Watching a kunai cut through the air and abruptly embed itself in the ground, Shinji and the others also looked up, following the kunai's trajectory to see two Akatsuki members standing on a tree branch.
The two stood quietly on the branch, one wearing a snake-faced mask, the other a white slate mask.
"Akatsuki reinforcements?"
"This is bad!"
"Those masks look like Akatsuki's F and G."
The jonin all wore difficult expressions.
Even a single Ranmaru, who had completed the Bloodline Fusion Ritual, had already overwhelmed them. Now, with two more Akatsuki members arriving, the pressure on their shoulders was undoubtedly greater.
Shinji, however, smiled inwardly.
Undoubtedly, these timely arrivals were none other than Neji and Kimimaro, whom Shinji had summoned.
Unlike the fanatical and somewhat hysterical Hiruko, Ranmaru was more cautious and careful. Combined with his "Transparent Release," "Swift Release," "Steel Release," "Dark Release," and his innate Hogan Bloodline Limit, he was practically invincible.
Even for Shinji, dealing with him wouldn't be easy.
So, rather than wasting time here with Ranmaru, it was better to call in specialists to handle him. Neji, with his Byakugan, was undoubtedly the best counter to "Transparent Release."
An enhanced "Transparent Release" might interfere with dojutsu like the Sharingan or Ketsuryugan, but it could never fool the Byakugan, a true x-ray vision eye.
"Who are you?"
Ranmaru hesitated somewhat.
On the tree branch.
Neji and Kimimaro wasted no words, their figures flashing as they lunged toward the invisible Ranmaru.
Facing the sudden assault, Ranmaru immediately counterattacked. Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded: Neji and Kimimaro seemed to be fighting the air. If not for the occasional sounds of fists and feet clashing, and the whistling whoosh whoosh of cutting wind, the jonin would have thought the two had gone mad!
Genma Shiranui, toothpick in mouth, asked, "How did they start fighting?"
Kurenai frowned. "What's going on? It seems like they can see through 'Transparent Release'?"
Seeing this, Shinji offered no explanation and simply shouted to the jonin, "We're withdrawing!"
Then, he took the lead and retreated.
The other jonin all looked to Kakashi.
"Withdraw!"
Kakashi didn't hesitate long and immediately followed Shinji.
Regardless of the reason, infighting within Akatsuki was undoubtedly good for them, as they still needed to support Yakumo and rescue Hidden Sand's Gaara.
On the field.
Boom boom boom
After a flurry of combat, Ranmaru flashed back, his face grim as he stared at Neji opposite him. "No wonder you can see through my 'Transparent Release.' So you have the Byakugan!"
Then, he looked toward Kimimaro on the other side, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Because in his Hogan's vision, the eyes in Kimimaro's sockets clearly didn't belong to any dojutsu Bloodline Limit, so he couldn't figure out why Kimimaro could also see through his "Transparent Release."
At the same time, he had another point of doubt.
That was, he didn't understand why the most active chakra regions in others were typically near the heart, yet for these two Akatsuki members, the most active chakra regions were unusually concentrated at the forehead. Especially the most dazzling spot, which even his Hogan couldn't clearly discern.
Opposite them.
Under their masks, Neji and Kimimaro's expressions also grew a bit more serious.
Ranmaru's taijutsu was somewhat stiff and immature, but under the enhancement of "Swift Release" and "Steel Release," it had a considerable brute-force effect.
Moreover, Ranmaru was clearly a dojutsu Bloodline Limit user with sharp insight, so they found that defeating, or even capturing him alive, wasn't as easy as imagined.
Especially for Kimimaro, who needed the bio-external skeleton "H" to share Neji's Byakugan vision to detect Ranmaru in "Transparent Release" state, resulting in inevitable delays. Thus, his taijutsu strength couldn't be fully exerted.
After a brief panic, Ranmaru gradually steadied his mind and said, "Don't think that having the Byakugan lets you restrain me! Haven't you heard that the Byakugan's nemesis is the Hogan?"
With that, Ranmaru clapped his hands together with a snap, activating his pupil power.
Swish
Swish
Swish
In an instant, as his Hogan pupil power erupted, beams of red light projected from his eyes, casting around like projections, creating vivid illusory shadow clones.
These illusory shadow clones then began to undergo light and shadow changes, gradually vanishing, just like Ranmaru's true body, entering a "Transparent Release" state.
"This!?"
Neji was stunned for a moment.
Because he found that his Byakugan couldn't distinguish which shadow was real and which was fake!
At that moment, all the shadows moved, lunging from all directions toward Neji and Kimimaro.
Faced with this dazzling array of shadow assaults, whether Neji or Kimimaro, both struggled to parry, forced to retreat repeatedly.
Boom
Then, with one misstep, Neji took a punch and was sent flying.
Kimimaro, seeing this, tried to cover for Neji, only to be hit head-on by a Fire Release. Before he could evade the flames, he was swept by another strike and sent crashing into a large tree.
Neji climbed up from the ground, panting as he said, "These shadows have no physical form!"
Kimimaro staggered two steps before steadying himself and added, "But they can cast ninjutsu just like his true body!"
Undoubtedly, Ranmaru's Hogan ability was different from ordinary Hogan.
A typical Hogan could at most create illusory shadows similar to phantoms to confuse the Byakugan, serving to interfere with it.
But Ranmaru's Hogan, enhanced by the Bloodline Fusion Ritual, could create phantoms that, though still intangible, could form hand signs and unleash various ninjutsu just like Ranmaru's true body. At first glance, they resembled spirits, but they weren't—belonging to some special product of pupil power!
"H" said, "In your current state, you're no match for him. The Leader's orders are to capture him alive, so let's merge!"
Neji and Kimimaro exchanged glances and each nodded.
If Neji's Byakugan couldn't handle the opponent, then to fulfill the Leader's command, they had no choice but to summon the Tenseigan.
Ranmaru, still somewhat smug at this point, said, "How about it? Can your Byakugan tell which one is me? You…"
As he spoke, Ranmaru's voice grew quieter and quieter, eventually trailing off.
Because he saw the two opposite him walk together, then press back-to-back…
...
Meanwhile.
Because they needed to support Yakumo and rescue Hidden Sand's Gaara, Kakashi instructed Shinji to head to the shelter before leading the jonin toward Yakumo's location.
With the eyesores gone from around him, Shinji, urgently needing a safe place to pursue the Rinnegan, no longer hesitated. He fully activated the Twelve Palaces and vanished from the spot.