Ch.476 Hesitation!

Watching Karin's 'Susanoo' withstand the meteor, the survivors on the ground were either exhilarated or quietly relieved.

This miraculous scene was etched deeply into many hearts, unforgettable for a lifetime!

"'B'…"

Among the crowd, Tsunade's expression was complex.

Despite being on opposing sides, she had to admit that Akatsuki's 'B' was far stronger than she had anticipated.

Shizune turned to Yakumo. "Great job, Yakumo!"

Yakumo shook her head slightly. "It was mostly thanks to 'B's 'Susanoo.' My Wood Release was too rushed—I wasn't fully prepared!"

Tsunade, however, affirmed, "Yakumo, you did well!"

Undoubtedly.

Yakumo's intervention not only helped the 'Susanoo' withstand the meteor but also preserved the dignity of the five great ninja villages.

If resisting the meteor had relied solely on Akatsuki, it would've been a devastating blow to the villages' prestige. Yakumo's timely Wood Release, with its commanding presence, at least allowed the five great villages—especially Hidden Leaf—to save face.

Of course.

Tsunade didn't know that Yakumo, whom she praised, was also an Akatsuki member!

Nearby.

Surrounded by Anbu, the Third Hokage gazed at Karin's 'Susanoo' holding up the meteor, his expression unusually grave.

Jiraiya approached, reporting, "I just checked—our casualties are heavy, but our overall combat strength remains intact!"

Asuma stepped forward, asking, "What do we do now?"

Kakashi also looked to the Third.

Facing their gazes, the Third hesitated.

Hidden Leaf's forces, excluding himself as Hokage, included two Kage-level fighters: Jiraiya and Tsunade. Among the jonin were veterans like the 'Ino-Shika-Cho' trio, Shibi Aburame, Tsume Inuzuka, Asuma, Gai, Kurenai, and Kakashi, who had recently joined them.

Add in a sizable Anbu contingent.

Hidden Leaf's strength wasn't overwhelming but was sufficient for a risky engagement with Akatsuki!

Moreover.

The battlefield wasn't just Hidden Leaf's.

Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand's forces had also reorganized during the chaos.

Glancing at their formations, the Third made a rough assessment.

Hidden Sand's army, having faced the 'Upper Ranks' first, suffered heavy losses after prolonged battles. Even the Fourth Kazekage was gravely injured, leaving Chiyo and Yugito to barely hold the line—a dire situation.

Hidden Mist was faring better.

Led by the Fourth Mizukage, with Mei Terumi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza, and Ao present, their combat strength was nearly on par with Hidden Leaf's.

If the three villages combined forces, their high-end combat power and numbers wouldn't be at a disadvantage against Akatsuki—they could absolutely fight!

But Karin's towering complete 'Susanoo' was too formidable, looming over the battlefield, making the Third reluctant to commit!

The number of Akatsuki members gathered also exceeded his expectations. Beyond the documented 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D,' several unknown members with no recorded actions had appeared.

Additionally.

The battlefield's complex dynamics fueled his indecision!

Beyond Akatsuki, the 'Upper Rank' monsters were still present, and he didn't believe the meteor was a mere coincidence.

Swish!

At that moment, a communications ninja approached the Third, reporting, "Lord Hokage, Hidden Cloud and Hidden Rock's allied forces are heading our way. They'll arrive in about an hour!"

"Great!"

"An hour… will they make it in time?"

"We should wait for Cloud and Rock before acting!"

The news of reinforcements sparked discussion among Hidden Leaf's ranks!

The already hesitant Third made his decision. "Inform Mist and Sand—we'll hold position and wait for Cloud and Rock's forces to join us!"

"Yes!"

The communications ninja vanished with a whoosh.

Receiving Hidden Leaf's message, the Fourth Mizukage nodded slightly. "Understood. Hidden Mist won't act unilaterally!"

He glanced at Karin's 'Susanoo' in the distance, his eyes filled with wariness.

Similarly, after receiving Hidden Leaf's message, Elder Chiyo, temporarily leading Hidden Sand's forces, pledged to cooperate.

In truth, it wasn't just the Third Hokage hesitating. The Fourth Mizukage and Chiyo, facing Karin's complete 'Susanoo,' were equally unable to commit.

Elsewhere.

Gazing at the 'Susanoo' shouldering the meteor, Nagato's expression was grave.

Even he had few countermeasures against a 'Susanoo' of this scale. It would likely devolve into a war of dojutsu attrition.

Konan's face was even darker, whispering to Nagato, "Nagato, that guy's hiding such a force—his intentions are clearly sinister. We must be cautious!"

Nagato remained silent.

Obito's desperate act to save him in the 'Kamui Dimension' had softened his view of him.

While everyone's attention was on Karin's 'Susanoo,' Uchiha Shinji, hidden beneath it, looked higher into the sky.

Unlike the others, his focus remained on the mysterious person.

When the mysterious person, as a blood cascade, dodged the meteor and charged higher, Shinji had been tracking the battle above.

Thus, he witnessed the clash between the Otsutsuki Branch elder and the mysterious person.

Seeing the elder, caught off guard, felled by the mysterious person's 'Blood Demon Art,' Shinji was both shocked by its dominance and relieved that the mysterious person targeted the elder.

Others might not know the elder's destructive potential, but Shinji did.

If the elder wasn't dealt with quickly, the giant Tenseigan's terrifying power on the moon could easily destroy the entire ninja world.

Fortunately, the mysterious person's ruthless approach inadvertently resolved a major threat for Shinji!

"Byakugan!"

Soon, Shinji noticed the elder's Byakugan eyes as he plummeted—crucial for his 'Tenseigan Plan.' It would be a shame if they were damaged, especially with the mysterious person still airborne. Without hesitation, Shinji flashed out from under Karin's 'Susanoo.'

He immediately summoned his own 'Susanoo,' pushing it to its complete form, and soared into the sky.