20 - Cooperation

"Boom!" The team of Shadow Clones that the fireball rushed toward noticed the fireball, but it came so fast that they only had time to push one Shadow Clone out before they were engulfed by the flames.

In an instant, two Shadow Clones were swallowed by the fireball and burst. At the same time, Hirohiko Uchiha flew out from the bush where the fireball had originated and smashed the Shadow Clone that had been pushed to the ground by his companion.

On the other side, the *Gentle Fist* technique hit a Shadow Clone, and the immense force pushed it directly away. The three Shadow Clones collided with each other. The first Shadow Clone burst with a "bang," and the other two Shadow Clones were also knocked off balance.

At that moment, Yukina Hyuga rushed out, her fists exploding with the *Gentle Fist* technique, and with two bangs, she obliterated the two Shadow Clones.

Almost simultaneously with Hirohiko Uchiha, she took down two Shadow Clones.

In an instant, Kushina Uzumaki lost six Shadow Clones. After accounting for the nine Shadow Clones that surrounded Chiba, she was left with four Shadow Clones.

Twelve people, including herself.

'Is their plan to obliterate all the Shadow Clones and then find my position?' Kushina Uzumaki saw through their thoughts.

'Did the three Shadow Clones that Chiba led cause some confusion, making it so that the two Shadow Clones couldn't react in time to the attacks from Hirohiko and Yukina?'

The three of them didn't talk much, but their cooperation was seamless.

Kushina Uzumaki was very pleased.

After all, with excellent cooperation, three Ninjas could defeat opponents much stronger than themselves.

And their strategy was good, but it was still a bit reckless.

At this time, the remaining four teams of Kushina Uzumaki, one team was in front, two teams were on the two wings of this team, and the last team was where Kushina Uzumaki herself was.

When the two Shadow Clones were attacked and wiped out, Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga stood still, and the two Shadow Clone teams on the wings quickly rushed up, surrounding Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga.

For a time, Chiba, Hirohiko Uchiha, and Yukina Hyuga were all surrounded by Shadow Clones.

Three Shadow Clones of Kushina Uzumaki surrounded them, and both Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga found themselves in a desperate situation.

Before they could hit the Shadow Clones, they were completely taken by surprise. Faced with the squads waiting in ambush, their talents were not enough to break through.

'It ended…' Kushina Uzumaki watched and made a conclusion in her heart.

However, she was still very happy. These three disciples were cooperative and talented. With strict training, they would soon become unique Ninjas.

Kushina Uzumaki was very confident.

At that moment, suddenly, in the circle of nine people, an earth spike cone pierced through, impaling a Shadow Clone on the spot. It exploded into a white mist with a bang, and at the same time, a figure rushed up along the earth cone.

Chiba!

Kushina Uzumaki's pupils widened slightly.

'This was Earth Release Ninjutsu! Could he also use Earth Release?'

At that moment, Chiba rushed over the earth cone, and the eight Shadow Clones behind him quickly reacted and chased after him.

"Hirohiko!" Chiba yelled, leaping from the top of the cone and descending with the speed of lightning, obliterating one of the three Shadow Clones surrounding Hirohiko.

The Shadow Clones surrounding Hirohiko Uchiha seemed to be prepared, and they rushed towards Chiba.

Snap!

Chiba landed. Almost the moment he rose, Hirohiko Uchiha's hand was already stretched out. He grabbed it smoothly, whirled around, and threw Hirohiko Uchiha toward the encirclement of Yukina Hyuga at a very fast speed, kunai in hand.

Boom!

At that time, one Shadow Clone in the encirclement of Yukina Hyuga, with its back to the flying Hirohiko Uchiha, was too late to be pushed away by the other Shadow Clones. Hirohiko Uchiha's kunai had already plunged into the body of the Shadow Clone, and he threw it to the ground, causing the Shadow Clone to burst immediately.

When Yukina Hyuga saw a gap in the encircling circle, she quickly ran out towards Chiba, and when Hirohiko Uchiha landed, she easily pulled him up, and the three quickly regrouped, back to back, forming a defensive formation similar to that of Kushina's Shadow Clone team.

At the same time, Kushina Uzumaki's Shadow Clone arrived, and twelve Shadow Clones surrounded the three.

Chiba panted, the Chakra in his body from using the Earth Release Ninjutsu almost exhausted, and said, "Hirohiko, Yukina, are you all right?"

"It's okay, I'm still intact," Yukina Hyuga said, though it was a bit forced. Her body had consumed almost 80% of her Chakra. The *Gentle Fist* technique she had used earlier consumed a lot of her Chakra. After all, mastering the *Gentle Fist* technique at her age was simply unbelievable. Even the vast majority of her clan's family could not master it to that extent until death.

Hirohiko Uchiha was panting just like Chiba at that moment, and said, "Twenty percent."

The two succinct words reflected Hirohiko Uchiha's current situation.

Only 20% of his Chakra remained, which was not much.

Kushina Uzumaki watched from a distance and exhaled. The cooperation among the three had been seamless, and their fluidity had created a certain beauty in their combat.

For a moment, she truly believed they could break through the encirclement and attack!

This ordeal was finally over, and their last effort was also commendable. In battle, giving up meant death. This was the spirit of perseverance.

Kushina Uzumaki was truly satisfied with her three disciples and felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

It was her duty to train the three of them well.

Just as Kushina was relieved, a smile appeared on Chiba's face. "Then, Hirohiko, Yukina, let's start!"

"hai!" the two responded.

As soon as Chiba's voice fell, among the group of Shadow Clones in front of Kushina, two of the Shadow Clones suddenly turned around and punched another Shadow Clone. Instantly, the Shadow Clone burst. At the same time, they rushed towards Kushina Uzumaki's main formation.

'What!' Kushina Uzumaki's eyes widened in shock.

'My Shadow Clone, betrayed me?'

In shock, the two traitorous Shadow Clones had already charged forward, and the other two Shadow Clones of the current team seemed a bit incredulous. Frozen in place, when the traitorous Shadow Clones attacked them, they didn't react and were immediately defeated.

A joyful smile appeared on the faces of the two traitorous Shadow Clones.

'We're going to succeed!'

"Boom!"

Just as this smile appeared, Kushina Uzumaki threw two punches, and the two Shadow Clones were instantly destroyed.

"Don't celebrate too early!" Kushina Uzumaki said.

Just at that moment, a figure fell from the sky, but with a "pop," Kushina caught the fist that was aiming for her.

"It seems this is the real Kushina!" Chiba's voice sounded in front of her.

She looked down and saw Chiba squatting on the ground, surrounded by dust he had kicked up. He looked up at her with a smile, and then glanced at the encircling circle. Yukina Hyuga and Hirohiko Uchiha had joined hands to act as a springboard.

'Did he leap over with the strength of two people?' Kushina thought.

'This kid... Had he set a trap? From the moment my Shadow Clone was searching the bushes, he suddenly flew out and exploded, then deliberately attacked other Shadow Clones, deliberately got kicked into the bushes, and lured the two Shadow Clones to chase.'

'I suspect that was when the Shadow Clones were switched. Those two traitorous Shadow Clones, did they become Hirohiko's Shadow Clones? No, Hirohiko's Chakra could only create one Shadow Clone at most, and a Shadow Clone... The Hyuga clan rejects all Ninjutsu except for their own techniques. It couldn't be Yukina, could it be Chiba?'

'Earth Style, physical skills, Shadow Clone! He actually had control over them! What a terrifying talent, I'm afraid only Minato Namikaze could match him.'

'Then, in a series of battles, he deliberately attracted so many Shadow Clones, as well as the sneak attacks by Hirohiko and Yukina, and the battle to break out of the encirclement... all to divert attention from himself and the Shadow Clones to the three of them. For the two traitorous Shadow Clones, no, should it be said it was a surprise attack by Hirohiko and Chiba's Shadow Clones?'

'Lastly, he expected that I would be able to destroy the Shadow Clone? Then, taking advantage of that moment of relaxation, he reached me!'

'And He calculated the distance from the encirclement circle to my side... Then they cooperated and leapt out.'

'What careful planning this was!'

Kushina Uzumaki was left in shock, reflection visible in her pupils.

She had actually lost!

These three people were truly exceptional. Especially Chiba, who was simply an unparalleled genius.