Yuhi Shinku furrowed his brow tightly, his voice growing sterner as he retorted.
"Relief? It is nothing more than Konoha's pretentious charity!"
Temari abruptly raised her hand, the Chakra around her stirring faintly as she said sharply, "Sunagakure's dignity has never needed Konoha's pity! Today, we will seize the resources that rightfully belong to us with our own strength!"
"Your stubbornness and brutality will only push Sunagakure into an abyss of eternal ruin!"
Yuhi Shinku shouted in a deep voice.
"An abyss? So long as it can make Sunagakure strong, even if I must fall into an abyss, I, Temari, will not hesitate!"
Temari's gaze was icy, showing not the slightest intention of backing down. She turned to sweep her eyes over the Sunagakure ninja behind her and called out, "Everyone, Konoha's people are obstinate and refuse to yield, so there is no need for us to be polite! Today, we will crush this patrol squad and seize the border supplies. When we return, Lord Kazekage will surely reward us handsomely!"
"Yes, Lady Temari!"
More than a dozen Sunagakure ninja answered in unison, their rough voices brimming with fighting spirit.
Hearing their response, Yuhi Kurenai grew even more tense. She instinctively stepped half a pace forward and quietly said to Kawaki Aoba beside her, "Aoba, they outnumber us by far, and every one of them is a battle-hardened Sunagakure elite. Temari, their leader, is also a Jonin. We are in a truly dangerous situation this time."
Kawaki Aoba remained calm, his tone even as he quietly said, "Numbers are not necessarily useful, and strength does not necessarily win a battlefield. The outcome of a battle has never been decided by numbers or titles."
"But Temari's Wind Release ninjutsu is extremely powerful and covers a vast area. It is difficult to