Shukaku

"Impossible!"

"Ah!"

"Damn it!"

The ANBU squad swallowed by the Compound Wind and Fire Ninjutsu cursed and wailed amid the flames.

Several of them were Sensory Ninja, and their squad leader was highly experienced. His swordsmanship was even good enough to force Ranmaru back while he was using Swift Release. The squad as a whole was no weakling.

Even so, they were instantly overwhelmed by the inexplicable ninjutsu that appeared behind them.

There was no doubt about it.

The attackers were Ranmaru's Red Eye clones, created by his Red Eye. These "Red Eye clones" were constructs of Dojutsu. Though they had no physical bodies, they could still use Chakra to perform ninjutsu. So whenever they used Shadow Release, they became invisible just like Ranmaru, making them impossible to guard against.

After defeating the ANBU blocking his path, the badly shaken Ranmaru didn't turn around to keep fighting Neji and Kimimaro. He simply broke through and fled.

"What..."

Watching the ANBU squad disappear beneath the Compound Wind and Fire Ninjutsu, Neji's face was dark beneath his mask.

With his Tenseigan deactivated, the Byakugan alone couldn't distinguish Ranmaru from his Red Eye clones.

Neji asked Kimimaro, "Should we keep chasing him?"

"Of course."

Kimimaro's expression remained indifferent.

He knew that without the Tenseigan, capturing Ranmaru alive would be difficult. But an order was an order. Whether or not he could carry it out, he had to try.

Elsewhere in the Forest of Death, at another battlefield.

Roar!

As Gaara completely lost control, Shukaku finally took over his body, broke free of the Sealing Technique, and appeared in its full Tailed Beast form.

"Damn it, the One-Tail's out!"

"That Sand brat's gotten us all killed!"

"We can't let it reach the village!"

The Konoha Ninja stared at the enormous beast before them, their