Sakumo ignored Shin's words and slowly closed his eyes. A layer of transparent energy gradually coated the short blade he held aloft, extending beyond its edge!
Shin walked toward Hatake Sakumo with utter disdain. When he reached him, he stopped.
"Hatake Sakumo, don't say I didn't give you a chance! I'll stand right here and let you take a swing! If you can't hurt me, leave Konoha and follow me. Help me instead. How about it?" Shin said confidently.
Sakumo opened his eyes. Looking at Shin, who had stopped a few meters in front of him, he curled his lips into a smile. "Since you're asking to die, I'll send you on your way!"
"Hatake Swordsmanship, modified: Blade of the Heart! Slash!"
Hatake Sakumo flashed past Shin, appearing behind him. He gently sheathed his short blade and walked toward Kushina, who lay nearby!
"Hey! You didn't hurt me! As we ag-" Shin had felt a flicker of fear when Sakumo swung at him, but when he realized Hatake Sakumo's blade had not even struck his body, he smiled scornfully!
But halfway through his sentence, Shin felt a chill across his neck. The words he had wanted to say would no longer come out!
Thud!
Shin collapsed!
Meanwhile, in an underground base in the Land of Rice Fields, the Shin who was helping Pain seal the Nine-Tails suddenly clutched his head, opened his mouth, and spat out blood!
Sakumo hurried to Kushina's side and gently shook her, trying to wake her. Suddenly, this Kushina sprang up, pulled out a kunai, and thrust it straight at his chest!
Sakumo hastily retreated. After putting some distance between them, he looked at Kushina and asked, "Kushina, it's me, Sakumo! What are you doing?"
But this Kushina paid no attention to his words. Kunai in