Shikamaru turned to Naruto and asked, "Are you Ino?"
Once Ino's Mind Body Switch Technique succeeds, her spirit enters the target's mind and takes control of their body. That's why Shikamaru asked Naruto this question to see if Ino had invaded his mind.
"Nope," Naruto shouted. "I'm still Naruto Uzumaki, dammit!"
"Hey, what the heck is going on here!" Shikamaru was stunned. His Shadow Imitation Technique had succeeded, and Ino had also cast her Mind Body Switch Technique.
But why was it Ino lying on the ground in the end! This didn't make any sense at all!
"Naruto seems to be fine," Shikamaru felt the pressure mounting. The situation was getting more and more troublesome. He never thought Naruto would be so difficult to deal with.
Thankfully, Shikamaru managed to stay calm because Naruto was still trapped in his Shadow Imitation Technique at the moment.
"As long as the Shadow Imitation Technique restrains you, Naruto, you won't be able to move. Now, I'll just wait for Choji," Shikamaru planned his next move. Although Ino's jutsu had failed unexpectedly, Choji was still there.
"Human Bullet Tank—" After regaining his senses, Choji unleashed his signature move again, transforming into a huge spinning meatball and charging towards Naruto.
Hinata stepped forward and stood in the path of Choji's attack. Since Naruto couldn't move, only she could stop Choji's Human Bullet Tank.
Hinata's eyes were firm and blazing as she stared intently at the big meatball charging towards her.
Hinata recalled what Naruto had said just a dozen minutes ago when Naruto was still holding her in his arms.
Naruto said to the Hinata in his arms, "Next, I might be hit by Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique. At that time, I won't be able to move. If Choji attacks me, you may need to use the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!"
"Only the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven can stop Choji's Human Bullet Tank."
Hinata was in a dilemma. She said, "But... I don't know how to use the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven... I can't do it..."
"The Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven is a secret Taijutsu exclusive to the main branch of the Hyuga clan. It was never taught to Neji of the branch family. Neji had to rely on his own talent to master it."
Hinata remained silent.
Naruto went on, "Hinata, I've had my eye on you since you were a kid. You're more hardworking than anyone else. Even when you were just a child, you often trained until you were covered in injuries. In your previous training, you've actually already come into contact with the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven."
"Think back carefully to your past training. You didn't know why you were training before, which is why you never mastered the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven."
"Now, you have a reason to master it, and that's to protect me."
Hinata's expression flickered. Her lips parted slightly as if to speak, but the words died in her throat.
"Hinata, will you protect me and perform the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven for me?" After asking, Naruto added, "I want to see your most beautiful dance."
"I will!" Hinata replied.
Hinata snapped out of her memories and stared at Choji ahead with a determined look in her eyes.
"Human Bullet Tank!" Choji roared. His whole body transformed into a large, high - speed rotating meatball, mercilessly crushing towards Hinata.
"Byakugan!" Hinata recalled her previous training and followed the steps one by one.
Hinata assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist, holding her breath and concentrating, quietly staring at the fierce Human Bullet Tank.
Hinata began to gather the Chakra in her body, controlling it to flow to multiple major acupoints around her body.
Hinata thought to herself: Naruto is right behind me. I must succeed!
Naruto beside her was staring at Hinata's back, silently cheering her on in his heart.
Naruto thought: So Hinata's back silhouette is so beautiful... Pfft... What on earth am I focusing on at such a crucial and exciting moment...
"Come on! Hinata! You can definitely use the Revolving Heaven! I believe in you!" Naruto pretended to be a proper gentleman, but secretly peeked at Hinata's perky buttocks.
Choji's Human Bullet Tank was getting closer and closer, charging ruthlessly towards the delicate Hinata.
Even Shikamaru started to worry about Hinata and couldn't help shouting at this time: "Hinata, don't worry about Naruto. That guy is tough as nails. If he gets hit by Choji, he won't die. He'll just have to lie in the hospital for two months at most."
Hinata remained unmoved and still blocked in front of Naruto with her delicate body.
"Tsk..." Shikamaru's heart began to waver. He knew well the power of Choji's Human Bullet Tank. Being hit by it would either result in death or serious injury.
Shikamaru thought, "Isn't Hinata from Team 8? Why is she fighting side by side with Naruto from Team 7? It's so strange. I really can't figure it out... Choji can't control the strength of his Human Bullet Tank, can't stop it midway, and it's even hard to control its direction. Hinata might get into trouble... What a hassle..."
Naruto, go and save Hinata. Shikamaru released the hand seals in his hands at this time. He actively canceled the Shadow Imitation Technique and retracted the shadow that had extended to Naruto's feet.
Naruto seemed to have known that Shikamaru would actively cancel the Shadow Imitation Technique, but he still stood there motionless.
"What!" Shikamaru was shocked. He thought: What on earth is Naruto doing? Does he want to watch Hinata get killed?
"Naruto!" Shikamaru exclaimed in a hoarse voice, "Choji can't control the strength of his Human Bullet Tank, can't stop it midway, and it's even hard to control its direction..."
Naruto still stood still, showing no sign of going to save Hinata. Instead, he even showed a confident smile.
Come on, Hinata! Liberate your mind and body! Let Chakra fill all the major acupoints in your body! Then, without any psychological burden, unleash the Chakra freely! This will be your most beautiful dance.
"Gentle Fist Technique! Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!" Hinata shouted in a deep voice. It was as if everything was silent, and there was only Hinata left in the whole world.
Through Hinata's Byakugan, she saw a huge Eight Trigrams formation diagram appear, centered around herself and covering the entire ground.
Choji's Human Bullet Tank rushed into Hinata's Eight Trigrams formation diagram, like a huge rock falling into a smooth mirror - like lake.
A large amount of blue Chakra gushed out from the major acupoints around Hinata's body. As Hinata turned her body, the Chakra was stirred to form a blue light shield.
Rotation vs. rotation! Revolving Heaven vs. Human Bullet Tank!
Obviously, the technique of Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven was superior, as it directly repelled Choji's Human Bullet Tank.
"Success!" Naruto was overjoyed and thought to himself, "Within the Hyuga clan, Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven is also known as the Absolute Defense. I wonder which is more powerful, the Absolute Defense of the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven or Gaara's Absolute Defense... If I have time, I should let Hinata pick on Gaara..."
Although Gaara was far more powerful than Hinata, with Naruto around, it would only be Hinata who could bully Gaara, no other way around.
Shikamaru was stunned. He widened his eyes and said, "You're kidding me... When did Hinata become this powerful?"
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