In the Forest of Death.
Boom, boom, boom.
Amid the explosive firelight, Uchiha Shinji's figure pierced through the smoke, retreating sharply.
As Kakashi had predicted, the one locked in fierce combat with Otsutsuki Toneri in the Forest of Death was indeed Shinji, who had pursued first.
But once the fight began, Shinji found himself in a bitter struggle.
Though he faced only a lifelike puppet controlled by Toneri, its speed and strength were at an extraordinary level.
In the original timeline, this puppet was ultimately destroyed by Naruto.
But let's not forget—Naruto at that time had sealed Kaguya Otsutsuki, ended the Fourth Great Shinobi War, subdued Sasuke, and reached near-Six Paths-level strength, making him the shinobi world's top powerhouse.
The puppet's defeat at Naruto's hands didn't mean it was weak!
Leaping out of the explosion's range and barely steadying himself on a tree, Shinji saw Toneri charging at him with terrifying speed.
"Hmph!"
He snorted, forming hand signs to unleash another Fire Release jutsu.
However, Toneri didn't dodge. With a single raised hand, a massive repulsive force erupted from his palm.
Boom!
In an instant, Shinji, along with the Fire Release he had just cast, was blasted away by the sudden force.
The air roared with explosions, and firelight lit up the sky!
Indeed!
The reason the Hidden Leaf shinobi outside the forest could see the blazing sky wasn't because the battle was so intense—it was simply Toneri, using the massive Tenseigan on the moon, flinging Shinji's Fire Release into the air like fireworks.
The scattered flames illuminated half the night sky, making it seem from afar as if a terrifying battle raged in the Forest of Death!
In reality, unable to use his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, Shinji was completely suppressed by Toneri. He could only barely hold him off, fighting while retreating.
As Jiraiya and the pursuit team entered the Forest of Death, they clearly felt the massive explosions and saw the firelight flickering across their faces.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
The occasional gusts of wind hitting them made them realize the intensity of the battle ahead!
"Are these residual shockwaves? They're reaching us from so far away, through the forest?"
"Is it really just Uchiha Shinji fighting alone up there?"
"This attacker really isn't from Akatsuki?"
The team maintained an eerie silence, but everyone's hearts were filled with shock, doubt, hesitation, and fear, emotions beginning to fester within.
Even the average shinobi in the team were shaken, and the leaders—Jiraiya and Tsunade—had grim, solemn expressions.
The Sannin, tempered by multiple shinobi world wars, had vision and experience far beyond the younger generation.
Because of this, Jiraiya and Tsunade could gauge the battle's intensity from the scope of its impact.
Though they didn't know how Shinji was holding the enemy for so long, the enemy's terror was undeniable.
In the team, Kakashi glanced back at Sasuke.
Since they were on the move, he couldn't tell Sasuke to leave outright, so he used his eyes to signal him to stay back and avoid recklessness in the coming fight.
Sasuke ignored him, his focus locked on the firelight in the forest ahead.
"Sigh!"
Kakashi let out a helpless sigh, then glanced at the tail of the team, spotting the ninja academy students who had secretly followed.
"These kids!"
His face darkened.
Before setting out, he had explicitly forbidden the academy students from joining the pursuit. This mission was dangerously real—even he could die. He didn't want the village's future to perish senselessly here.
But seeing the determination in their eyes, he knew it was too late to stop them. He could only pray the pursuit went smoothly with minimal losses.
Boom!
Using the 'Breathing Technique' to boost his speed, Shinji narrowly dodged Toneri's sudden attack, scrambling behind a large tree.
Huff, huff.
Panting heavily, he racked his brain for a plan: "It's just a puppet. Even if I destroy it, Toneri's spirit can safely return to the moon under the Tenseigan's protection. No need to go all out—just save Neji."
Suddenly, he felt his body seized by a massive suction force, as if gravity had vanished. Not only him, but the tree he hid behind was uprooted by the force.
Swish!
Caught by an invisible power and lifted into the air, Shinji spat in frustration.
He was used to crushing opponents with his dojutsu advantage, but today, he was being utterly dominated by Toneri's dojutsu.
Knowing Toneri's abilities, he didn't panic and began calmly thinking of a way to escape!
Toneri, clearly growing impatient from the chase, floated in midair.
One hand held the unconscious Neji, the other controlled the suction force gripping Shinji. His gaze was icy: "I'm tired of this pointless hide-and-seek. This ends now!"
Shinji grinned, "I'm just getting started! What, you can't keep up?"
Toneri's face darkened, glaring down at Shinji with disdain, his tone chilling: "Ant, you've angered me!"
Shinji's smile faded, his voice calm, "Heh, this is just the beginning!"
"No matter how you bluster, an ant is still an ant."
With an arrogant sneer, Toneri sharply retracted his raised hand.
Whoosh!
Instantly, Shinji felt the controlling force on him multiply, and he was yanked toward Toneri with the motion of his arm.
Unable to resist the suction in midair, he was pulled right in front of Toneri in a flash.
Toneri extended his arm, aiming to drain Shinji's chakra as he had done to Yakumo.
As Toneri's hand neared his chest, Shinji's expression hardened.
If he didn't act, his chakra would be completely drained in the next moment, leaving him at Toneri's mercy.