Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

Seeing Jirobo, who was carrying the coffin, disappear from sight, Shikamaru smiled and dispelled the transformation technique.

Considering that the opponents were strong enough to severely injure two Jōnin from Konoha Village, their team needed to avoid direct confrontation with the four of them.

His objective was clear: to bring Sasuke back to the village safely.

Therefore, his strategy was to isolate Jirobo, who was carrying Sasuke, from his team and take him down alone. This would allow Choji and Kiba to retrieve Sasuke one-on-one while the rest held back the remaining Otogakure ninjas. With his shadow imitation technique, Kirito's ice release, and Naruto's shadow clones, they aimed to stall the enemies as long as possible.

"Now, it's up to you, Choji! Kiba!" Shikamaru said, forming seals with both hands and keeping a close eye on Tayuya ahead.

"I see, I see. You want to separate us and deal with Jirobo alone?"

Kidomaru smirked as he wiped out the remaining Naruto clones. "Unfortunately for you, even though Jirobo is the weakest among us, he's not someone you kids can defeat."

The Sound Four were initially wary of being pursued by the two Jōnin they had encountered earlier. They had conserved their energy for a potential fight with elite opponents, only to discover that their pursuers were just a group of Genin—children who hadn't even achieved Chūnin rank.

Though momentarily caught off guard, their battle experience quickly revealed Shikamaru and Naruto's tactics.

"A bunch of brats… Don't underestimate us!" Tayuya roared, struggling fiercely as the curse mark began to spread across her face.

"Damn..." Shikamaru muttered as Tayuya's violent thrashing reduced the duration of his shadow imitation technique.

"Let's deal with you first, then we'll go after Jirobo," Sakon said, attempting to use the power of his curse mark. However, his expression changed suddenly. "What's happening?!"

He realized his chakra and stamina were rapidly being drained, absorbed by the wooden vines binding his feet without him noticing. He called out to his elder brother, Ukon, for help, but Ukon, encased in ice, seemed to be in a deep, unresponsive slumber.

"Ninja Art: Spider Web Flower!" Kidomaru spat out webs that trapped the last remaining Naruto clone, pinning it firmly to a tree.

"You must be the real one," Kidomaru said, molding metallic slime into sharp kunai. He sneered, "Let's start with you."

"Naruto!"

With a sickening sound, the kunai plunged deeply into the chest of the pinned Naruto, blood streaming down from the wound.

"Hahaha! Who's next?" Kidomaru laughed as he prepared two more kunai, turning toward Shikamaru and another Naruto clone.

"I won't let you take Sasuke!" Naruto's voice rang out from above. "Rasengan!"

"What?!" Kidomaru spun around just in time to see Naruto descending from above, slamming the spinning chakra orb into him.

Boom! The Rasengan's explosive power sent Kidomaru hurtling through the air, crashing through several branches before hitting the ground.

"Ha...ha..." Even Naruto felt drained from repeatedly using his shadow clones and Rasengan.

Long before they caught up with the Sound Four, Kirito had warned everyone about their strength. He had emphasized that they were powerful enough to create a barrier that entrapped the Third Hokage.

Under Kirito's warning, Shikamaru devised their current strategy: ensure that every team member had a partner for support. This way, even if they were outmatched, they could escape through teamwork.

Naruto had employed his shadow clones and seized an opportunity to strike a critical blow with Rasengan. Their efforts paid off—three of the Sound Four were now occupied.

"Kiba, Choji, it's up to you to bring Sasuke back," Naruto whispered, looking toward the direction Jirobo had disappeared. He prayed silently, trusting in Shikamaru's plan.

"It was close… If not for my armor of hardened slime, I'd be dead," Kidomaru muttered, peeling branches and debris off himself as he stood.

His body had transformed: black skin, two horns protruding from his head, white hair standing upright, and a third eye on his forehead. Metallic slime fragments covered his chest, healing the spiral-shaped wound left by the Rasengan.

"Hey! You two, stop holding back!" Kidomaru barked at Sakon and Tayuya.

"I can barely hold this weak ninjutsu any longer," Tayuya snarled, forcing her way out of Shikamaru's shadow imitation technique. Sweat began to bead on Shikamaru's forehead.

"Be... careful... of this guy's... jutsu..." Sakon struggled to warn his teammates, his energy drained by the vines.

Kidomaru, sensing danger, quickly hid behind a tree and prepared a giant bow from his metallic slime. He spat out a massive arrow, aiming directly at Kirito, who had been controlling the ice.

Before he could shoot, thin wooden vines grew from the tree in front of him, trying to wrap around him. "What's with these vines?" he muttered, realizing the problem. He abandoned the shot and leaped away.

At the same time, Tayuya activated the second stage of her curse mark. Her skin turned black, her eyes darkened, and white horns sprouted from her head. Breaking free from Shikamaru's jutsu, she drew her flute and began playing a haunting tune.

The melody disoriented Shikamaru, who clutched his head. "An illusion?"

Thick ice spikes sprouted at her feet, trying to trap her once more. Tayuya growled in frustration, abandoning her flute and leaping away.

"Good..." Shikamaru sighed in relief as his surroundings returned to normal.

Tayuya regrouped with Kidomaru. "That guy who hasn't moved is trouble," she muttered.

"Yeah, no kidding," Kidomaru replied, recalling how his kunai had bounced harmlessly off the ice.

"Shikamaru, are you okay?" Naruto asked, joining him after taking a short rest.

"I'm fine," Shikamaru replied, analyzing the enemy. "Their transformed state boosts their strength and chakra, but we don't need to fight them head-on. We just need to stall for time."

Glancing at Kirito, who was still suppressing Sakon, Shikamaru adjusted his strategy. Kirito's clone was holding one enemy in check, and that was more than enough.

All that mattered now was for Kiba and Choji to complete their mission.

(End of Chapter)

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