In the Forest of Death.
Rumble.
Amid the fiery explosions, Shinji's figure pierced through the smoke and dust, retreating violently.
Just as Kakashi had anticipated, the one fiercely battling Otsutsuki Toneri in the Forest of Death at this moment was indeed Shinji, who had pursued ahead of the others.
Yet once they exchanged blows, Shinji found it hard to put his suffering into words.
Though what he faced was merely a simulated puppet controlled by Otsutsuki Toneri, both its speed and strength had reached an extraordinarily formidable level.
In the original timeline, this puppet was ultimately destroyed by Naruto.
However, let us not forget that the Naruto of that time was the number one ninja in the shinobi world who had successfully sealed Kaguya Otsutsuki, pacified the Fourth Shinobi World War, beaten Sasuke into submission, and reached the quasi-Six Paths level of personal strength.
Therefore, perishing at Naruto's hands by no means indicated that this puppet was weak!
Vaulting out of the blast radius and barely managing to steady his footing on a large tree, Shinji discovered that Otsutsuki Toneri was pouncing forward at immense speed.
"Hmph!"
He let out a soft huff, formed hand seals, and once again unleashed a Fire Release ninjutsu.
Yet Otsutsuki Toneri neither dodged nor evaded; with a mere lift of his hand, a massive repulsive force spewed forth from his palm.
Boom!
In an instant, Shinji up in the tree, along with the Fire Release he had just discharged, were all blasted flying by this sudden repulsive force.
For a time, roars echoed endlessly and flames lit the sky!
Indeed!
The reason even those outside the Forest of Death could clearly see the flames filling the sky was not because the battle within the forest was particularly intense, but purely because Otsutsuki Toneri utilized