Three ANBU operatives were sprinting through the forest, rapidly closing in on Hikaru and Namuki's position.
As elite operatives, ANBU naturally had their own tracking methods.
When they realized that Sasori hadn't chased after them and had instead turned north, they immediately understood what that meant. Without hesitation, they prepared to provide support and changed direction, heading straight back this way.
They pushed themselves harder and harder, anxiety gnawing at them with every step.
The enemy they had encountered this time was far too terrifying—terrifying enough that none of them truly believed they would make it back alive.
Especially now.
They could still move, but they all knew poison was already coursing through their bodies.
And just moments ago, that poison had suddenly gone berserk, violently surging as if responding to Sasori's will.
If they hadn't been relatively far away, constantly suppressing it with chakra, they would already be dead.
Their choices were limited.
Logically speaking, retreating straight back to Konoha would have been the smartest option—once there, the Medical Department might still be able to detoxify them.
But they didn't dare.
They were ANBU.
Their duty was to ensure the mission was completed, no matter the cost—especially now, when everything had reached its most critical moment.
If they dared abandon the mission and flee, the punishment awaiting them back in the village wouldn't be any kinder than dying from poison.
"How's the captain's situation?" one of them asked while running, his voice low. "Hunter Beetle—what about kakashi's side?"
"kakashi is fine," the ANBU codenamed Hunter Beetle replied, gritting his teeth. "But the captain's side…"
He stopped there.
He didn't need to say more.
Everyone understood how bad things must be.
After all, the captain and Nightingale were facing an enemy whose strength was impossible to measure—someone very likely responsible for assassinating the Third Kazekage.
Against a monster like that, perhaps only Lord Orochimaru or the two Hokage themselves could handle him alone.
For ANBU like them, unless the entire force mobilized, escape would probably be the only outcome.
"Enough talk," another ANBU sighed helplessly, then said solemnly. "Let's hurry. kakashi has already taken one target away—that's enough. We still have to fulfill our mission."
"Yes," Hunter Beetle and the others responded at once.
But the moment the words left their mouths, all three froze in shock.
They stared toward the distance—the direction where the captain and Nightingale were.
An utterly unimaginable surge of chakra erupted there.
The ground began to quake violently, and an enormous, oppressive presence spread through the forest like a rolling storm cloud.
Amid the vast clouds of dust, a colossal lizard—mountain-sized—rose into view in the distance, its terrifying aura crashing outward in all directions.
"T-that thing… what is it?"
Their voices trembled.
That overwhelming pressure filled them with instinctive fear.
The creature was simply too massive. In their memories, only the summons of the Legendary Sannin could reach this scale.
They weren't the only ones stunned.
Even Sasori faltered for a moment.
He genuinely hadn't expected this Konoha ANBU brat to still have such a trump card.
His gaze fixed on the enormous lizard, brows furrowing slightly. This was the first time he'd ever seen a summon like this.
Its entire body was a deep, earthen yellow—pure and heavy, like condensed soil.
Three black markings ran from the top of its head, winding all the way down to its tail, giving it an imposing, almost regal presence.
Around its neck hung a necklace made of five massive, jet-black prayer beads.
Its limbs were longer and thicker than those of ordinary lizards, perfectly proportioned—powerful yet agile, with no hint of clumsiness.
The giant lizard let out a low roar.
Its yellow-orange eyes swept across the forest before finally locking onto Hikaru, who stood atop its head.
"It's you," Lizardmaru said in a deep voice. "Why have you summoned me?"
He didn't sound particularly eager—but neither did he complain.
That was simply Lizardmaru's nature.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have honored a promise by guarding Shousaki Castle for decades.
Hikaru was his contractor.
No matter how displeased he might be, Lizardmaru would never shirk his obligations as a summoned beast.
"I need you to cover my retreat," Hikaru said quickly.
His eyes flicked to Sasori, then to Namuki.
"Just hold him back for a bit. Prioritize your own safety. Once I've created enough distance, you withdraw."
"That's all?" Lizardmaru glanced at him, clearly surprised.
The task Hikaru gave him was absurdly simple—easily the easiest mission Lizardmaru had ever received since forming a contract with Shousaki Gōza.
Back then, after the contract was signed, he'd faced waves upon waves of powerful shinobi—battles so dangerous they were hard to describe.
And when Shousaki Gōza was nearing death, he'd left Lizardmaru with the duty of guarding Shousaki Castle, chaining him to that desolate place for decades.
Now, suddenly being asked to perform such a straightforward task felt… strange.
"I understand," Lizardmaru said after a brief pause, shaking his head lightly. "Leave it to me. Be careful."
"Thanks," Hikaru nodded.
He jumped down from Lizardmaru's head.
Lizardmaru was enormous, but fortunately he retained the natural posture of a lizard, keeping his body low to the ground. That made things much easier for Hikaru.
If this thing walked upright like some Godzilla-esque monster from Hikaru's past life, he wouldn't have dared jump off so casually.
Sasori noticed Hikaru's movement immediately and commanded the Third Kazekage puppet to pursue.
But Lizardmaru's massive head turned at once.
Two eyes the size of bathtubs fixed unblinkingly on the "small object" in front of him.
His cheeks bulged slightly, muscles tensing.
An almost tangible pressure slammed down like a collapsing mountain.
Whoosh!
Without warning, Lizardmaru attacked.
His enormous tongue shot out like lightning, snapping forward as casually as if he were catching a fly—aimed straight at the Third Kazekage puppet.
Whether it was instinct, or simply him faithfully carrying out Hikaru's orders, the move caught Sasori off guard.
And when Sasori saw the tongue curl as if trying to swallow the puppet whole, his expression finally changed.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, the Third Kazekage puppet erupted with black iron sand, instantly severing the contact between itself and Lizardmaru's tongue.
The tongue coiled back violently—but never touched the puppet's body.
The iron sand itself radiated danger, triggering Lizardmaru's instincts.
He withdrew his tongue smoothly, letting the "little fly" return to its position.
Sasori pulled the puppet back as well.
But there was no satisfaction in his eyes.
He stared at the colossal lizard for a long moment before slowly speaking:
"…This is getting more interesting."
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