The current Puppet Scorpion still maintained a humanoid form, but its transformation was nothing short of monstrous. Its once rigid and segmented puppet body had turned purplish-black, glistening like living chitin. The synthetic garments it once wore had fused into its body, reshaped into a seamless suit of organic armor that pulsated faintly with residual energy.
Two massive chelicerae had sprouted from the corners of its mouth, twitching with latent menace. The spiral blades on its back—once clearly mechanical—had merged with the tattered robe it wore before, now transformed into two sleek, bat-like wings edged in razor-sharp steel. They shimmered faintly in the moonlight, twitching with a life of their own.
The four arm blades had reformed into crushing, scorpion-like pincers, gleaming with a predatory sheen. The mechanical tail, once segmented and harsh, had become almost indistinguishable from a real scorpion's stinger—curved, deadly, and brimming with chakra.
Akira stood before it, the puppet he had painstakingly crafted, now changed into something more—a scorpion that walked upright, sprouting wings and wearing a deathly aura like a second skin. He approached carefully and reached out, pressing his fingers against the creature's shell.
To his surprise, the exoskeleton wasn't the unyielding metal he expected. It was slightly elastic, like the hide of a beast rather than the plating of a puppet. It vibrated subtly beneath his touch, alive.
A wave of realization rippled through Akira. He had seen this kind of transformation before—a reaction reminiscent of the Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu. It reminded him of Hyde's grotesque transformations, enhanced by the energy of the Gelel Stone. Hyde's abilities had come from some unknown biological modification—likely ancient science or forgotten jutsu.
But then there was Tim West. Tim had fused with the Gelel Stone naturally, needing no such modifications. He didn't transform in the same way; his eyes were the only part of his body that visibly changed, turning a deep, blood-colored red.
Now it seemed the answer lay somewhere between. Akira watched the Puppet Scorpion breathe—a mechanical being that now mimicked the rhythm of life. This, he realized, wasn't an imposed transformation. It was an instinctive reaction, a metamorphosis born from the immense energy coursing through it.
It was like Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. That transformation, too, had levels. Cursed Seal Level 1 offered power, but Level 2 caused a dramatic, often grotesque, change in appearance—a forced evolution to contain and wield immense energy. The Puppet Scorpion had done the same.
Akira's mind buzzed with theory. Perhaps the Gelel Stone's power brought about a heteromorphic evolution when a host absorbed too much energy. For those whose bodies were not attuned to the Stone, the transformation became physical—a bestial reshaping of body and mind.
The form taken depended on the user's subconscious.
Akira looked up at the Puppet Scorpion. Its design had originally been modeled after a scorpion. Now, as if in response to that design, the transformation had followed suit. It had become the very monster it was inspired by.
He recalled that those who transformed with the Gelel Stone even experienced their clothes morphing with them, integrating into their final form. It explained why the Puppet Scorpion's weapons and robe had become natural parts of its body.
But more than just appearance had changed.
The aura had shifted dramatically. Originally, the Puppet Scorpion's presence was faint. As a puppet powered by minimal chakra, it was more automaton than living entity. During its battle against Chiyo, it had relied on Akira's chakra—channeled through the Regeneration Core. The aura it emitted then was crafted to match the chakra signature of the Third Kazekage.
But now, the Regeneration Core had absorbed a massive volume of pure Gelel energy. That power had transformed it. The puppet now radiated a powerful, unique presence—something akin to a Wood Clone, yet even more unnatural. The chakra was rich, distinct, and ancient-feeling.
It was no longer just a puppet. It was a living weapon.
Akira narrowed his eyes, sensing the energy within. It felt... similar to the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release, but off—like an echo from another direction. He summoned iron sand, channeling the Gelel-enhanced chakra into it.
The grains of sand shimmered, but instead of lifting or forming weapons, they vibrated—quaking violently, humming with sonic force.
Akira watched, intrigued. "Not Magnet Release... something else."
He increased the chakra flow, and the vibrations reached a fever pitch. A deafening sound tore through the air as a shockwave erupted, scattering the sand like shrapnel. The sound made his ears ring. He immediately cut off the flow.
So this was its power—not magnetism, but vibration.
He turned toward a boulder nearby and raised the Puppet Scorpion's claw. Gathering the same energy, he imagined the chakra oscillating at an ultra-high frequency, then unleashed it.
The result was immediate. A concussive blast of air slammed into the rock. It cracked—then exploded into fragments.
Akira's eyes gleamed.
"Wind nature and lightning nature, fused through vibration... The Puppet Scorpion's ability isn't Magnet Release. It's something new. A Bloodline Limit born from the puppet's adaptation to the Gelel Stone."
He thought about calling it Vibration Release—but remembered that term was already used elsewhere. Instead, he chose a name more fitting.
"Sound Release," he whispered.
Air is vibration. Sound is the pulse of energy through matter. The name felt right.
Ideas flooded Akira's mind. Infrasound waves to rupture organs. Ultrasound pulses to disorient and destroy hearing. Vibrating chakra coating limbs to shatter bones with a single strike.
He tested another function—fluttering the Puppet Scorpion's wings.
To his astonishment, the puppet lifted smoothly into the air. No Magnet Release assistance. It was true flight, graceful and natural—like walking.
The energy from the Gelel Stone had given more than chakra. It had given potential.
Akira estimated the puppet's power output. Although Gelel energy was distinct from chakra, his instincts placed the Puppet Scorpion's energy at two to three Kakis—solid Kage-level strength.
He thought back to the villains of old who had wielded Gelel Stones. They were strong, yes, but not like this. The difference, Akira realized, lay in the body. The Third Kazekage was no ordinary man—his meridians had been tempered by years of battle. This puppet body, derived from such a warrior, could handle far more than a common host.
As dawn began to tint the sky, Akira finally decided to return to Konoha. The transformation, the tests—it had all taken the entire night. But the discovery was well worth the exhaustion.
Before leaving, he made one last decision: the Gelel ore vein, now radiating tremendous energy after being unsealed, needed to be concealed again.
Even an ordinary ninja, approaching the area, would feel the oppressive energy.
Akira stood at the edge of the clearing and formed hand seals, channeling his chakra into a sealing formula far more complex than before. With practiced precision, he sealed away the ore vein once more, its brilliance fading beneath layers of protective jutsu.
He left the Puppet Scorpion to watch over the place, its wings folded and eyes glowing faintly.
Then, with a final glance back at the concealed source of immense power, Akira disappeared into the morning mist.
Re-sealing the mine was not particularly difficult. As long as Akira could inscribe a sufficiently advanced sealing formula, the task would be completed. But for Akira, simply sealing the mine wasn't enough. He needed something more intricate—a seal that not only suppressed the mine's immense energy but could also draw and store it for future use.
Fortunately, while Sasori lacked knowledge of such high-level seals, Akira had stumbled across something valuable in the scroll handed to him by the Third Hokage: the legendary "Four Symbols Seal."
With this powerful technique as a base, Akira envisioned creating a complex array: two massive Four Symbols Seals forming a Sealing Formation of Eight Trigrams. Around the natural gaps in the seal, he would weave chakra-absorbing scripts designed to siphon off excess energy and redirect it to a containment core. It was ambitious, but entirely possible.
Thanks to Sasori's insight into intricate puppet mechanisms and sealing systems, Akira found the study of this advanced fūinjutsu smoother than expected. He estimated it wouldn't take him long to master the Four Symbols Seal and adapt it to suit his needs.
He left the Puppet Scorpion behind to quietly monitor the mine and continue observing the Tree Clone's steady growth. The clone, nourished by the rich energy of the Gelel ore vein, grew larger and stronger by the day.
Meanwhile, trouble was brewing elsewhere.
The Land of Rice Fields, a modest nation nestled between the borders of three powerful countries, had always existed in the shadow of giants. Flanked by the permanently neutral Land of Iron, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Hot Water, it had never developed its own ninja village. Whenever shinobi services were needed, they had no choice but to hire from neighboring nations.
Recently, the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields had received troubling reports: border villages were being attacked by roving bandits. Initially, this wasn't surprising. During times of war, small nations often fell victim to lawlessness. With major powers focused on greater battles, borderlands became easy targets.
At first, the Daimyo dispatched a team of samurai to investigate. The warriors assumed it would be a routine sweep, perhaps dealing with a few desperate criminals. But what they encountered shocked them.
The so-called bandits were brazen, even loitering openly after their raids. When confronted, they didn't flee or panic. Instead, they stood their ground. The samurai, offended by their arrogance, launched an attack—but quickly learned this was no ordinary band of thieves.
These were trained ninja.
The battle was fierce. The samurai fought with pride and conviction, but the moment one of the enemy shinobi unleashed ninjutsu, the tide shifted catastrophically. The Land of Rice Fields had no shinobi of its own, and while their samurai were skilled, they could not compete with chakra-based combat.
One samurai, gravely injured, managed to escape and bring news of the confrontation to the Daimyo. The implications were alarming. If ninja were invading their lands, it could only mean one of two things: either rogue ninja were acting independently, or a neighboring nation—most likely the Land of Hot Water—was orchestrating an invasion under cover of chaos.
In a state of panic, the Daimyo summoned his ministers. After a tense and urgent debate, they resolved to seek aid from the Land of Fire. Trusted envoys were immediately dispatched to Konoha to request support.
"That's the situation, Lord Hokage," one envoy said, kneeling respectfully in the Third Hokage's office. "We understand that your village is strained by the war, but our people are vulnerable. We implore Konoha to help us."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, gave them a calm, reassuring nod. "Konoha will not turn a blind eye to the suffering of our neighbors. You have our word. We will dispatch a team to uncover the truth and deal with this threat."
Despite the war, missions like this were still important. To free up manpower for the front lines, many young genin and chunin had been promoted early. The standard six-year curriculum at the Academy was temporarily shortened to three.
Even so, the village's resources were stretched thin. The Hokage opened the mission ledger, scanning for teams with the necessary skill set: investigative capabilities, tactical prowess, and strength in combat.
One name caught his eye: Uchiha Akira.
Akira had recently returned from the Wind Country front lines and had been promoted to jonin due to his exceptional performance. His Sharingan made him ideal for tracking and reconnaissance. With teammates like the experienced Gu Jie and the energetic Anko, their squad possessed a strong balance of talent.
Moreover, Akira had not been assigned a formal mission since his return. This operation would be an excellent opportunity to keep him engaged and further develop his versatility beyond war zones.
Hiruzen ordered Root agents to summon Team Akira.
Akira was at home when the notice arrived, immersed in the study of sealing arts. The moment he heard there was a mission, he perked up, enthusiasm flickering in his eyes.
He hadn't been sent on a mission in over a month since withdrawing from the Land of Wind. Despite keeping himself busy with research and experimentation, the absence of combat made him feel restless. Was he developing a taste for battle? The thought amused him.
He packed quickly, tucking the scroll into his satchel, and made his way to the Hokage's office. As expected, he arrived before his teammates.
Moments later, Gu Jie and Anko joined him, and together they stepped inside.
The Third Hokage wasted no time. "Uchiha Akira's squad," he said gravely, "your team is to head immediately to the Land of Rice Fields. Bandits—possibly rogue ninja—are wreaking havoc on their borders. This mission requires investigation and, if necessary, elimination."
He handed Akira a scroll—a detailed briefing on the mission compiled by his staff just moments earlier.
Akira unrolled it, scanning the contents with sharp, focused eyes. The tension in the air was thick, but within him, he felt the spark of anticipation reignite.
Another battlefield awaited—and Akira was ready.