Kawaki Aoba stepped out from his hiding place, arms folded over his chest as he stared coldly at the four Sunagakure ninja. He spoke with contempt. "Sunagakure ninja, so you really were guarding this place. Looks like your secret base is inside this cave, isn't it?"
"Konoha ninja?!"
The four Sunagakure ninja's expressions changed when they saw Kawaki Aoba, their eyes filled with surprise and vigilance. "How did you get here? Do you have companions?"
"Whether I have companions or not is none of your concern."
Kawaki Aoba gave a derisive snort and said arrogantly, "I came here today to destroy your secret base, take your intelligence, and make you Sunagakure ninja pay the price!"
"You arrogant brat!" one of the Sunagakure ninja roared, murder in his eyes. "You dared to barge into our secret base alone? You're asking to die! Everyone, attack together and kill this brat!"
"Got it!"
The other three Sunagakure ninja answered in unison and rushed at Kawaki Aoba. Their hands flashed through seals as they prepared to unleash ninjutsu.
"Sand Release: Sand Needles!" one Sunagakure ninja shouted. The yellow sand on the ground instantly gathered into countless tiny needles and shot toward Kawaki Aoba.
"Sand Release: Sand Flow Palm!"
Another Sunagakure ninja activated his ninjutsu as well, his palm coated in a layer of yellow sand as he struck toward Kawaki Aoba.
"Sand Release: Sand Binding Rope!"
The third Sunagakure ninja formed hand seals, gathering the yellow sand into a long rope that lashed toward Kawaki Aoba.
"Sand Release: Earth Flow Bullet!"
The fourth Sunagakure ninja also cast his ninjutsu, hurling one earthen bullet after another at Kawaki Aoba.
Countless ninjutsu came crashing down on Kawaki Aoba, densely filling the air and swallowing his entire figure.
"That's all you've got?"
Kawaki Aoba sneered. His feet