All Within His Calculations!

He noticed! The moment the firelight from the Exploding Tag flared up, a helpless thought flashed through Hirohiko's mind.

He had already been cautious enough, and his timing had been perfect. When he wrapped the Steel Wire around Chiba's foot, it had been at the very instant Chiba attacked. At that moment, Chiba's attention had been focused on him. It had been the best possible opportunity to set up a follow-up move and a trap, and he had done it flawlessly. Chiba should not have noticed.

But now, it seemed Chiba had discovered it long ago and simply had not undone it, all for this strike.

Might Guy and Asuma had now been completely forced onto the defensive. His follow-up had been neutralized, and they had even been outmaneuvered.

And the reason Chiba had used Water Wall just now had been to block his Dragon Fire Technique. Or rather, he had known Hirohiko might use the Dragon Fire Technique. Given Chiba's understanding of him, once he noticed that Steel Wire, he would naturally know Hirohiko intended to use the Dragon Fire Technique.

At that time, using Water Wall amid Asuma and Might Guy's follow-up attacks had been in consideration of Hirohiko's attack. After all, whether Chiba dodged Might Guy's attack or took it head-on, he could not possibly defend against Hirohiko's Dragon Fire Technique while dodging or enduring the attack. That way, even if Might Guy and Asuma's attacks failed to restrain him, Hirohiko's Dragon Fire Technique would still hold him back. It might even break his Rock Armor under the intense heat of Asuma's Great Fireball Technique combined with Hirohiko's Dragon Fire Technique. His movements would inevitably be affected then, and Asuma still had follow-up attacks he had yet to use. Chiba would still be restrained.

Though it had