Uchiha's personal opinion

Uchiha Shihu snorted coldly, dropped the large cylinder on his shoulder, pulled out a sealing scroll, tore off a corner and held it in his hand, while forming the Tiger Seal.

"...Is he dead?"

Nara, still shaken from the shockwave, looked at the small mushroom cloud not far away and asked a question.

Even though he was now part of the shogunate, at his rank, he was unaware that his organization possessed such formidable special ninja tools. After all, the tactical weapons deployed in a detachment-level ninja army were merely the chakra machine gun currently being operated by the detachment commander.

Judging solely from its power, the so-called 'rocket' launched by Uchiha Shikiho has already surpassed the power of an ordinary A-rank ninjutsu.

"Probably not... Let's prepare to finish them off!"

Uchiha Shikiho still did not relax.

This shoulder-fired rocket launcher was one of the new ninja tools prototyped by the Uzumaki Research Institute. Its intended targets were large summoning beasts such as Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave. However, due to the large amount of chakra metal required for its warhead to be used as an armor-piercing head, the cost of a single unit was seriously exceeded. Therefore, the research and development plan was abandoned after only a few prototypes were manufactured, and it was not deployed in the ninja army.

Uchiha Shihō obtained this treasure through his cousin, who was the manager of the shogunate's shipyard.

"Second Company's Ninjutsu Probing!"

Nara, the staff officer, also temporarily took over as the detachment commander and issued orders.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Following the military order, the shogunate ninjas immediately began casting their most skilled fire and wind combination ninjutsu.

At the same time, the sensing ninja began to cast another spell, attempting to ascertain the enemy's situation amidst the chaotic chakra storm.

"Magnetic Escape·Sand Iron Wall!"

With a furious shout, a sand-iron barrier was barely formed within the chakra storm, blocking the ninjutsu attack.

"Now!"

The squad leader, who had been focused and prepared, immediately channeled his chakra into the machine gun under the guidance of the sensory ninja, and pulled the trigger, unleashing a barrage of jet-powered explosive kunai like a torrential rain!

"Boom boom boom boom!!!"

With a series of explosions, the already somewhat loose iron sand wall was instantly shattered, and the dense explosions of kunai quickly created a very wide bombing zone!

Meanwhile, Scorpion, who was completely suppressed, was in even greater discomfort!

"I was careless... I didn't flash!"

His puppet, Hiruko, was destroyed by a rocket fired by Uchiha Shihō, and his main body was also severely injured, causing problems with puppet control!

At this point, he had already considered retreating, but just as he was preparing to burrow underground to escape, he discovered that the sand beneath was as hard as iron, and the technique of swimming fish in the soil could not penetrate it at all!

Scorpion felt that today's trip was extremely unlucky!

Given his strength and preparation, this shouldn't have happened!

But there was nothing I could do...

"You lack forbearance!"

Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, Scorpion shouted, "Such a sneak attack, such a deceitful act! It's truly the behavior of a villain!"

"...How could this guy be so stupid?"

Uchiha Shihu was almost amused. "I'm a regular ninja soldier of the Shogunate. Do you think I'm some country bumpkin ninja who wants to fight me one-on-one?"

"Now I'll show you real art—art is bombing!"

"Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique!"

"Crimson Secret Technique: Ten Machine Maneuvers!"

Sasori knew that if he didn't escape in time, he would probably perish on the spot. So he hardened his heart and released all the dozens of puppets that he had prepared for the charge. With a casual urge, he sent them rushing towards the shogunate army formation based on their inertia, in order to attract the ninja army's ninjutsu firepower.

He then manipulated the Third Kazekage puppet to scoop it up and quickly escape to the rear.

At the same time, he didn't forget to throw out several puppets that looked almost exactly like him as cover.

The enemy is fleeing!

But the shogunate's ninja army immediately saw through his disguise.

Then a barrage of ninjutsu was unleashed in his direction.

"Magnetic Release: Iron Sand Cuboid!"

"Magnetic Release: Iron Sand Wings!"

Sasori had no choice but to squeeze out the little chakra he had left to manipulate the iron sand into a huge rectangular block of iron, using it as cover. Then, the Third Kazekage puppet flapped the wings formed from the iron sand and prepared to take off.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"

The chakra machine gun controlled by the squad leader arrived late but arrived in time, shooting down the human puppet that had just taken off!

"My life is over!"

The scorpion, which landed heavily like a tattered sack, coughed up blood repeatedly and muttered to itself.

"Not necessarily!"

Suddenly, a black "mud" broke through the steel ground barrier beneath him and appeared in front of Scorpion. Before he could react, it wrapped up Scorpion and the tattered human puppet and then disappeared underground!

Chapter 436 The Times Are Progressing

Do you know why you lost so badly?

Black Zetsu, unusually in high spirits, had his White Zetsu build a high platform, then donned a tall White Zetsu as a disguise, looking down at Sasori, who was lying on the sickbed, barely alive.

"..."

The scorpion, its breath faint, drooped its eyes and ignored the lump of black mud on the high platform.

This extremely inexplicable and crushing defeat was a devastating blow to his ninja way.

Having assassinated the Third Kazekage who had always admired his talent, and before the puppet army he had painstakingly built up through countless killings in the Land of Wind could even play its intended role, he was defeated by a strangely shaped ninja tool. All his savings were also almost completely depleted. At this point, it was a testament to Sasori's strong will that he did not actively seek death.

Moreover... although this black mud is verbose, it seems to have some merit!

Scorpion slowly closed his eyes and began to sense his physical condition.

Black Zetsu on the high platform was not angry at the sight. He simply shrugged and commanded the White Zetsu that was possessing him to leave.

Since the scorpion it rescued after being seriously injured was already itss, there was no need to rush. Moreover, the reason it risked its life to save the scorpion was to acquire a useful tool.

"To conquer cities is the inferior strategy; to conquer hearts and minds is the superior strategy..."

Black Zetsu took out another copy of "The Sayings of De Guang (Millionth Copies Commemorative Edition)" and read it. He deeply agreed with the golden rules contained therein.

"As expected of a ninja who is devoted to Mother! She is indeed very intelligent!"

……

"What exactly are these white bodies? Their effects are quite peculiar!"

Scorpion struggled to sit up, examining the "patches" all over his body.

After being hit by Uchiha Shihuo's rocket, Hiruko's outer shell was shattered, and the main body hidden inside the puppet was also severely injured. Not only was her left leg blown off, but her abdomen was also cut by the puppet's fragments, and many other parts were missing flesh and bone.

But now, after waking up, he found that his disabled body had been restored, and his vitality was better than ever before!

Although he was still very tired, Sasori could clearly sense streams of heat gushing from the white body of his successor, nourishing his original body, which was on the verge of collapse due to excessive chakra draining.

"If my entire body were replaced with this miraculous substance..."

Scorpion couldn't help but touch the pale, muscular body of the surviving member, his eyes filled with intoxication!

If he had such a strong body, his puppetry skills could unleash even greater power! Instead of relying on those puppet constructs for protection!

In addition, the experiments we wanted to try before might now be possible!

For example, installing complex puppet components inside one's body to become a perpetual immortal who can live without food or water!

And the foundation of all this came from the opportunity that lump of mud brought him!

"Someone come here!"

The dark room was empty, with only the scorpion's voice echoing between the walls.

But no one responded.

Scorpion closed his eyes and sensed that there was indeed no one in the dark room.

However, since the other party was willing to go to such great lengths to save him, they must have something in mind. So after thinking for a while, Scorpion lay back down on the hospital bed and continued to rest with his eyes closed.

"Hahahaha……"

He didn't know how much time had passed, but in his dazed state, Scorpion suddenly heard comical laughter coming from all directions.

Immediately, my heart skipped a beat!

"I actually fell asleep!"

Scorpion immediately opened its eyes and warily scanned its surroundings.

But then they saw that, out of nowhere, countless ugly, pale white humanoid monsters, each with its own unique style, had emerged from the dark room and were playfully fighting each other with strange smiles on their faces.

For example, detaching someone's arm and attaching it to your own neck, or pulling someone's head out and kicking it like a ball...

Even Scorpion, who dared to modify himself, was stunned!

This……

Scorpion felt his mind was in complete chaos, and he was utterly unable to comment on what was happening before his eyes.

"It probably got too strong..."

Scorpion comforted himself, then rubbed his eyes, closed them, and opened them again—

That's right!

"You should have already sensed and assessed your general physical condition, right?"

At that moment, a hoarse voice rang out again from the high platform.

"I understand perfectly well..."

Scorpion raised his head and looked up at the high and mighty Black Zetsu.

"Do you still remember my question?"