The Defeat of the Sand Ninja Squad!

On the battlefield, Liuxia's figure was like a phantom in the dark night; every movement was silent, yet swift and lethal. After defeating Rasa, his Rasengan not only secured a decisive victory on the field but also planted seeds of despair in Pakura's heart. Pakura knew that against such a formidable opponent, she and Karura had almost no chance of winning. Especially when she saw Nawaki off to the side, catching his breath and preparing to rejoin the fray, her heart sank to the bottom. Yet, as a ninja, she would never admit defeat!

Pakura's Scorch Release ninjutsu was as unyielding as her will. Fireballs flew toward Liuxia's Shadow Clones one after another, each explosion accompanied by her roar, as if she were releasing all her dissatisfaction and frustration along with the flames. The firelight illuminated her determined face, and sweat trickled down her forehead, dripping onto the scorched earth and rising in wisps of white steam.

However, Liuxia's Shadow Clone technique was truly exquisite. Each clone seemed to possess an independent combat consciousness, launching an offensive against Pakura from all directions and leaving her unable to defend against them all. Although Pakura's fireballs were fierce, her offensive was neutralized time and again by the clones' agile dodging and counterattacks. The clones moved in perfect coordination, like a well-trained army, with every strike accurately hitting the weak points in Pakura's defense.

After dealing with Rasa, Liuxia quickly shifted his attention to Pakura. His figure wove through the battlefield like a ghost, giving her no chance to catch her breath. He knew he had to end the fight quickly to avoid any unforeseen complications.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Liuxia unleashed his Water Release ninjutsu once more. A massive water dragon, summoned at his command, surged toward Pakura with the force of a thunderbolt. The speed and power of the Water Dragon Bullet were immense, forcing Pakura to divert her attention to deal with the sudden attack. Wherever the water dragon passed, the earth was scoured by the current, and soil and turf were uprooted, carving deep trenches into the ground.

Pakura quickly formed hand seals, attempting to counter Liuxia's Water Dragon Bullet with her Scorch Release. However, Liuxia's assault was too swift, and Pakura's reaction was a beat too slow. The water dragon struck her defense directly, extinguishing her fireball storm and sending her flying. Her body traced an arc through the air before landing heavily on the ground in the distance, kicking up a cloud of dust.

As Pakura hit the ground hard, she felt an unprecedented sense of exhaustion and defeat. Her heart was filled with reluctance, yet she also acknowledged Liuxia's strength. Her body ached unbearably, and every breath felt like dancing on the edge of a blade, but her gaze remained steady, showing no signs of surrender.

Meanwhile, Karura, witnessing Pakura's defeat during her own battle with Hyuga Suzuran, felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She knew that continuing the fight would likely only result in needless injury. To persist would lead to their team's total failure in the Chunin Exams, but by being flexible now, there might still be time to acquire a scroll.

After an exchange of attacks, Karura and Hyuga Suzuran briefly ceased their movements. Karura took a deep breath, her eyes revealing a sense of resolve.

"Stop, Hyuga Suzuran." Karura's voice carried a hint of firmness. "We've lost. I don't want to continue this pointless fighting."

Hyuga Suzuran was slightly taken aback. She did not continue her attack, instead maintaining a cautious defensive stance. "What do you mean?"

Karura took their team's scroll from her ninja pouch, stepped forward a few paces, placed it gently on the ground, and then retreated. "This is our team's scroll. I am handing it over to you."

Hyuga Suzuran and Liuxia both noticed Karura's actions, and they exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes. Liuxia walked over and looked at Karura. "By doing this, are you admitting defeat?"

Karura nodded. "Yes, we admit defeat. But this is only temporary. We, the ninjas of Sunagakure, will not give up here."

Liuxia was silent for a moment. He turned to Hyuga Suzuran and spoke slowly, "Let her go. There is no need for us to make things difficult for her."

Hyuga Suzuran stepped aside, clearing a path for Karura. Karura picked up the scroll from the ground, gave Liuxia and Hyuga Suzuran a long look, then turned to help Pakura up, and together they supported the unconscious Rasa as they departed.

As Karura and Pakura left, the tense atmosphere on the battlefield gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of mutual respect and understanding between warriors. Liuxia turned to face Nawaki, a relaxed smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Hey, Nawaki, looks like you're still too weak. You need more training." Liuxia teased, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness, though his eyes were full of concern and encouragement for Nawaki.

Upon hearing this, Nawaki felt a bit unconvinced, but he knew he indeed had many shortcomings in this battle. He scratched his head and gave a simple, honest smile. "Haha, true. Compared to you, Liuxia, I've still got a long way to go. I'll have to learn from you more in the future."

The two shared a smile, the tension of the battlefield replaced by this ease and friendship. Then, Liuxia's gaze shifted to Uchiha Yan nearby, his expression turning serious. Although he and Uchiha Yan were not close, his sense of responsibility as a ninja compelled him to look after his comrades on the battlefield.

Uchiha Yan lay on the ground, gasping for air, his face etched with pain. Liuxia approached and began to check Uchiha Yan's injuries. His movements were professional and methodical; even without a deep friendship, Liuxia would not leave a fellow ninja to suffer.

"Don't move," Liuxia said, his voice calm and firm. "Your injuries are not light; you need timely treatment."

Uchiha Yan nodded slightly, gritting his teeth to endure the pain without making a sound. His eyes revealed gratitude toward Liuxia; despite any past competition or friction between them, Liuxia's actions at this critical moment proved he was a reliable teammate.

Liuxia quickly formed hand seals and performed medical ninjutsu. His chakra flowed slowly into Uchiha Yan's body, stimulating the injured cells and promoting the healing of his wounds. As Liuxia's medical ninjutsu took effect, Uchiha Yan's breathing gradually steadied, and the look of pain on his face slowly eased.

When Liuxia finished the initial treatment for Uchiha Yan, Nawaki's curiosity was piqued. He turned to Liuxia, his eyes flashing with surprise at this newly discovered skill of his teammate.

"Liuxia, when did you learn medical ninjutsu? You didn't show this off when I was injured before!" Nawaki scratched his head and couldn't help but ask.

Liuxia stood up and lightly brushed the dust off his hands. "Oh, that? I learned it while 'playing' with Tsunade-nee-san. She taught me some basic medical techniques; I didn't expect them to come in handy today. As for why I didn't treat you? I was lazy."

At this moment, Uchiha Yan slowly sat up. Although his injuries had been eased, his attitude remained somewhat stubborn.

"Hmph, don't think I'll be grateful to you just because of this, Liuxia." Uchiha Yan's voice held a hint of disdain, but anyone could see the gratitude in his eyes.

Liuxia just smiled faintly, unaffected by Uchiha Yan's tsundere attitude. "I don't need your gratitude, Uchiha Yan. I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do."

Seeing this, Nawaki couldn't help but interject, "Hey, Uchiha Yan, your attitude is way too prickly. Liuxia helped you out a lot at a critical moment."

Uchiha Yan glared at Nawaki. "Prickly? Hmph, I just don't want you ordinary people looking down on me." He struggled to stand up, and although his body still swayed, his pride drove him not to appear weak in front of his teammates.

"Alright, we should head to the finish line." Liuxia interrupted their conversation, his gaze turning serious again. "Uchiha Yan, you might still need more treatment. We can't linger here too long."

Although Uchiha Yan was unwilling to admit it, he knew his condition indeed required further medical attention. He gave a light huff. "Fine, I guess you win, Liuxia. I owe you one this time."