Tokujuku watched the iron sand surge toward him. His heart dropped to his stomach. He wanted to dodge, but Kannazuki's rapid, fierce slashes left him no room to retreat.
After completing the ninjutsu, Shindai kept chakra threads attached to Kannazuki's body, pulling her like a puppet to control her every move.
As the iron sand drew dangerously close, Tokujuku seized an opening between Kannazuki's strikes, blocked with a kunai knife, then quickly performed two simple hand seals with both hands.
Moments later, a cloud of smoke suddenly enveloped Tokujuku.
When the smoke cleared, only a tree stump remained where he once stood.
Shindai's eyes widened in shock. "My God! I actually forgot about that Substitute Technique!"
The iron sand crashed straight over the stump.
Standing atop the mass of iron sand, Shindai felt the added weight previously placed on his special iron sand vanish completely.
He then reactivated his iron sand, compressing it into an ultra-dense mass that formed wings on his shoulders, lifting him into the air.
Now that Tokujuku was nowhere in sight, Shindai carefully guarded his surroundings.
So long as he stayed airborne, it would be far more difficult for Tokujuku to launch a surprise attack.
Besides, he had already fallen for one trick like this—he wouldn't fall for it again.
Moreover, Shindai had summoned ordinary iron sand to orbit around his body.
If Tokujuku tried using Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique on his iron sand again, let him try. These regular iron sands were expendable anyway, and there was still plenty scattered across the battlefield.
Shindai waited, poised and ready—but Tokujuku never appeared.
Furrowing his brow, Shindai wondered—could Tokujuku have actually run away?
That seemed impossible. His other four teammates were still in the fight.
Shindai glanced toward Kakashi and Obito's battle.
Kakashi definitely lived up to his genius reputation. Although his two opponents were also Chunin-level Rock ninja—and even older than Kakashi himself—Kakashi was clearly dominating them through superior speed and reflexes.
One Rock ninja's left arm hung limp, blood dripping continuously. Without help from his comrade, Kakashi would have killed him already.
Judging by the current situation, it was only a matter of time before Kakashi defeated these two.
As for Obito on the other side…
Well… Let's just not talk about it. Obito had been chased nonstop from start to finish. Though unharmed, he looked disheveled and pitiful. Still, judging by appearances, he could hold out a bit longer.
Right now, their strongest foe, Tokujuku, was focusing all his attacks on Shindai, which significantly reduced the pressure on Kakashi and Obito.
Once Kakashi took care of those two Rock ninja, he could assist Obito against the remaining two chasing enemies.
Where the hell did Tokujuku disappear to?
If Tokujuku kept hiding like this, there was nothing even Shindai could do.
Having a Sensor ninja on the battlefield would make things much easier. A skilled Sensor could instantly locate the enemy's position and prevent us from fighting blindly in the dark.
Watching Obito sprinting without pause, Shindai clicked his tongue: "What an idiot, Obito."
He clearly remembered that Obito had Explosive Tags in his pouch.
Couldn't he at least throw a few Explosive Tags during his escape?
Running nonstop like that—utterly disgraceful!
As Shindai remained alert for a sneak attack from Tokujuku and watched Obito fleeing, suddenly his expression hardened.
He noticed the earth trembling near Obito—his expression shifted in an instant.
[Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage!]
By using chakra to liquefy solid earth and rock underground, it allows rapid movement through the soil.
All four Rock ninjas were visible aboveground—so who else could be lurking beneath but Tokujuku?
Shindai wasn't wrong—it was definitely Tokujuku moving underground.
Because Shindai was once again floating midair, surrounded by Iron Sand Body, and having been attacked before, he'd surely stay vigilant, making another surprise strike extremely difficult.
So, he needed to find a way to distract Shindai long enough to create an opening for attack.
Thus, Tokujuku considered using either Kakashi or Obito as bait.
However, Kakashi was too fast—Rock ninjas were not known for their speed, and Tokujuku doubted his chances of ambushing Kakashi successfully.
As for Obito, he looked clumsy, didn't even attempt to counterattack—just ran.
Compared to Kakashi, ambushing Obito stood a much better chance of succeeding.
Shindai roared at Obito, "Obito! Run straight toward me! Don't worry about anything else!"
Hearing Shindai's shout, Obito instinctively sprinted toward him without hesitation.
Instantly, Shindai manipulated Kannazuki—the left arm of Kannazuki began rapidly transforming, half-revealing a loaded missile inside.
The missile plunged straight underground toward Tokujuku as he approached Obito.
This was a substandard missile Shindai created using materials provided earlier by Jiraiya—its power was much weaker compared to the original prototype.
Still, it was more than enough to save Obito.
The missile exploded behind Obito, and the resulting shockwave sent him flying backward.
Obito crashed into a tree and fell painfully onto the ground, grimacing in pain.
Confused, Obito couldn't figure out why Shindai had told him to run straight toward him—only for a massive explosion to erupt right behind him seconds later.
He now only knew that his body ached so badly it felt like it was falling apart any second.
Shindai controlled Kannazuki and immediately grabbed Obito.
Where Obito had just been lying, [Earth Release: Earth spikes] erupted the very next moment.
Obito nearly got impaled.
Right now, Obito's hair stood on end, and his face turned pale with fear. Just as he was about to speak and thank Shindai, he suddenly noticed someone darting out from the smoke behind him.
The one who dashed out was none other than Tokujuku, who had been waiting for his chance.
Now was his chance.
Shindai's attention was fully fixed on Obito, both hands occupied with controlling Kannazuki, and with his back turned, he had absolutely no chance to perform hand seals.
"Kid! Die!"
[Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!]
Tokujuku once again increased the weight behind his fist, launching a punch straight at Shindai.
Danger coursed through Shindai's body—the distance was too short, no time left to dodge.
Shindai could only deploy the Iron Sand Wings on his back to shield himself.
Tokujuku's punch, incredibly powerful, slammed into Shindai's back.
Shindai was blasted straight into the ground.
With Kannazuki losing Shindai's control, it could no longer keep its grip on Obito and collapsed to the ground.
Obito stood there, stunned, staring at Shindai driven into the ground, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets. From sheer shock, his pupils dilated twice their size.
His black irises gradually turned red, each eye developing two tomoe.
Seeing Shindai driven into the ground while trying to save him, Obito immediately awakened his Sharingan—both eyes now bearing two tomoe each.
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