"Spread out! Spread out!" Earth Core roared, forming hand seals with both hands. "Earth Release: Rock Lodging Collapse!"
Several large trees above his head were instantly crushed by massive rocks, which came crashing down toward the gunfire.
"Position exposed! Relocate!"
Sato's voice rang through the forest.
The refugees who were usually so clumsy now displayed astonishing discipline. After emptying a magazine, they immediately clutched their guns, rolled backward, and dove into prearranged tunnels or bunkers.
"Bastards! Get out here!"
The other three Iwagakure Genin tried to rush in for close combat.
But the moment they showed themselves, three intersecting fields of fire forced them back.
"So this is what Teacher Sato called... suppressive fire?" Skinny Monkey shouted excitedly as he frantically pulled the trigger. "I can pin down ninja! I'm fighting ninja!!"
Once the fear disappeared, all that remained was the frenzy brought on by adrenaline.
Earth Core gritted his teeth as he watched his men collapse one after another, an absurd chill rising within him.
Was this... right?
"Capture the ringleader first!" Earth Core locked onto the source of that thunderous sound. "Over there!"
His body flickered as he used the Body Flicker Technique to evade the rain of bullets, darting toward the tree trunk where Liao stood like a gray lizard.
"Die, peasant!"
The Kunai flashed with cold light as it stabbed toward the canopy.
Liao did not dodge.
He threw aside the emptied heavy gun and pulled a serrated tactical dagger from behind his waist—also made by Konoha, high-carbon steel, poison-quenched.
Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere.
Earth Core was stunned to discover that this savage with no Chakra had blocked his attack with one hand. The terrifying force even numbed the web between his thumb and forefinger.
"How is this possible..."
Liao twisted around and seized Earth Core's