Toji Zenin's Roar, Heaven and Earth Shatter, Tailed Beast Flees

"Let's withdraw."

"Huh?"

Chiri froze for a moment, somewhat surprised.

She had thought that, given Toji's personality, he would choose to remain on the front lines and stand with the Konoha ninja. With assassins liable to appear at any moment, staying with his companions might have been the safer choice.

"Hidden Sand's sudden all-out assault was forced by my Zen Detoxification Technique."

Toji calmly analyzed the situation. "Their target is me. If I stay here, others will be put in danger because of me. Leaving the front-line position will instead draw away the forces targeting me."

No one could guard against thieves every day.

Rather than enduring prolonged pain and exhausting himself with worry, Toji preferred short-term pain. He would deliberately expose an opening, lure out Hidden Sand's prepared assassination force as soon as possible, then have the Demon Lord protect Chiri while she slaughtered them all.

Chiri nodded. No matter what choice Toji made, she would support him unconditionally.

While packing their things.

Toji suddenly raised his head and looked toward a certain direction in the night.

"What's wrong?" Chiri asked in confusion.

In an instant, countless calculations flashed through Toji's mind. He slowly said, "We may have to leave a little later."

Just now—

Son Gokū within him had warned him in an unusually grave tone, "Hey! Toji, I sensed Isobu's presence."

Toji recalled what Son Gokū had said before: sensing Isobu meant that the Three-Tails Jinchuriki was less than three kilometers away. If they came within one kilometer, they could even establish secret communication.

Three kilometers was a very dangerous and ambiguous distance.

In the middle of the night, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki had appeared at the battlefield. His intentions were obvious.

Either he had come to assassinate Toji, or he was targeting the Konoha ninja at