At this moment, Orochimaru had already slipped back to Obito and Kabuto's side.
Kabuto was surprised. "Orochimaru-sama, weren't you going to seize Hyūga Neji's body? Why did you suddenly come back?"
Orochimaru licked his lips with his long tongue. "Kabuto, are you really asking when you already know?"
"Uh, well…" Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Looks like Orochimaru-sama couldn't beat Neji."
Orochimaru did not deny it. "As expected of the Tenseigan. Neji has long since surpassed me. If I want to defeat him and take his body, I can't do it alone, so I can only come over here to help."
His thinking was simple: work together with Obito and win this battle first.
After that, there should be a chance to seize Neji's body and obtain the Tenseigan.
"In that case, we stop Tenten together," Obito said quickly. "We can't let Tenten cut down the Gedō Mazō's Kotodama, or it'll end up like Madara and get sucked into that gourd!"
Kabuto and Orochimaru had personally witnessed the mighty Madara being pulled into the red gourd, so they naturally understood that the Kotodama really was terrifying.
Orochimaru agreed, his venomous snake eyes fixed on Tenten. "Heh heh heh, Tenten, it's been a long time. Back in the Forest of Death, the first time we met, your strength was already dazzling. I never expected you'd grow to the point where you can control the Six Paths Tools. Natsuki's judgment really is excellent."
"Natsuki's judgment is obviously excellent!"
Tenten affirmed it, then added, "Since you brought up that Forest of Death incident, I don't mind recreating it. Take this—my Money-Talk Secret Art: One-Hundred-Million Explosive Tags Technique!"
Earlier, Tenten had been trying to cut down the Gedō Mazō's Kotodama, but Obito had been stopping her with everything he had.
Then Kabuto came down to help obstruct her. Even her upgraded second plan had not been going smoothly.
Naturally, she was furious.
If Operation One wouldn't work, then Operation Two.
She pulled out a mountain of explosive tags, then used Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) to teleport straight to the formula she had left on the Gedō Mazō's thigh—and detonated on the spot.
The instant Tenten said "Money-Talk Secret Art," Orochimaru chose to evade.
Kabuto knew Orochimaru was first-rate at staying alive, so he naturally followed.
Only Obito stood there staring blankly at what Tenten was doing, his mind buzzing. He probably thought he misheard. He could not believe the number Tenten had just said.
"How much? You said how much…"
Rumble—!
A horrifying explosion erupted. A terrifying shockwave swept outward.
The Allied shinobi who had been preparing to close in immediately scrambled backward. Many were outright thrown off their feet. The explosion was that violent.
Luckily, the Allied shinobi were not too close, so their injuries were minor. Tenten's side also retreated in the first moment. Only Obito—still stunned—remained in place.
In the next second, he was swallowed by the blast.
ROOOAAAR—!!!
The Gedō Mazō let out a scream that shook heaven and earth, instantly drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Seeing Tenten's group retreat, Tsunade immediately shouted, "Tenten! Kakashi! What happened?!"
Tenten, however, grinned. "Nothing happened. My one-hundred-million ultimate just went off, that's all!"
"What one-hundred-million ultimate…"
Tsunade froze for a beat, then reacted. "You used one hundred million explosive tags to blow up the Gedō Mazō?! You've gone completely insane!"
Her voice was loud, carrying across the battlefield. Instantly, everyone looked at Tenten with shock and disbelief, as if they were meeting her for the first time.
Using one hundred million explosive tags for demolition… you really are insane.
But the friends who knew Tenten felt it was only natural. Because Tenten was a madwoman.
Aside from the number of explosive tags being absurd, the operation itself was perfectly sound. She was not bombing randomly. She was bombing the Gedō Mazō. Had they not heard that bone-deep scream?
If she could blow the Gedō Mazō into dust on the spot, even better.
After a long while, the smoke and dust finally cleared. The first figure to appear was Obito.
He was uninjured. Clearly he had used (Kamui) intangibility to evade the impact. But his face was darker than soot, because he had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, in the next second, the Gedō Mazō—already missing one leg—fully emerged from the smoke.
And now it was not missing one leg.
It was missing two.
One hundred million explosive tags had detonated right at its thigh and blasted off its last remaining leg on the spot!
"Yes!! Amazing!"
"Hahahaha! One hundred million explosive tags to blow off the Gedō Mazō's leg—Tenten, as expected!"
"W-Wow! Tenten is so cool! I'm going to chase her!"
"Get lost! That's Natsuki-sama's wife. If you want to die, nobody's stopping you!"
The Allied shinobi erupted. Cheers and laughter burst out like it was New Year's. The Gedō Mazō was simply too miserable now. With both legs gone, it was crippled beyond words.
Tenten looked it over, then smiled at Konan. "Konan-nee-san, explosive tags work. One hundred million blew off its leg. If you stack six hundred billion on its chest, wouldn't it get blown into paste?"
Konan's eyes lit up as she nodded hard. "Yes. Then next, we blow it into paste."
It was obvious: Konan had found her approach.
If the Gedō Mazō could be destroyed by explosions, then she would hand over all her explosive tags. They had to blow the Gedō Mazō into fragments and see if it could still absorb Bijū then.
The Gedō Mazō was a shell. If the shell was destroyed, the container was broken, and it naturally could not hold the Bijū.
So what was there to hesitate about? Just blow it up.
Kakashi said, "Next, I'll handle restraining Obito. You go straight for the Gedō Mazō. Have Tenten leave a formula on its chest and retreat. And Tenten, don't forget to cut down the Gedō Mazō's Kotodama. If the demolition fails, we can still try sealing."
Jiraiya agreed. "Then I'll deal with Orochimaru."
Shino said, "I'll handle Kabuto."
Konan said, "I'll protect Tenten. Nobody is laying a finger on her!"
The demolition squad formed again, and with ill intent, they advanced toward the Gedō Mazō once more. The Gedō Mazō, writhing on the ground and wailing, shuddered instinctively, sensing something terrible coming.
Orochimaru and Kabuto returned at this time as well. Seeing the pitiful state of the Gedō Mazō, they could not help clicking their tongues in amazement.
Obito's face was black. "You two ran pretty fast."
Orochimaru replied as if it were self-evident. "Of course. I know that little girl's Money-Talk Secret Art. And unlike you, I can't go intangible. Naturally, I ran first."
Kabuto said, "Same."
Two bastards.
Obito was furious, but he did not even know what to curse them with. After all, fleeing was instinct.
Even if those two had stayed, it would not have changed anything. The explosion had already happened. And because Tenten used Flying Thunder God to detonate right in front of the Gedō Mazō's thigh, there was simply no time to stop it.
(End of Chapter)
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