Chapter 169
"Oh?"
Haku turned her head to look at the three.
Sakura shivered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Unaware of Naruto and Sako's strength, she naturally worried about Kakashi's safety, thinking that if Kakashi was defeated, they would all be finished.
"Sakura, go rescue Kakashi."
Sako commanded.
Her words had an effect.
"O-okay..."
Sakura, subconsciously obeying Sako's order, started running towards Kakashi.
This near-suicidal act did not prompt Haku to make a move.
This also confirmed one thing for Naruto and Sako... this guy's target was one of them, or perhaps... both.
"The power of the Nine-Tailed..."
Haku narrowed her eyes, looking at the Tailed Beast Cloak covering Naruto's body.
Bang!
The ground exploded.
Naruto lunged straight forward.
Seeing Naruto, with one tail swaying, attack, Haku dodged, lightly leaping backward.
The tree trunk Haku had stepped on exploded, and Naruto grabbed the main trunk.
"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... it's a good thing you're here, it makes things less dull..."
Haku... or rather, Obito, the will behind her, highly praised Naruto's ability to create chaos.
"However... you'll be finished very soon."
Chapter 114. Obito's Delusion: Rin [Sako]
Naruto swung the tail behind him, turning it into a sharp spear that fiercely pierced through Haku's shadow, causing the tree trunk to explode.
Haku, controlled by Obito, had already flashed to the other side.
"How are you even slower than Kakashi?"
Obito mocked Naruto, thinking, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is nothing special.
Click.
A silver needle was raised.
It began to hum.
It was Wind Release Chakra.
Ice Release is formed by the combination of Wind and Water.
It was perfectly reasonable for Haku to be proficient in Wind Release.
The senbon, imbued with Wind Release, carried the strongest destructive power.
It pierced with even greater force than Lightning Release, heading straight for Naruto.
"..."
Naruto said nothing.
Because Haku's speed was simply incredible.
Although the official databook claimed Haku's movement speed in the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals could reach the speed of light, that was definitely an exaggeration.
But Naruto could be sure that the Haku before him... even without the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, was still frighteningly fast.
His own speed, even with the Tailed Beast Cloakactivated, was actually inferior to hers?!
Moreover... Naruto, without the Sharingan, found that he couldn't even pinpoint Haku's figure.
Naruto struggled to block the attacks, then charged at Haku.
The Tailed Beast Cloak on his body was pierced by the sharp Wind Release-enchanted senbon, wounding his skin.
Meanwhile, Haku, constantly flickering at high speed, effortlessly carried out her offense and defense.
Next... "Pierce the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's vital points..."
Obito thought.
He had played enough.
He could even manipulate Yagura, controlling both Yagura and the Three-Tails simultaneously.
For Obito, controlling Haku alone was as simple as controlling his own hands and feet.
However, the next moment.
Obito, preparing to incapacitate Naruto, was somewhat embarrassed by the whistling ninja tools that arrived.
He had almost forgotten that there was another existence on the scene that could not be ignored.
Uchiha... Sako.
Itachi's younger sister.
She was glaring at him, and her Sharingan had activated.
Moreover, her Sharingan had actually evolved into two tomoe.
"I... I've seen through your movements!"
Sako, having gained a new Sharingan, declared.
"Is that so."
Haku's tone became cold.
Immediately after, several senbon pierced Sako's body with a series of hisses.
"Even if you see through them, can you react in time?"
Obito, an expert on the Sharingan, gave his conclusion.
The eyes can see, but the body cannot keep up.
This is often the embarrassing predicament of Sharingan users.
It was a common occurrence.
Sako's Sharingan could perceive Haku's figure, but her body couldn't support her in making a faster reaction.
If Naruto hadn't returned to help her block.
Sako would probably be dead already.
"What a touching scene... Is this the will of fire of Konoha, caring for comrades..."
Obito narrowed his eyes, watching the scene, his heart churning.
However, the expression beneath his mask grew even colder.
"Naruto, it's time to protect your comrades."
The next moment.
Obito once again controlled Haku to attack.
The whistling Wind Release-enchanted flying tools were impossible to guard against.
Naruto raised his arms, constantly using his body or tail to block these attacks.
And the ruthless Obito, constantly waving his hands, moved at high speed, launching attacks from various angles from different positions in the forest.
As the shrill whistling of the wind grew louder.
The senbon's attack power and flight speed surpassed any moment since the battle began.
Under Naruto's cover, Sako began to form hand signs.
Although her body couldn't keep up with the opponent's speed, that didn't mean she had no means of counterattack.
As long as she released a sufficiently large-scale Fire Release, she could engulf this damned guy in one go.
Like a traveler walking against a typhoon.
Naruto struggled to withstand Obito's assault, so he could better protect Sako behind him.
However.
The human body gradually began to break down.
Tiny senbon devoured all parts of his body.
He was almost unable to hold on... Naruto, riddled with needles like a porcupine, thought.
"Fire Release..."
The brief dozen seconds felt as long as a century.
Sako's hand sign speed certainly wasn't that slow; she could complete the signs in little over a second at most.
But with the added need to seize the right moment, the time dragged on until this very instant.
Naruto's peripheral vision glanced towards Sakura.
Sakura was already dragging the fallen Kakashitowards the edge of the forest.
At this critical moment, she was quite reliable.
"Great Fireball Technique!"
Seizing a momentary opportunity, Sako unleashed her fury.
Boom!!
The massive Fire Release Ninjutsu transformed into a surging wave.
The giant fireball ignited the ground, grass, and tree trunks, then Haku, flying in the air, was struck head-on.
Boom!!!
The raging flames consumed everything.
Sako breathed a sigh of relief.
However, when the flames disappeared.
A bizarre sight made Sako's eyes widen.
A slightly melted sheet of ice, like an ice mirror, stood in the sky.
And that guy's figure... was hidden within this ice.
"Ice Release... Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals?!"
The inexplicable knowledge she received every morning upon waking allowed a grim-faced Sakoto recognize the opponent's true technique... or rather, trump card.
At this moment.
Haku, displaying her true abilities under Obito's control, cunningly used Ice Release, which could withstand Fire Release Ninjutsu... its full name... "Ice Release: Bloodline Limit"!
"Heh..."