At this moment, where the Shinkai is.
Seeing that the rope was no longer being yanked backward, Yahiko finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly let go, then turned to check on Kōmei Uzumaki.
At this point, Kōmei was curled up like a shrimp, eyes rolled back, the chains behind him dissolving on their own, barely able to maintain his Chakra—clearly on the verge of collapse.
"Kōmei! Kōmei! Are you alright?"
Seeing Kōmei's condition, Yahiko rushed to help, channeling his Chakra to expand the water barrier from just himself to cover both of them, and pressed hard on Kōmei's philtrum.
...
Because they were pulling too hard, the three Kage Bunshin exploded again. Seeing Chiyo-sama's stunned expression, Ebizō spoke up.
"See? I told you I'd already tried this—when I couldn't pull, I used the truck. Now do you believe me?"
Earlier, when Chiyo-sama had turned around, all she'd seen was Ebizō reeling in the line from his truck. So she'd assumed he'd stopped because he'd reeled in too fast and Yahiko and Kōmei had gotten snagged somewhere.
After all, who reels in with a truck? What, did they swell up from soaking in the sea? No matter how Ebizō tried to explain afterward, it was useless, when Roka Uzumaki arrived and found out, she dragged him into the cabin and beat him black and blue.
Hearing Ebizō's words, Chiyo-sama stepped up to test it herself—she really couldn't pull. So… her short fuse lit instantly.
"I refuse to believe two snot-nosed kids can't be hauled up! Hana! Those two brats are stirring—come help pull!"
Not far away, Roka—who'd been worrying about Kōmei Uzumaki—snapped to attention at Chiyo-sama's call and hurried over. Then it was Chiyo-sama and Roka Uzumaki together… Bang!
Chiyo-sama flicked another forehead-knuckle shot. Now three of them hauled on the rope with all their might. But… it still didn't budge.
Ebizō shot Chiyo-sama and Roka Uzumaki a questioning look—what now?
The moment Chiyo-sama saw that look, she knew exactly what her little brother meant. He'd clearly been beaten into submission, he wasn't going to say another word and was leaving the decision to her and Roka. But she wasn't stupid either, so she turned to Roka—after all, one of the kids was an Uzumaki, as for the other… that thing had been tough since birth.
"Hana, what do we do now?"
Watching both Chiyo-sama and Ebizō staring at her for an answer, Roka Uzumaki pondered for a long while, glanced at Ebizō, then looked away and muttered sheepishly, "How about… we tie it to the truck and try?"
"Oh, okay."
With Roka's permission, Ebizō promptly lashed the rod to the truck's hitch, jogged back to the cab, and fired the engine again. After all… he'd noticed Roka's ears were already red—she must've realized she'd beaten the wrong person. So, as long as he played along and looked pitifully sore tonight… heh-heh… Besides, he was curious what on earth was down there. What were those two planning to bring back?
"If something goes wrong again… Hana, you can't hit me anymore!"
After a quick prayer in the cab, Ebizō stomped on the gas. Vroom~
The truck's roar and tires spinning rang across the beach. But the truck just sat there, not moving an inch. Chiyo-sama and Roka Uzumaki both fell into thoughtful silence.
Don't tell me those two hooked a whale.
"Ebizō! Are you flooring it?"
"Nē-san! I'm already standing on the pedal!"
"Hana, what now?"
"Then… add another truck?"
"Fine, one more it is."
With that, Chiyo-sama went to arrange it. Soon a second truck backed in, after chaining them together, it too revved up. The result: still motionless.
"Add more!"
Seeing no stop signal on the rope, Roka Uzumaki spoke again. A third truck joined—same outcome.
"Bring it to ten."
"Make it ten!" Inside cab one, Ebizō yelled to the idle medics who'd gathered to watch the fun.
In no time, seven more trucks reversed in.
"Hana, what on earth did those two drag back?" Chiyo-sama, now just spectating, asked Roka curiously.
"No idea. But it's something huge."
"…"
Well duh, I can tell it's huge.
Before long, ten trucks were in position. At Ebizō's shout, all ten gunned their engines, kicking up even bigger sprays of sand. The commotion drew almost every medic still on the beach. They all wanted to see what could stymie ten trucks. And maybe join the fun.
Spotting the crowd, Roka Uzumaki swept her hand grandly. "Scale it straight to a hundred!"
"Got it! Full hundred—uh?" Ebizō paused halfway, created a Kage Bunshin to keep driving, leapt out and jogged to Roka's side.
"Hana, a hundred's overkill—how about fifty first?"
"No! A full hundred—I refuse to believe it won't budge!"
"Right! A hundred trucks—anyone who can drive, grab a wheel!"
Eventually, after shifting a dozen big trees, a hundred trucks were linked in one long chain.
"Three! Two! One! Pull!"
At Ebizō's cry, every driver floored the throttle. Whoosh~
A hundred trucks kicked up a sandstorm that billowed everywhere. Just as the dust was about to hit Roka Uzumaki, an umbrella popped open in front of her, followed by Ebizō's deliberately low, supposedly charming voice.
"Hana, you okay? Did any grit hit you?"
"I'm fine—arigato, Ebi-kun."
"Heh-heh, anything for you."
Watching the two flirt again, Chiyo-sama—now coated in sand—scowled.
"Tch!" She sniffed at their sappy airs, then drawled, "Oooh, arigato Ebi-kun~ (￢_￢)"
With that she stalked off to wash up.
Ebizō: "(≖_≖)"
When the dust finally settled, the pair turned their attention back to the rope. Again… not a millimeter of movement.
"Add another hundred."
"Right! Another hundred drivers—hop in!"
...
"Add another hundred."
"Come on, the rest of you—into the cabs!"
In the end, the count reached 327 trucks. Why 327? Because only 327 off-duty medics were available—no, 326, Ebizō was officially on vacation. If this still failed… they'd have to use Kage Bunshin.
Luckily, this time it finally moved. With all 327 trucks straining, the mysterious object on the seabed began to slide.
Would you like me to translate the moment this massive "catch" finally breaks the surface of the water?