The Totsuka Blade

Long Ye's quick actions finally pulled the two of them back from death's door.

But the poison mist Ibuse had breathed out rapidly filled the barrier Long Ye had cast.

They were all seasoned fighters. Seeing the danger, they rushed toward Long Ye without waiting for an order.

After breathing out the mist, Ibuse twisted his body and burrowed underground again.

The area fell silent.

Apart from Long Ye, everyone seemed affected. Their movements were stiff; some poison had clearly lingered in their bodies.

"That thing's poison is vicious! It didn't even spray me, and I'm showing signs of poisoning."

Candle Tiger was still shaken by what had just happened.

He feared no fight against a person, but poison gave him no chance to fight back.

"Killing it wouldn't be hard. The problem is catching it alive."

If Long Ye had wanted Ibuse dead, a single Amaterasu would have reduced him to ash, no matter how poisonous he was.

But if killing Ibuse were enough, Long Ye would not have come.

He had come to capture Ibuse alive and help Sasori of the Red Sands turn him into a puppet.

With Sasori's puppet-making skills, turning Ibuse into a puppet while he was alive would preserve all his abilities. It would be as good as having that summoning beast at their disposal.

And unlike an ordinary summoning beast, the puppet would be entirely under Sasori's control. That would greatly strengthen Akatsuki.

After all, raw strength alone could not make anyone immune to poison.

"That thing must be watching us from the shadows!"

"It caught us off guard the first time. If it tries again and we're just as helpless, we'll have no excuse."

At that moment, the ground shook again.

This time, no one panicked. They stayed close to Long Ye,