The shadow of death instantly enveloped Shira completely!
At this critical moment, Shira's pupils contracted to their maximum, and her brain, in its active state, was like a machine operating at overclocked speed, frantically taking in and processing all the information around her.
All the surrounding fragments of information were combined and analyzed in an instant.
"Drink up--!"
Shira let out a low, almost tearing roar, unleashing the power of her Second Activation without reservation. The steam around her suddenly became violent, its color even turning a scorching crimson.
He chose neither to go up nor back—those were both within the Nighthawk's calculations and the range of its Fang ' pounce.
He made a move that surprised everyone and was almost suicidal—he recklessly crashed into the extremely narrow gap between two earth spikes that were about to break through the ground to the side!
At the same time, his body was twisted and compressed to an extreme degree in a way that defied common sense, like a boneless fish or a resilient blade of grass bent by a gale.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Two sharp rock spears emerged from the ground almost grazing his armpits and waist. The sharp edges of the rocks instantly tore through his clothes and skin, leaving several bloody marks, but fortunately, they narrowly missed him.
At the very same instant he compressed his body to dodge the spikes, he used the rotational force generated by twisting his body to deliver a precise backflip kick to the wrist of Fang, who was lunging from the side!
Bang!
Fang felt a sharp pain and numbness in his wrist. His fatal blow was deflected by the skillful force of the kick, grazing Shira's neck and severing only a few strands of hair that were lifted by the shockwave.
"What?!" Both Fang and Nighthawk on the roof showed disbelief and astonishment at the same time.
This kid actually dodged their combined deadly attack in such an unbelievable way?!
Are you kidding me!
Moreover, using the recoil from kicking the Fang and the impact of the earth spike breaking through the ground, Shira spun rapidly like a top and launched herself out, narrowly escaping most of the attack range of this composite Ninjutsu.
Rumble--!
The raging hurricane and dense spikes collided and exploded violently behind him.
In an instant, smoke and dust billowed into the sky!
Shira had already landed, though he was staggering, breathing rapidly, and his back and side were covered in blood, but he had survived. He had also managed to create some distance between himself and the two of them again.
A Tribute to the Legendary Resilient King - Shira
"Damn it!" Fang was both shocked and furious, his wrist still throbbing with pain.
His first instinct was to back away, to distance himself from the slippery kid, and to rendezvous with the Nighthawk on the roof. However, he stopped abruptly as soon as he took a step.
They couldn't retreat! Fang instantly realized the problem. Shira's seemingly chaotic escape and trajectory had landed in an extremely tricky spot—right at the entrance of a relatively narrow alley, blocking their most convenient route to their planned evacuation.
If they force their way around from other directions, not only will they waste precious time, but they might also be stopped by this kid's teammates, which could lead to unnecessary trouble or even a real encirclement.
Damn it, the other side isn't just running around randomly; they're using his life to plan the battlefield!
This brat seems to only know Taijutsu. Aren't people supposed to be all brawn and no brains? What is that thing over there??
On the rooftop, Nighthawk's eyes turned completely cold, his killing intent surging. He had also seen through Shira's intentions. Shira's superior mobility made him impossible to take down instantly, while his almost prophetic evasion and precise positioning made him an extremely annoying obstacle.
Without eliminating him, they cannot safely and quickly escape along their pre-planned optimal route.
A forced breakout is not impossible, but it would inevitably create a bigger commotion and expose our backs to this incredibly fast kid, making it even riskier.
"We must deal with this annoying fly before we can leave in peace." Nighthawk made a decision instantly. This kid was far more troublesome than expected; his ability to adapt to the situation and his terrifying control over his body were simply unheard of.
" Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!" Without pausing, Nighthawk formed hand Hand Seals again. Several invisible yet incredibly sharp vacuum blades tore through the air, emitting a shrill shriek, slashing at Shira from different angles. The purpose was not only to kill, but also to compress the opponent's evasive space, making it a technique that achieved the best of both worlds.
"Secret Technique: Poisonous Mist Swamp!" Fang understood his companion's intention and slammed his hands on the ground in perfect unison. The ground beneath Shira's feet and in the surrounding area instantly became muddy and sticky, seeping out poisonous mist, further restricting Shira's movement and creating an opportunity for Nighthawk's fatal blow.
Faced with another attack of combined Ninjutsu, Shira knew that trying to withstand it head-on would only lead to his death!
He maintained his maximum speed while active, no longer attempting to attack the enemy, but instead focusing all his attention on dodging and moving.
Just stall until your teammates arrive!
His figure transformed into a fleeting yellow streak on the narrow street, utilizing every available cover—walls, the remains of stalls, even craters left from previous battles.
Each movement was a narrow escape from the wind blades, and each step landed precisely on the solid ground where the poisonous swamp had not yet fully spread.
Wind blades left deep cuts behind and beside him, and poisonous mist churned in the air currents created by his footsteps, yet it was always difficult to truly catch his eye.
He danced on the edge of a knife! He traversed through poisonous fog!
He was using his extreme speed and anticipation to engage in a thrilling death race with two Jonin.
"Damn mudskipper!" Fang Fang's color turned even redder. His poison technique required a relatively stable environment to hit, but against a highly mobile target like Shira, its effectiveness was greatly reduced.
Nighthawk's expression grew increasingly grim. Although his Ninjutsu was powerful, the Hand Seals and release required a short time, while Shira could always anticipate his attacks the instant he made a move.
In fact, Shira can indeed "predict" to some extent—that is, by observing the opponent's muscle preparation movements through enhanced vision.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Shira's breathing grew heavier and heavier. Maintaining the extreme evasion under dual-activity was a huge burden on him, and the wounds on his body were burning with pain. But he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Three minutes... four minutes... just hang in there a little longer! The captain and the others should be able to take care of those Grass Ninja soon!
He trusted his teammates, just as I Fūgetsu trusted him to keep Fang at bay.
This desperate struggle felt like an eternity, with every second stretching into the distance.
The sounds of battle in the distance seemed to be gradually fading...