Additional Ending to Previous Chapter

Obito Uchiha had lost the ability to move because of his leg injury, but he still played his part, his eyes scanning the Cloud Shinobi's movements like radar.

Before Kato Xu even landed, the Cloud Shinobi's true body, hidden in the corner, launched a lightning-fast assault.

"Rin!"

With a palm strike, he sent Obito flying toward Rin. Rin steadily caught Obito in midair and landed on the ground some distance away.

A fierce sweeping kick came down from above. Using the force from striking Obito to push himself away, Kato Xu barely avoided most of the kick's momentum, but it still slammed into his left shoulder.

"Spirit-Body Armor!"

A thought flashed through Kato Xu's mind. Pale blue sigils formed from faint fluorescent light surfaced briefly, then vanished into every corner of his body in an instant.

The Earth Release Cloud Shinobi felt the force in his leg suddenly slide to one side, as though an invisible, slick, resilient membrane of air flowed continuously, deflecting his attack completely!

"What is this...?"

His eyes held traces of confusion and disbelief. The brat hidden beneath Kabuto's hood always possessed bizarre methods that defied all reason.

Kato Xu's improved Spirit Infusion Technique could not only passively resist soul-detection ninjutsu, but when actively triggered, the Chakra sealed within his body's acupoints by Sealing Jutsu could form a protective layer of Chakra over his body.

Though the minor technique he had renamed Spirit-Body Armor could only be used once, it could save his life at a critical moment.

For example... now!

"Die!"

The Cloud Shinobi had one leg braced on Kato Xu's left shoulder. Before he could pull back, a sharp gleam erupted in Kato Xu's eyes. His body spun at high speed, and his right fist hammered upward from below at the Cloud Shinobi's vital point like an iron mallet!

"Damn it!!!"

The intense pain instantly turned the Cloud Shinobi's face dark purple. The agony of having his vital point struck was even worse than the wound in his shoulder being pierced through.

Rin gently laid Obito on the ground, then quickly took out bandages to stop the bleeding and treat his wound. Though she was almost completely out of Chakra, she could still manage basic hemostasis and bandaging.

"Obito... this time, it's my turn to protect you!"

"Rin..."

Obito said nothing. He merely grinned, revealing a row of Haku-white teeth.

With a Haku-pale face, Rin stood up and shielded Obito behind her. She watched Kato Xu beyond the battlefield with vigilance and concern.

Although Kato Xu had barely any Chakra left, the Cloud Shinobi's shoulder had already been pierced through. The blood dripping continuously from his vital point was nearly driving the Cloud Shinobi, who had barely retreated, completely mad.

"Brat, you will die! You definitely will!!!"

The enraged Cloud Shinobi charged at Kato Xu with a hysterical roar. The moment a distant rumble sounded, Kato Xu's figure vanished once more.

Time seemed to freeze. Light and shadows intertwined in the air, while the spraying blood revealed the battle's brutality. Yet the more brilliant the light, the faster it faded; the fiercer the battle, the sooner it would end.

All light and strength burst forth in that instant, existing for this decisive moment, Setsuna.

Kato Xu and the Cloud Shinobi landed. With his back to the Cloud Shinobi, Kato Xu dropped to one knee. A clash of pure taijutsu was utter torment for his already battered body.

"Thud..."

The sky grew darker and darker, as did his vision. Disbelief still filled the Cloud Shinobi's eyes as he slowly fell. He could not believe that his final strike had failed to kill the brat with those cold eyes.

A simple movement, a slash through the throat—the thing that ended his precious life was merely a small Kunai.