Chapter 97: Arrogant, Genius!
Hirohiko spit out the steel wire
from his mouth and looked at Kiuchi Taketo, who was embedded in the tree.
"This Kiba's attack is really heavy!" he thought. "Kiuchi Taketo
won't be getting out of bed for a month."
Out of the corner of his eye, he
saw Kiba quietly giving him a thumbs up. From Kiba's eyes, Hirohiko could read,
Nice job!
A slight smile appeared at the
corner of Hirohiko's mouth.
Cooperating with them is always the best.
Originally, I planned to have the shadow clone use the Headhunter Jutsu on
Kiuchi Taketo, then attack Shiga Taketake myself. Shiga Taketake is a greater
threat than the other two, and there's only one chance to attack. If this joint
attack fails, Shiga Taketake won't give a second chance. But Kiuchi Taketo
reacted so quickly, stopping the shadow clone. In desperation, I dealt with
Kiuchi Taketo myself.
Shiga Taketake has Hyuga Yutaka by his side and his
Byakugan, so the Headhunter Jutsu might not succeed and could even be
controlled by them. Moreover, Kento Kiuchi's swordsmanship is a significant
threat. So, Kiba chose to eliminate Kiuchi Taketo. Hirohiko, understanding his
intentions, made a perfect cooperation. Taking advantage of Shiga Taketake and
Hyuga Yutaka's shock at Kiuchi Taketo's sudden defeat, he used the Sharingan
Windmill Technique and Dragon Flame Technique to eliminate Shiga Taketake.
This is a great advantage!
It can be said that this victory
was almost established. Shiga Taketake was eliminated, Kiuchi Taketo was also
down, and Hyuga Yutaka was left alone. Even if Yutaka is strong, facing Kiba
and his team, he has no chance of winning!
Kiba smiled, relieved, glancing at
the blazing fireball. His eyes flashed slightly.
Hyuga Yutaka glanced at the
fireball, frowned, and then looked at Kiba's team. Suddenly, he rushed into the
dense forest, disappearing from their sight.
"Chase!" Without
hesitation, Kiba followed into the forest, pursuing Hyuga Yutaka.
Hirohiko and Yukina exchanged
looks and glanced at the fireball. Shiga Taketake had fallen and seemed to have
passed out.
With Kiba's proper control,
Hirohiko's Dragon Flame Technique was more proficient. Although its power was
suppressed, it guaranteed the technique would burn Shiga into a state of losing
combat effectiveness.
After all, the real power of the
Dragon Flame Technique comes with penetrating power. When Sasuke used it in the
Chunin Exam, it burned through Orochimaru's face and pierced a tree.
"Let's go; he should be out
of the fight!" Confirming, Hirohiko followed Kiba, and Yukina followed
suit.
As they entered the dense forest,
the three of them were shrouded in darkness. Hyuga Yutaka was visible ahead, a
figure retreating.
"Do you really want to chase
him? Wouldn't it be safer to defend the Tower of Death?" Yukina asked.
"No, this is the safest
way," Kiba's eyes flickered, focusing on Hyuga Yutaka.
"Isn't it a personal
grudge?" Hirohiko asked, suspecting Kiba's attachment to Hyuga Yutaka was
due to personal reasons.
Kiba frowned. "Although I
don't like him, such an important test as the Chunin Exam—I won't ignore your
chance to become Chunin because of personal grievances."
Well, it's actually a bit personal. I always want to
beat him up, Kiba
thought.
"Who knows..." Hirohiko
glanced at him with a poker face.
Has Hirohiko spotted it? Kiba's mouth twitched.
Yukina sighed. It seems brother Yutaka
and Kiba are really incompatible. Even from an outsider's perspective, they
can't be friends.
Are they natural enemies? As long as they don't kill
each other, it's fine. We're all partners in the same village. It's best not to
kill each other. I can finally breathe a sigh of relief!
The three of them chased Hyuga
Yutaka, while Hyuga Yutaka frowned slightly.
If Plan B fails and I don't qualify as Chunin,
disappointing Shinsuke-sama, I won't forgive you, Shiga Taketake!
Hyuga Yutaka glanced at the three
chasing him, thinking.
Outside the Tower of Death, a leaf
slowly fell, landing on the unconscious Shiga Taketake.
Crack!
A crack appeared on Shiga
Taketake's face.
Ka Ka Ka!
Cracks spread across his face.
Finally, with a "pop," his face sunk, exposing a hollow inside.
Pfft!
Shiga Taketake's body turned into
loess and scattered.
A figure stepped on a branch and
jumped down, walking to Kiuchi Taketo embedded in the tree. The figure touched
his neck and sighed in relief. "Fortunately, Kiba's attack had some
restraint. Kiuchi passed out, but the injury will keep him in bed for a
month."
The figure turned, revealing Shiga
Taketake's face.
It was right to leave an Earth clone in the forest
before the attack.
Shiga Taketake recalled pulling
Kiuchi Taketo and Hyuga Yutaka from the explosion range. At that time, he
revealed his two plans.
In Plan A, the three would hold
off Kiba's team and wait for Shirakawa Izumi. On the way, he left a 6-point map
and made pre-discussed secret signs using Plan A's code to point to the map's
location. As long as Shirakawa dealt with Kanno's team, he would understand the
strategy when he saw the code.
To ensure Shirakawa saw it, he
made many codes. Only Shirakawa and he understood it, so he wasn't afraid of
Kanno seeing it. Besides, Kanno couldn't decipher the code. While conscientious
and dependable, he was also a bit of a dork.
Plan A needed Shirakawa to use the
6-point map's shortcut, reaching the Tower of Death from another entrance. The
ultimate goal was for them to hold off Kiba's team, letting Shirakawa enter and
steal the secret scroll, winning in the end. This was the plan from the
beginning.
Plan B was key if Plan A failed.
If they couldn't hold off Kiba's team, he would use Plan B, abandoning Plan A.
He left an Earth clone in advance, pretending to be killed, then let Kiuchi
Taketo or Hyuga Yutaka flee, luring the enemy. He would take the secret scroll
while Kiba's team chased them. If Kiba didn't attack and defend, they would
regroup and wait for Shirakawa to arrive. With 6 vs. 3, they would win.
This was Plan B as insurance.
But the plan went smoothly. He was
shocked when Kiuchi was defeated and when Kiba was missing. When Hyuga Yutaka
reminded him, he subconsciously formed the Substitution Jutsu seal, thinking it
was in vain. But Hirohiko's attack coincidentally led him to Plan B. Kiba's
team chased without hesitation.
They also felt they had the chance to win.
Although you led me by the nose, in the end, you
were still led by me!
Shiga Taketake smiled.
Arrogant, genius!