Mutual

Boom!

Flames and smoke erupted violently, instantly engulfing the two closest to the blast.

Just as expected...

Watching the flames and smoke in the arena, Yukina and Hirohiko silently pressed their lips together.

Just as we thought, Chiba would definitely use an Exploding Tag to turn the situation around. He could also use the smoke from the explosion to conceal himself and set up a follow-up move.

But if his opponent was Kakashi, then at such close range, he probably had no way to lay any groundwork.

Still, the explosion was enough to force Kakashi back. He dodged that sword strike! This was only natural in their minds. Could Chiba lose just because the situation changed in an instant once or twice? Impossible!

As they thought this, Hirohiko and Yukina shook their heads, even finding it a little laughable. If Chiba were so easily defeated, then he—and the two of them as well—would have died several times already, back during the Defense Map mission.

"This Chiba is rather interesting."

The female Anbu watched the flames and smoke in the arena and quietly nodded.

"When Chiba flung out his left hand just now, was he holding two Kunai? One ordinary Kunai, and the other this Exploding Tag Kunai? Did he use his slightly longer sleeve to conceal them? After all, there was no time to draw a Kunai during a Body Flicker Technique. Tsk! Is this why he is Konoha's Future?"

The male Anbu could not help nodding repeatedly as well. For a moment just now, he had thought Chiba was about to lose. He had really underestimated him.

"Huh? Exploding Tag? When did he set that up?"

At this point, Obito and Asuma blinked and spoke in confusion.

"Why did it explode?!"

"What happened?"

"When was that Exploding Tag planted?"