The Third Kazekage, surrounded by swirling black iron sand, was cutting down Konoha shinobi with chanical precision—
until his body suddenly stiffened.
"Ninja Art — Mind Body Switch!"
Yamanaka Inoichi's jutsu struck cleanly.
The Kazekage's vision blurred for a split second—
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
Shikaku was already kneeling with his palms on the ground, his shadow stretching like a spear, locking onto the Kazekage's immobile form.
"Chōza!" Shikaku barked.
"On it!"
"Ninja Art — Super Expansion Jutsu!"
Chōza's massive fist crashed down like a teor.
There was no dodging it.
Not when the Kazekage's mind was disrupted and his body held by shadow.
BOOOOOM!!
Sand, iron, and debris exploded everywhere.
This...
this was the power of Konoha's legendary alliance:
Nara Yamanaka Akimichi.
Ino–Shika–Cho.
Individually, their clans' techniques were… niche.
But together?
Together, they were a force that could threaten even a Kage.
"Did we… get him?"
Inoichi exhaled, withdrawing his technique.
Chōza released his jutsu as well.
Only Shikaku remained still, his hands locked in position, expression calm.
"If the Third Kazekage could be beaten that easily," Shikaku said, "he wouldn't be called the strongest Kazekage in history."
And right on cue—
A confident laugh echoed through the settling dust.
"Hahaha! As expected of the Nara clan… you saw through it."
The smoke cleared.
The Kazekage stood uninjured, wrapped in a dense sphere of pitch-black Iron Sand.
A perfect defense.
"The famous Ino–Shika–Cho trio," he said with amusent.
"If you think you can defeat , you're still decades too early."
Inoichi and Chōza braced themselves.
They weren't arrogant—they knew exactly who they were fighting.
But Shikaku only shrugged casually.
"Beating you isn't our job."
He smiled mildly.
"We just have to stall you."
The Kazekage's eyes narrowed.
He didn't reply—not because he disagreed, but because he knew it was true.
To defeat Ino–Shika–Cho would take ti.
More ti than this battlefield could afford.
"Hmph."
He raised one arm.
"Iron Sand: Rain of Needles!"
Thousands of razor-sharp iron spikes lifted into the air—
then dropped like a black storm directly toward the trio.
"Move!" Shikaku snapped.
"Right!"
"Got it!"
Inoichi and Chōza responded instantly, bodies synchronized after years of teamwork.
A single glance was all they needed to know what the others were doing.
"Damn it…!"
The Third Kazekage's expression twisted.
The Ino–Shika–Cho formation was holding him perfectly—not trying to defeat him, only stalling him.
And that, more than anything, infuriated him.
They were playing dirty.
They were supposed to.
But no matter how angry he got…
he couldn't break free.
--
Sand Village Camp
Not far from the battlefield, Elder Ebizō exhaled heavily as he watched.
"…They've stalled Chiyo-sama too."
His voice carried resignation.
If both Chiyo and the Kazekage were pinned down, then Sand's remaining forces—
already exhausted and half-starved—
were dood.
Defeat was only a matter of ti.
"Bunpuku!" Ebizō glanced toward the monk sitting cross-legged beside him.
"I'll have to trouble you once more."
Bunpuku nodded with a peaceful, almost apologetic smile.
"It's alright… If it's for Sunagakure, I will fight."
If he had a choice, he would've avoided this war entirely.
But he did not have a choice.
He stood up—
And that's when a boy with golden hair and a lion-like grin stepped in front of them.
"You won't be going anywhere.
I'm your opponent."
Shiki's hand was already resting on the hilt of his blade.
His eyes narrowed like a predator locking onto prey.
"Golden Lion… Shiki of Konoha."
Ebizō instantly recognized him—he managed Sand's intelligence network, after all.
"Bunpuku, go ahead," Ebizō started.
"I'll deal with—"
"Move."
Shiki didn't yell.
He didn't even swing his sword.
He simply released it—
BOOOOM!!
A wave of Conqueror's Haki blasted outward like thunder.
Ebizō's eyes rolled back.
He collapsed instantly.
Bunpuku froze.
"Th–This aura…"
He stared in disbelief.
"That overwhelming pressure… Is that really killing intent? No… this is—"
A tailed beast's chakra stirred deep within him.
Inside Bunpuku's mind, Shukaku suddenly roared awake.
"Bunpuku! You idiot! You're not fighting that! Move over and let handle it!"
"Shukaku…? You're willing to co out?"
"Willing?"
The tanuki snarled with excitent.
"That brat's power is interesting!
I wanna crush him myself!"
Bunpuku sighed, helpless.
"…Fine. I'll leave it to you."
He brought his hands together.
"Ninja Art — Feigned Sleep Jutsu."
Bunpuku collapsed backward.
The sand around him imdiately erupted into a spiraling storm.
"K–Keep your distance!"
"Move! MOVE!"
"That chakra—! It's One-Tail!"
Even the Sand shinobi fled from the growing sandstorm.
And then—
A massive, tanuki-shaped beast rose from the raging desert wind.
Dozens of ters tall, with monstrous claws and a grin carved from madness.
Shukaku of the Sand.
The One-Tail.
"GYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
I'M FINALLY OUT!!"
The battlefield shook as the tailed beast laughed, kicking up waves of sand with each breath.
And standing before that monstrous silhouette—
Was Shiki.
His expression calm.
Sword at his hip.
A faint grin tugging at his lips.
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