Bang!
Crow Mask's punch struck Kawaki Aoba, sending him crashing to the ground. He spat blood.
He was already weak, and the blow made his injuries worse.
"Kawaki Aoba!"
Seeing him hurt, Harukawa Rin was frantic. She tried to rush over and save him, but Wind Blade blocked her path.
"Don't leave so soon."
Crow Mask sneered as he walked toward Harukawa Rin. "This little beauty looks quite tempting."
The Sunagakure Elite Jonin had barely finished speaking when the three Sunagakure ninja beside him dropped into fighting stances. They pressed their palms to the ground, channeling chakra through their arms and into the yellow sand.
The desert played to their strengths. Fine grains began swirling beneath their feet, forming tiny vortices.
Kawaki Aoba narrowed his eyes, tightened the ninja-tool pouch on his back, and studied the four opponents' positions.
A vicious scar cut across the leading Elite Jonin's forehead. He held his arms crossed before his chest, three poisoned needles between his fingers. He was clearly the type who excelled at swift attacks and assassination.
The other three Sunagakure ninja spread out in a triangular formation, all but surrounding Kawaki Aoba and his companions. Their eyes were wary and murderous.
"Aoba, watch out for their Sand Release ninjutsu!"
Beside him, the Konoha Chunin Tanaka Shuichi spoke in a low voice. His arm was still bandaged from an earlier clash with Sunagakure ninja. "They're good at using the terrain to restrict our movements. We need to break their formation quickly."
Kawaki Aoba did not look back. He only nodded. "I know."
"Keep the two on the left occupied. I'll take the one on the right. As for that Elite Jonin..."
His gaze turned colder. "I'll deal with him myself."
"Are you insane?!"
Tanaka Shuichi stared at him in disbelief. "That's an