Naruto Uzumaki slowly let out a breath.
"...You've got a point."
"This is Big Brother Naraku we're talking about. You can never judge him by normal standards."
He said no more, but the surprise in his voice was gradually giving way to conviction.
After a few seconds of silence, his expression grew grave again, his gaze fixed on the latest exchange high in the sky.
"But Sasuke, look at how things stand now..."
A shock wave split the clouds above the battlefield, and three figures broke apart again after a brief clash.
Momoshiki slid backward, only half of his long red staff remaining in his hand, while Isshiki's Black Rod had just been severed by Kurikara.
But Naraku did not pursue them after this clash either. He steadied himself in midair and adjusted his breathing slightly.
Naruto's fingers tightened without him realizing it.
"Big Brother Naraku was dominating both of them before, and he was pretty relaxed about it, too."
Naruto's voice dropped. "But now... ever since that guy from the Ōtsutsuki Clan changed his appearance, things have clearly been different."
Since they did not know Isshiki's and Momoshiki's true identities or names, the two could only refer to them vaguely.
Sasuke did not reply immediately.
He was watching, too.
He was witnessing the changes in the battle firsthand.
There was Isshiki's even swifter movement when he leaped back out of the deep crater, for instance, and Momoshiki's desperate willingness to risk his life, advancing instead of retreating despite his injuries.
And there were the occasional half steps backward Naraku was forced to take as he twisted and dodged between their joint attacks.
"It's become something of a stalemate," Sasuke said succinctly.
"Right."
Naruto nodded. "That's exactly what it is."
"Before, Big Brother Naraku could land a heavy kick on