Across the vast ruins, the Kirigakure forces, outnumbering the Konoha ninja several times over, eyed everything before them like predators.
The atmosphere in the field grew inexplicably oppressive.
Especially when looking at the leaders, Suikazan and Raiya of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
It felt as if their hearts were being tightly gripped by an invisible giant hand.
"Hurry, hurry and get Qin Yu out here to deal with them, otherwise we're all going to die!" Gekko Hayate scrambled to get up from the ground in a panic.
"Qin Yu?" Raiya raised an eyebrow, laughing mockingly. "Who is that? I've never even heard of him."
"Don't tell me you're so desperate you're just grabbing anyone to try and fool us."
"However, unlike the Cloud Ninja, we Kirigakure are not so easily intimidated."
As soon as these words fell, unbridled laughter erupted across the field.
A playful smile appeared on Suikazan's stout face as he said, "Alright, let's not scare them anymore; let's finish this quickly."
"Though, it is quite a surprise to find such a little beauty on the front lines. Leave her to me later; you lot go deal with the others."
Uzuki Yugao's pretty face turned pale.
She had never expected such words from Suikazan.
"Yugao, I'll hold them off in a moment. You hurry to the Cave and notify Qin Yu. With Minato not here, only he can save us!" Uzuki Cangwu shouted sternly.
"Brothers, activate the barrier immediately!"
The remaining Konoha ninja had already been on edge.
Facing Uzuki Cangwu's order, they did not hesitate for a second, immediately forming hand seals to activate the barrier.
"Trying to act now? It's already too late," Suikazan grinned hideously.
A sheet of white mist swirled up without warning, instantly enveloping the entire battlefield.
Without any flourish, Suikazan was the first to explode into action.
Despite his bulky frame, his footwork was exceptionally agile; in the blink of an eye, he crossed over ten meters, appearing directly in front of Uzuki Yugao.
"It's the Kirigakure specialty, the Silent Killing Technique!" Uzuki Cangwu's expression changed drastically. Sensing the air currents around him, he shouted urgently, "Yugao, be careful!"
"Haha, thinking about being careful now? It's already too late!" Suikazan laughed wantonly.
"This woman is mine."
In the thick fog, Uzuki Yugao's expression went pale as she scrambled to dodge.
Unfortunately, in the pitch-black conditions, there was nowhere to hide.
However, just as the look of despair climbed onto her face, a blue sphere, as dazzling and brilliant as a starry sky, brushed past her side the next moment.
The slight air pressure stirred the pervasive mist, instantly revealing the look of mockery on Suikazan's face.
But upon seeing the incoming Rasengan, his smile instantly stiffened.
With no time to think, he hurriedly drew the Samehada from his back, not hesitating for a moment as he held it horizontally across his chest.
Bang!
The Rasengan slammed instantly into the Samehada.
The massive impact surged out like a tidal wave.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed suddenly.
The resulting hurricane instantly dispersed the surrounding mist.
Suikazan's massive body was sent flying backward like a cannonball.
Along the way, several Kirigakure ninja who had lunged out were sent flying by the collision.
He finally slammed heavily into a tree a hundred meters away, barely managing to stop his momentum.
However, under the immense impact, the tree was snapped in half.
The sudden turn of events left everyone's expressions frozen, Raiya included.
He knew Suikazan's strength very well.
Moreover, under the cover of the Silent Killing Technique, they, the Kirigakure ninja, were like fish in water.
Yet, Suikazan had been successfully ambushed at a critical moment.
This was far beyond his expectations.