Just as Shinji found himself in mortal danger, Hizashi's situation had become even more desperate.
Besieged by two enemies fighting recklessly, willing to trade their lives for his, he attempted a crucial Gentle Fist strike at a chakra point. But the searing pain in his wounded left leg slowed him by the tiniest fraction, and the strike missed!
The Ninja Blade Candidate who specialized in aggressive taijutsu immediately seized that fleeting opening. A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes as he drove a side kick into Hizashi's chest, heavy as an iron pillar and backed by all his strength and chakra-brutal, direct, without a single flourish!
Crack! The clear, teeth-grating sound of breaking bones rang out, piercing even the chaos of the battlefield.
Hizashi abruptly coughed up a great mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs. His body flew helplessly backward like a kite with its string cut.
He smashed through two saplings as thick as bowl rims before crashing to the ground like a torn sack, throwing up a cloud of dust.
His chest visibly caved in, his face instantly turned the color of gold paper, and his breathing weakened to almost nothing. Even maintaining his Byakugan became unbearably difficult, forcing him to deactivate it.
Gravely wounded! Completely unable to fight! Whether he would live or die was unknown!
"Hizashi!" Seeing her companion wounded and near death, Miwako's eyes nearly split with anguish. Rage and worry almost drove her to rush to his rescue regardless of the consequences.
But the sinister, unpredictable Long Blade Candidate clung to her like a festering wound. His blade flashed without pause, weaving a net of death that pinned her in place and left her no way to break free.
She was already at the end of her strength herself. Blood