Shibi Aburame, a battle-hardened ninja, naturally refused to hold back.
His eyes shifted behind dark glasses, instantly making a decision.
Facing Hayate Gekko's slash aimed at his right arm, Shibi didn't evade—he chose to trade injuries for damage.
Watching the approaching kunai and feeling the thick killing intent surrounding him, Hayate became afraid and decided to retreat.
Though this withdrawal removed himself from danger, it also completely surrendered the initiative.
Now on the defensive, Hayate immediately faced life-threatening danger, with severe injury or death possible at any moment.
As Hayate was pushed back and about to suffer critical wounds, a kunai suddenly shot past his ear, directly targeting Shibi Aburame's right eye.
The kunai flew in from point-blank range—completely unexpected.
Before he could even attempt the Substitution Jutsu, the kunai pierced right through him.
"Thud!"
No blood splattered—only a wisp of white smoke dissipated.
The kunai, carrying tremendous force, continued forward, piercing three trees in succession before finally lodging into the trunk of a large tree.
Inuzuka Aya had just regained her senses when she witnessed Uchiha Aozora flicking out that kunai—and saw Shibi Aburame drop from the impact.
Comparing her own earlier performance, Aya blushed deeply with shame.
She'd actually dared to call him a dead-last? If he was the last place, then what did that make her—a person trailing behind like dust?
Aya had only watched from a distance and hadn't truly felt the power behind that kunai throw.
Hayate touched the wound on his face torn open by the knife's passing gust, still trembling inwardly. He needed to lean heavily on his katana like a cane to prevent collapsing to the ground.
At that split second when the kunai whistled past his face, he had felt the breath of death itself.
He knew if that kunai had targeted him instead, he wouldn't still be alive.
Feeling the sensations from his [Bunshin]'s destruction, Shibi placed fingers against his forehead—at a wound that no longer existed—then remained silent for a moment before appearing on a branch not far from the trio.
"Not bad. Better than I expected."
Shibi spoke plainly and emotionlessly. Though his words clearly contained praise, to both Hayate and Aya, it sounded exactly like mockery.
Thinking back to their earlier performances, both flushed with embarrassment.
Uchiha Aozora showed no pleasure at being praised either, simply gripping another kunai while continuing to search for openings in Shibi's defense.
Observing all three's reactions, Shibi continued, "Enough with the greetings. Let's continue the fight!"
"Remember, attack with the belief you'll kill me!"
With that, he stood firm at his spot, waiting for them to attack.
After the earlier fight, Hayate and Aya both recognized that Uchiha Aozora was the strongest, so they naturally moved closer to him.
Because of her pride, Aya hesitated to initiate conversation.
Hayate proposed first, "From how Shibi-sensei is acting, he doesn't plan to hide anymore—he wants to test our direct combat ability."
"Hayate and I will handle close-range attacks, while Aozora watches for opportunities from afar with kunai throws. How does that sound?"
Naturally, Uchiha Aozora nodded. Having frontline fighters cover him was undeniably an advantage.
Inuzuka Aya nodded in agreement.
Once the general strategy was set, Hayate Gekko and Inuzuka Aya discussed who would take the lead role in close combat.
Throughout this, Aburame Shibi stood motionless on a tree branch.
After a while, the two finalized their plan.
Aya pulled out a red pill and fed it to her little white puppy.
As soon as the pill entered its mouth, the pup's fur grew wildly, its eyes turned crimson red, and its body quickly expanded to the size of a calf.
She glanced at Uchiha Aozora and declared firmly, "Uchiha Aozora, this time I won't be dragging anyone down. You just watch!"
Before her voice finished echoing, she and the now-grown white dog had already charged forward.
The pill-transformed white pup was no longer an adorable pet—it had become a ferocious mastiff fiercer than wolves.
From the jar behind Aburame Shibi, a wave of black mist spewed toward the three attackers.
Uchiha Aozora focused his gaze—this wasn't just black mist! It was a dense swarm of insects!
After the bug cloud obscured vision, Aburame Shibi continuously hurled shuriken from behind.
Inuzuka Aya and her dog didn't retreat; relying on their extraordinary senses and quick reflexes, they effortlessly dodged the flying blades, pushed through the swarm, and closed the distance with Aburame Shibi.
Just dozens of meters away, Aburame Shibi faced the three opponents, and in the blink of an eye, Aya and her beloved canine were right upon him.
The white dog sprang backward, then lunged powerfully forward with its bloodthirsty jaws wide open, revealing razor-sharp fangs mid-air.
Aya deliberately lagged slightly behind, clawing into the tree trunk with both hands and feet, her eyes locked intensely onto Aburame Shibi.
Aburame Shibi barely sidestepped the white dog's fierce lunge, only for Aya's sharp claws to come straight at him head-on.
Unsurprised by this, Shibi—who had clearly anticipated this move—pushed off with both feet and retreated swiftly.
But as he withdrew, Hayate's sword was already swinging down toward him.
Bang!
Hayate struck fast and immediately withdrew. The white dog immediately spun around and lunged again.
They traded blows—attacking and retreating, chasing and evading—in rapid succession until dozens of moves had already been exchanged.
Fueled by the pill, the white dog fought viciously alongside Aya, launching relentless attacks on Aburame Shibi.
Meanwhile, Hayate hung back from the battle, occasionally cutting in with a slash when opportunity arose.
Working together seamlessly, the two fighters and the massive dog briefly gained the upper hand over Shibi.
Though it seemed like they were gaining control, Shibi wasn't really overwhelmed—he remained calm and even took moments to keep an eye on Uchiha Aozora.
Noticing how Aozora kept a middle distance, constantly circling around the battle, Aburame Shibi instinctively shifted some attention toward defense.
Gradually, Aozora sensed the white dog tiring somewhat, forcing Hayate to participate more in offensive actions.
However, his lack of coordination with Aya disrupted their rhythm, giving Shibi more room to counterattack.
Witnessing this, Uchiha Aozora decided not to wait for the optimal timing anymore.
Uchiha Aozora leaped up, found a favorable angle, swung hard, and hurled a kunai.
Aburame Shibi hadn't missed noticing Aozora's movement!
But as the kunai flew toward him, he instantly judged that evasion wasn't possible and was forced to parry using his own kunai.
The flying kunai sliced through the air, streaking past Hayate and Aya straight toward Aburame Shibi.
Facing it stood Aburame Shibi, holding his kunai crosswise.
Hayate Gekko, Inuzuka Aya, and Shibi Aburame watched the kunai slicing through the air, already bracing themselves to hear the clash of metal.
But the kunai actually turned midair!
Before the three could recover from their shock, the kunai gently curved sideways, bypassing the kunai Shibi Aburame had raised in defense.
[Pfft!]
No blood splattered—only a wisp of white smoke drifted into the air.
Another bunshin!
Where was Shibi Aburame now?
Or rather, who had he targeted with his ambush?
Uchiha Aozora figured it out in an instant!
Without warning, Shibi Aburame reappeared—right behind him.
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