The leading Sunagakure ninja snorted coldly, his voice icy. "Since you refuse to come clean, don't blame us for getting rough! Everyone, attack together—subdue him and take him back to Sunagakure for questioning!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The three Sunagakure ninja answered in unison, each unleashing ninjutsu as chakra erupted around them and they charged Kawaki Aoba.
The young Sunagakure ninja formed hand seals and shouted, "Sand Release: Sand Binding Coffin!"
The sand and dust on the ground instantly whirled up, forming a cylindrical wall of sand that wrapped toward Kawaki Aoba, attempting to bind him.
Kawaki Aoba's gaze sharpened. His feet moved swiftly, and he easily evaded the Sand Binding Coffin. At the same time, his hands flashed through seals as he said coldly, "Are you really determined to fight? I'll say it again: I mean no harm, and I have nothing to do with those black-robed people. All you're doing is wasting time."
"Enough nonsense! Attack!"
The leading Sunagakure ninja formed seals as he shouted, "Sand Release: Sandfall Flow!"
A massive amount of sand surged from the ground, forming a roaring torrent that rushed toward Kawaki Aoba. Wherever it passed, it gouged deep trenches into the earth.
The tall, thin Sunagakure ninja unleashed his own ninjutsu at the same time. "Sand Release: Sand Blade!"
Sand gathered into a sharp blade that slashed at Kawaki Aoba's back. It was so fast that it barely gave him time to react.
Kawaki Aoba's expression did not change. His footwork shifted, and he slipped past the Sandfall Flow like a ghost. At the same time, he twisted aside to evade the Sand Blade, rapidly formed hand seals, and shouted, "Wind Release: Wind Cutter!" A sharp wind blade shot from his palm toward the tall, thin Sunagakure ninja, swift as lightning.
"Not good!"
The tall,