Sakumo signaled for a retreat.
The message swiftly spread through the Konoha forces, and all the hidden shinobi began to retreat one by one.
The upcoming battle wasn't something they could partake in.
Only after the Konoha forces retreated did Gin and Sakumo emerge from hiding, standing in front of A and Killer B.
A crossed his arms, looking at the two of them.
"Do you need a moment?"
He had long since noticed the shinobi hidden in the surrounding forest.
But his targets weren't those weaklings—it was Sakumo standing before him.
"If possible."
Sakumo drew the short blade from his back.
Even he couldn't predict how far this battle would escalate.
"Why are you both here? Don't you know it's taboo for Kage to appear on the battlefield?"
It was troubling. If there had been enough people, perhaps they could have tried to keep them here.
"Our goal is simple—to keep you here."
A responded coldly.
The other Kage had wanted Kumogakure to send forces to attack the Konoha front, drawing Konoha's attention.
But that was just wishful thinking.
Restraining Sakumo was all A planned to do.
His relationship with the other villages wasn't any better than with Konoha. If it weren't for Konoha being so dominant, he wouldn't have agreed to an alliance at all.
Sakumo frowned, confused by his words. He had been here to prevent Kumo's movements, but now it seemed the tables had turned.
Gin, however, seemed to have figured it out.
"You've formed an alliance, haven't you?"
It wasn't hard to guess. The biggest benefit of restraining Sakumo was ensuring that he couldn't be present elsewhere.
After all, the most dangerous shinobi in the world right now was Sakumo .
"Allied?"
This realization dawned on Sakumo , and his expression darkened.
If he needed to provide reinforcements, he could reach any battlefield within a day at full speed. His mastery of Soru (Moon Walk) allowed him to travel quickly between battlefields.
He believed that Orochimaru and the others in Konoha could hold out for a day.
But if someone were here to restrain him...
That would be a problem.
"It seems we need to end this battle quickly."
However, facing the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and the Raikage in front of him, Sakumo knew this wouldn't be a battle that could end quickly.
"Don't speak so arrogantly."
A crouched low, lightning chakra surging around him.
"I've grown much stronger!"
The Basic Inner Technique provided little boost to shinobi of their level unless they reached the third stage. Still, with the collective efforts of the entire village, Kumo had managed to improve it slightly.
In the next moment, blue and white light collided.
"Boom!"
A fierce gale swept outward.
Aside from the trees swaying wildly, the two shinobi remained unaffected.
Sakumo's blade clashed with A's arm.
Lightning crackled, attempting to course through Sakumo's body.
Sakumo quickly retreated.
But A pursued relentlessly.
Blue lightning intertwined with White light as the two sped off into the distance.
Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and the sound of their collisions echoed through the forest, accompanied by the fierce winds generated by their clashes.
Nothing could stand in their path.
Now, only Killer B and Gin remained on the battlefield.
"Can we not fight?" Gin tilted his head, his hand already gripping the hilt of his sword within his wide sleeve.
"If you're willing to join Kumogakure," Killer B said, his deep voice carrying a weighty tone.
"We could discuss it."
Gin's response surprised Killer B.
"What could you offer me?"
If his previous village hadn't treated him well, why not switch to another? Villages were no different from companies in that regard.
Killer B, however, didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked a question of his own.
"Don't you love your village?"
It was beyond his comprehension.
He had planned to forcibly take Gin, the inventor of the Basic Inner Technique.
Normally, everyone loved their village, right?
Gin was left speechless.
Was this a case of village fanaticism? A village-loving mind?
"So, are you recruiting me or not?" Gin asked impatiently.
He wanted to hear their offer, compare it to Konoha's, and then make a decision.
Wouldn't that be fair for everyone?
"A person like you will never be allowed in Kumogakure."
Killer B drew his sword, a shroud of crimson chakra forming a transparent cloak around him.
He had made his decision.
"So we're fighting, huh? Then what was all that pointless talk for?"
As Gin finished speaking, darkness quickly spread out, enveloping everything.
Killer B looked up, seeing the darkness surrounding him completely.
All he could see was an endless void.
Within the darkness, Inton surged and shifted.
"Inton: Mokushibaku no Jutsu!" (Dark Release: Silent Killing Bind)
The tangible darkness rushed toward Killer B.
Killer B swung his blade, cutting through the darkness.
He weaved and dodged, sending crimson slashes from his blade, slicing through every dark attack.
All the while, he searched for his opponent's position.
But in this darkness, his sight was completely sealed.
There was no way to locate Gin, who was hidden in the shadows.
"This won't be enough!"
The chakra shroud around Killer B quickly turned a deep crimson. Eight tails sprouted from his back, and red horns emerged from his head. Bone-like structures began to form on his body.
He crouched low, letting out a beastly growl.
The attacks from the darkness never ceased, but his eight tails whipped about, tearing them to shreds.
He opened his mouth, revealing a bright white glow inside.
Chakra began to gather at his maw.
"Not a chance!"
Suddenly, sharp black spears emerged from the ground, aiming to pierce Killer B's jaw.
But Killer B nimbly dodged, flipping backward.
As he landed...
His preparations were complete.
"Bijūdama!" (Tailed Beast Bomb!)
The black sphere shot into the depths of the darkness.
"Boom!!"
A massive explosion sent a powerful energy shockwave outward, obliterating everything within its radius.
Everything within the darkness was destroyed.
The dark shroud tore apart.
Gin flipped mid-air, landing on the ground.
A massive crater had formed in the ground, separating him and Killer B.
But at this distance...
"I've found you."
Killer B, moving as fast as the Raikage, appeared in front of Gin in an instant.
"Rariatto!" (Lariat!)
Killer B slammed into Gin, shattering him on impact.
However, the shattered pieces of Gin's body dissolved into darkness, quickly enveloping Killer B once again.
Darkness once more covered the battlefield.
"It's useless."
Killer B began to gather another Bijūdama. No matter how many times, this darkness couldn't trap him.
"Terrifying, these Jinchūriki."
Gin's voice echoed from all directions within the darkness.
The power to destroy everything...
"But, this is the end."
Within the darkness, countless eyes opened, with hundreds of Sharingan shining in the pitch black.
Killer B didn't react in time.
His pupils reflected the image of the Sharingan.
"From the beginning, a Jinchūriki never stood a chance against me."
(End of Chapter)
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