Chapter 340: The Shortcoming
Pfft, pfft, pfft!
In an instant, the offensive of the four legendary Kage sputtered and died.
"Eh? What's going on?" Gengetsu Hozuki asked in surprise.
Mu looked at the suddenly neutralized ninjutsu and replied to the "mustache's" question: "This is a Genjutsu. It's a technique that suppresses the refining of chakra from both the spirit and the body. I can feel that when the sound rings out, the difficulty of refining chakra spikes, causing an imbalance at the moment of release."
"It seems the Shinobi Alliance has some talented people after all." The Third Raikage looked at the performing Tonbo Tobitake with a look of appreciation.
Rasa nodded. "So it seems. But if this is all he has, it won't be enough."
"What happened just now? Why did the enemy's ninjutsu suddenly vanish?"
"It's Captain Tonbo! He's a one-man Special Support Unit!"
"Incredible! Even if the opponents are all former Kage, we're bound to win!"
Within the Allied Shinobi Forces, many were analyzing the situation. Unit leaders like Motoi and Temari felt their confidence surge at the sight.
However, the pressure remained immense. Everyone knew exactly how powerful the Kage of their respective villages were. Moreover, HQ had just transmitted intelligence on the four of them.
Aside from the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the other three were exceptionally difficult to handle. One was a tricky Genjutsu specialist with the Hozuki clan's secret techniques. One was the first man to expand Bloodline Limits into the Particle Style, the Second Tsuchikage Mu. And the last was the Third Raikage, who had famously held off ten thousand Stone ninjas for three days and nights.
Each was a genius among geniuses. Even with their superior numbers, the Alliance barely equaled a single Third Raikage. Worse, the enemies were reanimated and couldn't be worn down. They could only place their hopes in Gaara, Tonbo, and the soon-to-arrive Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
"I heard Captain Tonbo has a forbidden jutsu that uses our chakra... maybe he could..."
Crash!
The four Kage were stalled, but Gaara was not. A tsunami-like sandstorm surged toward the four of them. He did not hesitate just because Tonbo had suppressed them.
"Gaara, take this chance to separate them! We can't handle all four of them together. My genjutsu can only reduce the power and rhythm of their ninjutsu; it won't dull their combat experience or taijutsu. I'll provide support, but the actual fighting is up to you guys," Tonbo said while strumming the guitar.
Gaara nodded. As the sandstorm swept in, the opponents reacted. Though they wanted to be sealed, their bodies moved involuntarily to retreat.
"First Squad... Second Squad... Third... Attack according to the prepared formation! Do not charge recklessly! Find an opening to seal them!" Even while attacking, Gaara did not forget to command the troops below.
In the dark cavern.
Kabuto monitored the battle through the eyes of the reanimated.
"Sound-based Genjutsu... I didn't prepare specifically for that. This guy Tonbo Tobitake is truly a nuisance!"
Tonbo had never revealed much of his sound-based repertoire before. Kabuto's countermeasures were focused on standard Genjutsu and visual types.
Pause!
Suddenly, Kabuto removed a piece from the board.
"A Genjutsu capable of overwriting the Reanimation... Shisui's Kotoamatsukami? I really can't underestimate him!"
"I suppose I can't hold back anymore. I need to stall for more time."
Bang, bang!
Across the various units, reanimated ninjas used Summoning Jutsus to bring out the rest of the reserves: The Sound Four, Kimimaro, Granny Chiyo, Hanzo of the Salamander, and more. They continued to reinforce the various battlefronts.
Boom!
Nagato grabbed Naruto, and a soul began to be wrenched from his body.
"Dammit! Uncle Bee, Eight-Tails! I feel like my soul is being pulled out!" Naruto shouted, gripping his own translucent spirit.
Killer Bee swung Samehada toward Nagato. "You bastard! Is there anything this guy can't do?"
Bang, bang!
Three mechanical arms sprouted from Nagato's back, firing missiles that blew Bee back. One hand unfolded into a cannon, aiming directly at Bee. High-density chakra began to gather in the barrel.
Bee: "Oh, trouble!"
Swoosh!
A red giant appeared, slashing at Nagato with a blade.
Almighty Push!
Nagato repelled the sneak-attacking Itachi. Behind Nagato, the phantom image of the King of Hell appeared, ready to swallow Naruto.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Countless kunai were launched from a blind spot toward the King of Hell and Nagato. Aside from those Nagato repelled, the kunai aimed at the phantom King of Hell simply passed through it.
"Itachi, long time no see. How've you been lately?" Tonbo Tobitake descended from the sky, looking at the soulless Nagato below.
No wonder Itachi didn't use the kunai trick from the original story; he already analyzed that it wouldn't work!
The moment he appeared, everyone's eyes turned to him, including Nagato's. This brief distraction caused Nagato to momentarily loosen his grip on Naruto. By the time he recovered, Naruto had already escaped.
"Yo, yo, check it out! It's Konoha's Captain Tonbo. Is this special support?" Bee hopped back into the fray.
Naruto was overjoyed: "Uncle Tonbo, you're here! Watch out, this guy has all of Pain's abilities!" Naruto looked at Nagato grimly.
Itachi looked at Tonbo: "You've been watching for a while, haven't you? You're still the Captain Tonbo I remember. Though, no matter how you look at it, I'm not doing too well right now, am I?"
"As expected of my proudest teammate; your abilities are as sharp as ever." Tonbo gave him a thumbs-up while looking deeply at Itachi.
This man's analytical skills were getting terrifying. Back when Itachi first met him, he likely already understood what kind of person Tonbo was. Over the years, Tonbo had grown, but looking back, he felt his younger self was quite green.
Years ago, when Itachi specifically sought him out to ask what the "Will of Fire" was, it was to confirm something beyond just Tonbo's ideology. Now that he thought about it, Itachi had probably deduced that Tonbo was hiding certain abilities. Tonbo's preaching of the Will of Fire was a bit amateurish, and Itachi must have sensed the facade. He was checking to see if Tonbo was a threat to Konoha.
If he had answered incorrectly back then, Itachi might have targeted him on the Night of the Massacre. He just wasn't sure how Itachi had ultimately decided he wasn't a threat.
"I don't want to experience 'The Eight Scents of Fire' again. Right now, the priority is dealing with Nagato and then finding the mastermind," Itachi said, shifting the subject back to the battle. A black sphere of high-density chakra appeared in his hand.
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