As long as they were within the range of Shinji's Jikibi, he could grant any marked organization member chakra rivaling—or even surpassing—that of a jinchuriki.
This was the terrifying power of Jikibi and Wazunagi.
These two Mangekyo dojutsu acted like an invisible link, connecting all marked members. In critical moments, they could not only share intelligence but also chakra, allowing any member to temporarily wield an exaggerated amount far beyond their own.
Of course.
Shinji could simply use Jikibi to make Yakumo throw the fight.
But that would leave Yakumo confused and aggrieved. She carried the village's hopes, and deliberately losing would be hard for her to accept. Moreover, Shinji wanted to test Chino's limits and see if she could unlock more of the Ketsuryugan's potential.
Bloodline Limits could be refined and pushed further through training.
Take Magnet Release, for example.
Hidden Cloud's Troy could only control a few ninja tools with Magnet Release. But Hidden Sand's Kazekages, wielding the same Bloodline Limit, could manipulate iron or gold sand to create massive barriers capable of suppressing tailed beasts.
With Chino pushing Yakumo this far, Shinji cared less about the fight's outcome and more about whether Chino could break through, advancing her Ketsuryugan to a higher level and providing more data for his study of dojutsu Bloodline Limits.
…
On the field.
The sudden influx of high-quality Yang Release chakra stunned Chino, her waning momentum surging back!
"Let me see how far you can go."
Shinji's voice echoed timely in her ears.
Chino's spirit soared, silently urging herself, The Leader is watching. I can't disappoint him. I must win this fight!
Yakumo's face darkened. "She still has this much terrifying chakra? Is this her true strength?"
In that moment, she realized she might actually lose.
Whoosh.
After receiving Shinji's chakra, Chino adjusted for a few breaths before launching a ferocious assault on Yakumo!
Her meters-long blood blade swept rapidly, slicing through everything like crimson threads. Vines, trees, stone slabs, and rocks conjured by Yakumo's Wood Release—all were cleaved in two!
"Hiss!"
Yakumo's heart raced with dread.
Her Wood Release vines and trees, though not as strong as forged steel ninja tools, weren't easily cut by ordinary ninjutsu or tools.
Yet, before Chino's blood blade, they crumbled like rotten wood.
Though Yakumo noticed the blade's blood boiling and depleting rapidly under such fierce attacks, its sheer power unnerved her.
The Ketsuryugan is this strong?!
Yakumo had focused on mitigating the loss of her Koryugan and hadn't explored her Ketsuryugan. Now, dodging Chino's onslaught, she marveled at its might.
In her mindscape, Ido shouted, "You can't keep dodging like this!"
Their maneuvering space was shrinking. Continued evasion would soon trap her in a corner.
Yakumo replied helplessly, "I know, but what can I do?"
Ido urged, "Close in for taijutsu! If you find an opening, use genjutsu!"
"But…"
Yakumo had considered this, but Chino's taijutsu was monstrous, and her Ketsuryugan was a genjutsu-capable eye. Yakumo had no confidence.
Seeing her hesitate, Ido scoffed, "What, scared to lose, so you're holding back? Pathetic! If I still had the Koryugan, I'd have charged in already!"
Yakumo's expression hardened, her resolve firming.
It wasn't Ido's taunt that spurred her but the realization that her attrition strategy had failed. Chino's chakra was absurdly vast, and continuing would only drain Yakumo herself. She had to act while her chakra still held.
Steeling herself, Yakumo abandoned Wood Release control, reaching into her ninja tool pouch to draw two kunai.
From earlier kunai throws, she'd learned Chino's blood blade couldn't easily cut forged steel, so she could block with kunai, close the distance for taijutsu, and seek a genjutsu opening.
Clang.
Chino's meters-long blood blade struck Yakumo's kunai, producing a metallic ring!
Though the kunai's tip was nicked and showed signs of corrosion, it held as Yakumo expected, blocking the strike.
Seizing the moment, Yakumo advanced, closing in on Chino.
Chino dispersed her blood blade, engaging Yakumo in taijutsu. In close quarters, the long blade was a hindrance.
Boom boom boom.
Instantly, the two clashed in a high-intensity taijutsu battle.
One, with First Hokage cells and Monster Strength Fist, the other with Blue Higanbana No. 1 and Twelve Palaces.
Both had exceptional physical specs despite their youth and undeveloped bodies, their strength undeniable.
Chino, accustomed to high-intensity taijutsu spars with Ryuzetsu, thrived in extreme conditions.
Yakumo, splitting her focus between ninjutsu and genjutsu, was noticeably less adept. Though her Monster Strength Fist held up against Chino's Twelve Palaces, her attacks lacked Chino's sharpness and decisiveness.
Bang.
Bang.
After a flurry of blows, each landed a punch, the massive impact sending both flying!
Yakumo crashed into a tree, Chino into the ground.
The battlefield, roaring endlessly, finally fell silent.
…
Nearby.
"Is it over?!"
"Who won?"
"The sea of trees has quieted. Should we go check?"
The crowd stirred, many wanting to investigate but fearing the battle's aftermath.
Whoosh.
Unable to wait, Ryuzetsu leaped toward the battlefield.
From Hidden Leaf's side, Tsunade, Kakashi, and others followed, rushing to the scene.