Chapter 19: Ambush
Nara Shikaku manipulated his shadow whips like dancing wind, weaving an impenetrable black net in the air that precisely struck the explosive tags flying toward Akimichi Choza, batting them away before detonation.
Explosions bloomed continuously around the shadow net's perimeter, like festival fireworks.
But under the relentless bombardment of explosive tags, Nara Shikaku couldn't maintain this defense much longer.
Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His chakra depleted rapidly.
The shadow whips began slowing, defensive gaps appearing in the net. Occasionally explosive tags penetrated the barrier, detonating in small bursts of flame across Choza's body.
Moreover, as Konan soared high into the clouds, Choza's enlarged form only provided shadow for the shadow techniques without serving any critical purpose. It had become a liability.
Nara Shikaku's mind raced, already shifting tactics.
"Can't hold it. Reduce your size!"
Following his command, Akimichi Choza immediately canceled his enlargement. His massive body deflated rapidly, shrinking in moments from mountain-like giant back to his burly ninja form.
Without such a massive target, the explosive tags flew wide, detonating uselessly in midair with crackling explosions.
The continuous blasts formed a sea of fire in the sky. Searing shockwaves rippled outward like a grand fireworks display, spectacular yet deadly.
Konan didn't care about the wasted tags. Still suspended in the skies, she pointed with one hand, and tens of thousands of explosive tags transformed into a surging torrent, cascading down from the clouds like a white waterfall blanketing the entire battlefield, beginning a carpet bombing.
"Protect Naruto! Fall back! She has limited explosive tags—she can't bombard us forever."
At Nara Shikaku's command, everyone responded in unison, immediately forming a defensive formation with the unconscious Naruto protected at the center, beginning an orderly retreat.
These shinobi were battle-hardened elite. They needed no specific assignments, naturally fulfilling their roles.
The rear guard split into two coordinated groups, alternating between wide-range destructive jutsu to intercept the falling explosive tags.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"
Phoenix flames became dozens of small fireballs precisely targeting the explosive tag clusters. Vacuum waves formed razor-sharp wind blades slicing through the sky.
The two techniques coordinated seamlessly, weaving a dense intercepting fire net through the air.
They didn't aim to harm the enemy, only to detonate the explosive tags prematurely.
Though countless explosive tags filled the sky, they didn't need to intercept every one. Detonating a single tag created a chain reaction, clearing entire sections.
Massive fireballs continuously bloomed in the air. Shockwaves from the explosions made the ground tremble, scattering stones and wood fragments everywhere.
Though they could detonate the tags early, the resulting shockwaves still inflicted damage.
Small injuries accumulated into lethal wounds.
Each explosion made the rear guard shinobi stagger. Some already bled from ears and noses.
Amid the thunderous explosions, shinobi were continuously swallowed by the blasts, screams piercing the air. Yet the survivors pressed forward one after another, taking positions at the rear to protect the retreating formation.
But after being pursued for a considerable distance with no decrease in the falling explosive tags, Nara Shikaku felt genuine alarm.
Had the Land of Rain grown this wealthy?
Throwing explosive tags around like they cost nothing!
Or had the Rain Village developed some technique for mass-producing explosive tags?
A terrifying possibility crystallized in his mind.
If Rain truly possessed rapid explosive tag manufacturing, the entire shinobi world's power balance would shatter.
This discovery unsettled him more than the immediate crisis.
Watching his severely depleted forces, Nara Shikaku knew continuing this fight was suicide. Before the enemy's explosive tags ran out, his comrades would be annihilated.
His gaze swept quickly across the battlefield. He thrust one hand forward, shouting:
"Change direction! Target: Uchiha Itachi!"
Without waiting, he wheeled around and charged straight toward Yasushi's position.
He didn't believe Konan would spare Uchiha Itachi. The bombardment would likely engulf him as well.
His objective was killing the rogue ninja Uchiha Itachi. Whether by his own hand or another's didn't particularly matter.
Moreover, knowing Elder Danzo Shimura as he did, Root operatives couldn't possibly be absent from such a critical moment.
Root agents had probably arrived already, hidden in some corner, preparing their strike.
If possible, he would have preferred completing this mission solely with the three Ino-Shika-Cho squads.
But this flying bloodline limit user was completely broken, offering no means of threatening her. Rather than return with only the Nine-Tails jinchuriki while Uchiha Itachi escaped, better to cooperate with Root and eliminate this potential threat to the village permanently.
Noticing Nara Shikaku and his forces charging toward him, Yasushi quickly understood his intent.
"Heh, flying Konan is just an invincible cheat character!"
"If Nagato hadn't been killed by plot armor, those six hundred billion explosive tags could have easily leveled Konoha!"
"We're all going to be colleagues eventually. I'm not clashing with her!"
He grimaced, standing on the tree branch and preparing to use the Body Flicker Technique to leave this soon-to-be focal point, finding another position to continue watching the chaos.
With Konan already engaged and Pain having made his appearance, the remaining events required no personal intervention.
The small Rain Village mysteriously producing two bloodline limit users—knowing Konoha as he did, they absolutely wouldn't ignore this. Even without today's conflict, Konoha would inevitably send investigators.
When that happened, he need only fan the flames slightly, and both sides would fight to the death.
But the moment he showed intention to relocate, Aburame Torune, hidden all this time, could restrain himself no longer.
Concealed in shadow, his hands formed rapid seals.
"Secret Technique: Rinkaichū Jutsu!"
As he channeled his chakra, the nano-sized insects that had nearly reached the treetop suddenly accelerated as though injected with stimulants, instantly swarming to Uchiha Yasushi's feet and coiling tightly around his calves.
They ignored chakra defenses, penetrating directly through clothing to attach to bare skin. Upon contact, they immediately released specialized neurotoxins.
"What?" Yasushi felt his legs go numb, his body losing control as he toppled headfirst from the tree.
While still airborne, a Root ninja materialized beside him. Cold steel flashed as a blade slashed toward his throat.