Successive Losses

The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu possess both close and long range abilities.  As their successor, Chiyo had once used them to capture a village.  In the hands of their creator,  Monzaemon,  one can only imagine the power they could unleash.

Monzaemon kept two puppets by his side while the other eight quickly encircled Fumori Masaki , each drawing its weapon and aiming for Masaki's vital points, planning to finish him in a single blow.

Masaki's eyes tracked the Eight puppets, but rather than evade, he moved straight toward them. His speed was so fast that to the eyes of ordinary person, he appeared as nothing more than a black blur.

One blad puppet extended five iron wires from its head, smashing down like tentacles. However,  they only hit the black blur for a split second before bouncing off. Although not severed,  deep cuts marred the wires.

Two more puppets joined forces, and from the head of one emerged a massive chakra light blade spinning like a windmill. While the bald puppet attacked.  The other threw the one with the chakra light blade toward Masaki.  The sharp blade slashed at Masaki-

The two sides clashed again. As the lights crossed, Masaki's form reappeared,  his blade Kazekiri meeting the chakra light blade head-on. A moment later, the puppet's light blade shattered.

But this brief distraction allowed a red haired, twin-tailed female puppet to rush in, swinging dual blades down at Masaki.  He turned and blocked the attack with Kazekiri, and his other hand, he swung the scabbard like a club, striking the puppet's waist. With just one blow, the puppet nearly fell apart.

Monzaemon's eyes widened slightly.  In such a  short time, not only his four puppets failed to land a blow, but they had returned in  complete defeat. This young man was not only skilled but truly extraordinary.

At this moment,  Monzaemon remembered who this young man was. His student had faced him not long ago, and the reports of Suna ninja death at Masaki hands were no mere rumor.

Even if the remaining puppets engaged Masaki at close range, Monzaemon thought they wouldn't gain any advantage.  With a flick of his fingers,  five puppets blocked Masaki's path forward, while the other three puppets formed a triangular stance. Their hands moved in synchronisation as their mouths opened, revealing wheels inside, each bearing the character for Buddha,  Dharma,  and Sangha.

-Ninpo: Three Puppets Suction!

Masaki felt a powerful force pulling at his body. Glancing back, he noticed the air around him being drawn toward the center of the formation created by the three puppets,  pulling him in as well.

At the same time, the remaining puppets raised their weapons and attacked.  The force of the wind made their movements blindingly fast. Masaki,  trapped in the pull of the Three Puppets, would either be drawn into the vortex or impaled by the oncoming attacks.

It seemed like a near-certain death, but Masaki's eyes remained calm. Just as his body was about to be drawn into the vortex, he vanished- leaving only a shadow clone behind.

Monzaemon,  familiar with Konoha's techniques, Knew of the clone that mimicked the original body but didn't involve elemental transformations. He wasn't surprised and began searching for Masaki's real location.  However,  what he saw next shocked him to the core.

Where the shadow clone had vanished, paper tags hovered in the air. Swept into the vortex by the wind, they exploded into a bright flame, rapidly expanding in Monzaemon's eyes.

Boom-

The puppets responsible for the Three Puppets Suction were immediately engulfed in the fire. Since wind fuel fire, Monzaemon didn't even have time to react. As the realization of what Fumori Masaki had done struck hi., a single thought crossed his mind, impossible.

Monzaemon had expected a master like masaki to use a clone to protect himself,  but he never imagined the clone would be rigged with explosive tags. Puppets,  being combat weapons, are naturally tough, and using an explosive tag to follow up a clone's disappearance is not only difficult to time but often ineffective.  Yet, due to the wind- enhanced fire, the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu- once thought nearly indestructible- were severely damaged.

If Fumori Masaki had set this trap knowing about the Tree Puppets Suction ability of the pupp, Monzaemon couldn't fathom how he had learned this information.

As a veteran ninja, predating even Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Madara,  Monzaemon knew the importance of safeguarding his techniques.  Unless facing a formidable opponent,  he rarely used the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu or their unique abilities. Moreover,  he had never before activated the Tree Puppets Suction technique.

Monzaemon couldn't understand how his technique had been exposed.  Aside from himself, the only other person who knew about it was Chiyo,  and she would never betray him. With Chiyo's character, it was impossible she had divulged her master's secret technique to Fumori Masaki.

The more he thought about it, the more perplexed Monzaemon became.  Fumori Masaki wasn't from an ancient ninja clan, Monzaemon heard in Warring States Fumori mostly samurai base clan, yet this Masaki achievement rivaled those of the Senju, Uchiha,  and Hyūga.  Now, using the properties of the Three Puppets Suction, Masaki had obliterated three of Monzaemon's puppets in one stroke.

The younger generation is truly terrifying, Monzaemon sighed. He began to realize h3 might not leave this battlefield alive. But even in the face of death, a ninja's mission must be completed. Shōmei could still use his Magnetic Release to destroy the fortifications and bring hope to Sunagakure's victory.

Monzaemon recalled all his remaining puppets to his side, positioning them for defense. His senses focused on detecting Fumori Masaki.  If that man got close, Monzaemon knew he wouldn't even have time to react before it was over. He had to give it everything he had.

The tension thickened, and the sound of battle faded. Only the flames Consuming the three destroyed puppets flickered in the stillness. Suddenly,  Monzaemon felt a chill. His body reacted before his mind, commanding a puppet to intercept an attack from his right. A long sword stabbed into the puppet, barely grazing Monzaemon's cheek, leaving a thin cut.

To his surprise,  the attacker wasn't Fumori Masaki but someone else- a man with a grim expression, Shimura Danzō.