A New Lead!

Shinji glanced at the people around him and nodded silently.

He had been a little worried that someone might realize he'd been holding back. Now it seemed that concern had been unnecessary.

Clearly, he had underestimated his own performance.

As a Ninja Academy student, he had defeated Shinnō head-on, after he opened the Eight Gates and reached the Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder. He had also beaten Hiruko, who had fused multiple Kekkei Genkai and seemed to possess a Mangekyō Sharingan.

That record was flawless, no matter who you showed it to!

Given the circumstances, no one would think Shinji had been going easy on them. Quite the opposite: everyone was relieved that he'd been there. Without him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"What a shame."

Still watching the Chimera fly away, Shinji murmured.

"Yeah. We were so close to saving Uncle Han and taking that Mangekyō Sharingan!"

Kurotsuchi looked just as disappointed.

She hadn't dared to hope for much against Akatsuki Organization powerhouses like Shinnō and Hiruko. Shinji had given her hope, but then everything had taken a sudden turn, leaving her frustrated and full of regret.

Darui still wore a grim expression.

Being trounced by Shinnō and Hiruko one after another—and especially being knocked back by Hiruko's Storm Release—was a humiliation he couldn't let go of. Even the usually laid-back, composed Darui had a fire burning in his eyes!

On Konoha's side,

Yakumo, Karin, Haku, Kimimaro, Neji, and the others all wore different expressions.

After the successive battles, they had all suffered some injuries, with Neji hurt the worst and Yakumo the most exhausted.

So when they saw the Chimera speed away, they didn't pursue it on their own.

After all, this was a mission from the village, and their leader hadn't given them any instructions. They