"Again?"
There was no battlefield behind Sakumo, so he wasn't concerned that the Tailed Beast Ball would harm the Konoha Ninja. He dodged it with a swift movement, knowing only someone insane would dare to slash at the Tailed Beast Ball. This wasn't a game.
Boom!
The Tailed Beast Ball exploded violently at the spot where Sakumo had just been, startling the Ninja on the battlefield. The massive shockwave from the explosion swept through the area, leaving the surrounding trees devastated once more.
"It's the Tailed Beast Ball again. I hope Lord Sakumo wasn't hurt," a Konoha Ninja said, finishing off a nearby Suna Ninja before turning to Kanami.
"No, Lord Sakumo dodged it," Kanami replied. Her sharp eyes had spotted Sakumo's silver hair as he evaded the attack.
Unfortunately, Kanami's thoughts wandered. He already has a child, and a wife.
"What are you thinking, you idiot?" the Konoha Ninja asked, noticing something amiss and giving the girl a light pat on the head.
"I-I just admire him," Kanami stammered.
"Just focus on living your life," the Konoha Ninja retorted, rolling his eyes. The young girl's daydreaming felt absurd. I think Lady Tsunade is good-looking too, but do you see me daring to obsess over her?
The two of them charged back into the fray, targeting the nearby Suna Ninja again. On a battlefield, such fantasies seemed especially foolish.
Meanwhile, Duy had already taken down another shadow guard. Pakura, however, had resolved to make it a trade: one life for one. When Duy approached, she rushed at him recklessly, prepared to sacrifice herself if it meant taking Duy with her. She was confident in her Scorch Release's devastating power.
But Duy wasn't interested in such a dire exchange. He had a wife and child waiting for him at home. What's the point of fighting to the death with a girl?
Yet, this relentless opponent was troubling. How did I end up facing someone so fearless? he thought. Relying on his speed advantage, Duy deftly avoided her attacks, focusing instead on eliminating the remaining shadow guards. His strategy was simple: whittle them down until only Pakura remained, then wear her out. Decades of rigorous training had built a foundation of unparalleled physical endurance. He might not have the raw strength of others, but when it came to stamina, Duy was second to none in Konoha—and no one dared claim to be first.
"Are you even a man?!" Pakura shouted in frustration as Duy nearly dispatched another shadow guard.
"I've already got a son," Duy replied from a distance, scratching his head with an innocent smile.
...
Pakura was speechless for a moment. What kind of person is this?!
"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder."
She truly was a Ninja capable of dominating the battlefield with a single move, and this technique was a nightmare for most opponents. But against Duy, she found herself at a loss. Her relentless attacks were futile, wasting her Chakra without gaining any advantage.
"Why are you doing this?" Duy continued to dodge effortlessly, though even he was at a loss as he observed the fireballs hovering around her.
What kind of unreasonable Kekkei Genkai is this? Unless he opened the Seven Gates and attacked from a distance, he had no viable strategy against her at the moment. However, the thought of opening the Seven Gates only reminded him of the toll it would take, leaving him bedridden again—a risk he didn't want to take.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Sakumo's movements became more precise and unpredictable. With every dodge, he would reappear in positions Shukaku couldn't anticipate, delivering precise slashes here and there. The Flying Thunder God Technique was too elusive, making it impossible for Shukaku to effectively restrict Sakumo's range of movement.
The attacks weren't fatal, but they were humiliating. Shukaku, who was rarely pushed to such limits, grew increasingly agitated. When have I ever been treated like this? If you're going to kill me, just get it over with!
"Kenjutsu: Thunder Dragon."
Sakumo remained calm, maintaining the composure of a master assassin. Shukaku's growing frustration led to lapses in his defense, which Sakumo exploited. Utilizing the speed granted by the Four Gates, he transformed himself into a green Chakra Thunder Dragon, his short blade leading the charge. His target: Shukaku's tail. He wanted to test if he could pierce its defenses and strike a weak spot.
"You despicable Konoha Ninjas. I won't make that mistake again!" Shukaku roared.
He spewed a massive amount of sand, constructing an imposing barrier in front of him. The wall bore the haunting likenesses of those who had sealed him.
Shield of Shukaku!
The moment Shukaku turned around, Sakumo's attack was destined to fail.
Bang!
The green Thunder Dragon crashed violently into the Shield of Shukaku, sending sand and dust flying in all directions. Sakumo's short blade embedded itself halfway into the wall, jammed tightly and unable to penetrate further.
"Haha, just wait and die!" Shukaku laughed loudly as sand began creeping up the short blade toward Sakumo.
After two firm tugs failed to free the blade, Sakumo made a decisive choice and abandoned it. A sword is just money, after all. His ancestral treasure sword had already been broken; why fret over this one?
As soon as he let go, Sakumo vanished from the spot, causing Shukaku's eyes to narrow. That move again...
Sensing Chakra fluctuations on his shoulder, Shukaku reacted instinctively, swiping at the spot. However, Sakumo's Flying Thunder God Technique had landed there once more.
"Are you annoying me or what?" Shukaku growled in frustration as his swipe missed yet again. He had to admit he couldn't seem to pin Sakumo down.
Watching the blade get swallowed by the sand, Sakumo's face briefly showed an expression of pain—eerily similar to when Kawakaze's sword was destroyed by Ōnoki. They're really brothers!
With his blade gone, Sakumo felt his enthusiasm for the fight wane. Kenjutsu was his specialty, and most of his strength relied on having a weapon in hand. Against ordinary Ninjas, he could still hold his own barehanded, but against Shukaku, it was a stretch.
The battle began to shift. Sakumo focused entirely on dodging, showing no further interest in attacking. Shukaku quickly noticed the change and grew elated. He believed he could wear Sakumo down if he kept pressing.
Just as Shukaku began to feel the tide of battle shifting in his favor, a red smoke bomb erupted in the distance above the dense forest. The vibrant color lingered in the air, its meaning unmistakable.
Pakura's expression darkened immediately. The signal came from their scouts, reporting that Konoha's team, which had attacked the Iwa Ninjas, was returning. Imagining the arrival of Kawakaze and Tsunade, Pakura made a swift decision to retreat. Delaying their withdrawal would mean the annihilation of all the Suna Ninjas present.
"Master Bunpuku, prepare to retreat," Pakura commanded openly. At this point, there was no longer any use in secrecy. She quickly led the shadow guards toward Shukaku.
Shukaku shot Sakumo several hateful glares before grudgingly retreating toward Pakura's position. The situation had become untenable, and Bunpuku, despite his calm demeanor, understood this all too well. Shukaku, filled with frustration, had no desire to face Kawakaze and Tsunade again. That would truly be a nightmare!
"Trying to run?" Sakumo muttered, instantly recognizing the purpose of the smoke bomb. He knew that if they could stall the retreat, the Suna Ninjas would find themselves in a hopeless trap.
"Duy, stop them," Sakumo shouted, leaping onto Shukaku's shoulder and delivering a kick to his face. Sand scattered from the impact as Shukaku impatiently swatted him away.
Shukaku then reached out, grabbing Pakura and the shadow guards in his massive hands. With a resounding thud to his stomach, he launched an Air Bullet toward the edge of the battlefield, shattering the tense standoff between the opposing Ninjas.
The Iwa Ninjas began their retreat, fighting as they withdrew. Another Shield of Shukaku blocked Duy's attempt to stop them. Then, crouching low, Shukaku jumped, fleeing swiftly in the direction of the Land of Wind.
Thus, the Sunagakure's surprise attack ended abruptly, leaving countless fallen Ninjas behind on the blood-soaked battlefield.