Chapter 99: Stupid, Genius
"Ugh!"
Shiga Taketake coughed up blood
and slumped to the ground. Stones rolled from his head, but he didn't seem to
feel them. His entire body was filled with cracking pain, especially in his
head. It felt like he was going to faint at any moment, and darkness was
creeping in.
That bonfire! It must be the bonfire. I didn't see
it. The bonfire was extinguished naturally, not after people left!
Yes, it must be so.
After lighting a fire in such a dense forest, to
prevent forest fires, the bonfire must be covered with soil after people leave.
Even if the firebreak is dug and filled with stones, it's common sense.
And Kiba's fire didn't go out naturally, which means
when we rushed to the bonfire, he had already left, even for a long time. How
long the fire burned was how long he may have been gone!
It's not that they didn't enter here, but they
entered one step earlier. The main body or the shadow clone turned into a stone
platform and a scroll. From the previous battle, this should be Kiba's shadow
clone.
The shadow clones were left behind, turned into
scrolls and stone platforms, and then the main bodies went out, pretending they
hadn't yet entered the Tower of Death.
This is... Kiba's double insurance!
Though Shiga Taketake's head was
dizzy from the beating, he thought clearly. Kiba has always grasped the time difference
and misled them.
At this moment, Shiga understood
what the chilly feeling on his back was. Even now, he felt the chill.
He felt himself sitting on the
ground, and behind him, a black figure held him with open hands, looking down
with a devilish smile!
This feeling is extremely clear!
This is Kiba! This is the horror of Kiba!
At that moment, Shiga Taketake
felt like a puppet, manipulated by him.
As the white mist cleared, Kiba
took a few steps forward, stopped in front of Shiga, and looked down at him.
Strictly speaking, it was Kiba's
shadow clone.
"Based on your calm and
steady tactical choice, this should be your plan B. I don't believe the main
body would let you swagger in. I guess my main body was deceived, and then you
used tactics like a substitute to get rid of him, so you came in swaggeringly,"
Kiba said.
Shiga was surprised. His
impression of Kiba was that of a taciturn, gloomy guy who showed thoughtful
expressions. He didn't expect Kiba to talk to him.
In his impression, Kiba never
initiated conversations with opponents during battles, regardless of victory.
"Yes, your body was lured
away by my teammates, and I used a substitute tactic to come in like this. You
are right, but..." Shiga moved his fingers, finding his whole body in
severe pain. He could only move his fingers.
What terrifying strength! Kiba's taijutsu has
surpassed the level of Chunin. Is it a secret technique? It can increase
strength to a terrifying level.
"But what?" Kiba asked.
"Have you overlooked a
problem? Our team is not the only one on the offensive side. Your tactical
layout targets me and my teammates. Although Shirakawa's strength is only
average in your opinion, if he rushes over now, do you think your shadow clone
can stop him? Can you protect the scroll?" Shiga coughed lightly, slowed
down, and said.
Kiba chuckled, "Indeed,
Shirakawa can intercept the same route and know the route the other party
takes, but why do you think Shirakawa will definitely break through Kanno's
defense line?"
"Heh... you may not know
Kanno, but he..." Shiga said with a smile.
This time, Kiba didn't wait for
him to finish but interrupted, "Kanno is an idiot, isn't he? Because he's
an idiot, he will mess this up."
Shiga was startled by Kiba's
words, then nodded with difficulty, "Yes, I admit Kanno is reliable with a
strong sense of responsibility, but he's an idiot. He's reliable because he's
simple-minded. Don't worry about his petty thoughts. But he's a fool and will
screw up many things."
"Just like Kiuchi Taketo in
your team, right?" Kiba interrupted again.
Shiga let out a miserable laugh,
"You've seen this too, that's why you've been provoking that idiot Taketo,
taking the upper hand everywhere."
Kiba squinted and looked at Shiga.
Talking to him felt like talking to an adult. His mind wasn't simple.
"So, do you think you're a
genius?"
"Genius?" Shiga smiled
miserably. "Compared to a genius like you, I am nothing! I'm fifteen and
haven't been promoted to Chunin. After eight years, I learned basic taijutsu, a
tool manipulation technique, and an Earth clone technique. I'm not proficient
in changing earth chakra properties. I'm just an idiot."
Looking at Shiga's
self-deprecating appearance, Kiba remained expressionless.
What kind of genius am I? I'm just an ordinary
person who took advantage of time travel.
Kiba laughed inwardly but said,
"Then, as an idiot, why can't you trust an idiot once? As you said, a
genius like me believes a super idiot like Kanno can stop Shirakawa, so I made
a tactic to deal with you! Why can't you believe your teammate Kiuchi's
judgment? Why don't you think about it?"
Hearing Kiba's words, Shiga was
momentarily taken aback, then his eyes widened slightly.
If not for Kiuchi, they would be held back by Kiba's
shadow clone longer. During the earth wall battle, if I supported Kiuchi
properly instead of waiting for him to mess up the rescue, maybe we could kill
Kiba or a team member, and the situation would be different!
Perhaps we could defeat Kiba.
It's too late to regret. I've lost!
Like Kiuchi, Shiga hated geniuses
who could learn everything quickly. He always thought he was a fool, needing to
work harder. Hard-working fools could catch up with geniuses.
In the end, he didn't believe in
Kiuchi who worked hard, nor the idiot Kanno...
It was the genius in front of him
who believed in a fool, thinking Kanno could beat Shirakawa.
What an irony!
"Why do you believe in the
possibility of an idiot so much?" Shiga murmured.
Kiba looked at him, the corners of
his mouth twitching slightly, as if embarrassed. He was silent for a while,
then said, "Because idiots are the type I'm least good at dealing
with!"
Idiots are the type I'm least good at dealing
with...
Shiga laughed at himself.
A dazzling genius is worst at dealing with...
idiots?
What irony!
After laughing at himself, Shiga
restrained his smile.
"I have one last question.
You believe in Kanno, but Shirakawa still has a great advantage. If Shirakawa
beats Kanno, what will you do? Your shadow clone can't last long, right? You
beat me, but if there's another Shirakawa, can you keep the secret scroll?"
Kiba looked at him, seeing the
last glimmer of hope in his eyes, sighed, and said, "Why, do you think the
secret scroll is here?"
"Not here?"
Shiga was startled, his eyes
widening, looking at Kiba. There was no joking or lying expression on Kiba's
face. He smiled miserably.
It turns out this wasn't insurance but... a trap!
"I lost..."