A running battle across the defense zones

Explosion Release Hunt dropped down along the tree trunk, raising his hand to slap it at two points, one high and one low.

Two explosions blasted loose a section of trunk over ten meters long and more than two meters thick.

He struck the end of the trunk, sending it hurtling toward Uchiha Ling like a cannonball.

Too fast!

Was this the strength of an elite jonin? Uchiha Tekka's mind went blank. He had no idea how to respond.

Uchiha Ling, who had awakened his Sharingan, was already prepared.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

His real body and shadow clone slapped the ground together, raising two thick earthen walls.

The hurtling trunk smashed through the first wall, but the second stopped it.

In the distance, Uchiha Yashiro had already killed four Stone Ninja with his ninja blade, opening a gap in their encirclement.

"Retreat! Uchiha Ling and I will cover you!"

Tian Da and the others hurried to escape through the opening Uchiha Yashiro had made.

Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Ling brought up the rear side by side.

Uchiha Yashiro said, "I'm not particularly good at genjutsu. By Uchiha Clan standards, my skill with it is average.

"I'll try to disrupt him with genjutsu. Ling, you stop Explosion Release Hunt's attacks."

"Understood, Yashiro."

Repeated genjutsu interference, combined with Uchiha Ling's Water Release and Lightning Release combination ninjutsu countering Explosion Release, allowed the group to escape. Explosion Release Hunt had not been particularly eager to pursue them, either.

Once clear of danger, they fled toward the defense zones to the south.

Uchiha Ling asked, "Yashiro, should we return straight to the Main Camp and report the intelligence on Explosion Release Hunt?"

Uchiha Yashiro shook his head. "We can't abandon our defense zones. That would count as abandoning our mission.

"Even if Explosion