"Looks like we'll have to fight." After receiving Hyuga Qi's report on their surroundings, Kazemori Masaki spoke to Danzo.
Shimura Danzō nodded. "Luckily, we didn't give them a chance to set up a Barrier. Otherwise, even if we managed to break through, we'd suffer heavy losses."
Everyone in the squad was an outstanding ninja from Konoha Shinobi Village, with proven skill and experience. They understood the situation before them. Although the Sunagakure Ninja had surrounded them, they felt no panic, thanks not only to their confidence in their own abilities, but also to their faith in the Second Hokage's students.
Hyuga Qi and the others had seen firsthand how Kazemori Masaki had held his own against Ginkaku in his Tailed Beast Transformation. The Sunagakure ninja might be renowned as elites, but unless the Second Kazekage himself appeared, who among them could put more pressure on them than the transformed Ginkaku?
"Exactly." Kazemori Masaki looked at the others. "We can't get bogged down fighting them. Concentrate our strength and break through as quickly as possible. We're already very close to the Land of Rivers."
"Understood," the others answered in unison.
"Move out." Kazemori Masaki swept his hand sharply, and everyone sprang into action.
The twenty-three of them did not stay clustered together. Instead, they spread out in groups of three, forming seven groups in total and keeping a certain distance between each group as they took formation. Kazemori Masaki and Shimura Danzō operated independently, leading three groups on the offensive, while the other four provided cover and support.
They avoided clustering together because the Sunagakure Ninja's Wind Release techniques excelled at covering wide areas, making a tightly packed group an easy target. This formation not only reduced their vulnerability to area attacks but also allowed them to move more flexibly. In