Naruto and Hinata raced toward Toneri, two intertwined streaks of golden light!
Looking at his love's slightly tense profile, Naruto asked gently, "Nervous?"
"Yes." Hinata nodded. "This is my first time fighting alongside you, Naruto-kun. I don't know if I'll end up holding you back..."
Naruto moved closer and took her hand. "Then we'll move at the same pace until we learn to work in sync..."
"Fox, take your filthy hand off her!!!"
Toneri attacked. Before his palm, several Derivative Truth-Seeking Orbs created by the Tenseigan spun rapidly, their surfaces coated in his distinctive green Tenseigan chakra. They formed sharp shuriken and shot toward the pair!
Hinata said, "That attack covers a wide area..."
Naruto said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Holding Hinata's hand, Naruto darted nimbly around, dodging every shuriken!
Hinata's heart fluttered. Naruto-kun's big hand is so strong. It makes me feel so safe...
"This is outrageous!"
Toneri's expression grew even angrier. Truth-Seeking Orbs spun rapidly before his palm, forming a fierce silver ring of light!
Naruto remained calm. "Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion. You already learned that one, didn't you?"
"Yes." Hinata nodded. "I observed it in the memories you brought me, Naruto-kun. After studying it and practicing over and over, I mastered it."
As she spoke... she extended her right hand and formed an identical silver ring of light!
She and Toneri struck simultaneously!!
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!!!"
Boom...!
Two fierce silver tornadoes collided in midair. The turbulence from their clash swept up great swaths of rubble and ground them into dust!
Both attacks canceled each other out!
Toneri's face had become utterly ugly!
"Hinata, you've grown strong, but you're not the least bit lovable anymore! You're completely unfit to be my partner and usher in humanity's new era!!!"
Whoosh! Toneri abruptly raised his arm. A mass