130. Tenten puts that to shame

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The distant explosion behind them rumbled through the trees but Neji's team didn't look back.

They knew better.

Choji might be quiet. Round. Easy to overlook.

But when did he fight seriously?

He was stronger than most way stronger.

However, if you asked who was strongest among them…

Well, that was a different matter. Because Neji?

Neji never showed them his full strength.

Except maybe once during the Chunin Exams against Gaara.

That alone was enough to leave them shaken.

So as they pressed forward, Shikamaru etched a quick marker on a tree, trusting Choji would catch up. Then he turned to the others.

"I've got an idea. It's risky, but we might be able to take Sasuke back without a full fight…"

---

Shikamaru's plan? Pretend to be Jirōbō and trick the Sound Four into handing over Sasuke's coffin.

But the enemy wasn't that gullible.

They saw through the ruse instantly and left Kidomaru behind to stop them.

After a messy scuffle, Neji stepped forward.

"It's time. You guys go on. His ability is built for counters too dangerous for a group."

Shikamaru nodded. Six arms. Chakra threads like spider webs. Stronger than Jirōbō, no question.

No one argued.

They slipped away while Neji faced the spider-nin head-on.

"Sorry. You're fighting me now."

Neji's eyes were shut, posture calm almost inviting.

Kidomaru scoffed. "You're blind, huh? Cute. I'll enjoy turning you into a squirming bug in my web."

"And I never said they could leave."

With a sudden thrust of his hand, chakra threads launched dozens straight toward the retreating group.

But Neji didn't flinch.

"I said… I'm your opponent."

[Energy Orb]

A glowing sphere swirled to life in Neji's palm growing rapidly. It expanded into a three-meter-wide vortex, sucking in every chakra thread in its path.

Kidomaru's threads snapped mid-air.

"What the hell?!"

That was new.

"Interesting," Kidomaru muttered. "So you are the strongest of them."

He licked his lips. "Even better. Hunting strong prey is way more satisfying."

He cracked his neck and grinned wickedly.

"Let's play for three minutes, shall we?"

With that, he began spitting webs. Lots of them.

Neji's eyes narrowed.

"So disgusting… I hate mouth-based jutsu."

He raised a finger.

[Life Return] activated channeling blood energy, chi, and chakra to his fingertips.

[Shigan: Dragon Fang]

With [Life Return], Neji reshaped his arms like living weapons. A barrage of razor-sharp chi projectiles burst from his fingers each one shaped like a dragon's fang.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The air turned white with the onslaught.

No thread survived.

The web was shredded into snow-like fragments. One fang nicked Kidomaru's cheek blood dripping.

His eyes widened.

That could've killed me…

Then dozens more fangs rained down.

Kidomaru barely dodged, vanishing with a Body Replacement Jutsu.

"Clever," Neji said calmly. "Six arms make it easier to form seals unnoticed."

He looked up.

Kidomaru had activated his Curse Mark, Stage One.

"Close one…" the spider-nin muttered, floating above.

Then Neji said:

"Did you really dodge all of them?"

Kidomaru's eyes widened.

Blood burst from his body tiny cuts slicing across his limbs.

"W-What…?!"

Despite activating his Spider Gold defense armor formed from hardened sweat he'd still been pierced.

"Damn it… This guy's no joke."

Kidomaru's face twisted.

"You've pissed me off."

He slammed his hand to the ground.

[Summoning Jutsu]!

A massive demonic spider appeared, hanging upside down in the web canopy its sheer size casting a shadow over the forest floor.

"Let's see how long you can last, hotshot. I bet that technique drains chakra like crazy."

He snapped his fingers.

"Scatter!"

Tiny spiders exploded from the summon rushing toward Neji from every direction.

Still calm, Neji didn't move.

Kidomaru smirked.

"NOW!"

Torrents of web fluid burst from every angle, thick, sticky, and disgusting.

He expected Neji to counter with [Rotation].

But Neji had no intention of touching that filth.

Instead—

[Lion's Roar]!

A guttural shout tore from his throat chi compressed into a wave of vibrating sound.

The air shimmered.

The webbing froze mid-flight.

The spiders froze too—vibrating like dying motors.

POP! POP! POP!

They exploded.

Kidomaru winced, clutching his ears even from this distance, the sound hurt.

He grits his teeth.

"Time to finish this."

With a twitch of his finger, blades formed from hardened webbing launched into the air dozens of them.

Web Kunai Storm!

"Let's see you deal with this!"

A full-on barrage. Like rain.

And he was right Neji couldn't unleash another Lion's Roar so soon.

His throat would be wrecked.

But Neji had other options.

[Rotation]!

He spun like a storm his chakra sphere deflecting every single blade in a blinding dome of force.

The ground cracked beneath him.

When the dust cleared, Neji stood tall.

Not a scratch on him.

He smirked.

"You think that was impressive? Tenten's daily training puts that to shame."

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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter

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