Chapter 316: Roar, Sacred Battle Machine
"Sasuke, this should be the last Peace Star, right?"
Standing behind Sasuke, Sai spoke.
"Yeah."
Sasuke nodded.
"So that means, once I obtain the Peace Star, any wish I make can come true?"
"To be precise, the Peace Star only provides a means to realize your wish. Whether or not it truly comes true still depends on you."
Captain Blue Dragonfly explained while handing a marble battle machine to Karashi Tangno.
"Sasuke, here's your marble battle machine," said Captain Red Dragonfly, handing a top to Sasuke. "Channel your chakra into the machine, and it will transform into a type suited for you."
"Let's get the match started already!"
Karashi Tangno stared at the marble battle machine in his hand, clearly eager to begin.
"No need to rush. Since it's a match, there has to be a proper battlefield."
Captain Red Dragonfly looked at Karashi Tangno as he spoke.
At the waterfall on the outskirts of the Hidden Mist Village—
"Hello, everyone! Welcome to the live broadcast of the final battle for the last Peace Star. Today's event is marble battling. I'm your commentator, Captain Red Dragonfly."
"And I'm Captain Blue Dragonfly."
Through the live broadcast, everyone in the ninja world could now witness the final showdown for the last Peace Star.
Over Konohagakure's skies, projections of Sasuke and Sai appeared.
Inside the Hokage's office—
"Naruto!"
"What is it, Shikamaru?"
Seeing Shikamaru's anxious expression, Naruto looked puzzled.
"Look outside. The sky."
"The sky?" Naruto turned, opened the window behind him, and stuck his head out to look. "Wait—isn't that Sasuke and Sai?!"
"It's the Peace Star battle. If I'm not mistaken, this should be the last one."
---
The battlefield was a waterfall with a platform constantly pounded by rushing water.
Sasuke and Karashi Tangno would battle on that turbulent, mid-air platform. Each side had ten sensors nearby—if a player hit the opponent's sensors, the water under the opponent's feet would intensify. Whoever was swept off the battlefield by the current would lose. Alternatively, the player who hit all ten of the opponent's sensors would also win.
"In other words, there are two ways to win," said Captain Red Dragonfly, his voice broadcast across the entire ninja world. "Now, let the two competitors enter the field!"
Sasuke and Karashi Tangno each leapt to their designated areas and stared at each other across the waterfall.
"Begin the match."
Captain Blue Dragonfly announced.
"Wood Style!"
As soon as Captain Blue Dragonfly finished speaking, Karashi Tangno formed hand seals. Two wooden vines rose from the swirling water under his feet and coiled tightly around his legs.
"Karashi Tangno's move is a smart one! This way, no matter how rough the current is, his body won't be washed away. That leaves Sasuke Uchiha with only one way to win: hitting all ten of his opponent's sensors!"
Captain Red Dragonfly exclaimed in amazement.
"Sasuke Uchiha, let me show you my marble battle machine!"
A bubble of water rose beneath Karashi Tangno, floated up to his face, then burst—revealing his marble battle machine.
Sasuke remained silent, calmly watching Karashi Tangno show off. From the ninja pouch at his waist, a purple light began to shine. Sasuke stretched out his right hand. The purple beam burst from the pouch, shot skyward, then curved back down into his outstretched palm.
Finally, the marble battle machine lay quietly in Sasuke's hand.
"You're too slow, Sasuke Uchiha!"
Just as Sasuke's machine appeared, Karashi Tangno launched a sudden attack—a marble shot hit Sasuke's sensor area.
"Hey! That's a foul!! Sasuke clearly wasn't ready yet!"
Captain Red Dragonfly pointed at Karashi Tangno and protested to Captain Blue Dragonfly beside him.
"Technically, it's not a foul. Once we declared the match started, it officially began."
Captain Blue Dragonfly replied emotionlessly.
Sasuke summoned Susanoo to assist in setting up his battle machine, then extended his right hand to launch three marbles in succession.
"Wow! Sasuke responds immediately!"
"Hmph, attacks of that level? I can defend against them with ease."
Karashi Tangno readied his marble battle machine and also launched three shots.
The first two collided mid-air, canceling each other out, but the third marble from Sasuke took an unexpected turn.
It suddenly burst into flames, dramatically increasing in speed—shattering Karashi Tangno's third marble and striking one of his sensors.
"So the first two were distractions to lull me into dropping my guard… the real attack was the third marble… Sasuke Uchiha, you're not the only one here who's a true ninja!" Blue chakra gathered at the mouth of Karashi Tangno's battle machine. "Marble Rapid-Fire!"
Streams of water burst from Karashi Tangno's launcher, heading straight for Sasuke's sensor zone.
"What?! What's going on? Karashi Tangno's marble battle machine is firing water, not marbles?!"
Captain Red Dragonfly exclaimed in shock.
"Look closely. He is firing marbles—he just launched a barrage of chakra-infused marbles all at once. The rapid fire creates an optical illusion that looks like flowing water."
Sasuke, with his Sharingan active, had already seen through the technique. He made no move to block it—he deemed it not worth the effort and stamina to intercept a single marble that would only hit one sensor.
Instead, Sasuke chose to counterattack.
"I won't let another one of your marbles land!"
Karashi Tangno quickly reloaded and launched another set of defensive shots.
One of his marbles successfully shattered Sasuke's incoming attack.
"What the—?! How did Karashi Tangno's marbles suddenly get so much stronger?!"
Captain Red Dragonfly cried out again, but this time, Captain Blue Dragonfly offered no explanation.
The shattered fragments of Sasuke's marble scattered—one small shard struck a sensor on Karashi Tangno's side.
"What?!"
Karashi Tangno looked to his side, where a sensor had turned red after being hit. He clenched his teeth as he turned his gaze back to the expressionless Sasuke, then raised his machine again. Green light began to gather at the muzzle of his launcher.
"Looks like Sasuke Uchiha deliberately detonated the chakra inside his marble, using the explosion to scatter fragments that hit Karashi Tangno's sensors. Clever strategy."
Captain Blue Dragonfly remarked in admiration.