"Don't you dare make a move against Big Sister, you bastard!"
Naruko shouted as she rushed over.
"Hmph... you again..."
Toneri sneered.
But being mocked only made Naruko even angrier.
"You bastard... you're really making me mad!"
Burning with rage, she launched a furious attack at Toneri.
Toneri dodged while moving toward the sand sphere nearby.
His speed wasn't particularly fast.
Seeing his movements clearly, Naruko charged straight at Toneri and seized the opportunity in an instant.
Toneri took a punch from Naruko and was sent flying into the surrounding rock wall.
But...
A strange feeling still lingered on Naruko's fist.
Rather than punching a person, it felt more like she had hit an object.
Toneri, who had crashed into the rock wall, stood up with a series of clicking sounds.
This was... a puppet!
"Is it a puppet too...?"
Sasuke stood to the side and murmured.
"How foolish..."
At that moment, the half-damaged puppet spoke.
"Your fists... can't hit me..."
After saying that, the puppet fell apart.
"What a joke! If you're so confident I can't hit you, then don't sneak a puppet over here. Come out and fight me fair and square~!"
Naruko shouted loudly.
"Where are Naruko and the others?"
"They went to look for Hyuga Mami, who fell behind."
"There's trouble!"
Shikamaru took up a fighting stance.
If caught by them, even a huge tree would be instantly severed in half.
If it got its claws around you, even a giant tree would be instantly severed in half.
By the time Naruko, Sasuke, and Hyuga Mami reunited with the others...
The crab had already been dealt with.
"You're too slow, Naruko..."
"I just punched the enemy leader away! Though... it was only a puppet..."
Naruko's voice grew quieter and quieter.
"Why do our enemies always