Watching the Tailed Beast Bomb she had fired explode near the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, Yugito was overjoyed.
She'd hit it...
But when the smoke from the explosion overhead cleared, she realized the Third Kazekage Human Puppet wasn't anywhere near the blast's epicenter.
A massive shield made of Iron Sand hovered above his head. Protected by the Iron Sand Shield, he appeared completely unharmed by the small Tailed Beast Bomb.
Damn it, this thing was tougher than she'd thought.
As Yugito and the Third Kazekage Human Puppet battled, more and more Kumogakure shinobi joined the fight.
As their numbers grew, the Third Kazekage Human Puppet, who had initially been able to hold his own against Yugito, found himself increasingly outmatched.
In the end, he could only rely on his ability to fly and his agility to keep dodging above the Kumogakure shinobi.
As the battle wore on, Yugito realized something was wrong.
This opponent seemed to be trying to draw their fire. He knew he couldn't defeat them, yet he kept hanging around instead of leaving. It made no sense.
Could he have a companion?
Suspecting as much, Yugito immediately sent someone to warn the elders to stay on guard and make sure nothing went wrong.
Somewhere in Kumogakure, in a heavily guarded location.
An uninvited guest barged in and came face-to-face with a group of Kumogakure shinobi who were just about to head out.
The newcomer was none other than Hyuga Lan, disguised as The Fool.
One of the older Kumogakure shinobi stared at the strange figure before them, who wore a mask and a black robe, and his expression turned grave.
"Who are you? Are you the mastermind behind this attack?"
Faced with the Kumogakure elder's question, Hyuga Lan didn't answer. Instead, he demanded,
"Where is your village's classified archive? If you don't want to die, take me there at once!"
The Kumogakure shinobi naturally refused to comply.
"Then I'll just have to get the information out of you."
As Hyuga Lan slowly approached, the Kumogakure shinobi didn't understand why he was so brazen, but they quickly formed Hand Seals and unleashed one Lightning Release Ninjutsu after another at Lan. Some also hurled weapons at him.
Hyuga Lan didn't slow his advance in the slightest. As the ninjutsu and weapons came within reach, he simply flicked his hand, and every attack was sent flying.
The Kumogakure shinobi gaped as Hyuga Lan brushed aside their attacks with such ease.
What kind of ninjutsu was that?
Could it really be that powerful without even forming Hand Seals?
As Hyuga Lan drew closer, some of the Kumogakure shinobi forced down their fear and charged at him.
"You few, cover the elder's retreat! We'll hold him off!"
With that, the group split in two. The larger half moved to block Hyuga Lan, while the rest began retreating with the Kumogakure elder.
Trying to run?
Not a chance!
Hyuga Lan had no intention of wasting time on these Kumogakure shinobi. He reached out toward the ones trying to block him.
In the next instant, an invisible, surging repulsive force burst from his palm and slammed into the Kumogakure shinobi, who hadn't even finished forming their Hand Seals.
Rumble!
A thunderous crash sent thick clouds of dust billowing up from the earth. The Kumogakure shinobi were flung backward into the surrounding walls, their fates unknown.
Seeing Hyuga Lan dispatch them so quickly, the Kumogakure elder who was fleeing felt his heart sink.
Damn it, where had this monster come from? They were all in grave danger today.
Thud!
Hyuga Lan landed directly in front of the small group of Kumogakure shinobi trying to escape, blocking their way.
"How much farther do you think you'll get?"
With that, Hyuga Lan reached out toward the Kumogakure elder.
An invisible force pulled the elder straight toward his hand.
Realizing he had no control over his body, the Kumogakure elder knew he wouldn't survive the day. He immediately ordered the others,
"Forget about me! Attack him now, or he'll kill every one of you!"
At the elder's command, the Kumogakure shinobi hesitated, but then obeyed. They formed Hand Seals and unleashed all manner of Lightning Release Ninjutsu at Lan.
A barrage of Lightning Release Ninjutsu swallowed both Hyuga Lan and the Kumogakure elder, filling the area with a tremendous din.
Just as the Kumogakure shinobi thought they'd taken the chance to kill their enemy, they saw something strange happening where the lightning had struck.
The lightning surrounding the area rapidly faded, soon revealing what lay within.
Hyuga Lan was gripping the Kumogakure elder by the throat with one hand, leaving him red-faced and gasping for air.
His other hand was extended, a glowing green orb held in his palm. Lightning coursed through it, radiating a terrifying Lightning Release chakra.
"W-was it absorbed?"
"Damn it, he can absorb ninjutsu! Everyone, use Taijutsu!"
Realizing Hyuga Lan could absorb chakra, the Kumogakure shinobi drew their weapons, ready to fight him with Taijutsu.
But Hyuga Lan knew time was short. He couldn't afford to play around with them, so he hurled the orb in his hand at the Kumogakure shinobi.
As the orb flew toward them, the Kumogakure shinobi were still wondering what it was when they saw it swell in size. Its surface grew uneven, as though it were about to go out of control.
"Watch out! Get clear!"
But they realized it too late.
Rumble!
The orb burst, releasing a violent surge of Lightning Release chakra that transformed into a barrage of Lightning Release Ninjutsu, striking the Kumogakure shinobi.
Only then did they realize that these were the very Lightning Release techniques they had used to attack Hyuga Lan. Now they were the ones taking the hit.
Caught off guard, they had no time to form Hand Seals and defend themselves before the Lightning Release Ninjutsu swallowed them. One by one, they fell to the ground, charred black.
After taking care of the others, Hyuga Lan turned his attention to the Kumogakure elder in his grasp.
"You'll never get any information from me..."
The Kumogakure elder was still defiant, but Hyuga Lan paid him no mind. His golden hand pierced the man's chest, then pulled out a Memory Orb.
After obtaining the information he wanted, Hyuga Lan swiftly disposed of the Kumogakure elder.
Soon, using the information he'd gathered, Hyuga Lan reached a doorway covered in seals.
The classified archive Kumogakure used to store its records lay beyond the door.
Without hesitation, Hyuga Lan reached forward. A golden vortex appeared before his palm, rapidly expanding into a spatial passage.
Through the passage, the scene inside the secret chamber came fully into view.
Hyuga Lan stepped through the spatial passage and entered the chamber...
Back in the underground base in the Land of Fire.
Countless puppets were busy modifying the underground base without pause.
Suddenly, a golden vortex appeared in the base. It opened into a spatial passage, and countless scrolls, weapons, and ninja tools tumbled out and fell to the floor...