"Go do what you o do—"
Kurenai Yuhi held a kunai in her hand and said, "Link, you still remember the Mediinja Code, don't you?"
"We’ll hahis battlefield," Asuma added, nding beside her with his chakra bdes, their edges stained with blood. His sleeves were soaked with crimson as he and Kurenai took positions oher side of Link, shielding him.
Although their efforts were meant to block him from view, Link's head and muscur arms stuck out spicuously.
These two...
Link found it hard to look at the pair. Their obvious, overflowing... something, was it affe? It was difficult to describe.
More Sunagakure Jonin soon arrived, and the two sides entered a standoff. The Konoha Jonin, with fidence bolstered by the sight of the rejuvehird Hokage single-handedly suppressing three Kage on the rooftop, showed no iion of making the first move.
Likewise, under Baki's leadership, the Sunagakure ninja grouped together, clearly hesitant to tinue fighting.
As for the Otogakure ninja? They were already wiped out.
"Kankuro, Temari," Baki said, pg a hand on his subordinates' shoulders. "Go find Gaara. If—"
If things go south, surreo the Konoha ninja.
Temari's expression shifted slightly as her teacher's private words before the mission floated into her mind.
Has the situation really deteriorated this much?
She couldn't help but g the distant rooftop, where the battle between Kage seemed like a csh of divihe Fourth Kazekage was visibly struggling, barely holding his ground. If not for the reanimated Hokage summoned by Orochimaru disrupting the fight with rge-scale ninjutsu, he might have already lost.
How could anyone break through hardened sand as if it were foam?!
Not only was the Third Hokage suppressing three Kage, but moments ago, he had even spared enough energy to send a shadow e to elimihe Otogakure ninja esc Orochimaru.
BOOM!
The already crumbling arena finally gave way uhe csh of the fe. As the structure colpsed, dozens of figures leapt into the air, scattering to their respective sides.
As soon as Link nded, he sprinted without hesitation, following the trail left by Shukaku. The main battlefield was clearly under trol, transitioning into a phase resembling the manga—where the oute of the Kage battles would decide the day.
What remained was stopping the rampaging Jinchūriki within the vilge.
And perhaps colleg some trophies along the way.
…
THUD!
A masked monkey-faced man was sent flying several meters.
Huff... Sasuke Uchiha let his right arm hang, his expression tense.
"Such remarkable talent," the masked man said, steadying himself. He removed his mask, revealing the face of Kabuto Yakushi. Somehow, he wsses uhe mask, and a faint, ambiguous smile pyed across his lips.
"Just seeing yrowth makes me pity other so-called geniuses."
He adjusted his gsses and tinued, "Given more time, even I might fall to you."
His palm’s chakra severed the muscles in my arm. I ’t feel my right arm at all...
Sasuke analyzed the situation calmly. Without the ability to form hand seals, even his Sharingan couldn't turide. His oppo's strength was overwhelming.
"Are you with Orochimaru?" Sasuke asked, stalling for time. After spending over a month with Link, he had picked up some basic mediinjutsu knowledge. As he spoke, he began refining his chakra, attempting to reect the severed muscles.
"Don't waste your chakra," Kabuto said amicably. "The muscles severed by a chakra scalpel 't be reattached with your current level of mediinjutsu."
"e with me. Lord Orochimaru will grant you the power to exact your revenge."
ation...
Kabuto studied Sasuke's expression and gaze. Despite experieng both Orochimaru's power and the strength of the curse mark, this avenger showed no i in the promise of power.
Moreover—
Why has this guy's gaze ged?
Before, his eyes had been filled with the malice of hatred, but now they were different.
Orochimaru?
Sasuke's eyes betrayed disdain. From Iris and Ami, he had heard stories of Orochimaru—how Link had destroyed Orochimaru's arms and driven him into retreat, leaving him to prey on weaker genin like Team Seven.
Though this guy’s injuries heal almost instantly...
Sasuke noticed the wounds on Kabuto's arm disappearing before his eyes.
"!"
The sound of a projectile cutting through the air forced Kabuto to step back. A kunai embedded itself into the nearby wall.
"Hey, you!" Naruto Uzumaki shouted as he charged forward, impulsive as always.
Everyone's here... Looks like this mission is a bust, Lord Orochimaru...
Kabuto wore a false smile. Sensing the arrival of the enin in his peripheral visioed his foot to retreat. But suddenly, he froze in pce.
Shikamaru Nara stood nearby, looking exhausted, his shadow lio Kabuto's.
Is this ge because of his rades or... Link?
Kabuto pondered, dazed. If you've abahe identity of an avehen who are you now?
"You bastard!" Naruto roared, nding a punch squarely on Kabuto’s face.
POOF!
A shadow e exploded on impact.
Shikamaru winced, leaning back. "Naruto, e on. When you do that, even I get hit, and it’s just a shadow e anyway—"
An odd enemy with no killing i.
Shikamaru g the real Kabuto, standing silently on a distant rooftop, watg them. When Kabuto noticed Shikamaru's gaze, he retur with a seemingly ge hollow smile before disappearing.
…
WHAM!
Rock Lee crashed into a tree, shattering two more before finally stopping.
Damn... My body... 't take it anymore...
He half-opened his eyes, most of his body numb. The Eight Gates teique had been forcibly deactivated due to his physical dition.
Though it was meant for short bursts of overwhelming strength, his attacks hadn’t been enough to defeat the monster before him. Now, all he could do was use his life-risking taijutsu to stall for time, utterly draining his body.
CRASH!
The monstrous form of Gaara stepped closer, crushing trees underfoot. His eyes burned with murdere.
"I’ll kill you!" Gaara's voice was deep and distorted but veyed his i clearly.
To protect... what's important... Guy-sensei...
Lee’s trembling hand ched into a fist, but his body refused to move. His sciousness began to fade, yet he still tried to make o stand.
"Die!"
Shukaku’s massive cw desded from above.
SLASH!
A fsh of light cut through the air.
