Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 122: Five Tails!

An explosion erupted at close range as the three puppets brandished gleaming steel blades coated in a deadly purple venom.

Hatazaemon, however, was worthy of his title as a Kage-level shinobi.

Despite Sasori's sudden betrayal, he remained completely unfazed.

A surge of Iron Sand erupted from the ground, instantly forming three towering iron pillars that blocked the puppets' attacks.

Even the letter Sasori had thrown was halted midair by the Iron Sand.

"Attacking your own Kage…"

"Sasori, are you planning to betray the village?"

Hatazaemon's expression darkened, his tone laced with fury.

A massive amount of Iron Sand began to rise, transforming the office into an inescapable cage.

"A person like you… You don't deserve to be the Kazekage!"

"My parents died because of you!"

"Red Secret Technique: Machinery Triangles!"

Sasori had completely snapped. His hands blurred as he manipulated his puppets at an alarming speed.

The three puppets, montarily blocked by the Iron Sand, swiftly retreated before launching another coordinated assault.

Threads of chakra-infused silk unraveled from their elbows, intertwining as they charged toward Hatazaemon.

The threads glead with venom.

"Hmph! Such petty Puppet Techniques."

"Even if Chiyo herself were here, she wouldn't stand a chance against !"

"Iron Sand World thod!"

Hatazaemon raised his hand.

Under his Magnet Release, the Iron Sand around him surged violently, transforming into a devastating barrage of spears.

The sheer scale and intensity of the attack far surpassed Sasori's expectations.

The three puppets were instantly impaled, frozen in midair.

"Do you see now?"

"Your Puppet Technique is aningless before ."

Hatazaemon's voice was eerily calm, as if Sasori's attack was nothing more than a child's tantrum.

But in the very next mont—

The puppets moved.

Despite being restrained by the Iron Sand, they suddenly unleashed a storm of senbon.

Each needle, coated in lethal purple venom, shot toward Hatazaemon at high speed.

"Poisonous needles…"

"As expected, you Puppeteers always have more tricks up your sleeves."

"But it's still useless!"

Hatazaemon took a single step back. A massive Iron Sand shield instantly materialized before him, blocking every single Senbon with ease.

"Damn it!"

Sasori gritted his teeth, attempting to retract his puppets—but they were completely immobilized.

Just then—

A masked figure suddenly appeared in the room.

Before Sasori could react, a thin silk thread wrapped around his arm.

The sa thread also coiled around the Iron Sand.

In the next instant, the scenery around Sasori shifted.

The Kazekage's office vanished—replaced by an endless desert.

Before Sasori could even cry out in surprise, a large cloud of Scale Powder was blown straight into his face, knocking him out instantly.

"Space–Ti Ninjutsu..."

Hatazaemon scattered the Iron Sand and fixed his gaze on the masked figure before him.

"Heh heh... You're quite knowledgeable, Lord Kazekage."

Kazuyama smiled beneath his mask, twirling a kunai in his hand. The blade glead with a sinister purple sheen—Sasori's venom.

"Sasori's venom…"

"I didn't think that brat would actually team up with outsiders to take down."

"Hmph, you two are overestimating yourselves. You think you can fight ?"

"Huh?"

Before Hatazaemon could finish speaking, his eyes flicked to Sasori—collapsed, unconscious on the ground. A flicker of confusion crossed his face.

"No… you're not the help Sasori called."

"Who are you?!"

A surge of Iron Sand rose once more. The desert was rich with iron particles, and with his Magnet Release, Hatazaemon was in his elent.

"Who am I? That question is aningless."

"The real issue, Lord Third Kazekage, is that today… you may not leave this desert."

In the next instant, Kazuyama vanished.

Before Hatazaemon could react, Kazuyama reappeared behind him, slashing with his poison-coated kunai.

But Hatazaemon wasn't the Kazekage for nothing. Instinctively, his Iron Sand moved to defend him.

Was Kazuyama's attack really that simple? Of course not.

A sudden numbness spread through Hatazaemon's body.

"No!"

In a panic, he manipulated his Iron Sand into a tornado, kicking up a storm of yellow dust.

"Did you notice?"

"Just as I suspected."

The mont Kazuyama's kunai struck, a fine mist of Scale Powder had also been released.

Hatazaemon had reacted quickly, countering imdiately—but not quickly enough.

"Damn…"

"This technique… powder… paralyzing effect…"

Even with his swift response, he had inadvertently inhaled a trace of the Scale Powder.

Iron Sand naturally carried a rusty scent. But for a brief mont, that scent had been overpowered.

And that… unsettled him.

Even though Chōi's Scale Powder was colorless and odorless, when used in high concentrations, it could suppress other slls.

That small detail made Kazuyama realize a minor weakness in Scale Powder.

"Iron Sand World thod!"

Despite being partially paralyzed, Hatazaemon launched an attack.

The surrounding Iron Sand morphed into a barrage of spikes, raining down toward Kazuyama.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... I'm out!"

Activating the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kazuyama teleported a kiloter away.

In his mind, you fight your way, I run mine—I'll co back when you're done.

"Chōi, let's finish this quickly. We can't afford to drag this out!"

"Okay! Tailed Beast Transformation?"

"Yes!"

As Hatazaemon launched his next attack, Kazuyama activated his Half-Tailed Beast Transformation.

Four tails burst forth, and a crimson Tailed Beast cloak enveloped him in an instant.

The eerie red chakra illuminated the night.

"Four tails aren't enough—let's make it five!"

"I can handle it!"

Sensing Kazuyama's resolve, Chōi channeled even more chakra.

A fifth tail ford.

This ti, sothing changed—the crimson chakra cloak solidified, and a layer of insectoid armor took shape around his body.

"Kazuyama, stay focused!"

"Don't worry! I know exactly what I'm doing—I'm going in!"

With a roar, Kazuyama charged at Hatazaemon, his crimson chakra surging violently.

Seeing this, Hatazaemon finally realized his opponent's true nature.

"Tailed Beast Transformation… You're a Jinchūriki!"

Though slightly taken aback, as the Kazekage, he was unfazed. He had the power to stand against a Tailed Beast.

"Ninja Art: Iron Sand Drizzle!"

Countless thin Iron Sand needles materialized and shot toward Kazuyama at blinding speed.

"Heh heh! Not good enough!"

"Insect Scythe!"

Hatazaemon's eyes widened.

He can still talk while maintaining Tailed Beast form?!

The words "Perfect Jinchūriki" flashed through his mind.

But by then—Kazuyama's attack had already arrived.

The crimson chakra morphed into a massive scythe as Kazuyama raised his right hand.

With a single swing—

The scythe tore through the Iron Sand, shattering it.

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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