Nako and the other two took the cold metal spheres. Although they had no idea what they were, they nodded firmly, without the slightest hesitation at Lord Cheng's command.
Then, using the huge rocks and trees as cover, they darted silently in three different directions like startled rabbits.
Their movements were still a little unpolished, but after all their recent intensive training, their stealth and speed were at least up to standard.
Arms folded, Kakuzu watched the three brats "flee in panic" at his leisure, his green eyes full of the teasing amusement of a cat toying with mice.
Run, run. The harder you struggle, the more fun the "hunt" will be.
His attention was mostly on the dark-haired brat who had stayed behind, apparently intending to cover their retreat.
Some courage, but not much.
Kakuzu assessed him inwardly. Staying behind to die so his companions can buy some time? What a foolish spirit of self-sacrifice.
He was in no hurry.
Ten minutes was enough for those brats to get a long way away, but it also gave him plenty of time to savor the chase.
As for the one before him... perhaps he could serve as a warm-up.
Uchiha Makoto watched Nako and the other two disappear into the woods and breathed an inward sigh of relief.
The setup needed time, and Kakuzu's "ten-minute game" had given him exactly the window he needed. Perfect.
Now, only he and Kakuzu remained.
Uchiha Makoto took a deep breath and slowly settled into a fighting stance, his feet set at an oblique angle.
He did not reach for any of his flashy ninja tools.
Against an old monster of Kakuzu's caliber, ordinary ninja-tool spheres, Explosive Tags, and the like would have limited effect. Relying on external tools might only distract him.
*All