Just as Kakuzu was about to flee, a sudden buzzing arose ahead. Before he could react, a vast swarm like dark clouds had already descended upon him.
"Are these... insects?" Kakuzu exclaimed in surprise. Before he could respond, the swarm completely enveloped him and forcefully shoved him back.
"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!"
A figure emerged from the grass, dressed in a black coat with a high collar that covered even his chin, dark sunglasses over his eyes. He bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Aburame Shino.
"Water Style: Water Shock Wave!"
Kakuzu let out a low roar in the distance. A curtain of water erupted from around him, and under the force of the powerful Water Style, every insect was scattered.
Kakuzu did not dare linger. With a leap, he returned to a distant treetop, his gaze coldly fixed on the man who had suddenly appeared.
A loud boom rang out nearby. The Intelligent Hard Work from earlier was knocked aside by a punch, and Akimichi Choza's fist rapidly shrank.
On the other side, Shikamaru Nara and the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho had also escaped the range of the Earth Style and found new places to land.
"Shibi, we really troubled you this time." Shikaku Nara smiled and waved a hand.
The ninja called Shibi shook his head. "It's nothing. We just happened to be traveling together this time. Since we ran into something like this, of course we had to lend a hand. The grudge from Konoha's destruction three years ago belongs to the Aburame clan as well."
Aburame Shibi, Aburame Shino's father, the current clan head of the Aburame clan, an Elite Jonin of Konoha, and one of the most mysterious among the major clan heads.
He had appeared here because he had happened to accompany