Smack!
Behind the blazing fireballs splitting to either side, a black leopard-shaped shadow flashed past and crashed into the smoke slightly beyond where the fireballs had exploded. It violently burst apart, instantly transforming into a pool of black lightning that crackled like the chaotic cries of a hundred birds.
Tap!
The cone-shaped flames spraying from his eyes slowly faded. Amid the drifting smoke above the black lightning pool, the Third Raikage wore a grave expression as he landed lightly with one hand slashing downward. The instant his feet touched the ground, however, he did not even glance at the lightning pool before him. Instead, he sharply turned his gaze to his right—toward the Four Pillar Prison formed by four towering Rock Walls, now revealed as the flames gradually dispersed.
Tap!
At the same time, a foot slowly stepped onto the ground beside the Four Pillar Prison.
Clang!
Then came the sound of metal being pulled from stone.
So close. Still so close...
Chiba lowered his head and looked at the Ninja Sword in his hand, at the ring clasped around its hilt and wound with Steel Wire, and at the streak of blood on that ring. He slightly turned his wrist, concealing the gash there that was leaking a thin line of blood.
Although he had anticipated that the Third Raikage would close in and attack from behind, he had still underestimated his Body Flicker Technique speed and his reactions at such high velocity. Within barely one or two seconds of the Exploding Tag detonating, he had already attacked. If Chiba had not installed the mechanism on the Ninja Sword beforehand and fixed the sword to the Four Pillar Prison during the explosion, he likely would not have escaped the double attack at all.
His attacks looked simple, but... sometimes,