Methods of Breaking the Deadlock

"The Sand Shinobi have caught up. They're behind us, only two hundred meters away." In the forest, the Sensory Ninja in the fleeing Konoha team constantly reported the Sand Shinobi's movements to Yueguang Xingye.

Hearing this, Yueguang Xingye gritted his teeth and exchanged nods with Mitarashi Shika and Kurama Watanabe. "Each of our clans will leave ten people behind to cover the rear. As the overall commander of this mission, I'll stay with them."

"He, Jiaxia, Xialiu, Tianshou..."

"Zao, Wan, Kuizi, Mabu..."

Hearing this, Kurama Watanabe and Mitarashi Shika nodded together and immediately each selected ten members of their own clans. "You'll stay behind with Captain Xingye and cover the rear."

"Brother, I'm leaving!"

"Brother, help me take care of my wife!"

"Take care!"

Hearing this, the selected ninjas began saying their farewells and making final arrangements. From the moment they went to war, they had already prepared themselves to die. After being assigned this dangerous mission, they had become even more resolved to lay down their lives.

"Qishi, Jinbian... you're staying with me." Yueguang Xingye swiftly selected ten members of his own clan to remain with him, then shouted to the others, "The rest of the Hayate Clan, remember—protect Young Han no matter what."

"No, I'll stay behind! I'll stay behind alone!" Yueguang Han interrupted Yueguang Xingye. "There's only one Rasa. If I can lure Rasa away, I have a way to deal with the remaining Sand Shinobi."

"No!" Yueguang Xingye immediately objected. Without giving Yueguang Han a chance to continue, he ordered Yueguang Long and Yueguang Shiya, "Long, Shiya, even if you have to tie this brat up, tie him up and bring him back today."

Hearing this, Yueguang Long and Yueguang Shiya immediately moved to Yueguang Han's side, looking as though they truly intended to tie him up and drag him back.

"Me staying behind is the best option! It's also the safest option." Yueguang Han raised a hand to stop them and shouted to everyone, "The Sand Shinobi outnumber us two to one. They also have more Jonin than we do. With Rasa and the elite Sand Shinobi he brought along, leaving people behind to block them simply isn't realistic. First, the Sand Shinobi can also leave part of their force behind while their main force continues chasing us. Even if those left behind really manage to stop all the Sand Shinobi, they won't hold out for long. Their Sensory Ninjas probably have a huge detection range. It won't be long before the others are caught anyway. Are we supposed to keep leaving people behind to cover the rear? If we can't withdraw from the Sand Shinobi's occupied territory quickly, what's the point?"

"Leaving people behind to cover the rear can only buy us a little time. But this is deep in Sand Shinobi territory. It'll take at least three days, perhaps even longer, to leave their occupied territory. During that time, the pursuing Sand Shinobi will definitely send word ahead and have the Sand Shinobi in front block us. Even if we really make it back to Konoha's camp, how many of us will still be alive by then?"

"Kid from the Hayate Clan, you're right." Mitarashi Shika nodded in agreement and asked, "Tell us, then. What should we do now? Can you really manage it if you stay behind alone?"

The others nodded in agreement as well and listened closely. Even Yueguang Xingye was no exception. Although he didn't want Yueguang Han to take the risk, Yueguang Han was right. That was indeed the reality of it. If they kept leaving people behind to cover the rear, the enemy could easily pick them off bit by bit. They might not even make it back alive. Leaving people behind was merely a desperate measure.

"I have a way to hide from the Sensory Ninjas' detection, though only by myself," Yueguang Han said. "My plan is to hide first, then ambush the Sand Shinobi from behind after they pass. With my Bloodline Limit, I can definitely inflict heavy casualties on them from the rear. That will also let me avoid Rasa. When you hear the fighting, turn back and attack from both sides. Find a way to hold Rasa down. It won't take long. As long as we inflict a certain amount of damage, it'll help our retreat."

"..." Yueguang Xingye fell silent for a moment. At last, he nodded. "That really is a good plan. Fine, we'll do as you say. Make sure you stay safe."

"Don't worry." Yueguang Han said, "But I need to make some preparations first."

As he spoke, Yueguang Han took out Steel Wire and wrapped it around his body. Grasping both ends of the wire in his hands, he began forming hand seals.

"Shiya, Long, help him." Seeing this, Yueguang Xingye understood what Yueguang Han intended to do. At this critical moment, he could no longer worry about having Yueguang Han hide this ability.

Lightning Release: Earth Walk. In less than two seconds, Yueguang Han cast his Lightning Release on himself.

Lightning Release: Earth Walk. At the same time, Yueguang Shiya and Yueguang Long's Lightning Release: Earth Run also surged onto Yueguang Han's body.

"What is this...?" Everyone stared curiously at the strange actions of the three. It was their first time seeing someone use Lightning Release on themselves. They wondered what Yueguang Han was preparing.

Lightning Release: Earth Walk...

After casting Earth Walk five times, Yueguang Han's Chakra was finally exhausted.

"Auntie Naizi, please use Earth Style to make a shallow pit and bury me in it." Having depleted his Chakra, Yueguang Han immediately called out to Yueguang Naizi.

Earth Style: Cracking Earth Palm! Hearing this, Yueguang Naizi looked toward Yueguang Xingye. Once she saw him nod, she immediately formed hand seals and slapped both hands against the ground. As expected, the ground split open into a crack one meter deep.

Seeing this, Yueguang Han immediately jumped into it.

Closing Technique. Yueguang Naizi formed hand seals again, and the earth on both sides of the crack immediately squirmed together. Under her control, the ground returned to normal, while beneath it was a space just large enough for Yueguang Han to lie down in.

I hope this kid succeeds. Looking at where Yueguang Han had hidden, Yueguang Xingye silently prayed before continuing to run forward with the others.

"Lord Rasa, one enemy has disappeared. Just now, Chakra fluctuations appeared among four of them. After that, one was gone. It seems there was internal conflict! One of them was killed!" Two hundred meters behind the Konoha Ninja, the Sand Shinobi's Sensory Ninja, Feiyin, constantly reported the Konoha Ninja's movements ahead to Rasa.

"Could it be a trick?" Rasa asked.

"No. In my detection, one of them suddenly showed intense Chakra fluctuations, and two other Konoha Ninja immediately counterattacked. Consecutive ninjutsu struck the one who died. The dead one's Chakra signature has completely vanished." Feiyin immediately shook her head. As she spoke, she pointed at a patch of disturbed ground not far away. In the time it took to exchange a few words, they had already run two hundred meters and reached the place where Yueguang Han was buried.

"Leave a few people behind to dig up the body. Be careful in case it's a trap. The rest of you, continue pursuing the Konoha Ninja with me," Rasa immediately ordered.

"Yes!" At Rasa's command, four Sand Shinobi in the team immediately stopped.

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