In their eyes, Hakushi's mysterious and unfathomable Yin Style Ninjutsu, more lethal than the Nara Clan's, could perfectly integrate attack and defense, making it extremely troublesome.
After Hakushi sealed, a mass of deep black shadow detached from the shadow beneath his feet, emerging into a tangible form. A girl in a black tight-fitting outfit stood beside Hakushi, her long hair flowing, revealing a beautiful yet bloodless pale face.
Her pitch-black eyes emitted a chilling aura, seemingly able to freeze the space around her.
"A woman?"
Sarutobi Ryu slightly tilted his head in confusion.
He never expected that within Hakushi's shadow, a human girl could be hidden.
What exactly was the relationship between the two, and how did they merge?
All of this remained unknown.
Now Sarutobi Ryu understood why Jiraiya had initialized that mode from the start.
Because many things about Hakushi were unknown, and the unknown signified mystery and extreme danger.
Given that even a live person could be hidden within his shadow, it was no surprise what strange Ninja Techniques Hakushi might showcase next.
"Be careful; this girl is probably not simple."
Sarutobi Ryu said softly.
Sarutobi Linko and other Konoha Ninja nodded solemnly.
"Go."
As soon as Hakushi spoke, the alluring silhouette of the Shadow Dancer flickered and disappeared from beside him.
When she reappeared, she was already in front of Sarutobi Ryu.
Sarutobi Ryu rudely swung the Chakra Blade infused with Fire Attribute Chakra, slashing at the Shadow Dancer's body.
A pale, slender hand caught the Chakra Blade, which carried violent power.
A deep darkness emanated from the Shadow Dancer's delicate hand, eroding the Fire Attribute Chakra and the blade of the Chakra Blade together.
Moreover, the darkness quickly spread, extending towards Sarutobi Ryu's hand.
Sarutobi Ryu's expression changed; he quickly released the Chakra Blade and leaped backward.
The Chakra Blade, eroded by darkness, and the Attribute Chakra on it, dissipated into the air and vanished.
Yet, the Shadow Dancer's body once again disappeared. Sarutobi Ryu's face stiffened, turning as the dark silhouette appeared to his side, its pitch-black eyes filled with a chilling ruthlessness, reaching for him with its pale, slender hand.
Without hesitation, Sarutobi Ryu flipped over an Explosive Tag in his hand, detonating it between him and the Shadow Dancer.
Boom!
The explosion's shockwave propelled his body out, and the Shadow Dancer also stumbled backward, glancing at Sarutobi Ryu's tumbling direction, with a hint of displeasure in her eyes.
Sarutobi Ryu climbed up from the ground, with a large area burned at his waist, his clothes stained red with blood, the wound still bleeding incessantly.
Though he had escaped the Shadow Dancer's deadly strike with the power of the Explosive Tag's explosion, he was injured by it.
"Ryu!"
Sarutobi Linko shouted loudly, as a gust of wind attacked, she hurriedly swung the Chakra Scalpel in her hand towards the attacker.
"Now is not the time to focus on others' injuries, Deputy Minister Sarutobi."
Hakushi's smiling face was right in front of her, grabbing Sarutobi Linko's wrist, causing her Chakra Scalpel to swing through the air.
Sarutobi Linko broke free from Hakushi's hand and jumped back.
Hakushi's other hand quickly swung, sending three venom-filled syringes flying toward Sarutobi Linko's body.
Sarutobi Linko dodged the syringes projected towards her with a swift movement and quickly slipped a scroll from her sleeve, unfurling it.
A giant Shuriken was held in her hand, swiftly flung at Hakushi.
While simultaneously sealing with her hands, what was initially a giant Shuriken quickly transformed into more than ten giant Shurikens, blocking all of Hakushi's escape routes.
Hakushi stood motionless, as the Shadow Dancer flickered in front of him, her hands releasing into distorted entity shadows, spawning numerous Shadow Blades to intercept all the giant Shurikens, chopping them into pieces.
"I got you!"
Just as the Shadow Dancer blocked all the giant Shurikens, a figure quickly appeared behind Hakushi.
A Konoha Ninja, holding a Ninja Blade, silently approached Hakushi from behind, swinging the Ninja Blade towards his back.
Water splashed in front of him.
Bringing a touch of refreshment to the dry sand.
The attacking Konoha Ninja froze, mouth agape, as water poured into him, making it hard for him to breathe.
Water Prison Jutsu.
The Konoha Ninja suddenly held his breath, feeling a bit better, clenching the Ninja Blade in his hand again, attempting to forcibly break free from the Water Prison Jutsu.
Pssh!
Pssh!
As he tried to move, the Shadow Blade pierced through from outside the water sphere, impaling his body.
Blood reddened the water sphere, bleeding profusely, unable even to scream out of it.
Bang.
The blood-soaked water sphere burst, and the Konoha Ninja's body dropped lifelessly behind Hakushi, unable even to struggle.
"Here's some advice: don't recklessly approach my body, it's a very dangerous action."
Hakushi glanced at the increasingly grim Sarutobi Ryu and Sarutobi Linko, laughing as he spoke.
"From now on... I should take things a bit more seriously."
Hakushi raised his hand to his mouth and bit down lightly, smiling at Sarutobi Ryu and company, then slammed his hand heavily into the void beside him.
The runes from the contract emerged in the void, beginning to spread outwards.
"Summoning Jutsu!"