[Ding-dong.]
[File Wood Release: Root Concealment.ee" has finished downloading. Install now?]
!!
It worked!
It really worked!!!!
Finally! If it hadn't worked this time, he might actually have died!
The moment he heard the system notification, the nerves he'd kept taut to their breaking point nearly snapped on the spot.
"Pfft—!"
He could no longer hold it in. A mouthful of blood burst from his lips, spattering the White Zetsu he held in a glaring scarlet splash.
His body had already reached its limit.
Of course, the main reason was that Hiroki hadn't used automated Mystical Palm Technique to heal himself.
Hiroki had no idea how much chakra he'd need to expend to get far enough away with Wood Release: Root Concealment—
But now, it didn't matter!
He had the ninjutsu. All he had to do now was run!!
—Relieved, Hiroki couldn't help looking back on the previous ten minutes. Those ten minutes had felt longer and harder than any battle he'd experienced across both his lives.
It was like playing a bullet-hell game: on one hand, he had to dodge the Tailed Beast Bombs fired by two giant bosses, then avoid their shock waves, as well as other attacks like water bullets and acid.
On the other hand, he had to capture a White Zetsu and spare enough attention to find Wood Release: Root Concealment among the ninjutsu and download it!
He'd been like a computer running far beyond capacity—
This time, though, the Konoha jonin hadn't talked about staying behind to cover his retreat. They probably knew they couldn't hold the enemy back in this battle—
Aburame Torune had disappeared into the depths of the woods under cover of his insects, carrying the badly wounded Inuzuka San. The Uchiha and Sarutobi jonin had also used their respective transformations