NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47: Head-to-head combat
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The valley was alive with chaos, smoke curling into the air as remnants of the explosion dissipated.
Itachi's Sharingan glinted in the dim light, the swirling tomoe reflecting his sharp focus. His gaze swept over the terrain, identifying the faint chakra trails left by the Iwa-nin.
"Three enemies," Itachi confirmed quietly, his tone calm but firm.
Beside him, Rei clutched his chest, his face pale. The trembling in his hands betrayed the fear he felt. Memories of his predecessors' gruesome fates replayed in his mind, but the unwavering presence of the Konoha shinobi grounded him, albeit slightly.
Shikaku Nara, standing at the forefront, furrowed his brow as he observed the aftermath of the detonating clay. "The explosions are precise. They're herding us into a disadvantageous position," he muttered, calculating the enemy's strategy.
"Are they trying to isolate us or flush us out?" Izumi mused, her grip tightening on her blade.
Itachi remained silent, his focus sharp. In his mind, scenarios unfolded rapidly, his innate talent and Sharingan weaving together an intricate understanding of their opponent's tactics.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped to the cliffside. "They're moving," he said, his voice cutting through the tension. "Two are approaching from the east. One is taking the high ground."
Shikaku followed Itachi's line of sight and nodded. "Clever. They're splitting their forces to distract and target Rei. We'll need to counter this carefully."
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Above the valley, Deidara stood with a smug grin.
"Looks like they've caught onto my masterpiece," he sneered, a hint of irritation lacing his words. "But art is an explosion, yeah! Let's see how they handle this."
Beside him, Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes. "Maybe if you stopped announcing your attacks like a child showing off his toys, they wouldn't see through you so quickly."
Deidara's scowl deepened. "And maybe if you weren't so smug about being Tsuchikage's granddaughter, you'd understand real art!"
"Quiet, both of you," Huitu interjected sharply, his dark eyes narrowing as he surveyed the battlefield below. "Our objective is clear: eliminate the Stone Country envoy. We're not here to settle your petty squabbles."
The weight of his tone silenced them.
Deidara huffed, molding a small bird from his clay. With a single chakra-infused breath, the creature sprang to life, flapping its wings as it hovered beside him. "Fine. Let's get to it."
Kurotsuchi smirked, crouching low as she prepared to move. "Try not to embarrass yourself this time, 'artist.'"
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Back on the ground, Itachi's focus sharpened as he caught the telltale glow of chakra signatures moving closer.
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"They're here!"
Aoki Yu's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, her expression sharp as she pinpointed the incoming chakra signatures.
Shikaku's head turned sharply. "Positions. Prepare for an aerial assault."
Before anyone could move, Yu's gaze shot skyward. "Above us!"
The figure of Huitu descended rapidly, his tan vest flapping in the wind. Dust swirled around him, a visual signature of his mastery over Earth Release techniques.
"Someone who can fly…" Shikaku muttered, narrowing his eyes. His tactical mind immediately worked to decipher the enemy's abilities. "He's reducing his mass with Doton. That's not an easy skill to master."
Mid-flight, Huitu's hands moved fluidly, forming seals. As his chakra surged, his mouth opened, spewing forth an avalanche of rocks. In an instant, they coalesced into a massive boulder, floating ominously in front of him.
"How is that even possible?" Izumi Uchiha's voice was tinged with disbelief as she stared at the hovering rock. "That thing should have fallen already!"
Above, Huitu placed a single hand beneath the massive boulder, his control over it unnervingly precise.
With a sharp movement, he hurled the boulder downward.
"Brace!" Shikaku barked, his voice steady despite the looming threat.
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On the ground, Yu focused her chakra, her eyes darting.
"The other two—there!" she shouted, pointing toward the cliffside.
Itachi and Izumi turned immediately to follow her direction. Two smaller figures were climbing the jagged cliff face with speed and precision.
The first was Deidara, a blonde boy with a wild grin plastered on his face. His hands were already reaching into a satchel, molding his signature explosive clay.
The second was a dark-haired girl whose confident smirk belied her youth. Kurotsuchi moved with calculated precision, her chakra steady, even fierce.
"Children?" Rei, standing behind izumi, stared wide-eyed. "The assassins from Iwa are… brats? Younger than the ones protecting me?"
The revelation left him reeling, his mind struggling to reconcile what he saw with his expectations.
"They're not ordinary kids," Itachi said quietly, his crimson Sharingan locking onto the pair. "Don't underestimate them."
Izumi's Sharingan activated as well, her blood-red eyes mirroring Itachi's focus. She hesitated for a moment, studying Kurotsuchi. "She looks even younger than us," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"But her chakra…" Itachi cut in, his tone decisive. "It's strong. Too strong for someone her age. She must be…" His gaze shifted to Kurotsuchi's Iwa vest. "The granddaughter of the Tsuchikage."
Izumi nodded, her expression hardening. "Understood."
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Above them, Huitu released the boulder.
Gravity reasserted itself, and the massive stone plummeted toward Shikaku's team with terrifying speed.
"Move!" Shikaku's sharp command spurred everyone into action.
The air screamed as the boulder cut through it, its weight and velocity creating a deafening roar.
In mid-air, Huitu formed seals once more. "Doton: Kengan no Jutsu!"
The boulder seemed to pulse as his chakra infused it, increasing its density and accelerating its descent.
"Scatter!" Izumi shouted, shielding Rei
as they dove to the side.
Itachi moved swiftly, his Sharingan reading the trajectory of the falling boulder. His hands flashed through seals. "Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!"
Small, rapid-fire fireballs streaked toward the boulder, striking its surface. The impacts created small cracks, but the sheer weight and speed of the stone remained unyielding.
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Elsewhere, Deidara and Kurotsuchi had closed the distance.
"Think you can handle my art, yeah?" Deidara taunted, his grin widening as a clay bird came to life in his palm. He launched it forward, the bird darting through the air with an eerie grace.
Kurotsuchi moved in tandem, slamming her hands onto the ground. "Doton: Ganchūrō no Jutsu!" Massive stone pillars erupted from the earth, aiming to trap Shikaku and his team in an enclosed space.
Izumi leapt back, flipping gracefully to avoid the rising stone. She landed near Itachi, her Sharingan spinning as she scanned their attackers.
"Don't let them box us in!" Itachi called, his voice calm yet commanding.
Shikaku, already analyzing the battlefield, nodded. His shadow snaked forward, stretching toward Kurotsuchi. "Let's see if you're as quick as you think, Tsuchikage's granddaughter."
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