Time to Run

"Boo!!"

The Iron Sand spears were driven into the rocky ground, like a black steel forest.

Katsuki was fleeing, darting through Sunagakure on Lightning Flash Turn, dodging the Sand Ninja who were trying to intercept him, especially refusing to confront the Third Kazekage who was right behind him.

They just kept running away!

Time, that's all Katsuki needs now. If he's given enough time to heal his physical wounds, he won't need to keep running away like this.

Physical trauma is complex, not just external injuries. The most troublesome is the impact on internal organs, which heals rather slowly. In fact, if someone else had suffered such a serious injury, they would have been lying on the ground waiting to die long ago, unlike Katsuki who is as lively and energetic as a rabbit.

"That brat... he's a monster."

The Third Kazekage's raging anger did not cloud his judgment. While furious, he was also secretly astonished by Katsuki's remarkable vitality. Despite being so severely injured, Mizuki was still able to move freely and even managed to escape for so long from the pursuit of so many powerful figures. It was simply unbelievable.

He was the first to rush back, and the tragic scene before him left him almost speechless.

Then, messages flooded his hands. Looking at the rough list of the dead, he was completely shaken. Nearly fifty Jonin or wounded—fifty... This number made the Third Kazekage's head spin, especially seeing the familiar names on the list, including Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law...

That's why he didn't hesitate to expend his Chakra to throw down the Iron Sand Mountain. Even the Third Kazekage couldn't use such an attack more than a few times, but he still did it, even if it would consume a lot of Chakra and damage the village's terrain. He still chose to make the move.

However, they still couldn't kill Katsuki in one blow, only severely injuring him, and then the current chase drama unfolded.

······

At this moment, Katsuki lost his will to fight. He realized that his body's self-healing consumed a lot of Chakra. External injuries were nothing, but the Chakra consumed by the repair of internal organs was really unexpected. When he trained, even if he was crazy, he would only get some external injuries. He never beat himself up to the point of being seriously injured.

"Damn it, looks like we have to retreat..." Katsuki gasped for breath against the wall, then pushed off the wall and pounced like a tiger. In the next instant, five or six black Iron Sand shattered the thick stone wall and stuck into the ground, several feet deep.

Lightning Flash Turn!

Katsuki fled, enduring the wind and blades, sand spears and Sand Wheel all the way, without stopping for a moment, and daring not to stop.

If he stops now, he will be met with a barrage of attacks, and his condition is not what it used to be, not to mention that there is the Third Kazekage, one of the strongest Shinobi World, behind him.

The world of ninjas places great emphasis on individual strength. There are countless stories of someone turning the tide of battle single-handedly. In a sense, being able to hold off a thousand troops is even a standard for distinguishing top-tier masters from ordinary Jonin. At least the five Kage can all hold off a thousand troops, and those who can sit in the position of Kage are all incredibly powerful beings.

The Third Kazekage is known as the strongest Kazekage, so his strength is undeniable. After some speculation, Katsuki came to the conclusion that even at his peak, he could only match the Third Kazekage. Because he lost the initiative, he is now at a disadvantage.

"Tsk! You're really hot on my heels, aren't you? Too bad you can't stop me if I want to leave... Come on, Thunderclap Chariot."

Katsuki stomped her foot, and a thunderous roar shook the heavens. Silver lightning shot straight up into the sky, instantly breaking free from the Sand Ninja's encirclement.

After waiting for a long time, the Thunderclap Chariot's Chakra finally ran out and dissipated automatically, allowing Katsuki to use the technique again. The Sand Ninja who had been surrounding the Thunderclap Chariot stared blankly at it from afar, and even though they were several kilometers apart, they could feel the other party's devastated state of mind.

Katsuki had no interest in caring about others' moods. Standing atop the Thunderclap Chariot, he surveyed the devastated state of Sunagakure and nodded in satisfaction. About half of the buildings had been destroyed in the series of battles; half of Sunagakure was gone. Such a record was more than enough to justify his actions.

Next, naturally, was to run away.

Katsuki has no intention of truly fighting to the death with Sunagakure.

"Crack!!"

Thunder roared, Thunderclap Chariot galloped across the sky like a wild horse, the black Iron Sand missed their target, failing to even grab the Kakuzu of Katsuki's clothes.

Speed, unparalleled speed—this is Katsuki's strongest trump card right now. It is the Thunderclap Chariot's unmatched speed that gives him the confidence to escape Sunagakure unscathed, and it is also the real reason why Sakumo entrusted this mission to him.

Damn it!

The Third Kazekage's face was ashen. He spread his Iron Sand Bird Wings to their maximum and chased after Katsuki at top speed. However, he stopped when he reached the village entrance. He spat out a curse in frustration, realizing that he could not catch up and that any further struggle would be in vain.

The dazzling bolt of lightning in the sky had gradually disappeared from view.

"Kid, don't think you can escape... The humiliation inflicted on the Sand Village ninjas will be repaid sooner or later..."

With a fierce vow in his heart, the Third Kazekage folded his wings and flew back towards the Kazekage's Office Building in the center of the village. He still had a lot to do!

"Lord Kazekage."

"Lord Kazekage, urgent report! Urgent report!"

"Lord Kazekage! Urgent report from the front lines! The four most advanced oases have been captured by Konoha. Please advise on what to do next?"

The Anbu appeared the instant the Third Kazekage landed on the roof of the Kazekage's Office Building and reported the bad news.

"·····"

The Third Kazekage remained silent, his face tense. He was in a terrible mood, with one bad news after another making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

The Kazekage's Office Building, located in the very center of Sunagakure, was not damaged, but the chaotic and dilapidated scene was clearly visible through the windows, which was particularly disheartening.

"Tell me, what should we do next? The front lines are in dire straits, and the village has been through all this trouble..." The Third Kazekage was extremely frustrated, especially after glancing at the dazed Chiyo, which made him even angrier.

"Surrender!"

It was Ebizo who spoke. He glanced at his distraught sister and sighed inwardly.

"This battle is unwinnable. Continuing to fight will only result in greater losses. Let's surrender now!"

······

The elders all bowed their heads in silence. Unless they were completely out of their minds, they all understood that in this war, the Sunagakure had lost even its last shred of dignity. Nearly half of the Sand Village had been destroyed, which was unprecedented. Not to mention the setbacks on the front lines, with Konoha pressing closer and closer. If the fighting continued, as Ebizo had said, the situation would only get worse!

However, the word "surrender" is truly difficult to utter; not everyone can see things as clearly as Ebizo and say it out loud.