As the bandits finished speaking, four of them suddenly released a burst of Chakra and began forming Hand Seals.
"Earth Release: Binding Technique!"
The four called out together and cast the technique in unison.
A yellow-brown circle appeared beneath each of the six kids' feet, about half a meter in diameter, covered in strange patterns.
As soon as the circles appeared, the six kids felt their bodies sink, as if hundreds of pounds had been piled on them. They could barely breathe.
"This is... a Binding Technique!" Shikamaru's forehead was slick with cold sweat.
He tried to use the Shadow Imitation Technique to control the enemies and dispel the jutsu, but found it difficult enough just to stay upright. He could barely move a finger.
The others were in much the same state. Faced with a Binding Technique that felt like gravity itself, they were completely immobilized.
"Hahaha!"
"These brats really are Konoha ninja. They're tough to deal with."
"But brats are still brats. I had several chances to kill me, but my willingness to trade my life for a wound scared them off every time."
The bandits laughed smugly. Their trick of acting weak to catch their opponents off guard had taken down plenty of powerful enemies.
"Damn it, I didn't think we'd fall for it after all!" Shikamaru gritted his teeth.
He might have been smart, but he lacked experience and had no idea how treacherous people could be.
He'd been on his guard, but he still couldn't figure out what the enemy was relying on.
"You bastards! Let me go, and I'll knock every one of you flat!" Kiba tried to fight back, only to be pressed face-down onto the ground.
"Whimper..." Akamaru was sprawled on the ground looking miserable, unable to move at all.
"Save your