"Dodai-sama, go quickly."
"Aroi."
"Please go, Dodai-sama. We'll stay behind and hold them off. The Raikage-sama is already dead—Hidden Cloud Village can't lose you too."
"You all…"
"Storm Release: Laser Circus."
Already covered in wounds, Karei unleashed another blade of Storm Release light, forcing Akimichi Chōza to block.
"Karei!"
"Just go, Dodai-sama!"
"I owe you my life."
After saying that, Dodai took a narrow path and retreated toward the Hidden Cloud Village camp.
Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi, both in equally bad shape, looked at the five Cloud ninja who had already resolved to die.
"If that guy hadn't run, you five could've taken all three of us down."
"Hmph. A Nara's mouth is full of lies. You think we'd believe you?"
Nara Shikaku was momentarily speechless. Who exactly had been ruining the Nara clan's reputation? As far as he remembered, he hadn't told a single lie so far.
"So you five plan to leave your lives here?"
"Hmph, big talk."
"Who lives and who dies isn't decided yet."
"Without Dodai-sama, you're still dead."
One Cloud ninja swung his blade down toward Nara Shikaku's head.
"Super Push Palm."
Akimichi Chōza struck with a palm, sending the Cloud ninja flying.
"An opening—Lightning Release—"
"The one with an opening is you. Mind Body Disturbance Technique."
The Cloud ninja who had just spotted an opening suddenly turned and attacked his own comrades.
"Damn Yamanaka clan!"
"No holding back—take them all out together, don't hesitate!"
A blade flashed, and the controlled Cloud ninja was split cleanly in two. The one who struck had bloodshot eyes.
"Yamanaka—I'll cut you down!"
Fifteen minutes later, after finishing off all the enemies, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio collapsed together, exhausted.
"Whew… I'm starving."
"Haha, Chōza, even in this situation, all you think about is food."
Nara Shikaku laughed loudly.
"What's wrong with that? Chōza did so much—what's wrong with wanting to eat? Chōza, when we get back, I'll treat you to a full meal."
"Really, Inoichi?"
"I'm not Shikaku—I never lie."
"Case closed. So you're the one ruining the Nara clan's reputation!"
"Ah! Shikaku, no—!"
...
On the Cloud side, the Eight-Tails could no longer hold on.
"Human, how can you possess such monstrous strength?"
"It's just precise chakra control. Honestly, what's the point of explaining it to a beast like you? Waste of time."
Hyūga Hiyasu gathered the lion-shaped chakra from both fists into his right fist, forming an enormous lion head.
The massive blue chakra lion slammed heavily onto the Eight-Tails' head.
The Eight-Tails gradually reverted into Killer B's form. A, who had been hidden inside his body, unconscious, also appeared.
Completely exhausted, Killer B said to the Cloud ninja beside him,
"Take my brother… and run."
After saying that, he fainted as well.
The surrounding Cloud ninja quickly carried Killer B and A and began retreating at full speed.
Hyūga Hiyasu immediately chased after the ninja carrying Killer B. As a proper enforcer, he always followed orders—A could be let go, but if possible, Killer B must be killed.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Hyūga Hiyasu spotted a black sphere in the distance.
"Damn—Tailed Beast Bomb!"
No hesitation—he fully activated Lingbo Microsteps and retreated at top speed.
A deafening explosion erupted, leaving a massive crater in the center of the battlefield.
"Holy hell… is the Hidden Cloud trying to seize power or stage a coup? The next Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchūriki are both here, and they're still firing without restraint?"
As the dust settled, a yellow rubber-like barrier appeared.
Dodai, who had just retreated, stood there.
Pfft—
He spat out a large mouthful of blood. Clearly, even blocking the residual force of that Tailed Beast Bomb had cost him dearly.
"Run."
"Yes, Dodai-sama."
"Reiha-sama, I'll leave the rest to you."
The Two-Tails stood before the Cloud formation, seemingly acknowledging Dodai's words.
"So annoying… just finished fighting the Eight-Tails, and now it's the Two-Tails. I'm exhausted, you know."
Even as he complained, Hyūga Hiyasu focused his mind.
What abilities did the Two-Tails have again? Blue flames? Said to be fire from the underworld, right?
Better be careful. If it has some 'burns everything' property, he wasn't about to test it with his own body.
"Gentle Force Armor."
Hyūga Hiyasu coated his entire body with an invisible layer of armor.
Stack defenses before a fight—no dizziness, no blurred vision, and you can take on two enemies at once. The wisdom of a seasoned brawler.
...
Yellow sand filled the sky as the One-Tail, Shukaku, also entered the battlefield.
"Shukaku, long time no see. You're still the same as ever."
"You Inuzuka—you'll die this time!"
"Shukaku, use Sand Release and bury Inuzuka Ryoha!"
Rasa shouted.
"Damn it, don't order me around!"
Shukaku roared and charged forward again.
"Eimaru, keep him occupied for a bit. I'll go deal with that loudmouth."
"Woof woof."
Eimaru responded, his fur standing on end—clearly using some body-enhancing technique.
Inuzuka Ryoha also entered Sage Mode.
"Clowns die from talking too much, you know, Rasa."
"Isn't it villains who die from talking too much?"
"Rasa, how could you count as a villain? You're just a clown."
"Inuzuka Ryoha, I'll tear that mouth of yours apart!"
"Husband, stay calm. He's deliberately provoking you."
"I know, Karura."
Inuzuka Ryoha smiled wickedly.
"Sage Art: Wind Release."
He stirred up waves of yellow sand, his figure disappearing within it.
"Daring to show off Wind Release in front of us Sand ninja… I wonder if you're arrogant or just brainless."
Rasa carefully sensed the disturbances in the surrounding sand.
There!
"Gold Dust Spear—Pierce!"
A golden spear shot forward, violently piercing through Inuzuka Ryoha's body.
"Ryoha, you're finished this time!"
"Oh? Really?"
Instead of retreating, Inuzuka Ryoha advanced, passing straight through the spear—as if he pierced it, rather than the other way around.
"Die, Rasa."
"Impossible…"
Rasa was filled with shock. How could someone do something like that?
"Shield of Sand."
Layers of yellow barriers instantly rose before him.
But Inuzuka Ryoha's attack wasn't aimed at Rasa at all.
"Ah!"
Three massive lines of blood burst forth in front of Karura.
Rasa was horrified.
"Karura!"
"Hm, the feel's off… didn't cut through. Sand armor, huh? Still, severely injuring you is profit enough."
Inuzuka Ryoha said calmly.
Rasa rushed to Karura's side.
"Karura, are you alright?"
"I'm fine… it just looks scary."
"At a time like this, lying to your beloved husband isn't very nice."
Inuzuka Ryoha slowly approached. The piercing wound in his abdomen had already completely healed.
"The claws of the Inuzuka clan carry deadly poison."
Not far away, Inuzuka Rinko, who was fighting Pakura, couldn't help but roll her eyes.
That bastard… he's about to start lying again.