Tailed Beast Bomb

Watching the three-layer Puppet formation take shape before him, each layer closing in behind the last, Tsukimi grasped the situation at once.

Every route Flash Step could take through the low and middle air was blocked. If he forced his way through, he would run straight into Steel Wire and poison mist.

Straight into a trap!

Sasori's going straight for the kill!

Honestly, Tsukimi still couldn't figure out what had gotten into Sasori. Was he jealous that Tsukimi was better-looking?

Could be!

After that thought, he made an immediate decision: no Flash Step.

The instant the aerial assault from Rain Dragonfly arrived, shadows surged across Tsukimi's palm. A thick shield of shadow spread open, covering his head and front.

Clang, clang, clang! Boom, boom, boom!

Poison needles and Explosive Tags rained onto the shield. Needles crowded its surface and flames roared skyward, but every aerial attack was stopped. Not one touched so much as the hem of his clothes.

While the shield held off the barrage, Tsukimi ran forward, weaving between the crisscrossing Steel Wire as he fixed his gaze on the open ground ahead.

With a thought, he quietly opened the Shadow Realm.

Shadows churned across the clearing ahead. A pitch-black opening spread, and a towering figure emerged.

A Troll stood squarely in his path, both hands extended together.

Tsukimi kept running. He stepped straight onto the Troll's hands and braced himself.

The next instant, the Troll thrust both arms upward with all its strength!

The throw added to Tsukimi's own momentum, hurling him clear of the low and middle air sealed off by Steel Wire and poison mist!

As he rose, shadows gathered around his right hand and formed a long, sharp black blade.

He steadied himself in midair and snapped his wrist. The Shadow Longblade shot across