The great battle was on the verge of erupting.
Hiruko was beginning to regret his overconfidence. He should have notified Scorpion, Deidara, Itachi, and Juzo Biwa to come support him sooner.
Besides the enemies right in front of him, Jiraiya and Orochimaru were nearby. If they were surrounded, they'd be in serious trouble.
Hiruko ordered, "Ranmaru, send up a signal!"
Ranmaru immediately took out a flare and fired it into the sky.
Whoosh.
In an instant, a flare with a bright, trailing tail shot high into the air!
Kakashi cried out, "Oh no!"
Whoosh.
Before he could finish speaking, a purple arrow shot through the air and struck the flare just as it was about to explode!
Boom!
With a deafening blast, no brilliant signal fireworks lit up the sky. There was only a flash of fire that vanished in an instant.
Without a doubt, the moment Ranmaru set off the flare, Sasuke had activated Susanoo without hesitation and shot down the unexploded signal flare.
"Tch!"
Watching the flare get destroyed, Hiruko spat in annoyance.
Kabuto Yakushi spoke at just the right moment. "As long as you hand over the Nine-Tails, I can help you escape!"
Hiruko glared at Kabuto Yakushi. "Who do you think you are? You think you're in any position to negotiate with me?"
Kabuto Yakushi smiled and shifted his gaze to Ranmaru, standing beside Hiruko. "Ranmaru, as far as I know, Hiruko has always coveted your Red Eye. You're in good shape right now, and you don't have the Nine-Tails with you. If you run, no one here will stop you. As for Hiruko, who covets your Red Eye, don't worry. He won't get away!"
Kabuto Yakushi was clearly trying to drive a wedge between Hiruko and Ranmaru, hoping to turn them against each other.
"Shut