"Roar."
The Three-Tails opened its massive mouth, as large amounts of black and white chakra gathered inside.
Bang.
The giant beetle's horn slammed into it, flipping the Three-Tails over while it was still charging up.
"Ah!"
With a loud shout, it continued entangling itself with the Three-Tails.
On Aburame Shibi's side, he was in deep pain—after all, he had personally called out each clan member's name and sent them to their deaths one by one.
But on the Aburame suicide squad's side—
"Look, that guy's too dumb. The Six-Tails is so slippery—you should've taken it up high and then dropped together. See who can last longer."
"Exactly. If it were me… see that big turtle? I'd start with it. Doesn't matter if its shell is hard—watch me crack it open first, then you guys follow up."
"No problem. I'll go straight for the opening you make and tear it apart."
"Goodr."
…
There wasn't even a trace of the atmosphere a suicide squad should have.
That tragic, resolute feeling of embracing death… couldn't be felt at all.
No wonder veteran soldiers always said—
A death order, a suicide mission, a desperate last stand—none of those are the hardest.
The hardest thing is being the one who gives the order, sending others to their deaths.
As the saying goes, "It's easy to gather a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a capable general." The ancients were right.
...
On the battlefield, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails had already been fighting several giant beetles for quite a long time.
The Aburame clan's forbidden techniques naturally couldn't last that long—
But there were many Aburame.
Wave after wave.
This battle had already lasted over two hours.
"Acid!"
The Six-Tails spewed a large amount of corrosive acid, forcing the giant beetles back, then quickly regrouped with the Three-Tails.
"What do you think? I'm almost out of stamina."
The Six-Tails jinchūriki was a relatively young and handsome man.
The Three-Tails' jinchūriki was the grandfather of Karatachi Yagura.
"Same here. Let's retreat first. I took a glance at the Aburame side—there seem to be plenty more like these."
"Damn it. What kind of lunatics are the Aburame? They're lining up to use suicidal forbidden techniques like this."
The Six-Tails jinchūriki couldn't help but complain.
They were both ninja clans—so why did the Hidden Leaf's clans feel so different from those of the Hidden Mist?
"Let's unleash a big move, then prepare to withdraw."
"Alright."
"Strong Corrosive Acid Rain!"
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Shockwave!"
Acid rain washed over the battlefield.
A massive surge of water forced everything back.
After their excellent coordination, the two jinchūriki prepared to retreat.
"Leaving right after fighting without even saying goodbye—don't you think that's a bit rude?"
Aburame Shiken suddenly appeared behind them.
"Not good."
"Stop them!"
The remaining giant beetles, regardless of everything else, restrained the two Tailed Beasts, creating an opening for Aburame Shiken.
"Barrier—rise."
A transparent white barrier rose up.
Unlike the usual black barrier—this was clearly a new type.
It locked both Tailed Beasts and the giant beetles inside.
"Shiken, why are you here? Is that side resolved?"
"No. This is just an insect clone."
"Insect clone?"
"Yes. If my clan members were just dying to stall these two beasts, that would be far too cheap."
"Then what are you planning?"
"How many used the forbidden technique?"
"Twenty-eight."
"Twenty-eight Aburame lives in exchange for two Tailed Beasts… That kind of achievement doesn't dishonor them, does it?"
Aburame Shibi didn't reply.
Life and merit— which one mattered more? That was an incredibly difficult question.
"Have everyone withdraw. The Aburame casualties in this battle will be only these twenty-eight."
"Understood."
Aburame Shibi went to arrange the retreat.
Meanwhile, Aburame Shiken stepped into the white barrier.
"Six-Tails Saiken, Three-Tails Isobu—nice to meet you. Though it doesn't seem like a pleasant meeting."
"Who are you? How do you know our names?"
"Who exactly are you?"
Saiken and Isobu instantly seized control of their bodies' main consciousness, staring at Aburame Shiken with deep wariness.
"No need to be nervous. I have no interest in you. But because of you, twenty-eight of my clan members died… so sending the two of you to your deaths—no objections, right?"
"You human, how dare you be so arrogant!"
"Kill him!"
The Three-Tails and Six-Tails tried to unleash their remaining chakra—
But their bodies began shrinking.
"How is this possible?"
"What's happening?"
A frail old man and a young handsome man collapsed unconscious onto the ground.
"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Against large creatures—especially fearless ones like you—my methods might seem a bit ridiculous. But against humans? I have countless ways."
"And I just happen to want to study something… Do Tailed Beasts revive purely through chakra? Or is it because no one can deal with your souls, allowing you to resurrect without restraint?"
This clone of Aburame Shiken displayed an unparalleled thirst for knowledge.
...
"Hidden Mist Technique."
"Wind Roaring Insect Formation."
The Third Mizukage had just used the Hidden Mist Technique—
And in the next instant, Aburame Shiken broke it.
"Your insects are remarkably versatile."
"Thank you for the compliment."
The Third Mizukage looked at the massive white barrier rising on the battlefield—and the now-vanished Three-Tails and Six-Tails.
Sigh. The Tailed Beasts really are too weak.
"Charge! We must rescue the Three-Tails and Six-Tails!"
Ao shouted loudly.
"Alright!"
But then—
Aburame Shikuro and Aburame Shibi led two seas of insects, blocking the Hidden Mist ninja.
"Retreat! Retreat! Those are the Aburame twin insect users who defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"
"Fall back! They kill without blinking—one uses poison insects, the other black insects!"
"Run!"
Fighting to the death didn't exist in the Hidden Mist.
Survival was the only rule.
The fate of the Yuki Clan—the last ones who fought desperately for the Hidden Mist—was still fresh in everyone's minds.
And just like that, the Hidden Mist forces retreated without hesitation.
The Hidden Leaf ninja, who had been preparing to intercept, were completely stunned.
We captured the Tailed Beasts… your Mizukage is still fighting…
And you just… retreated?
Raised in the Will of Fire since childhood,
Looking at the Senju of the past,
Then at the New Hyūga Clan shouting slogans in the village,
And the Aburame ninja who had just lined up to die—
The Hidden Leaf ninja, accustomed to seeing heroes,
Were encountering such pragmatic Hidden Mist ninja for the first time, and couldn't quite adapt.
So there really are ninja like those of the Hidden Mist in this world?
"Uh… Mizukage-sama, your subordinates seem to have retreated."
"Useless trash."
The Third Mizukage—or perhaps the one behind him—felt utterly humiliated.
These… are my subordinates?
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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