That Rock Slide will be met with a Protect of Ninetales' own; following that, however, this is when Kimblee decides "screw restraint" and starts with Heat Wave, the logic there being that the wider the spread with the flames, the better his chances are. Or, if we're going to be blunt, his brain works on Shounen Anime Logic and FIRE FIRE YEAH is always a good option. Always. (Except when it's not, but we don't mention those times.)