Izumo leaped into the air, disappearing into the thick cover of the trees and bushes, hoping to gain the upper hand with stealth. However, Inoiki, being a sensory ninja, immediately detected Izumo's chakra signature. His sharp senses pinpointed Izumo's exact location—hidden behind a large tree just ahead.
Inoiki quickly gestured toward the tree and spoke to Ishida and Rishu. "He's hiding behind that tree. Attack from that direction."
Without hesitation, Ishida and Rishu hurled their kunai toward Izumo's position. But the attack fell short of its mark—the kunai lodged into the thick tree trunk, their force not strong enough to penetrate through.
Inoiki sighed, realizing they had misunderstood his intent. "Throwing kunai won't work. We need to close the distance and attack from close range. Follow me."
With that, Inoiki sprinted toward the tree where Izumo was hiding, his movements swift and calculated. Ishida and Rishu followed behind, though not with the same confidence or speed. They were doing their best, but Inoiki knew they were still struggling to keep pace with the intensity of the situation.
From his vantage point behind the tree, Izumo observed the trio approaching. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as an idea formed in his mind. "This is the perfect opportunity," he thought.
Without hesitation, Izumo performed a series of hand seals and released a jutsu. "Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field!"
The ground in front of the tree began to ripple unnaturally, as a thick, sticky syrup-like substance spread rapidly toward Inoiki and his teammates, threatening to trap them where they stood.
Inoiki, sensing the shift in chakra and the jutsu forming, immediately called out to his teammates. "Retreat! Now!"
He leaped backward with incredible speed, avoiding the creeping trap just in time. But when he looked back, he saw that Ishida and Rishu hadn't reacted quickly enough. Confused and unsure of what to do, they hesitated for a crucial second—just long enough for the syrupy field to engulf their legs, pinning them to the ground. The two of them struggled, but the more they fought against the sticky substance, the more ensnared they became.
Inoiki cursed under his breath. His plan was falling apart because of their lack of coordination. He could have easily dodged the attack himself, but as part of a team, he needed to get them out of this mess.
Izumo stepped out from behind the tree, his gaze sharp as it met Inoiki's. "Inoiki," he said firmly, "I've heard from the Hokage and Kakashi that you're exceptionally powerful. Now, show me. Fight me with your full strength if you want to take the bell from me—and save your teammates."
Inoiki scratched his head, clearly unfazed by the challenge. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his tone casual. "I mean, I can take the bell from you eventually. It might take a little time, but I don't need to use my full strength to do it. I could handle it with what I'm using now."
Izumo's expression hardened, a flicker of irritation in his voice. "That may be true," he replied, "but it would be an insult to me as your sensei. I'm telling you to use your full strength because I want to see exactly how powerful my would-be student is."
Inoiki sighed, his shoulders relaxing as if the decision were a minor inconvenience. "Alright," he said, shrugging. "You asked for it."
Without another word, Inoiki activated his Kekkei Genkai: Psychokinesis. His body became bathed in a faint, sky-blue light, his hair lifting as if caught in an invisible breeze. The atmosphere around him shifted, crackling with unseen energy.
With a mere thought, Inoiki's telekinesis took hold of Izumo's body. Izumo suddenly found himself immobilized, as if invisible chains had wrapped around his limbs, locking him in place. No matter how hard he tried to move, his body refused to respond. His muscles tensed as he attempted to channel chakra to his legs and arms, hoping to break free—but it was futile. The more he struggled, the tighter the telekinetic grip became.
Inoiki began walking toward him, each step deliberate, his expression calm and collected. He wasn't rushing—there was no need to. Izumo's body remained suspended, unable to move, the bell still dangling from his waist.
Izumo's mind raced as he fought against the psychic hold. The strength of Inoiki's psychokinesis was overwhelming, and despite his best efforts to counter, Izumo was completely at his mercy.
"You asked me to show you my strength," Inoiki said, his voice steady as he approached. "This is it."
Izumo gritted his teeth, still straining against the invisible force. He was a skilled Chunin, and yet, in this moment, he felt utterly powerless.
Izumo knew he had been bested. Despite all his training, there was no breaking free from Inoiki's psychokinesis. He could only watch as Inoiki closed the final gap between them.
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