"Oh yeah~! What a thrilling race, such moving machines! Move fast, or face the blast—YEAH! But BOY, this road is protected by me, Bee-style!"
After two chapters of being a background prop, Killer Bee suddenly made a flashy reappearance.
"Retreat, retreat, fool you fool! Fool you fool!"
He controlled his 4WD, cloaked in Tailed Beast Chakra, and blocked the middle of the track.
This out-of-nowhere disruption left not only the audience confused but even the other Kumogakure racers on the ground looked stunned.
"Lord Killer Bee…?"
That's Konoha, you know!
That's our enemy from the Hidden Leaf!
They should be crushed into dust—why the hell are you helping them?!
What are you trying to do?
Wait a minute…
Could it be… he was moved by Uchiha Shisui's spirit of never giving up?
Even Shisui himself was stunned. He had been prepared to block the enemy racers with everything he had left for the sake of Jiraiya and Tsunade. But now… his 4WD had been knocked out of bounds by a supposed opponent.
Can someone explain this to him?
Sure, his car might not have lasted much longer anyway, and maybe retrieving its remains was the most he could've done… but being saved by an enemy?
He honestly didn't even know what to think.
Especially considering this same cloud-nin and famous rapper just declared he was going to guard this part of the track?
Why?
He looked down at the broken body of his 4WD, Future, which he had just retrieved from the desert. Though there were some parts left, the chassis was completely split in two. Even if he had the will, there was no way to keep racing.
"That really is the power of a Tailed Beast... One hit and it's in pieces."
What a shame.
If only he could install a Sharingan on his car too...
He turned his gaze to the red vehicle—Eight-Tails car—still standing firm on the track, blocking the path of the others. Then he looked up at Killer Bee.
"Why?"
"Yo~ The mood is just right, I can spit a rhyme so tight! Future was a dope ride, but now you must slide—outta sight!" Killer Bee started, then suddenly blushed as he recalled a glimpse of white earlier. He shook his head, dropping the rap and speaking more soberly. "You're out of the race now."
He, Killer Bee, was absolutely not moved by Tsunade's… assets. He was moved by the boy's spirit and resolve. That's it!
"I'll guard this section."
Shisui stared at him silently for a moment, then lowered his head to the shattered Future car in his hands. After a long pause, he finally let out a quiet sigh.
"...Thank you."
He turned, walking away from the track without looking back.
He… really was out.
Meanwhile, Killer Bee stood firm as the Kumogakure and Iwagakure racers approached.
"Lord Bee!" A cloud-nin looked at the determined expression on Bee's face and rubbed his forehead, troubled. "Konoha can't be allowed to win! Please, move aside!"
"Oh yeah, whoops—bit my tongue, oh dear! But no way I'm movin' from here! I made a promise to that BOY, and I'm not backing out, no fear!" Bee shook his head firmly and stared straight at his fellow cloud-nin.
"I promised him I'd protect this stretch."
"…But he's a Konoha shinobi…" The cloud-nin groaned and looked helpless.
Still, they didn't argue further. Instead, one glanced at the Iwa-nin next to him and gave a serious nod.
"Then sorry, Lord Bee."
They had no choice.
If they didn't attack Bee, the Iwa-nin might think Cloud and the Leaf were colluding behind their backs. That would cause major diplomatic fallout between villages.
So rather than let that happen…
They'd better just beat up Lord Bee themselves—make it clear they were not on Konoha's side.
The Kumo-nin exchanged glances. With a deep breath, they charged their 4WDs toward Bee's Eight-Tails car.
"Oh my god~! What is going on? Can anyone explain this madness?!"
"Kumogakure's Killer Bee has betrayed his team! He's helping Konoha by holding back his own village's racers! What is he thinking?! Was he moved by Uchiha Shisui's resolve?"
"This is unbelievable! Even Tobi's heart is touched!"
"Compared to that guy who threw a match, you're amazing! Shisui of the Leaf, you have my respect!"
Yeah… it was pretty unbelievable.
Kakashi, listening to the commentator's excited rambling, hadn't even processed what just happened.
How did a guy who was their enemy a moment ago… suddenly become an ally in the most crucial moment?
No matter how you looked at it, it just didn't make sense.
As for the "touched by Shisui's determination" line?
Kakashi didn't buy that crap.
It's not that shinobi can't be moved or impressed, but… being moved is one thing. Being willing to attack your own teammates? That was a whole different level.
This was the reality of shinobi.
You couldn't afford to be soft.
Compassion might cost lives.
This world is brutal. Shinobi can't be judged by normal logic.
And Bee… he wasn't some sleeper agent from Konoha. He was the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki.
In this hostile environment, for him to suddenly betray his allies—it wasn't normal, not by a long shot.
So—
"What the hell is he planning?"
Kakashi leaned against the railing, watching the chaos below, sighing heavily.
He remembered how Shisui had stood alone to hold the line for his comrades—felt proud that someone from Obito's clan was being recognized like that.
But even so…
Why did he feel this weird, sinking feeling in his chest?
He turned and glanced at the Konoha shinobi who had already withdrawn from the race, then looked at Itachi, standing with his little brother Sasuke.
His expression turned serious.
"I need to step away for a bit. Please watch things here."
"Where are you going, Kakashi-senpai?" Itachi raised a brow, glanced at Naruto, and then smiled faintly. "Understood. I'll keep an eye on things."
They, as Uchiha, weren't supposed to get too close to a Jinchūriki. But since Kakashi-senpai was asking so seriously, they couldn't refuse.
"Maybe he's discovered something important…"
Itachi felt a bit nervous. What if something happened?
But then he remembered—Shisui would be back soon, and Jiraiya and Tsunade were still active on the track. Even if something did go wrong, they should be okay.
As he watched Kakashi's back disappear, he murmured softly:
"What did you find that made you so serious, Kakashi-senpai?"
"This needs to be handled properly."
Kakashi had already left the stands and was heading back toward the village. He sighed, his face grim, glancing over his shoulder at the racetrack.
"Hopefully Suna's hospital beds aren't too expensive…"
Meanwhile, the race itself was entering its final phase.
The Toad Sage, powered by Sage Chakra and hopping through shortcuts, had finally caught sight of the figure who had been leading the entire race from the beginning.
Jiraiya took a deep breath, panting heavily as he dispelled Sage Mode. After sending Fukasaku and Shima back, he turned to Tsunade, now fully recovered.
"Sorry… I might—"
But before he could finish his sentence—
"Star Gazing Platform! The final stretch is the Star Gazing Platform!"
Tobi's voice rang out over the speakers.
Jiraiya froze. The words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.
"You might what?" Tsunade glanced at him, brow furrowed, and waved her hand dismissively.
"I get it. You need to rest. That's fine. The next part's mine to handle anyway."
But—
"Rest? Rest?! Who said anything about rest?" Jiraiya snapped back to attention, eyes blazing. "Do I look like the kind of man who goes limp in three seconds?! Let me tell you—what I meant was, I'm running with you to the end!"
"???"
What the hell is this idiot talking about?
"I'm telling you, Tsunade—I'm with you to the finish!"
Jiraiya didn't care about Tsunade's weird expression. He looked ahead at the ancient, towering structure before them and felt his heart tremble.
"The Star Gazing Platform, huh…?"