"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Aoba took a deep breath and spewed out a vast expanse of blazing flames.
Empowered by the violent wind, the flames were not extinguished. Instead, they burned even more fiercely, forming an enormous wall of fire that blocked the gale and sand outside.
The sand ninja Elite Jonin's pupils contracted slightly at the sight. "You can actually use my Wind Release to strengthen your Fire Release... Your chakra control isn't bad."
"You flatter me."
Aoba slowly withdrew the flames. His face turned several shades paler, and his breathing became somewhat labored. "Compared to someone like you, who only knows how to use Wind Release to support his attacks, I'm still far inferior."
"Sharp tongue!"
The sand ninja Elite Jonin snorted coldly, stamped his feet hard against the ground, and shot toward Aoba like an arrow loosed from its bow. At the same time, he drew the short blade at his waist, its surface wrapped in dense wind-natured chakra. "Let me show you the true strength of a Sunagakure Elite Jonin!"
"Watch out for his close combat!"
Asuma urgently warned him. At the same time, he tightened his grip on his Chakra Blades and wanted to rush forward to assist, only to be stopped by the other two sand ninja.
"Your opponents are us!"
The two sand ninja attacked Asuma from either side, their Kunai flashing with a cold gleam.
Asuma sighed helplessly and could only raise his blades to meet them. "What a pain. Aoba, watch yourself!"
Aoba did not look back. He merely stared fixedly at the charging sand ninja Elite Jonin.
Just as the enemy's short blade was about to slash down before him, Aoba suddenly rolled to the right, evading the lethal strike.
The short blade struck the ground, sending shattered stones