting someone as vile as Rasa live even one more day was too generous!

To ensure he could kill Rasa as quickly as possible, Hattori didn't dismount when he reached the One Line Sky, instead riding the Giant Winged Dragonfly straight into Sunagakure's airspace.

He locked onto Rasa's location—the Kazekage Building!

"Pakura, I will avenge your death!"

With those words, he leapt off the Giant Winged Dragonfly, transforming mid-air into a semi-tailed beast form.

**[Name: Hattori (Semi-Tailed Beast Transformation)]**

**[Title: Puppet Tyrant]**

**[Level: 66]**

**[HP: 28002/28002]**

**[MP: 25900/26390]**

**[EXP: 420/660]**

**[Skills: Tailed Beast Cloak, Tailed Beast Bomb, Agility, Claw Strike]**

**[Combat Strength Assessment: S+]**

In his semi-tailed beast form, Hattori's attributes surged tenfold, allowing him to use the Tailed Beast Bomb.

This was precisely why he transformed—he intended to deliver a fatal blow to Rasa.

*"Whoosh…"*

As he opened his mouth, a large amount of chakra surged out and formed a ten-centimeter diameter black energy sphere in front of him.

Once the energy sphere was complete, Hattori didn't throw it immediately. Instead, he widened his mouth and swallowed it.

*"Boom!"*

With a muffled sound, Hattori's semi-tailed beast form ballooned like an inflated balloon, his body swelling several times and his descent accelerating.

Just as he was about to crash onto the Kazekage Building's roof, he opened his mouth once more, unleashing the overwhelming energy within.

*"Boom!"*

With a thunderous roar, a golden energy wave blasted out from his mouth, enveloping the entire Kazekage Building.

*"Crash…"*

The shockwave brought down the surrounding buildings, sending up a massive cloud of dust.

Minutes later, as the dust settled, the once-central Kazekage Building was no more.

In its place was a semicircular crater over fifty meters in diameter and more than ten meters deep.

Reverting from his semi-tailed beast form, Hattori stood at the crater's edge, a look of satisfaction crossing his face.

"Even with all the gold sand defenses in the world, Rasa must be dead from that attack. Pakura, I've avenged you!"

With that, he burst out laughing.

*"Hahaha… Rasa, you scum, did you think you'd get away with it? This is your end for framing Pakura and me. Serves you right!"*

As he laughed uncontrollably, a trembling voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Hattori… Was this you? Why?"

Hearing this, Hattori turned around to see Chiyo staring at him, eyes wide with disbelief.

Seeing her, Hattori grinned.

"Heh, yes, teacher, it was me. Rasa framed me, so I returned the favor, tooth for tooth. But let's not talk about that—I brought a gift for you!"

With that, he curled his fingers and let out a sharp whistle.

*"Whoosh…"*

At the sound of the whistle, the Giant Winged Dragonfly circling above descended and disappeared with a *"poof"*, leaving behind the body of the Third Mizukage.

Amid Chiyo's stunned expression, Hattori grinned again.

"Look, teacher! I didn't bring back a peace treaty, but I did bring the old dog, the Third Mizukage!"

He pounded his chest with pride.

"I promise you, from today onward, as long as I'm here, no Stone ninja or Mist nin will ever set foot in the Land of Wind!"

"…"

Chiyo was too shocked. Staring at the Third Mizukage's body, she opened her mouth but couldn't speak.

However, another voice rose from a short distance away.

"You killed the Third Mizukage, an ally of Sunagakure, assassinated the Fourth Kazekage, and betrayed the village. Hattori, you traitor! Surrender now!"

"Huh?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Hattori turned to see Rasa, dressed in his Kazekage robes, approaching with a crowd behind him.

At the same time, he noticed that Sunagakure's ninja surrounded him, all watching him warily.

Ebizō also emerged from the crowd, looking at Hattori with a complicated expression.

"Hattori, don't resist. The truth will come out with an investigation by the Anbu. You'll be fine!"

"Ha? Investigate? Are you joking, Elder Ebizō?"

Hattori laughed bitterly.

"What's there to investigate? The truth is that Rasa colluded with the Stone and Mist villages to kill me, but I survived and turned the tables on him. It's that simple!"

He looked at the surrounding Sand shinobi and patted his chest.

"Everyone here knows me. Would I ever betray Sunagakure? What reason would I have?"

At his words, the Sand shinobi around began to murmur thoughtfully.

"Yeah, why would Hattori betray Sunagakure?"

"I've fought alongside him. I know him—he wouldn't do that!"

"Right, I can vouch for him…"

As the murmurs grew, Hattori smiled slightly and pointed at Rasa.

"Rasa, everyone knows we have our differences. You feared my influence and power and wanted to remove me. Do you deny it?"

"Hmph, nonsense!"

Rasa denied immediately.

"I'm the Fourth Kazekage, and you're a hero of the village. Why would I kill you? You conspired with the Stone village. Otherwise, why is the Four-Tails inside you?"

"Ha, that's funny."

Seeing Rasa trying to frame him, Hattori chuckled.

"I killed the Stone village's Four-Tails Jinchuriki and took the Four-Tails. Yet you claim I'm the traitor. If anyone conspired with the Stone village, it was you."

Hattori turned to Chiyo.

"Teacher, Rasa allied with the Stone and Mist villages and ambushed me at the Mist village's entrance. But I survived and fought back. I later killed the Third Mizukage. That's the truth. Please believe me."

Seeing Hattori's earnest eyes, Chiyo hesitated, opened her mouth, but stayed silent.

Seeing this, Hattori's heart sank.

"Teacher… you don't believe me?"

"…"

Chiyo remained silent.

After a moment, Hattori chuckled, shaking his head as he laughed.

"Heh, how foolish of me. I came back for revenge, yet I wasted so many words. At least I realized in time."

He raised a finger toward Rasa.

"You scum, shut up. Your filthy life ends here!"

*(End of Chapter)*