Amidst the thunderous charge of Arcanine, the perilous dense forest revealed a deathly silence and killing intent.
"Arcanine, use Agility!" Kushina's voice was clear and firm, tinged with a hint of anxiety.
At this moment, she and Asako, whether fighting alone or cooperating, were no match for Tōsō Noerujin.
Their only chance of victory lay in their coordinated efforts with Arcanine, but the enemy clearly wouldn't give them any breathing room.
"Boom!"
Tōsō Noerujin's massive hammer slammed into the ground, and cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb, sending up a shower of gravel and dust.
Kushina and Asako exchanged helpless glances, then simultaneously leaped onto the nearby treetops.
"Run! Let me enjoy the thrill of the hunt a little longer!" Tōsō Noerujin's voice was laced with madness as he stared at the two girls who had jumped onto Arcanine's back, a chilling grin spreading across his face, then he pursued them like a wild beast.
Among the crowd, Dotai's brows furrowed slightly.
On Arcanine's back, as the strong wind whipped past, Asako, looking a little uneasy, spoke, "Kushina, with Arcanine's current speed, that strange man from Hidden Mist can't catch us.
Why don't we take this opportunity to retreat for now?"
Kushina shook her head slightly, a determined flame burning in her eyes, "No, Hayato said he is our opponent.
If we run, both Whirlpool Village and Hayato will be in danger.
No matter who he helps, we cannot let him face it alone!"
Asako looked at the red-haired girl in front of her, thinking of Hayato fighting alone to protect them, and gently clenched her fists, "Alright, then we'll stick to the plan!"
Deep in the dense forest, Tōsō Noerujin stopped, his expression grim.
These opponents, each more cunning than the last, were as fast as ghosts.
Especially that annoying dog! If not for it, these two brats would have long been dead by his blade.
He scanned the surroundings, found no trace of Arcanine, and became extremely vigilant.
"Giving up on running?" He sneered, extending the blunt blade in his hand, "Don't worry, I'll make that brat watch you both die."
Before he finished speaking, thousands of identical figures suddenly leaped out of the bushes—all with Kushina and Asako's faces.
"Guess which one is the real one?" A Kushina mischievously winked.
"Don't worry, he'll never expect this move!" Asako on the treetop shouted in response.
"Foolish tricks!"
"Kushina One Thousand Strikes!"
Tōsō Noerujin looked around, sneered, and raised his giant hammer, then slammed it to the ground.
As his blunt blade spun, the Shadow Clones dissipated like fireworks, turning into a sky full of smoke.
"This boring farce, it's time for it to end!"
"Now! Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Asako and Kushina appeared simultaneously, and ten Adamantine Sealing Chains extended towards Tōsō Noerujin at the same time, intending to seal his Chakra.
However, Tōsō Noerujin was faster than them, sneering as he leaped backward, dodging the chains, "Do you think I don't know the methods of the Uzumaki Family?"
No sooner had he spoken than a low roar suddenly came from behind him.
"Thunder Fang!"
Arcanine pounced like lightning, its fangs, wreathed in thunder, bit fiercely into his right arm.
The electric current instantly pierced through Tōsō Noerujin's muscles, and his expression changed immediately.
"It worked!" Asako showed a hint of joy.
Before her smile had fully blossomed, Tōsō Noerujin's figure turned into a puff of smoke.
"Shadow Clone?" Asako's heart sank instantly.
Asako's expression froze, and Arcanine roared in pain as it was sent flying backward.
Tōsō Noerujin's face was gloomy, his right hand trembling slightly; he hadn't expected two brats to be able to injure him.
Uchiha Hayato and that monkey had both exceeded his expectations, so how could he not be on guard?
Using a clone, which he hadn't used in a long time, was already giving these two brats too much credit; his previous enemies couldn't even withstand a single blow from his blunt blade.
However, why was the other brat's expression so calm? Arcanine was her summoned beast; how could she have no reaction when it was injured?
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Five chains suddenly shot out from behind him, tightly binding Tōsō Noerujin.
"Damn it, brat, when did you—?"
The sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki Family lived up to its reputation; even a single girl using it was enough to bind him and hinder his Chakra.
To deceive the enemy, one must first deceive one's own people!
This was Kushina's true thought; if Asako was also fooled by the plan she came up with, then the enemy would certainly not expect it.
A confident smile appeared on her face, and then her expression became serious again.
"Asako, now! Kill him!"
In the instant Kushina smiled, Asako seemed to see Hayato's phantom appear behind her.
Hearing Kushina's command, she immediately snapped out of it and stabbed her Kunai towards his heart.
However, a dazzling flash of light streaked past, and her pupils suddenly constricted, "Watch out!"
Before she could warn her, Kushina had already turned sideways; the attack that was meant to pierce her now only struck her shoulder.
As blood splattered, the Adamantine Sealing Chains also instantly disintegrated.
"Kushina, quickly, Bite me, you'll be fine..."
Tears welled up in Asako's eyes as she glared hatefully at the newly appeared enemy, then picked up Kushina.
"Arcanine, it's up to you.
Take us to Hayato."
Arcanine struggled to its feet, leaped with all its might, and ran towards the place where Uchiha Hayato had disappeared.
Tōsō Noerujin was furious; he had almost been ambushed by two brats.
He looked at the person beside him; if it weren't for someone appearing, he might have died here.
Tōsō Noerujin looked angrily at his companion in the tree shadows.
"Well done, Harusame."
The newcomer was none other than Harusame.
A twisted and eerie smile was on his face, his glasses shattered—one lens completely gone, the other covered in cracks.
He looked extremely disheveled, yet exuded a chilling madness.
The pain of his friend's tragic death burned like fire in his heart, and at this moment, he had only one thought: to make Uchiha Hayato experience the same despair.
"You flatter me," Harusame chuckled in a low voice, his tone hoarse with hatred, "We'll go after them now and get rid of both of them... and make that Uchiha brat watch the people he wanted to protect die right before his eyes!"
Tōsō Noerujin said nothing but nodded and quickly gave chase.
Asako's mind was in turmoil; she was utterly helpless at this moment, the only thing she could think of was to find Hayato.
He had already shown her too many shocking things before; if it was him, there might still be a way.
She looked down at Kushina in her arms, the pale girl's breath faint.
Asako gritted her teeth, squeezed blood from the wound on her arm, and dripped it into Kushina's mouth.
As the blood entered her throat, Kushina's complexion gradually improved, while Asako's face grew paler, and her body swayed slightly.
The piercing sound of lightning was already coming from ahead.