A raging gale engulfed a vast area, including the spot where Hatake Sakumo and the others stood. Wherever the blade-sharp currents passed, everything was sliced in two. No ordinary human body could have survived within it. Even a corner of the Shrine was blasted straight through.
Kana's eyes widened. She tried to speak, but Kakuzu's grip around her throat kept her from uttering a single word. No matter how she struggled, it was useless.
"Don't waste your strength. Those brats are finished, along with those other two." Kakuzu tightened his grip, and Kana nearly lost consciousness. That surprised him somewhat. Watching her struggle to breathe, he remarked almost admiringly, "As expected of Hashirama Senju's daughter. You really do have a strong constitution."
After that brief compliment, Kakuzu turned to leave. Suddenly, he heard something slice through the air and tilted his head slightly. A short sword crackling with electricity flashed past. He knew that sword well. Turning toward where the brats had been, he was overcome with surprise.
A hollow had been dug into the ground there. Covered in fine cuts, Hatake Sakumo panted heavily, still holding the pose in which he had thrown his short sword. The other two had suffered similar wounds. Moreover, one of the Evil God Worshippers was still alive, though his breathing was so weak that he seemed to have only one breath left.
With his wealth of experience, Kakuzu understood what had happened at a glance. Once they realized there was no room to dodge, the three had immediately devised a solution: create a place large enough to shelter them where the wind release Ninjutsu would not reach. Given their position and the time available, the ground beneath their feet was their only option. Using the Ninjutsu they knew, they had swiftly dug a