Uzumaki Kuming unfurled a strange scroll before him. Every Sunagakure shinobi saw him do it.
But none of them knew what was inside the scroll. With Baishi's safety in mind, they didn't act rashly. Instead, they guarded the earthen fort they had built around him.
Rasa had also reached a spot behind Uzumaki Kuming. He watched Kuming warily. When Granny Chiyo saw Rasa arrive, she focused on attacking Hatake Sakumo and quickly recalled the two puppets protecting Baishi.
As the battle between Chiyo, Karura, and the other Sunagakure shinobi against Hatake Sakumo intensified, the encirclement around him moved farther and farther away.
"Reverse Summoning Technique!"
Seeing that none of the Sunagakure shinobi dared approach, Uzumaki Kuming swiftly formed Hand Seals and pressed his palm against the scroll. The next moment, a cloud of white smoke enveloped it, and a Shadow Clone of Kuming appeared on the battlefield, sitting cross-legged.
"What's that?"
"He summoned himself?"
Rasa saw the change near Kuming and felt puzzled, but he remained on guard. He secretly gathered Chakra and guided Gold Dust underground, toward the place where Kuming stood.
"Don't let your guard down! Protect Lord Baishi!"
The dozen or so shinobi guarding Baishi quickly reinforced the earthen fort, then spread out. They left only a few shinobi to guard the fort, while the rest surrounded Uzumaki Kuming. Ninjutsu, shuriken, and Kunai flew toward him from every direction. Unable to get close, the Sunagakure shinobi tried to kill him from a distance.
"The Jinchuriki takes priority."
Uzumaki Kuming glanced at the Sunagakure shinobi guarding Shukaku's Jinchuriki, then at those surrounding and attacking him. He swiftly formed a Hand Seal and dispelled the Shadow Clone that had been brought before him by Reverse Summoning.
"Sage Mode!"
The Senjutsu Chakra gathered by the Shadow Clone flowed back into