Yakumo shook her head and whispered: "I lost!"
Ido, who was displaced far away by 'Red Dragon', just rushed over. Hearing Yakumo admit defeat, she stomped her feet unwillingly in the air, but there was nothing she could do.
Karin released 'Adamantine Sealing Chains' and shook her head: "My victory wasn't easy!"
The final confrontation was a mutual prediction between the two.
Karin grasped the key and was one move ahead.
Just as she said herself, she didn't win easily in this battle. Facing Yakumo who mastered 'Red Dragon', she could only defend passively. Finally, she won by relying on Yakumo's inability to sustain a prolonged battle and predicting the timing of Yakumo's decisive attack.
Moreover, she also took the risk to withstand the self-destruction of Yakumo's blood clones.
This kind of behavior was very dangerous in a duel between true experts, because no one could accurately judge the strength of the enemy's ninjutsu.
Besides, apart from normal offensive ninjutsu, the Ninja World also had endless secret techniques, forbidden jutsu, and even curse techniques!
Capsizing in the gutter was common in the Ninja World.
So Karin winning this time was actually taking advantage of her own massive chakra reserves and amazing recovery ability.
Of course.
It was understandable for a ninja to utilize their own advantages.
Swish...
At this time, accompanied by the sound of wind breaking, Haku arrived in front of the two: "If you continue fighting like this, you two will fill up even this sea!"
Hearing Haku's teasing, only then did the two look around.
During the fierce battle just now, neither had time to pay attention to the surrounding terrain. Now that the spar was over, they discovered that the surrounding terrain had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to before the battle started.
The high cliff under their feet before had been completely flattened, not a trace left.
A large part of the sea near the shore was filled up by the rubble from the collapsed cliff, and large patches of shoals appeared.
The nearby woods were even more disastrous.
Under the urging of the two's 'Wood Release', those trees were either spurred by 'Wood Release' chakra to become tools for their mutual slaughter, or flattened by several 'Shinra Tensei', blown hundreds of meters away, or blown into the sea, floating on the surface.
Withdrawing their gazes, the two looked at each other and smiled.
After this battle, they considered each other's strength recognized.
Karin's strength was comprehensive. 'Rinnegan', 'Wood Release', and 'Sealing Jutsu' made her capable in both offense and defense. 'Kagura Mind's Eye' and super self-healing physique allowed her to handle both reconnaissance and healing.
One person equaling an army was an objective description of her strength, not an exaggeration.
Yakumo's strength shouldn't be underestimated either.
With the existence of 'Red Dragon', a 'Space-Time Dojutsu', she could easily join the ranks of Ninja World powerhouses.
And Ido, who could come and go freely as a spirit body, maximized her ability to ambush and assassinate. Coupled with the 'Five Senses Manipulation' Bloodline Limit that even Karin with 'Rinnegan' couldn't completely resist, she simply possessed all the pieces of a perfect assassin.
It could be said that as long as there was intelligence support, even a Kage-level powerhouse would find it difficult to resist her assassination.
If Karin was comprehensively powerful, then Yakumo was an assassination-type ninja who maximized stealth and assassination. Her ability in prolonged battles might not be top-tier, but her lethality was not inferior to Karin at all.
Crack...
Suddenly, the damaged fox mask Karin was wearing finally couldn't withstand the damage from the explosion just now, shattered, and fell off.
Karin was stunned for a moment, somewhat helpless.
Fortunately, she had used 'Transformation Technique' in advance, so even if the mask on her face fell off, her true appearance still wouldn't be exposed.
Yakumo covered her mouth and smiled: "Karin, this appearance you transformed into doesn't quite match your figure!"
Karin looked sideways: "So you guessed it too!"
Poof...
Saying this, Karin released the 'Transformation Technique', revealing her original appearance.
"I wasn't sure before, the Lord told me!"
Yakumo shook her head and took off her own mask.
Besides sparring today, there was another matter: revealing each other's identities. Anyway, everyone had guessed pretty close, so there was no point in continuing to hide.
Haku also took off the mask on his face at this time and asked somewhat surprisedly: "Yakumo, did the Lord tell you Karin's identity?"
Yakumo nodded slightly: "Mhm!"
Haku and Karin looked at each other.
Regarding the Leader's true identity, they naturally had noticed long ago. It was just that since the Leader didn't say it, they couldn't actively mention it.
At this time, Shinji dressed as an Akatsuki member walked slowly from a distance.
Seeing this, the three bowed to Shinji in unison: "Lord!"
Shinji nodded to the few people, then glanced at the direction where the Hidden Leaf patrol team was hiding before, quickly withdrawing his gaze.
As soon as the spar between Karin and Yakumo ended, the Hidden Leaf patrol team that accidentally stumbled upon this spar fled in panic. At this time, they had long fled without a trace, so there was no need to worry about outsiders being present and accidentally exposing their identities.
Coming in front of the three, Shinji smiled: "A wonderful battle!"
Yakumo said: "Lord, I lost convincingly this time!"
Ido was puffy with anger but didn't interrupt. After this battle, she was also convinced by Karin.
Shinji turned to look at Karin and Haku, smiling slightly: "Regarding my true identity, you should have guessed it too, right?"
"Mhm!"
Karin and Haku responded.
Shinji then slowly took off the mask on his face.
Choosing to reveal his identity to Karin, Haku, and Yakumo at this time was actually a helpless move.
Because he knew very well that with multiple operations, Karin, Haku, and Yakumo actually had guesses about each other long ago.
Especially Karin and Haku, they probably guessed his identity long ago.
After all, colleagues in the organization like Yakumo, Sasuke, Kimimaro were almost all classmates in the Ninja Academy. As long as Karin and Haku weren't stupid, they could vaguely guess Shinji's identity as the Leader.
Moreover, recently Shinji rebuilt the Military Police Force, recruiting the two of them, as well as Sasuke, Kimimaro, and others under his command.
And in Orochimaru's prison break incident, Shinji, the Captain of the Military Police Force, openly and secretly provided various help and even cover for their actions. So if Shinji continued to hide it, he would just be deceiving himself.
Sure enough.
Seeing Shinji take off the mask, Karin and Haku's reaction was not surprise, but relief after guessing correctly, and a sense of reassurance.
For the two of them, the Leader being Shinji was both reasonable and reassuring!
Shinji explained slowly: "The situation was unstable before, and there were too many uncontrollable risks, so I could only choose to hide my identity. I hope you can understand!"