The voice in his head faded. Tayuya was a little annoyed, but she did not dare offend that lord.
"Hey, are we fighting or not? If not, get out of the way!"
Shikamaru watched the enemy stall, closing her eyes one moment and respectfully muttering something the next.
"Hmph, lucky brat. You want to fight? Come on, let me see what makes you worthy of that lord's attention!"
Toot... toot...
The flute's notes drifted through the air. Tayuya was no longer in a hurry to complete the mission.
After all, that lord had arrived and would personally take over. With the pressure gone, her mood toward this fight had changed as well.
"What's going on? Those monsters she controls seem much slower now." Shikamaru frowned as he analyzed her tactics. A quick comparison was enough to reveal something was wrong.
"Whatever the case, I'm the one pursuing her. I have to take the initiative."
Shikamaru attacked cautiously, only to discover that his enemy's strength fell far short of her arrogant words.
"Hmph, let me have some fun with you."
Meanwhile.
In a clearing at the Land of Fire Border, Sakon had barely caught his breath with the barrel-shaped coffin on his back when a fierce gust rose behind him.
"What?!"
Just as Sakon's expression changed dramatically, a familiar figure suddenly appeared beside him.
He had shoulder-length white hair, two red dots above his eyebrows, and a pristine, snow-white dress. The aura he exuded was frighteningly cold.
Sakon feared this person to his very bones.
"K-Kimimaro? What brings you here?"
Sakon forced an ingratiating smile.
Kimimaro merely lowered his gaze toward Sakon, his voice cold and detached from worldly concerns.
"Lord Orochimaru was afraid you would botch things, so he specifically sent me to meet you."
As he spoke, Kimimaro