Chapter 205: Kumogakure's AB Combo!
"Heh!" Keisuke let out a cold laugh. He didn't believe for a second that Danzō was out of the picture that easily. Still, if this was an opportunity to completely remove that "old root" from the darkness, he wouldn't be against it.
"Where is Danzō now?"
"He was likely escorted back to Konoha in secret by his Root ninja," Shikaku replied.
"What a pity..." Keisuke sighed. To be so critically wounded on the battlefield that half his body was destroyed... it would have been the perfect cover for an "accidental death." What a wasted opportunity.
Shikaku's eyelids twitched. He could hear the clear regret in his new commander's voice, but he made no comment. What did Danzō's life or death have to do with him?
"Shikaku-san, I received other news from the Third Hokage," Keisuke said, bringing up his other two "support" members. "Minato-san should have already arrived, right? What's his status?"
"Minato... is incredible," Shikaku said with genuine admiration. "We remnants were being slaughtered by the Kumo forces, just barely hanging on. The moment he arrived, he cleanly and efficiently dispatched every enemy ninja present. It was only with his help that we were able to gather this small, broken force."
Keisuke scanned the other Konoha ninja in the clearing. The "force" was a scattered group of a few dozen, most of whom were wounded and in no condition to fight. Even Shikaku himself had two new, terrifying scars on his face—one slicing across his right cheek, the other barely missing his temple. The wounds alone were a testament to the brutality of the battle.
Shisui, Retsu, and Shizune were already moving through the crowd, providing what aid they could. Shizune's presence, in particular, was a massive boon for the wounded.
"As for where Minato is now... I don't know," Shikaku said, pointing to the northeast. "After he gathered us, he and that other ninja—the one with the mask and wings—immediately headed in that direction without taking anyone else. I assume they are still engaging the main Kumo army."
Keisuke nodded and, as the new commander, asked, "Shikaku-san, in your opinion, should I go to the front, stay here and command, or send out personnel to gather the other scattered forces?"
Shikaku didn't answer immediately. His eyes scanned Keisuke's team. "Clan Head, your squad members are?"
"Shisui of the Body Flicker, Hyūga Retsu, and Shizune," Keisuke answered.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker..." Shikaku instantly locked onto the key man. Any ninja with a title was not to be underestimated, and that was on top of having a Hyūga.
"Clan Head, I believe we can do all three at the same time." Shikaku slipped into his natural role as chief of staff and proposed a plan. "You and the Five-Tails will proceed to the front to support Minato and the other one. I will use my Shadow Beast Scroll and coordinate with the Hyūga-san to search for any other survivors. As for Shisui-san and the medical-nin, they can remain here to protect this base."
Keisuke nodded. "Shisui! Retsu!"
Hearing their captain's call, the two flickered over from the crowd.
"This is Shikaku-san. He is... the new Chief of Staff for the Kumo front," Keisuke announced, casually giving him a new title. "You two will follow his arrangements. Also, Shisui, that Flame Uchiwa of yours... can I borrow it for a while?"
Kumo ninja specialized in Lightning Release. Wind Release countered it. But Keisuke's own Wind Style was nothing special. It was fine against fodder, but useless against the likes of the Third Raikage or the AB Combo. The Gunbai, however... Repel all things, and turn them into a ferocious counter-wind! It could absorb any ninjutsu and reflect it back as Wind Release. Against the lightning-users of Kumo, it was a god-tier weapon.
"Of course, no problem!" Shisui immediately unstrapped the Gunbai and handed it over. "But Captain, do you know how to use it?"
The news that Shisui had "accidentally" recovered the Gunbai had already caused a small stir in the Uchiha clan. While some were suspicious, most were just happy to have their treasure back. With the support of many in the clan, Shisui had even been taught the "Uchiha Reflection" technique to use with it.
"I know a little," Keisuke said, taking the fan. He then unsealed his own Large Sealing Scroll and took out a new one. "Shisui, you can use this for now. It amplifies the power of wind jutsu. It's a collector's item from Sunagakure."
[B-Rank Ninja Tool: Three-Star Fan]
This was the iron fan he had looted from Ebizō. He had specifically brought it from his collection for this front.
"Oh..." Shisui traded the legendary Gunbai for the Three-Star Fan, feeling like something wasn't quite right about the exchange.
Keisuke took out a blank mask, pressed a Flying Thunder God marker onto it, and handed it to Shikaku. "Shikaku-san, Shisui, Retsu. I'm leaving this place to you."
With that said, he and Kokuō departed for the front. Shikaku watched the great white deer leave with an expression of reverence, then immediately got to work.
RUMBLE—
Kokuō galloped across the land, rapidly closing in on the battlefield. Before they had even arrived, Keisuke, sitting atop its head, could sense the chaotic chakra signatures ahead.
In the distance, a giant Susanoo was in a heated brawl, while a small yellow flash zipped around it. Their opponents were not Kumo grunts, but the infamous AB Combo. Uchiha Kagami, in his Susanoo, was relentlessly attacking a massive Tailed Beast. Killer B, in his full Eight-Tails form, had used his tentacles to completely bind the Susanoo, while tilting his head to dodge its spiral sword.
Minato was flickering across the battlefield, constantly looking for an opening, while A, his body wrapped in a crackling blue-white lightning cloak, was relentlessly pursuing him. The Yellow Flash and the blue-white lightning were a blur of motion.
Kokuō's arrival instantly drew the attention of all four combatants. Minato and Kagami were overjoyed. A and B were stunned. 'That's... Iwagakure's Five-Tails... The intel was right. Konoha captured it and turned it into their own weapon...'
A immediately abandoned his pursuit of Minato and retreated to his brother's side, shouting, "B! Disengage!"
Killer B instantly released his hold on the Susanoo, though he remained in his Tailed Beast form.
"That's the Eight-Tails," Kokuō said, observing the massive, dark-red creature from a distance. "He looks about the same as he used to..."
Minato flickered to Keisuke's side. Kagami, in his winged form, did the same. Wary of the Five-Tails, they didn't get too close, instead landing on a Shadow Creature that Keisuke sent down for them. The three Konoha ninja and their Tailed Beast faced off against the two Kumo brothers and their Tailed Beast.
Keisuke glanced at his two allies. Kagami, an Edo Tensei, was fine. Minato, however, was covered in sweat and breathing heavily. He had rushed from Konoha at top speed, repelled an army, and then immediately tangled with the AB Combo. He was holding on by willpower alone.
"Thanks, Keisuke," Minato said, wiping the sweat from his brow, his blue eyes fixed on the duo below. "Should we... try to take them down?" He and A had a mutual respect, but he would show no mercy now that they had the advantage.
"I'll give it a try," Keisuke replied.
He raised his right hand. A ball of pitch-black, condensed chakra began to form in his palm, with faint, ethereal rings spinning around it, like a miniature planet.
"Think of it as a gift, for our first meeting..."
Dark Spiral Annihilation Sphere!
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