The Seven Ninja Swordsmen

"Senior Toda, take Pakura and the others and retreat first!"

"Kirigakure sent a lot of powerful shinobi this time. Continuing to fight will only lead to needless casualties. I'll cover your retreat!" Souya helped Pakura down from the Gold Cloud and spoke to the middle-aged shinobi.

"My Magnet Release techniques cover a wide area. If you stay here, I might hit you by mistake." Seeing the hesitation on Toda's face, Souya continued.

Pakura looked at Souya. He had a high nose, bright eyes, and a handsome face that radiated resolve. Under the sunlight, he seemed to brim with youthful energy.

Pakura's cheeks flushed slightly, but she was a veteran who had been through war. Her expression quickly returned to normal.

"We'll wait for you at the defensive fortifications behind us. Don't push yourself to hold out too long. If you can't manage, retreat first. We'll fight as we fall back. Reinforcements are on their way!"

Souya nodded, clearly agreeing with Pakura.

Seeing this, Toda made a quick decision. He pulled a palm-sized, bamboo-shaped object from the ninja tool pouch on his back. Its surface was dark yellow, as if the bamboo had been soaked in oil for a long time.

When he poured Chakra into it, a flash of fire shot from the end of the tube. It flew from his hand and streaked into the sky.

Then, with a bang, it burst open, scattering a cloud of red powder across the sky.

The Sunagakure Ninja on the battlefield saw the signal and stopped fighting to the death, trying instead to break away from the battle.

Naturally, the Kirigakure shinobi saw through their intentions.

Suikazan Fuguki roared, "The Sunagakure fools are trying to escape! Keep them pinned down!"

His hands moved rapidly, forming one seal after another.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

Spiraling streams of water gathered and churned around Suikazan Fuguki. In an instant, a tremendous torrent burst forth.

Like a river bursting its banks, a wall of water more than ten meters high came crashing down with a deafening roar, surging toward Souya and the others.

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"

Souya slammed both hands onto the ground. A huge earthen wall erupted beneath them, lifting all three onto its top.

Boom!

The torrent slammed into the wall. Fortunately, the wall was sturdy enough to withstand the impact, and did not collapse.

Some of the other Sunagakure Ninja were not so lucky. Without powerful Earth Release techniques to defend themselves, they were swallowed by the torrent in an instant, tumbling helplessly through the rushing water.

Since the terrain was open, the wave swept a dozen Sunagakure Ninja hundreds of meters away before gradually dispersing.

All it left behind were muddy pools scattered across the ground and the unconscious Sunagakure Ninja.

After Souya dispelled the Chakra sustaining the wall, the massive structure crumbled. The three of them jumped back to the ground.

Toda and Pakura hurried to the rear flank to check whether the unconscious Sunagakure Ninja could be saved.

Souya stayed where he was, facing Suikazan Fuguki and Kushimaru Kuriarare.

Suikazan Fuguki sneered. "What? You're not going to run with them? Staying behind to die?"

Kushimaru Kuriarare said nothing. After letting out a strange cry, he vanished from where he stood.

Without hesitation, Souya slapped both hands against the ground again.

The Gold Rod on his back had been planted in the earth earlier. Ever since its seal was released, it had been absorbing and converting vast quantities of Gold Dust. The amount of Gold Dust directly determined the power of Souya's techniques.

"Gold Dust Prison Flow!"

The wide area in front of Souya suddenly sank, forming a massive sand vortex!

As the vortex churned, enormous quantities of Gold Dust surged up. Kushimaru Kuriarare, who had just vanished, reappeared three meters from Souya—he had already rushed in for an attack.

But two streams of Gold Dust had wrapped tightly around his feet, restraining him and slowly dragging him down.

The same thing happened to Suikazan Fuguki, but he did not panic. He only looked a little surprised.

He drew the enormous sword from his back and swung it forcefully downward.

With a sharp tearing sound, Gold Dust flew into the air.

The bandage-wrapped Samehada revealed its fearsome form.

Its deep blue blade was covered in spikes, and a huge mouth lined with sharp teeth gaped open at its tip.

The sturdy Gold Dust seemed to turn to mud before it. Samehada easily swept aside the Gold Dust restraining Suikazan Fuguki.

Souya knew all about Samehada's unusual properties. His expression remained calm as he changed his hand seals.

As Kushimaru Kuriarare used Nuibari to sever the Gold Dust, Souya's technique was already prepared. He brought his hands together with a sharp clap.

"Sand Burial!"

The ground beneath Kushimaru Kuriarare and Suikazan Fuguki suddenly split open, forming a deep fissure.

They dropped in an instant, but both were experienced fighters and reacted quickly, stabbing their swords into the earthen walls to support themselves.

But Souya was not done yet. He clenched his right hand, and the wall where the two had planted their swords crumbled. A vast quantity of Gold Dust poured through the opening and into the deep fissure, aiming to sweep them underground and bury them completely!

Kushimaru Kuriarare and Suikazan Fuguki felt as if they had strength to spare but nowhere to use it. They could only let themselves fall into the fissure.

After all, this was their first time facing Souya, and they knew nothing about his fighting methods. A moment's carelessness had left them in grave danger.

"Gold Waterfall Great Burial!"

The enormous streams of Gold Dust pouring down both sides of the fissure quickly buried them. Souya formed Hand Seals, then crouched and slapped the ground.

Boom!

The ground trembled violently!

But through the Gold Dust, Souya could not clearly sense that the two had been crushed into pulp. Most likely, they were still alive.

Just as Souya was preparing to follow up with another attack, a silver bolt of lightning suddenly appeared above him and came crashing down.

"Hahaha!"

"Those two useless fools were taken out by some unknown Sunagakure shinobi!"

"That's hilarious!"

The Gold Dust beneath Souya's feet suddenly shot upward, forming a gleaming golden umbrella above his head that blocked the lightning.

Souya narrowed his eyes. Another Kirigakure shinobi had appeared to his front right.

The newcomer had long green hair, thick eyebrows, and sharp teeth. Bandages wrapped his upper body, and he wore a black vest over them.

He was another member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Raiga Kurosuki!

He held a short sword with two prongs in each hand. Silver electricity crackled along the blades.

Though Raiga Kurosuki laughed wildly, his face was full of caution.

The two Thunder Blades clashed, conjuring a pair of silver Lightning Balls as large as a person's head. They streaked toward Souya in flashes of silver.