When news of the Uchiha attack reached the Kumogakure camp through the Heavenly Transfer Technique, cold sweat instantly broke out on Dodai's forehead.
He had not expected Konoha to have another card up its sleeve.
Fortunately, the Kumogakure escort included a ninja who knew the Heavenly Transfer Technique. Otherwise, they would definitely have lost either Killer B or A this time.
Dodai immediately assembled the remaining ninja in the camp into a rapid reinforcement unit, preparing to send them to Takekuri Gorge.
The reinforcement unit's commander was Shiroi, the young ninja who had previously advised Dodai and killed the Elder.
Before setting out, Shiroi could not help saying to Dodai, "Lord Dodai, the camp's defenses are thin now. Should we leave some ninja behind to guard it?"
Dodai gazed at the sky in the direction of Takekuri Gorge, a sneer curling his lips. "Konoha's main force is all at Takekuri Gorge. They think they can hold A and B down with Flying Thunder God and the Uchiha? Ridiculous!"
He turned and ordered Shiroi, "The ones left guarding their camp are nothing but small fry. They wouldn't dare attack our camp. Take the reinforcements to Takekuri Gorge and make absolutely sure A and B break out safely!"
Meanwhile, Yūto, Tsukimi, and Tsunade were racing through the dense forest.
A sharp glint flashed through Yūto's eyes. "Dodai will definitely think we wouldn't dare split our forces to raid the Kumogakure camp. But he's forgotten that the most dangerous tactics often hide within the most obvious openings."
Tsunade grinned. "Kid, you've got more guts than anyone!"
Tsukimi tightened her grip on her kunai and said quietly, "Yūto, you have to be careful later. If the plan fails, we retreat."
The three hid in the forest near the camp. When Yūto saw Kumogakure's reinforcements set out, he quietly started a countdown in his mind.
It would take at least thirty minutes to reach Takekuri Gorge from the Kumogakure camp.
All Yūto had to do was wait in the forest for thirty minutes, until the only unit that could save Dodai was far away from him.
That would be the moment Dodai lost his head.
Thirty minutes passed in a flash. Yūto abruptly opened his eyes and nodded to the two women beside him.
Yūto and Tsukimi stormed into the Kumogakure camp. Before the ninja left behind could react, searing flames swept toward them!
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Yūto formed hand seals and spewed a raging dragon of flame from his mouth, instantly engulfing several Kumogakure ninja.
At the same time, his figure flashed as he used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the center of the enemy formation. Chakra wrapped around his fists and feet as he sent enemies flying with fierce taijutsu.
Tsukimi followed close behind, her Sharingan locking onto every enemy as her hands rapidly formed seals. "Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Dozens of fireballs scattered like meteors, precisely cutting off the enemies' escape routes.
She moved nimbly, her kunai flashing as she disrupted them with genjutsu. Kumogakure ninja fell one after another, and screams filled the camp.
Just as the last ninja left on guard fell, the ground suddenly shook!
Dodai stepped out of the shadows, his gaze dark. "You Konoha brats... how dare you!"
His hands rapidly formed seals, his Lava Release chakra boiling. "Lava Release: Rubber Wall!"
A scorching rubber barrier rose from the ground, blocking the flames.
Dodai sneered and lunged forward, Lightning Release chakra covering his right fist as he drove it straight at Yūto's face!
Yūto dodged sideways and formed seals in return. "Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A fire dragon roared forth and collided with the Lightning Release, sending steam bursting outward.
Tsukimi seized the opening, her Sharingan fixing its gaze on him. "Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
Dodai's movements stalled, but drawing on his seasoned experience, he bit down hard on the tip of his tongue to break free of the genjutsu and gathered Lightning Release chakra. "Lightning Release: Roaring Thunder!"
A sharp, massive spear of lightning swept toward the two, forcing them to dodge for the moment!
Yūto and Tsukimi fought back to back, and the battle reached a stalemate.
Tsunade watched with her arms folded the entire time, her brows slightly furrowed. "What are these two brats doing? There's blood all over the battlefield..."
At that moment, Tsunade realized she should not have boasted earlier. Because of her fear of blood, she still could not cope with the battlefield.
Merely looking at the enemies' blood on the battlefield had already made her legs go weak.
Tsunade took a deep breath and waited for her chance.
If Yūto and Tsukimi's plan failed, she would be responsible for rescuing them.
If Dodai fell into a disadvantage, she would be responsible for delivering the killing blow.
In any case, in her current condition, she could not take the role of the main attacker.
What had once been a tank and healer had now been reduced to an assassin.
Yūto abruptly lowered his body, chakra bursting beneath his feet as he shot toward Dodai like a cannonball!
Abandoning defense, he threw himself into a pure taijutsu assault aimed straight at Dodai's throat. His fist tore through the air, forcing Dodai to retreat half a step.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Fist!" Lightning coiled around Dodai's right fist as he met Yūto's attack head-on. The instant the two forces collided, the ground cracked.
At the same time, Tsukimi rapidly formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A scorching fireball blasted toward Dodai from the flank, cutting off his escape routes.
Dodai sneered, Lava Release chakra surging in his left hand. "Lava Release: Rubber Ball!"
A scorching rubber sphere instantly expanded and bounced the fireball away. At the same time, he used the momentum to spin around, sweeping a whipping kick toward Yūto's waist and abdomen.
Yūto blocked with his elbow, but the numbing effect of Lightning Release left his arm tingling, and he staggered backward.
Tsukimi seized the opening and locked her Sharingan onto Dodai, trying to disrupt him with genjutsu. But Dodai was experienced and cunning; after their eyes met only briefly, he forcibly broke free.
Both sides put distance between them again. As they caught their breath, neither could gain a decisive advantage.
Looking at Dodai, who was evenly matched against them, Yūto could not come up with a good solution for the moment.
Although the Elder's training had given him greater endurance than Dodai, he had only thirty minutes at most.
Once those thirty minutes passed, the reinforcement unit that had set out earlier might return.
His own death would be one thing. He could still return to Blue Star and live comfortably on several hundred million in compensation.
But he had promised the Elder that he would take good care of Tsukimi.
Even if he could not raise her to be plump and healthy, he could at least not let her die in battle.
So, after thinking for a moment, Yūto changed his battle strategy.
He was going to use what he had previously been best at: point-blank ninjutsu explosions!
He had used this move to kill a Chunin before he had awakened his Sharingan.
After awakening three tomoe, he had used it to kill two Jonin.
Today, he would use this tactic to kill Kumogakure's Elite Jonin, Dodai.
Yūto signaled Tsukimi with his eyes to disrupt Dodai with genjutsu.
Seizing the instant Dodai was disrupted by Tsukimi's genjutsu, he charged straight at him at an almost suicidal speed!
He held nothing back in his taijutsu. His fists tore through the air, leaving even Dodai somewhat hard-pressed for a moment.
Dodai drove a Lightning Release: Lightning Fist toward Yūto, but Yūto neither dodged nor evaded. He took the blow squarely on his shoulder while clamping his left hand tightly around Dodai's wrist, pinning him in place!
"You're asking to die!" Dodai roared. His left hand rapidly formed seals, and a Lava Release: Rubber Ball instantly took shape as he tried to bounce Yūto away.
Yet at that very moment, Tsukimi activated Genjutsu: Sharingan again. Her three tomoe spun rapidly, and Dodai's vision instantly warped, slowing his movements for a fraction of a second!
Seizing that fleeting opening, Yūto curled his lips into a sneer. His right hand had already finished forming seals. With his lips almost touching Dodai's ear, he whispered, "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
"What?!"
Dodai's pupils abruptly contracted. Searing flames erupted just ten centimeters before his eyes! Terrifying fire instantly swallowed his vision.
The smell of burnt flesh spread between them, coming from both Dodai and Yūto.
Yūto's plan had succeeded. Dodai was gravely wounded.
But Yūto himself had also suffered severe burns from the flames bouncing back at him. Almost none of the clothing on his front remained intact.
Though Dodai was already gravely wounded, he still poured the last of his chakra into his thigh.
"Lightning Release: Liger Bomb!"
Even if he died, he would take Yūto with him!
It was already too late for Yūto to dodge, and Tsukimi was too far away to help in time.
"Yūto!"
Tsukimi shouted, hoping Yūto could dodge Dodai's attack.
Knowing he could not evade it, Yūto closed his eyes and waited for death.
In any case, he had avenged the Elder.
Just then, Tsunade, who had been standing by all along, entered the fight.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Dodai's attack was instantly intercepted, and Dodai himself spat out a mouthful of blood. He clearly would not survive.
Yūto had failed to die yet again.
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