Sand swirled, and fierce winds howled overhead.
River was like a tiger descending the mountain into a flock of sheep, utterly ferocious as he faced the Sand Shinobi blocking his way.
With a simple toss of his right hand, he sent the Sand Shinobi flying like a sandbag. The man slammed into the ground and skidded over a hundred meters.
Then River leaped high into the air again.
Whoosh!
He drew a deep breath, then opened his mouth and exhaled.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Meteor-shaped fireballs scraped through the air with piercing whistles, then smashed into the ground with thunderous crashes.
"Aaargh!"
The shinobi caught in the explosions were immediately thrown back, screaming as raging flames engulfed their bodies.
"Do pearls the size of rice grains think they can shine too?"
River smiled faintly as his feet touched the ground.
Just then, the grim-faced Sand Shinobi swarmed him again. Countless kunai and hidden weapons swept toward him in a dense curtain, leaving almost nowhere to dodge.
"I admit you have a little courage!"
His indifferent voice rang out as he stood firmly in place, no longer dodging.
His blood-red eyes flashed. A moment later, blue arcs of electricity flickered across his entire body, followed by countless lines winding around him.
Bzzzt!
Space itself shuddered violently. Pale bones emerged, rapidly tracing the shape of a gigantic skeleton.
A thick layer of energy enveloped the skeleton's frame.
"Susanoo!"
River spoke the technique's name.
The enormous skeleton surrounded his entire body, protecting him securely at its center.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The countless weapons arrived, only to be blocked by Susanoo and fall helplessly to the ground.
"What?!"
"What is that?"
The Sand Shinobi's pupils contracted at the sight of the skeleton frame, filled with shock and horror.
The chakra fluctuations radiating