Chapter 387: Escape and Interception
While Karui was struggling with her decision, Ino created four shadow clones, transformed them into the likenesses of the four of them, and then sat down on the spot to rest.
To say that the Shadow Clone Technique is the number one divine skill in the world of Naruto, a eternal god, is no exaggeration at all.
From Naruto beating Mizuki to tricking Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and directly leading to the demise of Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, from this point of view, the contribution of the Second Hokage as the developer of the ninjutsu was second only to the First Hokage, and greater than that of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth combined.
This technique was too useful, but its drawback was also obvious: evenly distributing chakra was too damaging.
Ino currently rarely used the Shadow Clone Technique in battles against similarly Kage-level opponents. With 100 points of blue, dividing it among four shadow clones, the four clones and her main body would each have 20 points of blue. This was fine against weaklings, but fatal against the strong.
Naruto didn't have this problem. When he used the Shadow Clone Technique, 100 points of blue would be evenly distributed among 100 clones, leaving the main body with only 1 point. It seemed little, and in reality, it was little... but the Nine-Tails could help him recover his blue. It recovered 50 points in 1 second and was almost full in 2 seconds. With high recovery, he could use the Shadow Clone Technique as he pleased. Ino couldn't do that yet.
She let Shikamaru plan the escape route while she sat down to recover her chakra.
Actually, it didn't matter if she sat or not, but she felt that sitting down had more of a sense of ceremony.
Considering that the Cloud Village didn't have a Kekkei Genkai like the Byakugan, she didn't need to worry about whether the chakra of the clones and the main body were the same. She closed the channel for inputting chakra to the four chakra clones and concentrated on recovering her blue.
At any rate, she had a primary Sage Body. Recovering 1 point per minute, after sitting for half an hour, her chakra had recovered to half its level. It was time to run. If they waited for the Fourth Raikage to deal with the Eight-Tails, they wouldn't be able to run.
Choji quietly packed their things. Kiba's coordination with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was very rusty, but he had the basic qualities of a ninja. He told Akamaru not to bark, and quietly shouldered his own backpack, waiting to break out.
The four shadow clones transformed into their appearances, occasionally talking in the room, pacing back and forth in a panic.
When all three were ready, Ino had them put their hands on her shoulders. She quickly formed hand seals. This move looked like a very common Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique, but in reality, there were three hand seals in a different order. This move was Deidara's Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique.
The Underground Projection Fish Technique turned earth into liquid, and then one would swim in it.
The Hiding Like a Mole Technique turned earth into fine sand, and one could perceive the outside world while in the earth and determine direction through the magnetic field.
The Underground Projection Fish Technique was used by Kisame for surprise attacks, while the Hiding Like a Mole Technique was used by Deidara for escaping. Now, what Ino was using was the Hiding Like a Mole Technique.
Ino took the three of them and sank into the ground. It was pitch black around the four of them, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, without a trace of light or sound.
It was the first time Kiba had personally experienced this kind of ninjutsu. He wanted to look around but found himself surrounded by chakra and couldn't see anything.
The Ino-Shika-Cho cooperated much more tacitly.
Ino concentrated on maintaining the ninjutsu and used her sensory communication ability to connect the thoughts of the several people. Shikamaru used her sensory detection to correct the escape route, and Choji was responsible for digging.
Whether it was the Underground Projection Fish or the Hiding Like a Mole, it required manpower to dig. Choji worked hard in front without complaint.
"Aren't you good at Water Release? This Earth Release jutsu you're using now is very high-level, isn't it?" Kiba was quite surprised.
Choji was busy working, and Ino didn't want to boast about herself, so she remained silent.
Shikamaru took over this task. "The Yamanaka family doesn't have the bloodline of the Senju clan. To use the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, both Water Release and Earth Release must reach their peak. Ino's Earth Release is in no way inferior to her Water Release; it's just that the outside world doesn't know."
Kiba didn't know how to praise her. A thousand words turned into one sentence: Big shot, awesome!
"When I become Hokage, Ino, I'll hire you as my advisor. Shikamaru will be my staff officer. Choji… Choji will be in charge of logistics!" As soon as he was out of danger, Kiba became active again, even starting to dream, imagining himself becoming Hokage and then appointing them to official positions.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio didn't know what to say about his excessive optimism. As long as you're happy.
The few of them hummed and hawed in response.
The Cloud Village was, after all, one of the five great hidden villages. After decades of accumulation, there were some talents in the village. The Cloud Village's warning barrier went deep underground. Whenever Ino detected these barriers, she had to take a detour.
They walked and stopped. Choji had been trying to act handsome these past few days, so he hadn't stored up any fat in his body. He was panting from exhaustion. The X-th Hokage, Kiba Inuzuka, took his place to dig, and then Shikamaru, the staff officer, also went over to help.
Ino concentrated on maintaining the ninjutsu. Carrying three people, the burden was tripled, and her chakra was dropping like a waterfall. The three spirited young men, like groundhogs, were constantly digging, and they were all very tired.
After continuously passing through the Cloud Village's three warning lines and sensing from afar that the chaos in the village was rapidly subsiding, Ino estimated that the Fourth Raikage had already suppressed the Eight-Tails. After simply treating Killer B, it would be time to find someone to take the blame.
The Konoha four were definitely the first choice for taking the blame. The Shadow Clone Technique couldn't be hidden for long.
At this time, a familiar chakra appeared in her senses, seeming to be waiting for them. Ino thought for a moment and said, "That's about it. We've walked two li in a straight line. Next, let's return to the surface and quickly leave the Cloud Village."
The three spirited young men were already too tired to speak and nodded hurriedly.
"After we get to the surface, the three of you take military ration pills to recover your stamina immediately. Kiba is in charge of scouting; you walk at the very front. Choji is second, Shikamaru is third, and I'll cover the rear."
"Alright." x3
The four of them emerged from the backyard of a civilian house. The moonlight shone on the ground. Looking back, they could see the thick smoke from the central area of the Cloud Village.
Kiba immediately released Akamaru from his backpack. The ninja dog was very afraid of traveling underground. To endure until now was already very difficult.
There were no pursuers behind them. Ino called for the three of them to run quickly.
As long as she left the range of the Cloud Village, she could use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Go!" The four of them weaved through the streets and alleys. The occasional Cloud Village ninjas they encountered along the way were dealt with by the Expansion Technique, Shadow–Neck Binding Technique, and Fang Passing Fang.
With a light "rip," a flash of a blade drew a finger-thick trench in front of them.
Karui held her sword with both hands and looked at them with a hostile expression.
The night was very dark, and Karui's face was even darker.
She questioned the four sternly, "Did you release the Eight-Tails? Is your Konoha Village planning to assassinate my teacher?"
She looked at the four of them, but her gaze mostly fell on Choji.
Choji looked as if he had a sudden realization, then asked his good brother Shikamaru beside him with some belatedness, "Did we do it?"
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