"That's enough, Kiba," Shino said.
"Enough my ass!" Kiba used Kunai to push himself up, his legs trembling, but his eyes were still fixed on Toneri.
Shino didn't try to persuade him any further. He simply pushed up his sunglasses and Hand Seals simultaneously.
This time, instead of hundreds or thousands of Kikaichū, only a few emerged. They were twice the size of ordinary Kikaichū, with dark purple patterns on their carapaces. This was a special species he had cultivated using his own Chakra.
These insects didn't approach Toneri; instead, they crawled onto Kiba, Kurenai, and themselves, biting through their skin and feeding back the Chakra stored within their bodies to their hosts.
Ya felt a warm current flowing into her meridians, and her strength was being restored.
"Thanks, Shino."
Shino didn't respond, but continued Hand Seals. A second wave of Kikaichū surged out, this time targeting not Toneri, but the rubble and pine needles scattered on the ground by the repulsive force.
The swarm of insects swept up the rubble, forming clusters of dark brown spheres in mid-air, which then rained down on the Toneri from all directions.
Toneri raised his hand and released a repulsive force, sending the insect ball flying. However, Shino immediately manipulated the insects to gather the scattered pebbles back together, and the second round of attacks followed closely by the third.
His attacks never stopped; even knowing he couldn't break through, he still wanted to deplete Toneri's Chakra to buy Hinata time.
Hong gritted her teeth and picked up a Shuriken from the ground with her good left hand.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the sharp pain in her right shoulder, and then threw Shuriken. The Shuriken was much slower than before, after all, she only had one hand left to use—but her judgment of positioning was still accurate.
Just as Toneri deflected Shino's insect ball, Kurenai's Shuriken arrived, pinning him to the ground at his feet and blocking his step toward Hinata.
Toneri glanced down at the Shuriken, then looked at Hong. Hong looked back at him, her mouth covered in blood, her eyes showing no sign of backing down.
Hinata witnessed all of this. Kurenai's right arm was broken, yet she was still Shuriken; Kiba was covered in blood, yet he was still charging forward; Shino's insects died wave after wave, yet they kept regrouping.
They're all working incredibly hard. But she needs time.
She closed her eyes and Hand Seals. It wasn't the starting stance of Gentle Fist, but the seal of Sage Mode.
Natural Energy surged into her body from the surrounding air, each wisp carrying a stinging sensation.
Chakra and Natural Energy must be kept in a precise one-to-one ratio; too much will petrify you, and too little will prevent you from activating Sage Mode.
Her Chakra control had become quite proficient under Shinsei's guidance, but Sage Mode was still not an easy task for her. She wasn't a Chakra monster like Naruto, nor did she have Shinsei's almost abnormal control. She just gritted her teeth and persevered.
Kiba was punched in the stomach by Toneri, and his whole body curled up like a shrimp as he flew through the air, crashing into a tree and sliding down. Akamaru, limping, pounced on him to bite Toneri's ankle, but was kicked away and rolled several times Fudo.
Shino's insect spheres were exhausted, and his Chakra was also depleted. After throwing out her last Shuriken, Kurenai's left hand fell limp. She leaned against a broken tree, her breath tinged with blood.
Toneri walked toward Hinata. He walked slowly, each step landing on the scattered pine needles, making a soft cracking sound.
"You two worked together well. If it weren't for me, you might actually have had a good chance of winning."
He stopped in front of Hinata.
"The game is over."
Hinata opened her eyes.
Pale gold eyeshadow appeared around her eyes, and Senjutsu Chakra surged within her. The pine needles beneath her feet were whipped up by the air currents, forming a slowly rotating ring around her.
Sage Mode!
For the first time, Toneri's expression changed, becoming serious, and even showing a hint of curiosity.
"Can the Hyuga Clan really master Sage Mode?"
Hinata didn't answer. She only glanced at Kurenai, Kiba, and Shino lying on the ground, then turned her gaze back to Toneri.
"You're wrong," she said. "I'm not trying to defeat you, I'm trying to show you that there are people desperately trying to protect that world you call worthless, that you've condemned to death."
In Sage Mode, his speed and power were several levels higher than before. With a stomp of his foot, the ground cracked, and he transformed into a blur as he rushed towards Toneri.
The Bagua realm of Gentle Fist unfolded beneath her feet, and the light patterns of the Tai Chi diagram appeared on the ground.
Toneri raised his hand and released a repulsive barrier, Hinata's right fist collided with head-on.
The collision of Senjutsu Chakra and the Tenseigan created a deafening sonic boom.
A crack appeared on the repulsive barrier, and then Hinata's left palm cut through the crack, striking Toneri's chest.
Toneri took a step back. This was the first time he had been repelled in a direct confrontation during this battle.
He looked down at the spot on his chest where the Gentle Fist had struck him, leaving a scorch mark on his robe.
Then he looked up, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Excellent, excellent, only someone with such magnanimity is worthy of being my wife!"
A vibrant green aura of Chakra enveloped his entire body.
Tenseigan Chakra Mode activated!
His aura surged several times in an instant, and his powerful Chakra caused the surrounding air to tremble, swirling pine needles, gravel, and broken branches into the air.
With a casual wave of his hand, a repulsive force slammed into Hinata like a giant hammer.
Hinata was knocked away and her back slammed into a cedar tree.
She slid off the tree trunk, knelt on one knee, and coughed up blood.
Toneri slowly floated up and stood in mid-air, looking down at her.
"It's useless. Even if you master Sage Mode, there won't be any surprises when facing these eyes."
Once you master the Tenseigan, you'll understand just how powerful this force truly is.
Hinata braced herself on her knees, swaying as she straightened up, and wiped the blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
She turned to look at her companions, all of whom were lying on the ground, clearly seriously injured.
Still not working?
Even though he managed to unleash Sage Mode, he still couldn't defeat the enemy before him.
surrender?
No, this is not my way of ninja, even if it costs me my life!
I will never become someone else's wife!
Without realizing it, Shinsei's image had completely captured her heart.
If he cannot become his wife in this life, then he will only have the possibility of growing old alone.
Hinata clenched her fists and assumed the starting stance of Gentle Fist.