Shikamaru's expression changed.
"They're going to force their way through!"
Chisen's gaze grew colder. "They won't make it."
Tenzo finally pressed his hand deeper into the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Ridge Lock!"
Three low but solid earthen ridges suddenly bulged up across the rear half of the choke point. They weren't high enough to form a proper wall, but they were just enough to disrupt every stride that could otherwise have carried the enemy straight through. Two Allied Forces Jonin at the rear were forced to adjust their footing, breaking their momentum.
At that very instant, Chisen gave chase.
Not after the rear guard. He went straight for the Wind Priest.
Behind him, Shikamaru cursed, "You're fucking pushing ahead again," but his shadow moved faster than his mouth, racing ahead to cover Chisen's flank.
The Wind Priest had just landed on the second slab of rock when he felt a chill behind his ear.
Chisen's blade was faster than he had expected.
And it didn't come from directly behind. It slanted upward from a low angle off to one side, where he had thought Chisen least able to strike, like a white line threading through gaps on the mountain wind. The Wind Priest ducked sharply, but the blade still swept across his left shoulder, tearing away a broad swath of flesh and blood.
His brow finally furrowed in earnest.
"Your speed-"
Chisen didn't let him finish. The short blade in his left hand followed immediately, stabbing straight toward his ribs. The Wind Priest brought his slender blade back to guard and barely blocked it, but the blow forced him toward the edge of the earthen ridge Tenzo had just raised.
This was the moment.
As though it had been waiting there all along, Shikamaru's shadow shot out from behind the