Red Dragon

"Damn it!"

The Konoha shinobi's faces changed at once.

Even Yakumo, who had just trapped Hiruko with a genjutsu, hadn't expected Sasuke to lose the genjutsu battle—and so quickly, at that.

Even Kakashi, who had just tried to stop Sasuke, had only thought him too reckless.

After all, Shinji and Yakumo had both beaten Hiruko in genjutsu. By that logic, Sasuke, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, should at least have been able to protect himself, even if he couldn't win.

It was a nasty surprise.

But this was hardly the time to dwell on why Sasuke had lost. Kakashi, Yakumo, and Naruto attacked at once.

In an instant, several vines burst from the ground and coiled tightly around Sasuke's waist, trying to pull him free of Hiruko.

At the same time, Kakashi—his Chidori already active—closed in on Hiruko, while Naruto's newly formed army of Shadow Clones rushed in behind him!

Hiruko released Sasuke with a savage grin. Activating Swift Release and Steel Release at once, he slipped past Kakashi's attack, then charged into Naruto's Shadow Clones like a tiger among sheep.

A series of muffled thumps rang out as Naruto's Shadow Clones exploded in clouds of smoke, one after another.

"So fast!"

Naruto was stunned.

He hadn't expected Hiruko's Taijutsu to be so fierce. His Shadow Clones couldn't withstand even a single move. He ordered all the remaining clones to pair up, preparing to unleash his original technique, the Rasengan Barrage!

But the moment the first glowing Rasengans took shape, Hiruko spread his hands. "Nether Release: Absorption Hole!"

Naruto immediately felt the Rasengan in his hand grow unstable. The Rasengans held by his Shadow Clones nearest Hiruko were pulled straight toward him by his Nether Release.

Controlling four or five Rasengans at once with Nether Release, Hiruko's destructive power soared. He