Chapter 27 The Trap
Deep within the dark and chilling forest, it was already around 1 o'clock in the morning. Team Shiroshi hurriedly made their way towards their destination.
With the faint moonlight, they could see numerous steel wires connecting between the trees, forming an impenetrable web, waiting for prey to fall into its trap.
It wasn't that they didn't want to start the infiltration from a safer location, but this was the weakest point for an assault.
Just ahead was the Hidden Sand's crucial supply point.
In other words, it was impossible to sneak in silently. Moreover, such an important location would definitely have sensory ninjas responsible for monitoring, so their movements were likely already exposed.
Cutting through the spiderweb-like net made of intertwined steel wires, shuriken and kunai, with explosive tags attached to some of them, rained down from the dark sky. The tags on the edges sizzled and ignited.
Boom!
Boom!
Endless explosions caused a piercing pain in their eardrums.
The ground trembled, and the surrounding trees quickly caught fire, devouring the tranquility of the night.
However, this also proved that the area ahead was indeed the Hidden Sand Village's important supply point. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such meticulous defensive traps. Even with the Byakugan's advanced observation, it was impossible to pass through without making any noise. They could only forcefully break in.
"They're coming. Eleven from the west, nine from the south, and seventeen from behind," Ayane observed the number of ninja defenders trying to stop their advance with her Byakugan. A total of thirty-seven.
Among them, most were chūnin, with a few jōnin mixed in, acting as team leaders.
"Start taking the antidote," Shiroshi said, swallowing a white pill.
Rui and Ayane followed suit, taking the antidote.
Then, Shiroshi took out two smoke bombs from his ninja tool pouch. When they detonated within the engulfed forest, a hazy cloud of smoke filled the air. Although it was ineffective against sensory ninjas, it would hinder the remaining enemy ninjas and throw them into chaos.
"Damn, this smoke is poisonous! Get out of here quickly!" The well-trained Hidden Sand ninjas who barged into the smoke-filled area immediately noticed something was wrong. Their bodies started to weaken, and they experienced a suffocating pain, causing them to collapse on the ground, convulsing in agony.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!" Rui swiftly formed hand seals, gathering an immense amount of chakra in her mouth, far surpassing the scale of a Fireball Jutsu. She unleashed it all at once.
A towering wave of flames rose, overwhelming the forest ahead. Within the burning inferno, everything appeared crimson as if soaked in blood.
The once frigid air sharply rose, making those within the range of the inferno feel as though their bodies were submerged in boiling water, their skin scorching hot.
Three small figures dashed forward like lightning amidst the blazing chaos. It was safe to assume that the Hidden Sand forces who encountered this welcoming party would never be able to stay in the supply point any longer.
Rui's Fire Release had an extensive range, and with the abundance of flammable trees, employing Wind Release would only further amplify the blaze, making it burn more fiercely.
Water Release would be necessary to extinguish such a massive fire, but it was not a skill the Hidden Sand ninjas were adept in. Additionally, the sheer magnitude and reach of the blaze surpassed typical fire-based jutsu.
Their objective was to create a diversion and attract as much attention from the Hidden Sand forces as possible, but Shiroshi and his team couldn't guarantee the exact outcome. They could only give their utmost effort to accomplish the mission.
They had only ten minutes to work with, whether the mission succeeded or failed, they had to retreat from the battlefield.
Amidst the blazing forest, cries of pain and suffering filled the air as the Hidden Sand forces that confronted Shiroshi's team were defeated in the blink of an eye.
Shiroshi manipulated the shuriken in his hand, swiftly passing by a Hidden Sand ninja who charged at him. The shuriken severed the ninja's carotid artery, causing him to die on the spot.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"
Boom!
Ayane's palm strike released a chakra shockwave similar to a concentrated air cannon. It struck a Hidden Sand ninja attempting to launch a surprise attack from behind. The ninja was sent flying, coughing up blood, and crashed into a tree, breaking it.
This was a unique long-range technique derived from the Hyūga clan's Byakugan. The move was invisible and formless, making it nearly impossible to discern the point of attack with the naked eye. If not for sensory-type ninjas, it would be challenging to avoid such a technique.
This long-range attack technique was a reward given to Ayane in the previous mission. The negotiations between the Hokage and the Hyūga clan's elders aimed to enhance the combat abilities of Team Shiroshi, hoping that the Hyūga clan could teach Ayane, a branch family member, more gentle fist secret techniques.
Shiroshi and Ayane were responsible for the outer perimeter in the assault on the Hidden Sand supply point, while Rui accumulated chakra and continuously unleashed high-level Fire Release ninjutsu to amplify the scale of destruction. Their objective was to divert the attention of the Hidden Sand ninjas and create an opening for the ANBU to attack the supply point.
The massive wave of fire spread once again, with scorching heat and rolling flames obliterating the cold air of the forest. Everywhere one looked, there were traces of raging fire.
However, the price paid was significant. Due to the continuous use of high-level Fire Release ninjutsu, Rui's chakra was rapidly depleting. It was estimated that after a few more usages of such high-level Fire Release techniques, her chakra would be depleted.
Rui decided to withdraw while chaos reached its climax. The scale of turmoil had already reached its peak, but they still needed to move forward and further expand the chaos.
As they delved deeper into the Hidden Sand territory, nearing the supply point, there was a stream ahead. On the other side of the stream, numerous tents were stationed, surrounded by tall trees that could be used to conceal the camp.
The forest across the stream was already engulfed in flames, alerting the Hidden Sand ninjas stationed there. Under the effective command of the jōnin, the Hidden Sand ninjas held their formation without any panic, undeterred by the enemy's fierce assault.
"Are they Leaf Village ninjas? Why are they attacking here? Could it be that they have discovered the secret weapon?" One of the Hidden Sand jōnin furrowed his brow.
"If that's the case, it's not good. Remember, there can be no room for even the slightest negligence when dealing with jinchūriki."
"Regardless, we cannot allow any information about the Tailed Beast weapon to leak prematurely. We must catch Konoha off guard!"
A strong killing intent emanated from the numerous Hidden Sand jōnin as they firmly resolved to eliminate the invading Leaf Village ninjas without mercy.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the river, Ayane suddenly trembled and stopped in her tracks.
Seeing Ayane halt, Shiroshi and Rui also stopped.
"What's wrong?"
As the team's eyes, without Ayane's Byakugan, Shiroshi and Rui would be like headless flies, flying aimlessly.
"Something's not right. I didn't see any warehouses for storing supplies in this 'supply point.' It's not a Hidden Sand supply point at all."
Ayane's complexion turned pale, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Sakumo had mentioned that the main objective of this mission was to sever the Hidden Sand supply point in collaboration with the ANBU.
Although they were called "Root" shinobi, a faction within the ANBU, they were still affiliated with the ANBU. Combined with their extensive knowledge of the mission, Shiroshi's team believed it to be true.
However, when Ayane used her Byakugan to scan the surroundings of this supposed "supply point," she found no warehouses for storing supplies. There were only numerous Hidden Sand ninjas strictly guarding the area.
Apart from that, there was nothing else.
After hearing Ayane's words, Shiroshi and Rui's expressions changed.
They had been deceived! That thought instantly flashed through their minds.
"Let's go!"
Without daring to hesitate, Shiroshi was the first to react. Regardless of being on a mission, there needed to be an explanation for such a situation.
If it was due to their own incompetence leading to mission failure, Shiroshi had nothing to argue against. But providing false information and a mission filled with deception meant there was no reason to persist.
The three swiftly began their retreat. However, at this moment, the Hidden Sand ninjas had already surrounded Shiroshi's team, forming an impenetrable net.
...
On the cliff in the distance, four members of the ANBU "Root" organization stood, their silhouettes outlined against the moonlight backdrop. They coldly observed the chaos and flames engulfing the forest from their elevated position.
"They're quite capable. No wonder Danzo-sama wanted to eliminate this Uchiha prodigy. Allowing her to grow up is simply too dangerous."
"In the end, Uchiha individuals are just not trustworthy. It's a pity for the Byakugan user and that medical ninja, though."
"There's no choice. But being able to eliminate the evil Uchiha ninjas, they shall meet their rightful end as well."
"By doing so, Konoha's White Fang will have to bear the reputation of an incompetent leader unable to protect his subordinates. The position of the next Hokage belongs to none other than Danzo-sama. Only he can lead Konoha onto a stronger path."
The four individuals exchanged their words fervently, expressing their fanatic devotion to the person referred to as "Danzo-sama."
Originally, according to the plan, they should have initiated a suicide assault on the Hidden Sand camp from this location. However, they were now merely acting as bystanders, completely indifferent to their own village's ninjas being surrounded by the enemy.
"Shall we leave now? There doesn't seem to be anything worth watching."
"Wait. Although we don't believe they have the ability to break through, just in case, if by some chance someone manages to escape, we'll go up and take care of any survivors. We can't leave any loose ends. It's an order from Danzo-sama."
...
As the numerous Hidden Sand shinobi closed in, the hearts of Shiroshi and the other two started to fluctuate briefly, but they quickly suppressed these emotional waves. It was futile to panic in this situation, as it would only make their own circumstances more dangerous.
"Ayane, how many of them are there in total?" Shiroshi asked, tilting his head.
"Counting the Sand shinobi who are not currently in action, there are a total of 176. Currently, 103 of them are advancing towards us," Ayane replied.
The territory of this Hidden Sand stronghold wasn't particularly large, and they had already penetrated deep into it. Ayane could use her Byakugan to see the enemy's numbers and positions clearly.
"103 individuals, which means each of us has to deal with an average of 34 enemies. That's truly a daunting task," Shiroshi remarked. Furthermore, Rui had already depleted a significant amount of chakra in inciting the chaos earlier, so she probably only had about half her chakra left. Facing such a large number of Sand shinobi, including some high-ranking ones, it seemed impossible to emerge victorious from this dire situation.
"In the upcoming battle, let's conserve chakra as much as possible and rely on natural energy for combat," Shiroshi said, glancing at Rui as he spoke.
Rui nodded, as she shared the same thought. Compared to the limitless and endless natural energy, conserving chakra in this dire situation was indeed necessary, reserving it for critical moments.
"Now let's change our tactics. Ayane, you will use your Byakugan to find an escape route. Rui and I will focus on the fight and break through the weakest point," Shiroshi commanded.
Previously, their focus was on provoking chaos, with Rui's Fire Release jutsu as the main strategy, protecting her and ensuring she wasn't distracted during their mission. But now, to find a way out, they had to rely on Ayane's Byakugan, while he and Rui protected the operation.
"I'll do my best," Ayane replied, her expression serious.
In this location, there were indeed sensory shinobi among the Sand shinobi, posing a great challenge even for Ayane's all-seeing Byakugan.
"Forget about the mission for now. The most important thing is to escape from here. If there are no objections, let's move!" Shiroshi declared.
Not only were Rui and Ayane angry about the misinformation they received, but Shiroshi's mood was also equally grim. However, the more dire the situation, the more they couldn't let anger burn their rationality. It was essential to think logically and find an escape route.
Regardless of whether the village initially intended to use their team as bait or if there was an issue with the Root shinobi, setting such a trap for them to fall into, or if Konoha had received incorrect information from the start, it was part of the Hidden Sand's plan.
Only by surviving and getting out could they uncover the truth behind these events, investigating the causes and consequences.
"Follow me!" Ayane wasted no time. The lives of all three of them were at stake, and they had to make every effort to find an escape route.
Shiroshi and Rui followed suit.
At the same time, the two of them abandoned the use of their internal chakra and instead focused on remaining calm, drawing in the surrounding natural energy.
Due to different locations, the abundance of natural energy varied, affecting the speed of its absorption. However, in the forested area of the Land of Rivers, the natural energy was plentiful, and within seconds, Shiroshi and Rui filled their bodies with it.
As natural energy entered their bodies, Shiroshi and Rui felt their bodies become incredibly light. At this moment, even smashing the ground with a single punch posed no problem.
However, now was not the time to celebrate enhanced power. After all, they were facing over a hundred elite Sand shinobi, including several troublesome high-ranking ones. Once entangled with them, it would be difficult to break free.
At such times, they should be grateful for the presence of Byakugan in their team. It allowed them to detect abnormalities in this fake supply point in advance. Otherwise, if they discovered it was a trap only at the last moment, it would be too late, and death would be the only path.
Before the Sand shinobi could form a tight encirclement, Ayane had already located the weakest breakthrough point with her Byakugan, where only 29 Sand shinobi surrounded them.
Compared to the other directions, the number of Sand shinobi surrounding them here was the fewest.
Ding ding!
Shiroshi picked up a kunai and deflected the shuriken flying towards him from the front. Then, he swiftly engaged with two Sand shinobi.
In the dark and lightless forest, only the shadows of figures moving rapidly and the intense sparks that erupted after the collision of kunai could be seen.
The two Sand shinobi realized that Shiroshi possessed immense strength. In the brief moment of their confrontation, they couldn't help but grunt in pain, feeling intense agony in their arms and almost losing their grip on their kunai.
As they adjusted their stances to locate Shiroshi, Rui, who was responsible for the rear, caught up and casually slit the necks of the two Sand shinobi with her kunai, eliminating them.
Due to their speed and the fact that the three of them weren't keen on prolonged battles, they dealt with enemies as they came. If they encountered particularly troublesome opponents, their priority was to repel them rather than engage in a prolonged fight.
"Gale Palm, Wind Release!"
A violent gust of wind attacked from behind, carrying numerous kunai and shuriken within its ferocity. Due to the influence of the tempest, the flight speed and penetrating power of these kunai and shuriken were greatly amplified.
However, these tricks were easily dispelled by Rui, who had enhanced her taijutsu with natural energy. She effortlessly deflected the incoming kunai and shuriken.
Boom boom!
However, some of the kunai were attached with explosive tags. The shockwaves from the explosions sent Rui's petite body flying, and she barely managed to land on a tree branch, her face slightly pale.
"Don't let them escape!"
"Kill these Konoha shinobi!"
Voices of moving figures surrounded them from all sides, accompanied by cries for bloodshed.
Among the group of Sand shinobi were sensory-type shinobi with exceptional abilities. No matter which direction Shiroshi and the others intended to break through, Sand shinobi relentlessly pursued them.
Furthermore, the number of Sand shinobi kept increasing. Combined with the Sand shinobi obstructing their path, who were elite and willing to risk their lives to delay Shiroshi's group, they were buying time for reinforcements to arrive.
"Don't get entangled in battle!"
Seeing the displeased expression on Rui's face, Shiroshi knew what she wanted to do. In this unprecedented and frustrating fight, she must have accumulated an immense fury and desired a grand battle against these Sand shinobi.
But now wasn't the time for impulsive actions.
Even with the power of natural energy, they were not invincible.
Being trapped in the siege of numerous Sand shinobi would only lead to a dead end.
"Understood. Don't talk to me like you're giving orders," Rui grumbled. The explosion of the explosive tag near her earlier had caused a dull pain in her chest, igniting the boiling battle intent within her.
...
"I don't want it to be like this either," Shiroshi sighed.
These Sand shinobi chased after them like crazed dogs, and they weren't even guarding an important supply point. Was it necessary to go all out like this?
Just then, the earth suddenly trembled.
Shiroshi, Ayane, and Rui felt a chilling sensation that almost caused them to lose their balance and fall to the ground.
The pursuing Sand shinobi were also caught off guard, unable to withstand the unexpected earthquake, struggling to maintain their balance.
"Wait, what's that—"
"Darn it! Wasn't it supposed to be foolproof?"
The Sand shinobi seemed to know something, their voices filled with fear and confusion.
It was fear stemming from something specific.
Boom!
The deep tremors continued to shake the earth.
Everyone had no idea what was happening.
"What's going on?"
This abnormal tremor felt nothing like a power that humans could exert.
Then, accompanied by the roars of a monster, a terrifying and chilling chakra pervaded the air, causing one's scalp to tingle and feeling as if a heavy stone weighed on their hearts, making it difficult to breathe.
Shiroshi was also astonished by the overwhelming and ominous chakra. It should have been far away based on the distance, but this unknown source of chakra was able to penetrate through atmospheric barriers and reach them.
Even so, this immense chakra had already surpassed the realm of what normal individuals could comprehend.
The earth continued to shake, and horrifying cracks appeared on the ground.
The trees in the forest began to sway, and a violent hurricane swept in from the distance. Even if they wanted to escape during this time, it was impossible to break free.
Shiroshi had to grab hold of a nearby tree bark and tightly affix his chakra to maintain his balance.
Rui and Ayane also grabbed onto large objects nearby to stabilize themselves.
Not only Shiroshi's group, but even the pursuing Sand shinobi had cold sweat dripping down their faces, overwhelmed by this tremendous chakra.
Finally, when the tremors ceased, just as everyone couldn't help but want to take a breath of relief, a colossal shadow rose from the distant forest like an insurmountable mountain, appearing before everyone's eyes.
Accompanying the arrival of this gigantic monster were the sounds of numerous people screaming in agony.
The storm became even more ferocious, and the air was filled with a heavy chakra. This chakra felt different from ordinary chakra; it was filled with coldness and danger.
"Shukaku... Shukaku has appeared!"
"Has that monster gone out of control?"
"Damn it, wasn't it supposed to be foolproof?"
"Did the Konoha ninja do something? Dammit!"
Although Shiroshi didn't know what Shukaku was, hearing the panicked screams of the Sand shinobi, he believed it was an obvious scapegoating with them being seen as the culprits.
Tonight, they had merely started a fire, and they hadn't done anything else. How could they have unleashed this unknown monster?
Speaking of which, the origin of this mountain-like monster was highly suspicious.
For the first time, Shiroshi's concept of being a shinobi became somewhat blurry.
In his view, Rui's Fire Release ninjutsu was already considered an advanced technique, capable of igniting an entire forest with the flames it created.
However, in comparison to this colossal monster, it seemed that all it needed to do was shift its body slightly to unleash a destructive force even more potent than Rui's Fire Release.
"Hahahaha! This lord has finally come out again!"
The monster raised its head and laughed and roared, appearing both elated and filled with a destructive excitement.
It stood towering like a fortress in the forest, a monster that humans couldn't compare to just from a visual perspective.
Its entire body exuded an aura of violent destruction. With a gentle sweep of its sandy-yellow tail, a whole forest was obliterated, trees uprooted by the raging storm, and the earth emitted a mournful cry. In the midst of it all, over ten Sand shinobi were also swept away, their horrifying screams instilling fear.
The entire scene fell into silence.
…
After a while, the monstrous creature finished roaring and turned around, allowing everyone to witness its horrifying form.
In its eyes, humans were as insignificant and powerless as ants.
Its body was extremely bloated, resembling a gigantic and obese raccoon, covered in irregularly arranged violet curse marks.
"You damn human insects dared to seal this lord for so long. All of you shall perish!"
The creature, known as "Shukaku" among the Sand shinobi, had a booming voice with a distinct sharpness, piercing into people's ears like a dagger, causing an unbearable sting.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"
Its mouth began to accumulate a massive amount of chakra, and one after another, enormous wind spheres, with a fan-shaped coverage, began to spew out, engulfing the trees of the forest and all enemies in their path.
Heavy explosions reverberated through the air.
Both in terms of power and range, it surpassed anything an ordinary shinobi could compare to.
In this situation, the Sand shinobi and Shiroshi's group instinctively ceased their fighting. They only wanted to find cover and avoid the terrifying wind bullet attacks.
"Huff... huff... Are you two okay?"
Shiroshi covered his shoulder, where his clothes had been accidentally sliced by the wind blades from the wind spheres, leaving a visibly alarming wound that was bleeding.
To be honest, he was frustrated with this situation.
One unexpected event followed another.
It was supposed to be a routine mission to destroy a supply point, but due to faulty intelligence, they had to interrupt and retreat prematurely.
Now, they were facing a rampaging monster, and Shiroshi didn't know what to say anymore.
At the moment, the most important thing was to avoid getting caught in the monster's wide-range attacks.
"That's right, the chakra of this creature feels terribly malicious. It's the most powerful chakra I've ever encountered. It's hard to imagine that such beings exist in the shinobi world."
Ayane took a breath. As a Byakugan user, she could directly observe how terrifying the chakra of this creature, known as "Shukaku," was.
Among the people she knew, Rui was already considered a ninja with an exceptionally strong amount of chakra.
However, compared to this monster, the two chakras were not even in the same league.
"That's right. It's a given. It's a Tailed Beast, the Sand Village's Jinchuriki weapon. I didn't expect that the Sand Village would deploy such a thing on the battlefield. We need to escape as quickly as possible," Rui said, her eyes showing a hint of solemnity.
"A Tailed Beast?"
Shiroshi raised an eyebrow. He had read about them in some documents, but this was the first time he had seen one in physical form.
It was said that they were ancient and mythical creatures, with nine demonic heads, referred to as Tailed Beasts by modern shinobi.
Their origins were no longer traceable, but it was known that they had existed since ancient times and had extremely long lifespans.
Each Tailed Beast possessed a level of chakra that surpassed what any shinobi could attain. A gentle movement could cause the earth to shake. Dealing with such a monster, even through sealing techniques, would come with tremendous sacrifices.
That's the terrifying monster it was.
It possessed a more intimidating presence than what Shiroshi had learned from books.
Shiroshi and the others took cover behind a large rock, facing the onslaught of the storm head-on. The rock was already marked with countless traces, as if it had been scraped by numerous blades.
Feeling the heavy aura in the air and the ongoing storm, Shiroshi rubbed his throbbing forehead.
It couldn't be said that the situation was more dangerous than before, as the rampaging monster had diverted the attention of the Sand shinobi away from them. However, the problem was that the wide-range attacks of the monster had also engulfed them.
"Wait!"
Ayane suddenly saw something using her Byakugan.
"What's wrong?"
"Quick, let's go!"
Ayane didn't have time to explain. She simply urged Shiroshi and Rui to leave quickly.
Shiroshi and Rui didn't hesitate. Ayane must have noticed something, or else she wouldn't be so panicked.
Indeed, the chakra emanating from the air became even heavier.
The whites of the eyes turned pitch black, and the irises became a sandy yellow. Those were the eyes through which Shukaku was glaring.
The gaze it cast was as sharp as a blade, with its mouth exaggeratedly splitting open, revealing a dangerous and cunning smile.
It tore open its blood-filled mouth, and one by one, chakra orbs began to gather in front of its face.
The chakra orbs fused together, forming a massive black chakra sphere.
The outer layer of the black chakra sphere was enveloped in a pale purple mysterious aura.
It looked like a gigantic black gem radiating a purple glow—a perfect sphere.
The surrounding air stagnated, and a bone-chilling cold seeped into the skin, sending shivers down their spines.
Just as it was about to launch, a heavy blow made its bloated body stagger. The black chakra sphere, glowing with purple light, arched through the air in a parabolic trajectory.
Even in its arched flight, the black sphere was incredibly fast, resembling a gust of wind passing by.
Shiroshi and the others, who were running in the opposite direction of the camp, instinctively raised their heads and saw the enormous black sphere swiftly passing above them, flying into the distance.
Light illuminated everything.
All figures, trees, and the earth vanished from their sight.
Shiroshi and the others closed their eyes involuntarily due to the intense explosion.
For a few seconds, there was silence, and then the resounding sounds of thunderous explosions filled their ears.
The forest shook, the riverbed collapsed, and a precipice was created directly ahead.
A tsunami of sand dust rolled in.
Several kilometers of land turned into a massive crater, devoid of any signs of life.
"Cough, cough!"
Shiroshi coughed as he struggled out of the dirt, his body covered in dust.
He happened to see Ayane and Rui also emerging from the soil. They all looked disheveled, with their clothes on their arms and thighs showing signs of wear and tear, accompanied by numerous bloodstains. Their injuries were quite severe.
And these injuries were caused outside the range of the explosion.
If the chakra sphere had landed precisely in their location just now, they would likely have been completely obliterated.
Shiroshi tilted his head and tapped his ears, trying to shake out the dust.
Was this still a battle among shinobi?
As they witnessed the devastated land before them, the thought crossed the minds of Shiroshi and his companions.
Regardless, to sink such a large area of land in an instant was too exaggerated.
If those chakra spheres were to come a few more times, no matter how strong the shinobi force, it would not be enough to withstand the slaughter from such a monster.
"It's right ahead!"
"Stop them! Don't let them leave this place!"
The sound of footsteps swiftly approaching from behind.
"Quick, let's go!"
Without even having time to be shocked by the destructive power of Shukaku, Shiroshi didn't expect the Sand shinobi to be so relentless, not willing to let them go even at this moment.
Was it because they didn't want the information from this place to be exposed?
It made sense. Such a monstrously powerful weapon couldn't be revealed to the enemy in advance. Only then could they catch them off guard.
Rather, because the Sand shinobi knew about Shukaku's rampage, they would be even more relentless. Once the information leaked out, their carefully formulated plan would likely go to waste.
Since the Sand shinobi were closing in rapidly, Shiroshi and the others could only run in a straight line, trying to escape the battlefield as quickly as possible.
As for Shukaku, it had fallen into silence. Was it sealed once again by a sealing jutsu, or was there another reason? Shiroshi had no way of knowing.
The most important thing now was still to elude the pursuit of the Hidden Sand shinobi.
Passing through the desolate land destroyed by Shukaku, there were clusters of faint black chakra gas emitting a purple aura, visible to the naked eye, floating in the air.
Seeing this, a thought crossed Shiroshi's mind.
He had a very intuitive sense of Shukaku's power.
This power was enough to make anyone's heart tremble.
So, while running, he immediately took out a glass bottle from his shinobi pouch, opened the cap, and began collecting any remnants of tangible chakra along the way.
In a matter of moments, the chakra collection was complete. Shiroshi put the glass bottle back into his shinobi pouch, satisfied with a smile.
It seemed that this time, they didn't come away empty-handed either.
If the conditions allowed, he really wanted to find a place to thoroughly study this peculiar chakra. It might provide immense inspiration.
(Chapter End)