Han and Utakata, of course, didn't want to be manipulated either.
They were already dead, yet they were still being treated like tools—milked for every last scrap of "value," without being allowed even a moment of peace. How could anyone endure that?
Darui, however, looked troubled. "Getting the Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Jar) right now won't be that easy…"
"Are you looking for the Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Jar)?"
Tenten's voice suddenly cut in. At some point, she had already appeared behind Darui.
That's right—she was back again. She had just returned to Kakashi's side when she was informed that the First Division's coastal line had been hit by Uchiha Obito. Considering Obito's Kamui phasing, plus four Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) Jinchūriki in tow, it was obviously going to be a nuisance to deal with.
So she came over on her own. After all, she couldn't really interfere much in the fight on Uchiha Madara's side.
She also realized something else: although those four Edo Tensei Jinchūriki had been turned into "Pain-like puppets," they weren't the same as Nagato's Six Paths of Pain.
Nagato's Six Paths were corpses. The Six Paths tools couldn't deal with that.
But Obito's "new Six Paths" were Edo Tensei bodies. Those could be dealt with.
All she needed was to land the kotodama trigger. And since the Edo Tensei Jinchūriki couldn't speak freely, once the key word was forced, they would be pulled straight into the gourd.
In any case, she came to try—and the moment she arrived, she heard what Darui had just said.
"Tenten? Why are you here?!"
Darui froze, then immediately broke into a grin. "Perfect! You couldn't have come at a better time. Hurry up and use the Six Paths tools on those Jinchūriki!"
Tenten didn't waste words. She directly produced the Kohaku no Jōhei (Amber Purifying Jar). While controlling it, she called out loudly, "I'll call your name once. You answer, understand? Yugito! Rōshi! Han! Utakata!"
"Yes!!!!"
The four of them answered immediately. Tenten opened the lid at exactly the same time, and the four of them were instantly sucked into the Kohaku no Jōhei.
Bang.
The lid slammed shut.
The fight was over.
Shino had both hands in his pockets, and praised without hesitation. "As expected of Tenten. She arrives, and the battle ends."
Everyone else finally relaxed as well, smiling in relief.
Even Mei couldn't hide her envy. "This girl is just… enviable. She's holding the Six Paths tools, and she even has a powerful boyfriend. Is it that men these days prefer 'pure' girls like her instead of alluring beauties?"
Hey. Your envy is aimed at a very strange target.
Darui, meanwhile, asked curiously, "Why is the Kohaku no Jōhei with you?"
Tenten raised a hand and wiped imaginary sweat from her brow, then complained, "The Raikage loaned it to me! Seriously—he's the Raikage. What's wrong with just giving me the Kohaku no Jōhei? If not, I can buy it. My family's rich. The jar just sits in your village warehouse collecting dust anyway—selling it to me would be better!"
"Th-that really can't happen," Darui said with a wry smile.
This was Kumogakure's treasure—an artifact left behind by the Sage of Six Paths. There was no way it would be sold, let alone gifted away.
Tenten couldn't be bothered to keep complaining. She understood perfectly well that something like this would never be casually given away.
Then she looked toward Uchiha Obito.
Obito's face was dark, practically dripping with gloom. He hadn't expected Tenten to suddenly show up with the Kohaku no Jōhei—and before he could even react, she had sealed all four Jinchūriki into it.
Those four Jinchūriki weren't the real point.
The point was that the tailed beasts were inside them.
Now those four tailed beasts had been taken back, and he had not a single one left in his hands.
Didn't that mean all his earlier effort was completely wasted?!
How was the Eye of the Moon Plan supposed to be completed like this?
He couldn't help roaring, "Give the tailed beasts back to me!"
Tenten stuck her tongue out and ignored him. Then she used Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) and flashed away.
She didn't want to fight Uchiha Obito right now. She knew she had recovered the four Jinchūriki, so the most critical thing was not letting Obito snatch them back.
With the nine tailed beasts all on the alliance's side—how exactly were the enemy supposed to win?
So, smart as she was, Tenten didn't cling to battle. She simply left.
"You brat! Stop right there!"
Obito bellowed, pure fury. His earlier confidence was nowhere to be seen.
"Why are you shouting so loudly?"
Neji regarded Uchiha Obito with calm composure. "Tenten is smart, so she left first. She won't give you another chance to steal the tailed beasts back. And she knows Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God). Neither you nor Uchiha Madara can catch her. Your plan can't succeed."
Uchiha Obito fell silent. He had no interest in trading words with Neji.
This time, he had brought four Edo Tensei Jinchūriki, and not only had he failed to break through the alliance's line—he had also lost the four Jinchūriki.
It was an absurd loss.
His gaze swept over everyone present, eyes full of killing intent and indifference, but in the end he didn't even bother to leave a threat.
He used the Rinnegan's repulsive force to defend himself, enduring the attacks, then used Kamui to sink into the other space. He didn't reappear for a long time, making it obvious he had withdrawn.
Everyone could only sigh helplessly.
Kamui really was absurdly "unfair." Once again, they had failed to take Uchiha Obito down.
Still, Neji and the others had arrived in time, so there were no heavy casualties. And Tenten had recovered all the tailed beasts—an enormous piece of good news.
There was nothing to complain about.
They should be celebrating.
Neji said, "Since things are stable here, we should head to Natsuki's side to support him. Tenten is carrying four tailed beasts right now. I'm worried the enemy might target her. We should go protect her."
"That's right. Our job now is to protect the Kohaku no Jōhei and not give the enemy any opening!"
Darui agreed. "We'll continue holding this defensive line. You all go to Tenten. She may need support over there too."
He whistled, and Badorā immediately swooped down. Everyone quickly climbed onto the eagle's back.
With a piercing eagle cry, Badorā carried the reinforcements toward the Third Division's line.
Kakashi, meanwhile, looked surprised. "You're that happy to have work to do?"
Tenten shook the scroll containing the Kohaku no Jōhei and grinned. "Heh. You wouldn't believe it. I just went to the First Division's coastal line and sealed all four Edo Tensei Jinchūriki into the Kohaku no Jōhei in one shot. That means the four tailed beasts are in here too!"
"What?! Really?!"
Kakashi was overjoyed. "So now all the tailed beasts are on our side!"
"Of course it's true!" Tenten handed the scroll over to Kakashi. "Give the Kohaku no Jōhei to the Raikage for safekeeping. Keeping it with me isn't safe."
(End of Chapter)
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