The wilderness lay beneath the night sky.
The ninja from Sasuke's generation, led by Sakura Haruno, stood facing him!
Sakura demanded, "Sasuke!! Why did you try to kill Sai?!"
Sasuke sneered. "Sai? You mean the guy I stomped into pulp with my Susanoo...?"
"!?" Everyone present except Kimimaro was stunned speechless, overcome with grief and rage!
Sakura choked out, "Sasuke, you..."
Shikamaru said grimly, "Sakura, there's no point talking anymore! He's completely fallen. He's our mortal enemy now!!"
"I... understand!" Sakura tightly hugged her trembling shoulders.
Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Tenten, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Neji, and Rock Lee!
Sasuke's gaze passed over each of their ten faces. "You think the few of you can come after me? You really have a death wish..."
Shikamaru ignored Sasuke's arrogance. He simply looked at Kimimaro beside him and began rapidly devising a strategy.
Kimimaro... according to Sai's intel, Kabuto Yakushi brought him back with Impure World Reincarnation...!
"Lee, you've fought Kimimaro before, so you'll take the lead against him this time. But he's been brought back with Impure World Reincarnation, so you can't kill him. Use your Strong Fist to keep him occupied head-on. Neji, use your Gentle Fist to strike his pressure points and seal off his chakra!"
Rock Lee declared eagerly, "Leave it to me!"
Neji said calmly, "That shouldn't be a problem, but according to our intel, Kimimaro can also manipulate his bones to defend himself. That gives him an advantage against my pressure point strikes!"
Shikamaru said, "That's fine. Shino, support them with your insects. Drain his chakra whenever you get an opening!"
Shino nodded. "Understood. Leave it to me!"
Shikamaru continued, "As for Sasuke, Ino-Shika-Cho and Sakura will handle him!"
Kiba Inuzuka said, "Hey, what about us??"
Shikamaru said, "Kiba, Hinata, Tenten, you three conserve your chakra and