"Deputy Cult Leader!!"
"There's really nothing we can do about the Ten Thousand Crawler Puppet's malfunction!"
"The reason for the failure is due to the limitations of the materials!"
"If only we could use Chakra-conductive metal..."
When Kankuro, who was now called the Deputy Cult Leader, heard his subordinate's words, he stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
"Bastards!"
"You guys still want to use Chakra-conductive metal!?"
"Where would the village get the money for that now?"
"Should we go ask Cult Leader Uzumaki for it?"
"You've got some nerve!!"
Ever since their Great Mentor had established the Puppet God Cult in Sunagakure a month ago…
Wait, no… it seems it should now be called the Cult Mechanicus.
Since then, they no longer crafted puppets as crudely as before. Instead, following the new doctrines of the Mechanicus Cult, they developed an entirely new form of Puppet Technique.
This is a Ninjutsu that fused flesh with puppets.
It is said that if one can master the skill to the fullest, they could rival the legendary Sage of Six Paths.
This had utterly captivated everyone in Sunagakure.
The Sunagakure's Puppet Master lowered his head and remained silent. The 1.80-meter-tall guy shrank like a quail after being scolded by Kankuro.
Shikamaru: "???"
Asma: "???"
Ino: "???"
Choji: 'Huh?'
The members of Team 10 standing nearby stood frozen, their minds blank.
'What the hell??'
'Cult Leader Naruto??'
Not only was Sunagakure's aesthetic completely different from the rest of the Shinobi World, but they couldn't even understand half of what these people were saying.
'And also…'
'Why do these Puppet Masters all look like they were on steroids?'
If not for the fact that they were in the middle of a desert, Asuma would have wondered if they'd somehow wandered into Kumogakure instead.
"Keep running diagnostics!"
"Yes! Deputy Cult Leader!"
After reprimanding them, Kankuro led everyone in raising their arms high, gazing fervently at the starry sky as they chanted in unison.
"Praise Cult Leader Naruto!"
"Long live the Mechanicus!!"
Under the night sky, such a strange scene frightened the members of Team 10 so much that their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Shikamaru felt like his brain had stopped working.
He desperately tried to find something familiar in his surroundings, but after searching for so long, everything still felt extremely unfamiliar.
The only thing that felt remotely recognizable was the name 'Naruto'.
"Asuma-sensei..."
"Something's not right... why don't we go back?"
Right now, Shikamaru just wanted to get as far away from this damned place as possible and rebuild his shattered worldview.
If they stayed here any longer...
He had no doubt they'd all lose their minds.
"Asuma-sensei... I think Shikamaru is right."
"I think so too!"
Ino and Choji quickly chimed in from the side.
After hearing what the three said, Asuma also felt the urge to retreat.
He subconsciously felt that there would be no good outcome if he confronted these cultists.
Even though he knew that Naruto was their so-called 'Cult Leader', he didn't dare barge in recklessly.
It is rumored that this yellow-haired delinquent has a magical ability that can always lead everyone around him astray unconsciously.
Take his nephew Konohamaru, for example...
Moreover, he needed to report this situation to the Godaime Hokage as soon as possible.
'We can't ever let that kid Naruto return to the village!'
'Konoha wouldn't survive this madness!'
"Alright, let's head back..."
"Who goes there!?"
Before Asuma could finish, angry shouts suddenly erupted around them.
Immediately afterwards, the group of muscular Puppet Masters surrounded Team 10.
Under the dark night sky, the red mechanical eyes glowing on these Puppet Masters' masks made Asuma and the others' hair stand on end.
These people didn't look friendly at all!
Kankuro stepped into the circle on his eight spider-like mechanical legs. Seeing the Konoha's forehead protector, he waved his hand to signal the others to stand down.
"Huh?"
"Shinobi from Konoha?"
His tone was doubtful, but when his gaze landed on Shikamaru, realization dawned on him.
'Oh…'
'It turns out to be Temari's boyfriend.'
Kankuro looked Shikamaru up and down and disdainfully muttered under his breath, "Tch. Twig."
Shikamaru: "???"
'Is this freak insulting me?'
Shikamaru felt a surge of anger, but when he saw that the other side had more people, he suppressed his anger.
"I'm their Jonin Instructor, Sarutobi Asuma."
"Gaara and Kankuro from your village once came to Konoha to take part in the Chunin Exams before."
Seeing that the Sunagakure's Shinobi didn't seem hostile, Asuma immediately tried to establish rapport.
"I know."
"I've seen you guys back during the exams."
Asuma's words instantly reminded Kankuro of the time when he was still weak.
"… Huh???"
"You were in Konoha before??"
"And you are…?"
Shikamaru looked like he was constipated.
He didn't remember there being such a freak in the Chunin Exams.
"I'm Kankuro."
"At that time… I was still very thin."
Kankuro chuckled wryly. Not only did he not feel embarrassed because he was not recognized by the Konoha's Shinobi, but he stepped forward and started flexing his bulging muscles proudly.
"WHAT!?"
"Impossible! How could you be Kankuro!?"
"You're... lying, right!?"
"What the hell have you been eating!?"
Team 10's first reaction was disbelief.
No one could've imagined that Kankuro, who was about the same height as them, had transformed into a near-two-meter-tall super-jacked monster in such a short time.
Shikamaru clutched his head, feeling like the world had gone completely absurd.
Asuma and Ino's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
'Were these guys really not people defecting from Kumogakure??'
Suddenly remembering that Naruto was still in Sunagakure, Asuma couldn't help but think of a certain yellow-haired muscular man in his mind...
'Hiss…'
'This was starting to feel very bad!'
Meanwhile, Ino began to worry about Hinata's future married life.
"Uh…"
"We were just passing by and noticed something strange, so we came to check it out."
Asuma said this with difficulty, while pointing at the giant puppet nearby.
"We won't disturb you any further."
"Goodbye!"
Right now, he just wanted to leave this bizarre place.
He had zero desire to step foot inside the so-called New Sunagakure.
"How can that be possible!!"
"You're honored guests who've come all this way!!"
"Come! Let me give you a tour of our new village!"
When Kankuro heard this, he muscles twitched and his became very unfriendly.
It seemed that if Team 10 didn't follow him, they would be giving Kankuro no face.
Following Kankuro's words, the other muscular men surrounded Asuma and the others.
"Let's just... not..."
Shikamaru gulped nervously as he looked at these people's exaggerated muscles.
If it weren't for his last shred of sanity telling him not to abandon his companions, he really wanted to turn around and run away directly.
"What do you mean not!"
"Everyone, follow me!"
Kankuro grabbed Shikamaru by the collar with one massive arm before scooping him up in a princess carry, which scared Shikamaru so much that he trembled in his arms.
And so, under the 'warm invitation' of the Sunagakure's shinobi, Team 10 was escorted into New Sunagakure.
…
On the other side, in the New Kazekage Building, the older generation of Shinobi and the new-age Puppet Masters had gathered.
Gaara, who had only recently taken office as Acting Kazekage, sat at the head of the table, while Naruto was sitting right beside him.
Glancing at everyone present, Gaara took Naruto's hand, slowly stood up and spoke to everyone.
"Everyone!"
"I propose that Uzumaki Naruto become Sunagakure's Godaime Kazekage!"