The wind of the Land of Wind had never carried such a nauseating stench as it did today.
A Line of Sky Canyon, Sunagakure's natural barrier, now resembled a gaping maw devouring lives.
Boom!
An Explosive Clay spider detonated at the edge of the crowd, its shockwave carrying severed limbs as it slammed viciously into the canyon's crimson rock walls.
"Don't stop! Keep moving! Let the puppets carry the wounded!"
Temari's roar had already turned hoarse. One rib of the Three-Star Fan in her hand had snapped, and when she swung it now, none of its former sharpness remained—only mechanical heaviness.
Behind her stretched a retreating column several miles long.
This was not merely an army. It was a village's future. Women, children, the elderly... they supported one another, their eyes filled with nothing but numb terror.
At the very rear of the column, beneath skies veiled by yellow sand, an unequal slaughter was underway.
"Shukaku's Shield!"
A massive tanuki-shaped shield of sand rose from the ground, blocking the barrage of Water Iron Cannons for a squad of rear-guard Sunagakure Chunin.
But Gaara's face had turned pale as paper.
His Absolute Defense was not invincible. Every block drained what little chakra and mental strength he had left.
"Lord Kazekage, retreat first! Our 'Sand Scorpion' unit will hold them here!"
An old shinobi missing his left arm rushed forward. He was from Chiyo's generation, someone who had always opposed a "yellow-haired brat" like Gaara taking power and had slammed tables more than once in Elders Council meetings.
But at this moment, his wrinkled face held only resolve.
Behind him, dozens of similarly white-haired old shinobi silently removed their robes, revealing Explosive Tags strapped all over their bodies.
They were remnants of the old era, a group shattered by Naruto's New Order.