"No. 1 Nagato versus No. 3 Aburame Shibi!"
The referee's shout announced the start of the second round. Nagato and Aburame Shibi both quickly walked onto the battlefield to prepare for combat.
Kakashi stopped talking with his teammates and looked toward the battlefield with a serious expression.
Though it was somewhat absurd, their greatest obstacle to taking first place now was not ninja from the other major villages, but Nagato and Sand Crab.
"Battle begin!"
The instant the referee shouted, Aburame Shibi immediately poured a massive amount of Chakra into the large gourd on his back, which was filled with secret insects.
Like a tidal wave, the swarm blasted open the stopper and turned into five dark clouds that pressed down upon Nagato.
Facing a powerful ninja like Nagato, Aburame Shibi did not dare hold back in the slightest. He went all out from the very first move.
"Fire Release: Head Hard!"
With a calm expression, Nagato formed hand seals and spat a fist-sized compressed fireball at the ground.
Whoosh, whoosh!!
The instant the fireball struck the ground, all the flames compressed within it erupted. Towering flames surged forth and instantly transformed into a sea of fire between Nagato and Aburame Shibi.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Nagato immediately formed another series of hand seals and spat out a wind sphere.
A violent, powerful storm erupted across the battlefield. The wind fed the flames, and even though Aburame Shibi deliberately controlled the insects to fly higher, they were still swallowed by the flaming storm. At the same time, Aburame Shibi had no choice but to retreat at high speed to evade the incoming flames.
"Secret Technique: Insect Clone!"
After a brief moment of thought, Aburame Shibi created two clones composed of Kikaichū. He and his clones ran along the edge of