The Nine-Tails Strikes

Thud, thud, thud!

Two Shuriken lodged in Gekko Hayate's chest.

Against the precise coordination of two Kirigakure Ninja prepared to die, he had no chance of escaping unscathed. After all, he was only a Special Jōnin skilled in Swordsmanship, and a Kekkei Genkai like Transparent Release was no use in this fight!

"Big brother!"

"Hey! Are you okay?!"

Sasuke and Naruto froze in shock. They tried to check his wounds, but Gekko Hayate shoved them away.

"Run! Get as far away as you can!"

With that, his gaze met the last Kirigakure Ninja on the rooftop. The enemy lunged at him with a vicious grin.

"Hahaha! Die! Die!"

Clang!

Gekko Hayate struggled to raise his blade and block the Kirigakure Ninja's Kunai, but the man seized his wrist and yanked him forward. Hayate lost his footing and stumbled straight into him.

Thud!

The Kirigakure Ninja drove a brutal knee into him. Gekko Hayate's face turned deathly pale, his eyes flew wide, and blood sprayed from his mouth.

Thump!

He crumpled to the ground.

"Fire Release: Fireball Technique!" A fireball suddenly appeared as Sasuke formed Hand Seals, a flicker of delight on his face.

Bang!

A blinding flash of steel cut through the air. The Kirigakure Ninja split the feeble Fireball Technique in two with a single stroke.

The flames burned briefly in midair before vanishing into a wave of heat.

Sasuke stared blankly.

What came next...

He had completely forgotten what to do!

He could only tremble as the bloodthirsty Kirigakure Ninja drew closer, his face twisted into a savage grin.

"Sasuke, run!"

Naruto suddenly shouted and charged out from behind Sasuke. He wrapped his arms around the Kirigakure Ninja's leg and bit down hard!

Sasuke was stunned!

In an instant, a tingling jolt shot from the soles of his