"Protect Lord Hokage!"
The Anbu guarding Uzumaki Kuming roared, but Nonō was moving far too fast. The Anbu, who was some distance away from Kuming, had no time to intervene. All he could do was throw himself in front of Kuming, hoping to shield him from Nonō's assassination attempt with his own body.
But the Anbu's body stopped eerily in midair as he lunged forward. A force around his waist and abdomen held him suspended. The Anbu looked down in surprise and saw a golden chain wrapped around his midsection, preventing him from moving any farther.
Nonō, Kunai in hand, swiftly reached Kuming and drove the weapon toward his heart. Holding Uchiha Itachi in his right arm, Uzumaki Kuming watched the Kunai approach with a cold gaze. As Nonō drew near, Kuming suddenly moved. His left hand shot out, ignoring her attack, and seized her by the throat.
"How could an attack at this level ever kill me?"
Uzumaki Kuming lifted Nonō with one hand and squeezed slightly. She immediately felt that she could no longer breathe, and the Kunai fell to the ground. Nonō was certainly an excellent spy, but as an assassin, she was no match for Kuming.
"Cursed Seal?!" Just then, black marks appeared on Nonō's skin. They spread toward Kuming, passing directly from her body onto his hand and rapidly branching outward.
A hint of surprise flashed in Uzumaki Kuming's eyes. He quickly set Itachi down and began gathering Chakra in his right hand.
"Evil Sealing Method!"
"Bang!"
"Ugh..."
Uzumaki Kuming gathered Chakra in an instant and struck Nonō in the abdomen with his palm. Under his tremendous strength, the poor woman rolled her eyes and passed out.
Only a few seconds had passed from the moment Nonō attacked to the moment Kuming subdued her, and