Exposed

The few Root members still standing were all wounded, and every one of them had sunk into the Swamp of the Underworld below.

Vacuum Sphere was difficult to dodge. It was fast and invisible, betrayed only by a faint disturbance in the air. Without exceptional perception, there was no avoiding it.

The four Root members had relied on their combat experience to protect their vital points, but they had taken plenty of wounds.

Sticky swamp clung to their feet, dragging them deeper. One of the shinobi quickly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

A torrent burst from the swamp, washing it away as it surged toward Fugaku.

The other three leaped onto the rushing water and charged at Fugaku. Behind his Demon-Face Mask, Fugaku watched the four shinobi in silence. He pushed off the ground and retreated, forming hand seals once more.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A raging fire dragon thrust its head up from beneath the ground. It collided with the water conjured by the Great Waterfall Technique, and a cloud of steam engulfed the battlefield.

Fugaku vanished with the Body Flicker Technique. His sharp kunai flashed cold as he slipped past a Root member's attack and slashed across his throat.

He turned aside from a shinobi attacking from behind, feinted with his left hand, then swept his right hand up across the man's body, wounding him badly.

Three Root shinobi remained. All three bore wounds of varying severity. This was nothing like their initial ambush on Ito.

The steam cleared. The three surviving Root members stared intently at Fugaku. They knew their mission had failed.

All three considered retreat, but they knew how merciless Root was. Returning after a failed mission would only cost them their lives. They might as well fight.

Gripping their