Outside Shiraishi's residence, Shirohebi-hime approached with measured steps. After much deliberation, the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave had finally resolved to use this chaos to eliminate that insufferable cat once and for all.
But as she prepared to cross the threshold, a wave of oppressive, high-temperature flames swept across her path. The unexpected interloper caused the Sage to pause in surprise.
"Sister Pakura? Why are you here?"
Pakura's expression was weary and conflicted as she faced the Sage. "Sister, I hope you will return to your own abode rather than linger here. The Kazekage's mission for me is to protect everything within this house."
The target of her mission was indeed the White Snake Sage. At first, Pakura hadn't wanted to believe it, but Shirohebi-hime's current actions proved she harbored ulterior motives regarding the Kazekage's home.
Dispensing with explanations, Shirohebi-hime's aura flared. "Do you truly think you can stop me?"
"The odds are not in my favor," Pakura replied firmly, "but I will uphold my duty to the end."
The ground beneath the Sage distorted as she flickered toward Pakura, only to be intercepted by a blood-red cage of scorching solar energy. Her body instinctively recoiled from the heat.
"This is my mission!" Pakura declared. Even if she couldn't defeat the enigmatic Sage, she would stand her ground—a testament to a shinobi's core discipline.
As Shirohebi-hime prepared to force her way through, countless sealing arrays ignited. Maki appeared, surrounded by a cyclone of scrolls.
She unleashed a tidal wave of Nen, causing the Sage's eyes to narrow. The surrounding air had transformed into the girl's personal domain; Shirohebi-hime found her consciousness suppressed and her skin prickling with a sharp, localized discomfort.
A barrier technique...
The Sage exhaled a mist of Inorganic Reincarnation saliva, turning the air into a toxic fog, yet the mental pressure of the domain purified the poison before it could spread.
"What is this?" the Sage hissed.
"Barrier Art: Spiritual Domain!"
Maki didn't waste a second. She began a rapid sequence of hand seals, launching a relentless barrage of sealing jutsu from her scrolls.
Shiraishi had gifted the "Spiritual Domain" skill card to Maki because it was the perfect catalyst for her talents. Within this mental space, the power of Maki's sealing and barrier techniques was amplified severalfold.
Shirohebi-hime, a master of toxins and earth-based inorganic life, found herself struggling against a natural elemental counter.
Pakura wasn't idling either. She launched a miniature sun into the sky, illuminating the battlefield with a blinding, artificial radiance.
Barrier Art: Sunny Day!
Under the combined effects of the Spiritual Domain and Sunny Day, the White Snake Sage found herself double-suppressed.
The extreme heat began to evaporate her outer layers of skin. Pakura, now wreathed in wings of fire, bombarded the Sage with high-potency Scorch Release fireballs, which were tripled in power by the Sunny Day environment.
That bastard Shiraishi... the Sage cursed internally. He gave them these specific techniques just to counter me. He's been wary of me from the start.
The White Snake Sage began to consider a retreat. Taking down the combined force of Maki and an amplified Pakura was proving to be a logistical nightmare.
The Cat and the Toad
Back at Mount Myoboku, Fukasaku and Shima could feel the fluctuations of the stone statues. "Father, the plan isn't going smoothly. The Sand's counter-offensive is far stronger than anticipated."
"I never expected the statues to win," the Great Toad Sage replied calmly. "They only need to pin down the Kazekage and his elites long enough..."
As he spoke, a massive surge of Senjutsu erupted from his ancient body. Above Shiraishi's home, a colossal Reverse Summoning Array manifested in the sky.
Black ink-like runes swirled together to form the semi-transparent projection of a gargantuan toad, wielding a massive blade. It began to descend toward the house.
"It really is after Little Orange," Maki noted.
Pakura looked at Maki in disbelief. "Are you saying this entire invasion... all these Kage-level fighters... is because someone wants to hurt the Kazekage's pet cat?"
Maki nodded, and Pakura turned her gaze toward Shirohebi-hime. "Sister, are you here for the cat, too?"
The Sage gave a wry, cold smile. "Yes."
Pakura's face went blank. (·Д·) "Are you all joking? An army for a fat orange cat?"
"He's not a fat orange," Maki corrected while launching another lightning bolt from a scroll. "He's Little Orange."
"Whatever! It's still just a cat!"
"A cat that I find very... irritating," the Sage remarked. "By the way, Lady Kazekage, you seem to dislike me quite a bit."
Maki shook her head as she maintained the barrier. "I've never disliked you. You are my husband's 'friend,' so why would I?"
Boom!
The giant toad projection in the sky swung its massive blade, the sound of the wind screaming as it sliced toward Shiraishi's home.
But at that exact moment, a sharp, piercing "Meow!" echoed throughout the entire Hidden Sand.
A massive, golden-furred, padded paw—composed of pure, dense natural energy—materialized and swatted upward with terrifying speed.
The sight of that paw brought back a flood of humiliating memories for Shirohebi-hime. Her face turned pale.
That beast... he finished his metamorphosis early!
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