Chapter 259: Tobitake Tonbo Picking Up the Scraps
Flash!
As Kidomaru flew backward, stunned by the disappearance of Neji's shadow clone, a figure suddenly materialized behind him.
"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Kidomaru's body jolted violently as he coughed up a spray of fresh blood. His vision began to blur.
"How is this possible... a Konoha ninja..."
Before he could finish his mutterings, the life left his body.
Hoo!
Neji took a deep breath, adjusting his rhythm to recover his stamina.
Snap!
He pulled a food pill from his ninja tool pouch and popped it into his mouth. He watched as the monstrous form of the Cursed Seal faded from Kidomaru's body. Once he confirmed the enemy was dead, he used a Body Flicker Technique to leave the area, chasing after Shikamaru and the others.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Only after Neji had departed did a clone of Tobitake Tonbo emerge from the shadows. He stepped forward to examine Kidomaru's corpse.
"Internal organs completely destroyed, the chakra pathway system severed, and the tenketsu entirely blocked... now this is what you call Gentle Fist!"
A smile played on Tonbo's lips.
As the ancestral secret technique of the Hyuga clan, the Gentle Fist was never meant to be as weak as it sometimes appeared in the original story. Looking at Kidomaru's condition, it truly lived up to its prestigious reputation.
The Gentle Fist was a style where a single hit from a Hyuga could devastate internal organs and the chakra network. Because the network is deeply intertwined with every organ in the body, even a glancing blow to the skin should theoretically cause the enemy to lose partial function of their chakra system.
From the looks of it, Neji was indeed a genius. With the Sixty-Four Palms, every strike had perfectly pulverized a corresponding internal organ. Even in his Cursed Seal Level 2 state, Kidomaru's insides had been turned to mush.
"But I've collected even more Cursed Seal data. I'm getting very close to Sage Mode now. Orochimaru is truly impressive; he managed to find so many talented ninjas with unique abilities from all over the world."
Tonbo felt a sense of admiration for Orochimaru. Even with his own intelligence network, it was difficult to find such a diverse array of ninjas—from Akado Yoroi's chakra absorption to Kabuto's Yin Healing Wound Destruction, and the Sound Four.
But now, it was all falling into Tonbo's lap. The data on the Sound Four—and potentially Kimimaro—was now his.
"I need to notify my other clones. Neji is catching up; this might be the point where Sasuke's 'path to power' begins to deviate."
Tonbo's hands blurred as he formed seals. Two seconds later, the clone vanished.
When he reappeared, he was standing next to the clone following Shikamaru's group.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
Though he wasn't proficient enough to use it effectively in active combat, it was perfect for traveling long distances. The clones touched briefly, allowing their memories to merge. Once the synchronization was complete, they continued the pursuit.
Should I block Neji's path? Tonbo pondered.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"Kimimaro, pick up the pace. I have a bad feeling about this," Kabuto said as they traveled, acting on a sudden intuition.
Hearing this, Kimimaro followed closely behind and increased his speed.
"If Master Kabuto has such a feeling, then their mission must be facing significant obstacles." Kimimaro trusted Kabuto's instincts implicitly.
The bright moon had already dipped below the mountains, and the final veil of darkness before dawn began to settle.
"Tch, they caught up that fast? Kidomaru and the others are useless. Lord Orochimaru really shouldn't have grouped them with us."
Sakon felt the movement behind them, his face twisting with dissatisfaction. Being unable to handle a few Konoha brats was an utter embarrassment. As he moved, Sakon formed seals, leaving behind explosive-tag-like formulas on the ground wherever he stepped.
Tayuya added, "At this rate, Lord Orochimaru's goal might not be achieved."
There were only two of them left now. If the enemy continued the tactic of leaving one person behind to stall their members, things would get difficult.
Sakon remained confident. "Don't worry, leave them to me. I'll settle it."
Boom! Boom!
Just then, the sound of explosions echoed from behind them.
"Heh, rushing in so fast? Are they that eager to enter the Pure Land? My Explosive Kill Array may have a time limit, but it's much harder to crack than standard traps." Sakon's lips curled into a smirk. Using this move, he had eliminated countless opponents for Lord Orochimaru.
Zip!
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them. He had white hair, two distinct bound locks hanging down, and two red dots on his forehead.
"Kimimaro? Why are you here?" Tayuya and Sakon asked in shock.
"Hand Sasuke over to me. You two stay here and kill the pursuing Konoha squad," Kimimaro commanded.
"Tch, we could have finished the mission and gained Lord Orochimaru's favor even without you," Tayuya grumbled, clearly annoyed.
Sakon was also irritated but conceded. "Fine, give Sasuke to him. Lord Orochimaru's mission is the priority."
They all knew Orochimaru was nearing the limit for his reincarnation. If they missed this window, they would have to wait another three years. Tayuya tossed the large barrel she was carrying to Kimimaro with a huff.
"Bastard! Give Sasuke back!" Naruto and the others finally broke through the traps and caught up.
Seeing the three enemies and the barrel in Kimimaro's hands, Naruto's blue eyes began to flicker with hints of orange-yellow.
"Sorry, Sasuke belongs to Lord Orochimaru. I cannot grant your request." Kimimaro glanced at him and flickered away instantly.
Naruto tried to force a pursuit but was stopped by Shikamaru. "Naruto, be careful! That guy looks like enemy reinforcements."
"Then what do we do?" Naruto asked, frantic.
"How about you two handle these two, and I'll go after the new guy?" Inuzuka Kiba suggested, his nose twitching as he caught a dangerous scent. He originally wanted Naruto to go, but he didn't quite trust Naruto's current level of reliability.
"You really think we'd let you just walk past us?" Sakon sneered from a distance. "Too naive."
"Tayuya, let's show them what we're made of."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Tayuya didn't waste any time with talk. Her hands flew through seals.
"Summoning Jutsu: Doki (Angry Demons)!"
Poof!
Three massive summoned beasts appeared: one wielding a spiked club, one looking like a handless mummy, and a humanoid one without eyes. Immediately after summoning them, she pulled out her flute and began to play.
The entire sequence happened in an instant, before Shikamaru's team could even react. Only after the three beasts stood before them did they prepare to counter-attack.
"Naruto, you go after that guy! Kiba and I will deal with these two!" Shikamaru ordered.
"Naruto? Is he going to be okay?" Kiba expressed his doubt.
"I'm going! I've learned a new secret technique too—I'll definitely bring Sasuke back!" Naruto, consumed by worry for Sasuke, made his decision.
"Kiba, don't worry. Naruto is strong. Don't forget, he beat you during the Chunin Exams," Shikamaru said, trusting Naruto's resolve.
"Alright then. Akamaru, let's go! We'll block them and give Naruto his opening!" Hearing this, Kiba stopped arguing. He watched the massive yet agile summons and began forming his own seals.
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