Switching opponents

"Lord Shinhiko said that anyone who abandons a comrade on the battlefield doesn't deserve to serve under him. Lord Kazuhiko, go help Lord Shinhiko. I'll keep Lord Hayato safe!"

After hearing Hayato's words, the scar-faced Dual-Blade Samurai who had caught him in midair immediately hoisted him onto his back.

"We'll be a little slower, but let's go save Lord Shinhiko together!"

Seeing the Samurai's resolve, Kazuhiko Sarutobi nodded approvingly. Saving Shinhiko Kōzuki was naturally their highest priority right now. If these samurai refused to look after Hayato, he would have no choice but to leave Hayato behind for the sake of the mission. After all, leaving Hayato here alone wouldn't necessarily mean his death. Of course, having someone protect the immobilized Hayato was far more reassuring.

With their roles settled, Kazuhiko Sarutobi immediately led the other three Dual-Blade Samurai back toward the spot where Shinhiko Kōzuki had been ambushed.

Rumble...

"Goddammit, these Konoha ninja are a bunch of lunatics!"

Below them, a little over ten meters from the Rock Arena, the solid earthen prison crumbled piece by piece without chakra to sustain it, revealing the four Iwagakure ninja inside. The leader's Demon Mask had cracked, exposing the delicate, elegant face of a young girl. Despite her beauty, the words coming out of her mouth were utterly crude.

Although the Earth Prison Technique had protected them from fatal injuries, the impact of falling from such a height had still left them dizzy.

"Captain, are we still going after them?"

The ninja wearing the Owl Mask watched Kazuhiko Sarutobi and the others leave. Fighting through the pain in his body, he asked his captain what they would do next.

"Yes, of course we are, but not now. We've stalled them long enough. The people from Sunagakure and Root should have made their