The larger the shadow, the longer its reach—and the smaller it is, the shorter the range. Only a clan like Shikamaru's, a family of high-IQ tacticians, can truly master such a secret art.
After several tries, Shikamaru frowned, sinking into thought.
Unwilling to accept the stalemate, Kiba split into a clone and, with Akamaru, formed the Three-Headed Wolf. The massive tri-form beast charged Suigetsu again.
Suigetsu hopped back; his entire arm liquefied into a stream of Water Bullets that hammered the Three-Headed Wolf. He'd expected to break its charge—but its hide held like stone. The shots hit like a hose. The tri-form shook itself, scattering droplets; the attack had done nothing.
Suigetsu cocked a brow and smirked. "Not bad. You've got a little bite. I just hate boring opponents—doesn't let me enjoy myself…"
He could talk for hours, muttering to himself between jabs.
Kiba had no intention of giving him that luxury. Before Suigetsu finished, the Three-Headed Wolf blurred sideways at extreme speed. From the stands it looked like a white oval spinning across the arena, a top screaming toward Suigetsu.
Suigetsu's grin vanished. His eyes sharpened. He reached behind him; the bandages fell from the cleaver, revealing the Executioner's Blade in full.
With a single heave, a towering sheet of water reared and crashed toward the spinning tri-form.
The collision boomed. The Three-Headed Wolf skidded, shed the form, and Kiba and Akamaru landed by Shikamaru. Lee arrived a heartbeat later. Ino and Choji joined, too.
It looked like overkill against one man.
Anyone who knew the Ghost Lantern secret art, though, would see the problem instantly: Kiba, Lee, and Choji rely mainly on physical offense.
Suigetsu ignores all physical attacks.
Which meant that no matter how many they brought to bear, their damage on Suigetsu was effectively zero. Add Ino's mind control and Shikamaru's shadow bind—both control-type and low on raw damage—and the lineup looked bad against this opponent.
Two controllers with no punch, three hitters whose damage can't land. Numbers alone weren't an advantage here. They were, in fact, on the weaker side.
Lee opened the Eight Gates and lunged—only to miss entirely and hurt himself from the strain.
He started to push again, but Shikamaru cut him off.
"Attacking like this only burns your chakra. It won't touch him," Shikamaru shouted.
Choji, about to pop a strength pill, stopped.
He squinted back at Shikamaru. "Then what's the plan?"
"His body turns to water. Our hits won't land," Ino said, worry in her voice.
Shikamaru didn't answer. He crouched, index fingers pressed together, thinking hard. His mind raced.
Suigetsu didn't give him the time. He swept a hand and unleashed Water Style: Triple Water Dragon Barrage—three vast dragons roaring down on Choji, Lee, and Kiba.
In the same breath, Suigetsu flickered behind Ino. Before she could react, a Water Prison blossomed around her and locked tight.
(End of Chapter)
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