But while the idea was beautiful, reality was brutal.
"You won't kill him—because I'm still here!"
Naruko had just broken free from Gaara's sand binding.With a fierce cry, she launched a Leaf Dance Kick that sent Gaara into the air.
Then came a "whoosh"—Naruko activated her Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Naruko Barrage!"
With another sharp cry, the sound of "whoosh whoosh whoosh…" echoed as ten Narukos charged straight at Gaara.
Bam!
Bam! Bam!
Bam! Bam! Bam! …
Eight of Naruko's clones launched spinning kicks at Gaara.Like a football being volleyed around, Gaara was struck again and again.Chunks of sand kept breaking off his body.His face cracked like a shattered porcelain mask,and it seemed he might fall to pieces at any second.
"It's not over yet!"
After the eight clones finished kicking Gaara around, Naruko let out a snort.The clone from earlier leapt into the air and landed a fierce hit on Gaara—"puff!" It vanished into smoke.
Then Naruko herself followed up with a solid kick right to Gaara's face.
At that moment, Hayashi Ren summoned a Shadow Clone,hoping to combo with Naruko.
But even though Naruko's barrage had turned Gaara inside out and dropped his health to a quarter,he was still protected by the Sand Armor he had cast earlier!
Even though Hayashi Ren's Leaf Dance Kick was off cooldown,that remaining 25% health wouldn't be enough for him and his clone to finish Gaara off with just one combo.
"Hahahaha! I knew it! I knew I'd survive after all!"
"And since I'm alive—your deaths are inevitable!"
Gaara let out a cruel laugh, stretching out his hand to activate Sand Binding Coffin.But then he paused—because he saw Hayashi Ren smiling faintly.
Something about that smile made his heart clench.
"Only true experts survive."
Hayashi Ren's voice was calm, yet chilling.Then, in his hand, a pale blue sphere of chakra began to form.
"What?!" Gaara's eyes widened in shock.
"Rasengan!"
Hayashi Ren roared. "BAM!"Both he and his Shadow Clone slammed their Rasengans into Gaara's body.
[Rampage!]
The system announcement rang out across the battlefield.Hayashi Ren's voice echoed in the public chat:
"This is the genius of the Sand Village?"
"Heh… I didn't expect you to be this strong,"
Gaara's voice came through the public channel, laced with twisted amusement.
"But if I kill you, it proves I'm worth something."
"If you want to kill me, bring your friends too."
Hayashi Ren chuckled as he dove into Kiba Inuzuka's red buff jungle on top lane,beating the life out of a Stone Beetle.
"Hayashi Ren! Don't get too cocky!"
Kiba's voice rang out in the public channel.
"Do you seriously think you're invincible?"
Neji Hyuga added coldly.
"Wanna kill me? Go ahead. Try it."
Hayashi Ren replied with a calm laugh.
"Hayashi Ren, just wait. You're dead."
Kiba had just finished off the Fanged Birdwhen he heard Hayashi Ren's taunt.Furious, he headed straight for his red buff.
But he didn't know—Hayashi Ren had just finished off the Stone Beetleand was now headed toward the red buff himself.
...