"Lord Dodai..."
At the sound of that call, the Kumogakure ninja who had formed a ring upon ring around the seated Dodai all froze.
"What are you standing around for?!"
Seeing their stunned expressions, Dodai spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of urgency and an unusual severity.
Lord Dodai, this is...
The Kumogakure ninja exchanged glances, all taken aback. Yet almost instinctively, several people at the front of the formation slowly moved aside, opening a path straight toward the Third Raikage so Dodai could observe the situation.
Weren't we already unable to interfere in this battle? Wouldn't the best course be to stay away from the battlefield, so we didn't hold the Third Raikage back? Although they had moved aside instinctively, the Kumogakure ninja remained full of doubts, their faces equally puzzled.
Though he saw their confusion, Dodai offered no explanation. His gaze stayed fixed on the Third Raikage, then extended past him toward the fading white mist. He paid no attention to the two close friends helping him sit down, nor to the female Medical Ninja reaching out from the side and lightly pressing her hand against his forehead to treat him. A thoughtful look gradually appeared in his eyes.
"Hmph..."
At that moment, the Third Raikage, standing two or three meters ahead, glanced slightly over his shoulder. A faint smile appeared with his snort, while the crack in his Chakra Cloak that ran from his left cheek across the bridge of his nose to his right cheek slowly closed completely.
Looks like...
Then, his gaze shifted forward, falling upon the transparent, finger-thick projectile aimed directly at his brow, tightly gripped in his outstretched right hand.
"Crack... crackle... crackle, crackle..."
Fine cracking sounds rang out alongside the shrill electric hiss, like the clamorous chirping of a hundred birds,