Hearing the suggestion to make a run for it, Asuma froze for a moment before suddenly understanding. "Su Bai, you really are the smart one!"
Su Bai sighed inwardly.
Forget Shikamaru—even Su Bai probably couldn't beat himself at shogi.
A thick red mist spread out, quickly shrouding the entire battlefield.
Itachi stood within the mist, his brows knitting slightly.
His Sharingan gleamed through the red fog as he tried to catch any possible movement.
"This kid really knows how to deal with the Sharingan."
Itachi silently raised his assessment of Su Bai by another notch.
Such tactical thinking and execution were truly rare among young ninja.
Itachi and Kisame stood back-to-back, focusing completely on sensing everything around them.
"This is Konoha's assassination technique, Breathless Blade. Be careful."
Itachi had once served in the ANBU and recognized the assassination technique Su Bai was using.
It was something countless ANBU experts had failed to learn, yet he had mastered it at such a young age.
A genius.
"Understood."
Kisame tightened his grip on Samehada, ready for any possible ambush.
Yet second after second passed, and the expected attack never came.
Silence. Deep silence enveloped the entire area.
Only the rustling of leaves in the breeze broke the stillness.
At last, the red mist gradually began to disperse.
When their vision became clear again, Itachi and Kisame were surprised to find that Su Bai and Asuma had vanished without a trace.
"Damn it!"
Kisame could not help cursing, his face full of fury and unwillingness. "That brat talked so tough, then just ran away? What a slippery little bastard!"
He clenched his fists, wishing he could chase after those two cunning Konoha ninja and teach them a lesson.
However, when he turned to look at Itachi, he found a nearly imperceptible smile on