Chapter 89: Delaying
That's it! We can't delay any longer!
Shirakawa Izumi's expression
hardened. "Shiga, leave this to you. We'll be more of a burden here. Let's
catch up with the idiot trio!"
Without waiting for Shiga
Taketake's response, Shirakawa Izumi signaled, and the three of them threw
several shurikens at Kiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina.
The three dodged, and while they
were in motion, Shirakawa Izumi and his team slipped past them into the best
route behind.
Thunk!
The shuriken either fell to the
ground or embedded in trees. Kiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina remained standing,
glancing back momentarily before refocusing.
Shiga Taketake frowned. The
feeling that something was wrong grew stronger. Seeing the trio not pursuing,
his concern deepened.
Is this really just treating your team as bait to
hold us back? No! It's impossible. If anything, Kiba's team should be the ones
pressing on. Their strength far surpasses Kanno's.
If Kanno's the main force, even holding us back
wouldn't make Shirakawa's team victorious. Taki Kiba wouldn't miss that. There
must be some conspiracy here!
There has to be!
Shiga Taketake was convinced.
Hyuga Yutaka also frowned.
When Shirakawa and the others threw the shuriken,
Taki Kiba glanced at them, predicting Shirakawa's actions but not stopping
them. He deliberately let Shirakawa leave.
That's suspicious!
If he considered his team as bait, he'd delay us all
and then look for an escape chance. I wouldn't believe he'd sacrifice himself
here.
But, why let Shirakawa leave?
Shirakawa's group is stronger than Kanno's trio.
Kiba must have factored in the possibility of a shorter route on the 6-point
map. Isn't he afraid Shirakawa will intercept Kanno and cause them to lose?
There must be a conspiracy! There has to be!
And I haven't found where they're hiding... Are they
that good at evading? My Byakugan didn't notice!
Wait! If Taki Kiba has no conspiracy and regards
himself as bait, he must be confident enough to keep us here. From our battle,
he thinks far ahead, always having one or two backup plans. He wouldn't
confront us unprepared.
In this situation, don't act rashly!
Hyuga Yutaka judged internally,
subtly gesturing to Shiga Taketake and Kiuchi Taketo.
What's this gesture?
Shiga Taketake was startled.
Is there really a conspiracy? Did Yutaka see
something with his Byakugan? He's telling us not to act rashly!
"Do you think if we defeat
you here and get your 6-point map, we'll find a shortcut to catch up with
Shirakawa and perform a double attack with our leader Kanno?" Kiba smiled.
Sure enough, there's a conspiracy!
Hyuga Yutaka and Shiga Taketake
were simultaneously surprised.
A double attack? That's the plan! He noticed the
difference between the 2-point, 4-point, and 6-point maps. It's shortcuts!
Before the defenders reach the tower, this is about racing and blocking. Map
prices indicate strategic advantage, primarily shortcuts.
Racing and blocking hinge on time. Shortening the
distance saves time, and shortcuts achieve that. Map prices reflect strategic
advantage in shortcuts. What's more valuable on the 6-point map is reflected in
its shortcuts over the 4-point map!
He saw this from the 2-point and 4-point map
differences!
Defeating them would get a 6-point map and eliminate
a strong offensive team—two birds with one stone! After that, they can attack
from both sides or fight alone and still win!
This is the easiest way to win!
From the start, they'd fight elites. After
eliminating elites, the following ordinary team isn't worth mentioning. This is
indeed genius thinking!
Shiga Taketake and Hyuga Yutaka
both realized this.
Sure enough, Taki Kiba isn't someone whose mind is
easily guessed!
Tricky!
Taki Kiba is definitely the toughest opponent!
"I don't care about your
double attack! Who cares about your genius strategy! You geniuses, I've had
enough! Don't underestimate ordinary ninjas!" Kiuchi Taketo shouted,
drawing his sword and charging at Kiba.
"Kento!" Shiga Taketake
shouted, catching air. "Yutaka told us not to act rashly! This guy! He's
easily angered!"
Damn! Don't let anything happen!
Hyuga Yutaka also expressed
dissatisfaction, quickly replacing his explosive tag kunai with an ordinary
one.
Explosions raise smoke, giving them a chance. Taki
Kiba likes playing tricks when vision is blocked. Using ordinary kunai here!
Slash!
A sword light flashed, and Kiuchi
Taketo split Kiba in half.
Shadow clone?
As the sword slashed down, Kiuchi
felt something off. Seeing Kiba split in two, his anger flared.
This bastard...
Despite being split in half, Kiba
smirked at Kiuchi, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
Then, with a poof, he
exploded into white mist!
Hirohiko and Yukina also turned
into white mist.
Shadow clones too?
Shiga Taketake withdrew his hand;
his kunai hit Yukina. Hyuga Yutaka's kunai struck Hirohiko.
All shadow clones!
Hyuga Yutaka frowned, face cold.
No sign of Kiba and the others! No raids either!
"You're all scared by a few
shadow clones! Aren't you supposed to be geniuses? The strongest Hyuga Yutaka?
You're scared by shadow clones? Are your Byakugan blind?" Kiuchi Taketo
tightened his grip on his ninja sword, eyes burning with anger.
Damn! I must kill Taki Kiba!
Shiga Taketake paled, looking at
Hyuga Yutaka, who had a cold expression. He quickly reassured, "Yutaka,
Kiuchi just gets angry and speaks without thinking..."
"It's fine. I was indeed
bluffed!" Hyuga Yutaka almost gritted the words out.
Taki Kiba! Did I become overly wary of you? Do I
already think you're far smarter than me? Is it the water prison technique that
created this mindset? Once bitten, twice shy?
Damn! Did I admit I'm not as good as you?
Hyuga Yutaka clenched his fist
tightly.
These shadow clones are to bluff. The double attack
and easiest victory are fake. These clones are bait!
**Yukina's clone might have split
from Kiba or Hirohiko. The Hyuga family rejects all ninjutsu except the basic
techniques
The reason Kiba didn't stop Shirakawa wasn't because
he let them go but because he couldn't stop them! If the clones exploded, the
loss outweighed the gain!
We were played by Kiba!
"Hmph! Now that you know,
stick to the plan. We've wasted enough time. Don't make such a mistake
again." Kiuchi Taketo sheathed his sword, glancing at Hyuga Yutaka before
leaving.
Shiga Taketake watched Kiuchi go,
then looked at Hyuga Yutaka with a cold face, unsure what to say.
Hyuga Yutaka kicked off, saying
coldly, "Kiuchi is right. Don't worry. But next time, don't attack Lady
Yukina. Even if it's a shadow clone, it's not acceptable."
Seeing Hyuga Yutaka rushing out,
hearing his cold words, Shiga Taketake shook his head and smiled wryly.
In the end, it was my fault!
He kicked off and followed.
Meanwhile, Kiba and Hirohiko,
flying through the woods, stopped as Yukina caught up.
"The information from the
shadow clones has come," Kiba said. Hirohiko nodded, and Yukina did too,
the reason for their sudden stop clear.
Kiba took out the map, drew a line
on it with his nail, and said, "This is the best route. We're a bit off,
but we didn't waste much time. Let's go!"
Hirohiko and Yukina nodded in
agreement, and the three sped off again through the forest.
Kiuchi
Taketo's impulsiveness disrupted their plans; otherwise, we could have delayed
them for about ten more minutes,
Kiba thought. However, the shadow
clones won't last long. We need to make the most of this time... Let's hurry!