The battle-hardened Aburame Shibi naturally wouldn’t be overly cautious or timid.
His eyes behind the sunglasses shifted, and he made a decision instantly.
Facing Gekko Hayate’s sword slashing towards his right arm, Aburame Shibi didn’t dodge, but chose to trade blow for blow.
Seeing the kunai getting closer and feeling the thick killing intent around him, Gekko Hayate grew afraid and chose to retreat.
This retreat certainly got him out of danger, but it also completely surrendered the initiative.
Losing the initiative, Gekko Hayate was instantly engulfed by danger, facing the possibility of serious injury or death at any moment.
Just as Gekko Hayate was repelled and was about to be severely injured in the next instant, a kunai shot past Gekko Hayate’s ear, pointing straight at Aburame Shibi’s right eye.
The kunai was at point-blank range, catching Aburame Shibi off guard.
Before he even had the chance to perform the Substitution Jutsu, he was pierced by the kunai.
“Poof!” There was no splashing blood, only a wisp of white smoke dissipating.
Carrying a powerful impact, the kunai continued forward, consecutively piercing through three large trees before nailing itself onto the trunk of a tree.
Inuzuka Aya had just recovered her senses, perfectly witnessing the scene of Uchiha Aozora throwing the kunai, and seeing Aburame Shibi being sniped by the kunai.
Comparing her own performance just now, Inuzuka Aya’s face flushed with shame.
How did she have the nerve to call him the dead last?
If he was the dead last, what was she?
Someone eating dust?
Inuzuka Aya merely watched from afar and didn’t deeply feel the power of that kunai.
Gekko Hayate touched the cut on his face torn by the strong wind, feeling lingering fear.
He had to use his sword as a crutch to keep himself from collapsing to the ground.
In the instant the kunai flew past his face, he felt the aura of death.
He knew that if this kunai had been aimed at him, he would have long stopped breathing by now.
Receiving the sensation of death transmitted from his Shadow Clone, Aburame Shibi touched his forehead where the non-existent wound was, and after a moment of silence, he revealed himself on a tree branch not far from the three of them.
“Not bad, you are more excellent than I imagined.” Aburame Shibi spoke in a flat tone without a trace of emotion.
Although there was an intent of praise in his words, to Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya, it sounded as if Aburame Shibi was mocking them.
Recalling their own performance just now, the two couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
Uchiha Aozora’s face didn’t show the joy of being praised either.
Instead, he gripped another kunai and continued to look for Aburame Shibi’s weak points.
Taking in the performance of the three, Aburame Shibi continued: “The greetings are over, let’s continue the battle from just now!” “Remember, with the resolve to kill me!” After saying that, he stood in place, waiting for the three to attack.
After the battle just now, Inuzuka Aya and Gekko Hayate clearly saw who the pillar of strength among the three was, and actively moved closer to Uchiha Aozora.
Inuzuka Aya, out of pride, was too embarrassed to strike up a conversation.
Gekko Hayate proposed: “Looking at Shibi-sensei, he doesn’t plan to hide anymore.
He wants to test our frontal combat abilities.” “In a moment, Aya and I will attack at close range, and Aozora, you be responsible for throwing kunai from a distance when you see an opportunity.
How about it?” Uchiha Aozora nodded in agreement.
Naturally, he had no objections.
As a long-range ninja, having someone to be the frontline for him was a good thing.
Inuzuka Aya also voiced her agreement.
With the general direction settled, Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya further discussed who would take the primary and secondary roles in close combat.
During this process, Aburame Shibi remained motionless, standing silently on the tree branch.
After a while, the two finally agreed.
Inuzuka Aya took out a red pill and fed it to the little white dog.
As the pill entered its mouth, the little white dog’s fur grew wildly, its eyes turned crimson red, and its size soon became as big as a calf.
She glanced at Uchiha Aozora and said resolutely: “Uchiha Aozora, this time I won’t drag us down.
Watch carefully!” Before her voice faded, she and the expanded Shiro (White) charged out.
The little white dog, after eating the pill, was no longer a cute pet, but a Tibetan Mastiff more ferocious than a jackal or wolf.
From the gourd behind Aburame Shibi surged a black cloud, flying towards the three.
Uchiha Aozora focused his eyes.
How was this a black cloud?
It was clearly densely packed bugs.
After the bug cloud obstructed their vision, Aburame Shibi continuously threw shurikens from behind.
Inuzuka Aya and Shiro didn’t retreat.
Relying on their astonishing five senses and swift reactions, they easily dodged the shurikens, passed through the bug cloud, and closed the distance with Aburame Shibi.
Aburame Shibi’s distance from the three was merely a few dozen meters.
In the blink of an eye, Inuzuka Aya and her beloved dog had closed in on Aburame Shibi.
Shiro pushed off its hind legs and lunged fiercely.
In mid-air, it opened its bloody maw, revealing its incomparably sharp fangs.
Inuzuka Aya, however, proactively slowed down by half a beat, clinging to the tree trunk with all four limbs, her eyes fixed deadly on Aburame Shibi.
Just as Aburame Shibi stepped sideways to dodge Shiro’s fierce lunge, he was met head-on with Inuzuka Aya’s sharp claws.
Aburame Shibi was not surprised at all.
Already prepared, he kicked off with both feet and retreated backwards.
Then, as he retreated, Gekko Hayate’s sword had already slashed over.
Bang!
Gekko Hayate retreated after one hit, and Shiro turned around to charge and bite again.
Both sides exchanged offense and defense, pursuing and fleeing.
In a short while, they exchanged dozens of moves.
The drugged Shiro was extremely fierce.
It had perfect teamwork with Inuzuka Aya, launching a continuous, unbroken assault on Aburame Shibi.
Meanwhile, Gekko Hayate hung at the edge of their battleground, looking for opportunities to land a slash from time to time.
The two humans and one dog had clear divisions of labor, and unexpectedly managed to suppress Aburame Shibi for a time.
Well, it couldn’t exactly be called suppression.
Although Aburame Shibi seemingly held the disadvantage, he wasn’t flustered.
Instead, he found the time to observe Uchiha Aozora.
Watching Uchiha Aozora wandering not too far or too close, Aburame Shibi couldn’t help but spare some mental focus to guard against him.
Gradually, Uchiha Aozora noticed that Shiro’s strength was waning, and Gekko Hayate had to participate in more attacks.
However, his teamwork with Inuzuka Aya was lacking, which gave Aburame Shibi more room to maneuver, and Aburame Shibi freed up his hands to go on the offensive.
Seeing this, Uchiha Aozora stopped looking for the optimal timing.
He jumped up, found an angle, swung his arm forcefully, and threw the kunai out.
Aburame Shibi had been keeping an eye on Uchiha Aozora!
But when the kunai flew over, he instantly judged that he couldn’t dodge it, so he had to swing his own kunai to block.
The kunai pierced through the air, stirring up a strong wind, passed through the gap between Gekko Hayate and Inuzuka Aya, and shot towards Aburame Shibi.
Ahead was Aburame Shibi’s horizontally held kunai.
Gekko Hayate, Inuzuka Aya, and Aburame Shibi watched the air-piercing kunai, ready to hear the sound of clashing metal.
But that kunai actually turned!
Under the astonished and stunned gazes of the three, the kunai gently took a turn and bypassed the kunai Aburame Shibi was using to block.
“Poof!” Still no splashing blood, still only a wisp of white smoke dissipating.
Still a Shadow Clone!
Where was Aburame Shibi?
Or rather, who had Aburame Shibi hidden himself to attack?
Uchiha Aozora instantly had the answer!
Aburame Shibi appeared behind him without any warning.
(END CHAPTER)