Shindai was truly furious now.
Just because a tiger doesn't roar, people think he's just a paper tiger!
Kakashi and Yamayama Taiseki used Earth Release ninjutsu to block Shindai's *Iron Sand Drizzle*.
Yamayama Taiseki, hiding behind a rock, looked seriously at Kakashi, mistaking him for a *Rock ninja* who had come to capture Shindai.
However, when Kakashi glanced toward the left at Yamayama Taiseki and said, "Work with me and attack together!"
Yamayama Taiseki immediately understood that this 'Rock ninja' was an ally.
Shindai was already preparing the next attack.
[*Magnet Release: Iron Sand Spear!*]
Shindai compressed the iron sand into a razor-sharp, high-density spear that hovered in midair before launching it forward with immense force.
The earth wall in front of Yamayama Taiseki and Kakashi was instantly pierced.
Both quickly rolled aside to avoid being impaled by the iron sand spears.
Yamayama Taiseki formed rapid hand seals and pressed both palms onto the ground.
[*Earth Release: Earth and Stone Dragon!*]
Yamayama Taiseki infused chakra into the ground, creating an earthen dragon that opened its mouth and spewed a stream of earth toward Shindai.
Shindai manipulated the iron sand to form a protective wall, blocking the stream ejected by the earth dragon.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Shindai began shaking. Right at a distance just one step away from Shindai, Kakashi burst up from underground.
Using Earth Release: Subterranean Assault, Kakashi had slipped beneath the surface earlier and now burst up from below, aiming kunai at Shindai.
Shindai's fingers moved rapidly through seals, summoning Kannazuki, which appeared before him in an instant. Blades sprang forth from every joint as Kannazuki launched a relentless assault on Kakashi.
If Kakashi continued attacking Kannazuki with his kunai, even if he hit it, he himself would also be injured by Kannazuki's blades.
These blades were coated with poison.
Though the poison wasn't potent, its effects were swift—if Kakashi were poisoned, it would still put him in serious jeopardy.
Kakashi chose not to continue the attack but to retreat instead.
After all, trading injuries with a puppet would be extremely unwise.
Puppets don't truly get hurt. Even if Kakashi's kunai struck the puppet, it wouldn't cause any real damage.
Shindai swiftly formed seals with both hands, finally clapping them together.
[*Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!*]
Shindai manipulated the iron sand to create a large spiked barrier in midair.
Kakashi's body hair stood on end as he twisted his body in an extremely tight maneuver, barely dodging the deadly trap.
Still, many scrapes appeared across Kakashi's body.
Witnessing this scene, Obito and Rin Nohara watching from the sidelines felt their hearts tighten simultaneously.
Obito nearly rushed forward, but was stopped by Minato Namikaze.
"Don't worry. I'm watching. Kakashi will be fine."
"Actually, Minato Namikaze almost rushed out just now.
But when he saw Kakashi had already taken a defensive stance, Minato restrained himself.
Minato stared at Shindai.
Without a doubt, in Minato's eyes, Shindai was a genius.
The elite chunin Yamayama Taiseki and the chunin Kakashi together couldn't gain the upper hand against Shindai.
In other words, Shindai's strength surpassed both Kakashi and Yamayama Taiseki.
In Minato's opinion, Shindai's abilities should already be on par with a jonin.
However, Shindai couldn't fully demonstrate his power.
Because it was very obvious—Shindai lacked practical combat experience.
[Shindai's Iron Sand World Method] had completely restricted Kakashi's mobility.
If Minato were Shindai, he'd definitely send the puppet chasing after Kakashi, or exploit every opening to press the attack.
Yet Shindai didn't do that. The puppet remained beside him.
Shindai merely tossed a few kunai casually at Kakashi in a probing attack.
Faced with just a few kunai, Kakashi effortlessly deflected them with a few shuriken.
Such a great opportunity was missed. Minato felt pity for Shindai.
Moreover...
Watching Shindai constantly retreating backward, Minato felt somewhat speechless.
Earlier, Shindai had claimed, 'I won't stop until today is over with you two,' but clearly, that was just talk.
Obviously, Shindai had no intention of fighting against Kakashi and Yamayama Taiseki. Fleeing still seemed to be Shindai's first choice.
Minato really didn't know what to say. After all, wasn't this situation in Shindai's favor?
Minato's guess wasn't wrong. Fleeing still ranked highest in Shindai's mind.
Add to that the fact that this was Shindai's first real battle—he was visibly nervous, unable to even tell if he was at an advantage or not.
In Shindai's mind, he was at a disadvantage.
Because there were two opponents facing him, while Shindai only had one and a half people.
The puppet Shin was counted as half a combatant.
Like before, battles always carried risks.
What if he slipped up for a second during the fight and got injured?
Getting injured might not be a big deal, but a mortal wound would mean game over.
Besides, Kakashi's sudden appearance had genuinely startled Shindai quite a bit.
Shindai couldn't confirm whether there were more hidden Rock ninja nearby. If so, charging forward foolishly to fight these two Rock ninja head-on would be nothing but feeding kills to the enemy.
Even in the best-case scenario where he managed to defeat these two Rock ninja, so what?
These two Rock ninja were clearly low-level grunts—cannon fodder. Killing them wouldn't change a thing."
"For safety, we should avoid battle if possible. There's no need to take risks.
Right now, the priority is to find the Konoha Ninja and let them handle dangerous tasks.
Shindai also had his own Ninja Way.
'Only those who endure what others cannot endure will obtain what others cannot achieve!'
Since it's the Ninja Way, being able to endure is the most basic requirement.
Although this could be seen as cowardice, Shindai was currently a weakling!
For small matters must be endured to prevent greater calamities.
Cowardice *is* the right of the weak!
Therefore, although Shindai was indeed angry about being ambushed just now, after calming down, he still decided to run.
As long as he reached Konoha's base camp, the Rock ninja wouldn't dare to pursue.
Even if they did dare to pursue, the Konoha ninja would definitely help him fight the Rock ninja.
Since the Konoha ninja would fight for him, why should he himself work till exhaustion, risking death?
That would just be stupid!"
Kakashi had already been freed from the Iron Sand Enclosure by Yamayama Taiseki.
Kakashi and Yamayama Taiseki were now at a distance from Shindai.
Shindai's eyes suddenly gleamed with sharpness - this was the perfect opportunity!
Shindai immediately formed hand seals.
[Magnet Release: Iron Sand Giant Spear!]
Shindai compressed his Iron Sand Body into high density, forming multiple sharp spears. Manipulating these spears, he sent them flying toward Yamayama Taiseki and Kakashi.
Yamayama Taiseki and Kakashi dodged these spears.
But these spears carried magnetism, and could be manipulated freely by Shindai.
While Yamayama Taiseki and Kakashi kept dodging, Shindai activated Kannazuki.
Kannazuki targeted both Yamayama Taiseki and Kakashi with its left hand, and its left arm began rapidly transforming, revealing half of the missiles loaded inside.
At Shindai's finger twitch, the missiles launched directly forward, exploding toward Yamayama Taiseki and Kakashi.
Though Kakashi and Yamayama Taiseki didn't know what this thing was, they sensed extreme danger and immediately started evading.
The missiles slammed into the ground and exploded instantly, creating earth-shattering explosions and thick clouds of dust.
Without looking back, Shindai immediately retreated and fled, disappearing into the forest.
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