"He can use the Water Body Flicker Technique by leveraging the Water Release you used!" Mitokado Homura quickly explained.
But Utatane Koharu's eyes had gone blank, and she had already lost her balance, pitching forward—
In that instant, Mitokado Homura's heart tightened.
He immediately understood what had happened.
His comrade had let her guard down! Even a momentary lapse was enough to break through her mental defenses!
This guy was nothing like the ninjas of the Yamanaka Clan!
Those ninjas needed to form Hand Seals to launch mental attacks! Hiroki didn't need to form Hand Seals at all! And Hiroki's technique seemed to have a sustained effect!
Any opening in a fight could lead to being subdued in an instant!
Tonight, Utatane Koharu had left that opening.
"Koharu!"
Without hesitation, Mitokado Homura used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside her and caught her just before she fell.
His movements were calm and swift. As he steadied her, his fingers were already checking her wrist and neck for her pulse and the flow of her chakra.
Her vital signs were stable, and her chakra showed no signs of disruption, but her mind had completely gone "offline."
He knew this was the "Brain Overload" state described in the intelligence reports.
It was a first for Konoha, but reports on Brain Overload had been included in the information from the battle with Hanzo, as well as in the intelligence Orochimaru had provided to Root.
Mitokado Homura wasn't surprised.
But his face had grown grim.
He didn't shout or demand answers. He simply held Utatane Koharu and slowly straightened up.
"—Release the technique you used on her!"
"You dare defy the decision of Konoha's advisory council!? If you keep this up, you won't just have us to deal with! There are more than