Shindai's coordinated combat puppet group was locked in battle with Mei Terumi and her Mist Anbu.
Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki, severely injured, lay helplessly pinned to the ground, unable to move.
With many destroyed puppet parts embedded on his body, Kannazuki grew increasingly powerful.
Furthermore, Shindai—who was playing unfairly—continued summoning new puppets into the fight.
Mei Terumi shouted, "Protect yourselves with the Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
The Mist Anbu immediately formed hand seals, using the Water Release: Water Prison Technique as a defensive shield to protect themselves from harm.
Mei Terumi formed hand seals.
[Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!]
She combined fire and water-natured chakra inside her body, exhaling superheated mist whose acidity she could control at will.
This highly acidic, high-temperature mist had no effect on Kannazuki, whose body was made of Iron Sand Body. Shindai had long since corrected the weakness of Magnet Release against high temperatures.
But for the other puppets—made of materials not resistant to such strong acid corrosion—the effects were devastating.
The components on Kannazuki's body, along with the bodies of the other puppets, began dissolving and melting away.
And the entire gravitational field started to collapse due to the melting puppets.
Kakashi teased, "Looks like your puppets aren't acid-resistant."
Shindai's face turned pale with anger. "I hate Kekkei Genkai!"
Kakashi smirked. Of all people, Shindai—who himself possessed a Kekkei Genkai—was the least qualified to say that!
Grimacing, Shindai formed another seal. The puppet cluster returned to his side.
Looking at these puppets, damaged to varying degrees, Shindai felt deep sorrow.
Because of the corrosion, they couldn't even be repaired—they needed complete replacements. This was costing him a fortune.
Mei Terumi formed hand seals again.
[Boil Release: Acid Mist Technique!]
She exhaled sticky, highly corrosive acid from her mouth, surging toward Shindai and Kakashi.
"Kakashi."
"Yeah."
Without extra words, both Shindai and Kakashi understood each other's thoughts.
Shindai opened his right palm, revealing a glowing Supernova Shindai forming above it.
Seeing the orb in Shindai's hand, Naruto exclaimed, "Is this also a Rasengan? But Dad said Shindai hadn't learned how to use the Rasengan yet!"
Hinata explained, "I heard from Master Shindai before—this isn't Rasengan. It's an attack created by combining two completely opposite magnetic fields."
"Oh, I see."
Naruto didn't fully understand but got the point—it wasn't a Rasengan.
Shindai hurled the Supernova Shindai in his hand toward the incoming wave of acid.
A violent explosion erupted, scattering the acidic liquid in all directions.
[Magnet Release: Iron Sand Wings!]
Shindai compressed the Iron Sand Body at high density on his shoulders, forming a pair of giant bird-like wings that lifted him into the air. From the center of the wings, he launched countless Iron Sand feathers for a long-range attack. A massive volley of Iron Sand feathers shot toward Mei and the Mist Anbu.
"Water Release! Water Encampment Wall!"
A large wall of water rose up in front of Mei, blocking Shindai's Iron Sand feathers.
"Magnet Release! Iron Sand Spear!"
Dozens of sharp Iron Sand spears formed around Shindai, launching from multiple angles toward Mei and the Mist Anbu hiding behind the water barrier.
Mei used her Dissolving Apparition jutsu again. The acid-covered spears lost momentum and fell as they were stuck in the acidic liquid.
Behind Mei, one of the Mist Anbu shouted anxiously, "Mizukage, watch your left side!"
On the left, Kannazuki was half-squatting while Kakashi stood with his back to him, perched atop Kannazuki's legs. Kannazuki tightly gripped Kakashi's arms.
Kakashi's feet and Kannazuki's legs hovered, suspended in midair.
Back during the Third Great Ninja War, Shindai and Kakashi had performed this technique together before.
Like poles repel, while opposites attract—that was the force they used.
They used that repelling force to launch Kakashi forward, increasing his speed dramatically.
Kakashi shouted, "Release!"
Like a cannonball, Kakashi surged toward Mei. Lightning crackled violently around the short blade in his hand, emitting the signature cry of Chidori.
Mei's pupils contracted to pinpricks. Kakashi moved too fast for her eyes to track—only a blur remained. There was no way to dodge!
Just as Kakashi's blade was about to strike Mei, two figures blocked his path from her left.
It was Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki.
Zabuza clenched a kunai between his teeth while Raiga crossed his twin lightning blades, gritting his teeth to block Kakashi's slash.
However, Kakashi's power had been significantly enhanced by the acceleration from magnetic repulsion. Meanwhile, both Zabuza and Raiga were severely injured, unable to withstand Kakashi's attack.
A deep, bone-exposing gash appeared across Zabuza's chest and Raiga's left arm.
Mei immediately tried to counterattack Kakashi, but Kakashi suddenly flew upward.
It was Shindai manipulating the magnetic properties he'd applied to Kakashi, lifting him into the air. After reaching midair, a mass of Iron Sand appeared beneath Kakashi's feet.
Naruto and others stared dumbfounded at Shindai and Kakashi floating above.
This teamwork was incredible!
Naruto couldn't help shouting excitedly, "So powerful! Shindai! Teacher Kakashi!"
Mei glared unhappily at Shindai and Kakashi hovering in the sky.
Their strength surpassed even her wildest expectations.
According to Mei Terumi's original plan, with her strength and the support of the Mist Anbu jonin, she should have held the advantage over Shindai and Kakashi—especially since Shindai and Kakashi had already fought a battle beforehand.
Shindai hovered in the air above Mei Terumi, looking down at her and said, "Actually, I think Kirigakure's blood mist policy is quite good. With that policy in place, Kiri might become a second-rate ninja village in just a few years. If I kill you here, since you're the Mizukage, would the blood mist policy continue?"
Mei Terumi stared solemnly at Shindai and Kakashi, then lowered her gaze to Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki, who lay unconscious on the ground. The wounds Kakashi had left behind were still bleeding heavily. Without immediate treatment, their lives could be in serious danger.
There was no way to take down Shindai and Kakashi here. If Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki died, it would be a huge loss.
After all, Zabuza and Raiga had decided to return to Kiri. Currently, because of the damage caused by the blood mist policy, Kiri was weaker than ever. They desperately needed experienced ninja like Zabuza and Raiga.
Though Mei Terumi hated it, she had no choice but to order a retreat.
"Retreat!"
Mei Terumi threw down several smoke bombs and immediately withdrew while carrying the unconscious Zabuza and Raiga Kurosuki.
Once the smoke cleared, Mei Terumi and her group had vanished into thin air.
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