"H-how is that possible?!"
"With that many high-level Fire Release attacks overlapping, even a Kage-level fighter would be badly injured taking them head-on!"
"She's just a child, and she came out completely unscathed?!"
"Is it because of that black, gaseous stuff?"
Everyone broke down completely, their understanding of the world shattered.
Kanae tilted her little head, looking bewildered and innocent as she spoke softly.
"Really?"
"So Kage are that unimpressive?"
"They can't even withstand little flames like these? How weak."
Those casually spoken words crushed the last of their mental defenses.
The leader of Kusagakure's expression turned utterly grim. His eyes filled with wariness, fear, and helplessness as he stared at the strange girl before him.
"Who exactly are you?! How did you do that?!"
He knew full well that if this continued, this one little girl would slaughter all of Kusagakure!
He immediately swallowed his pride, took the initiative to back down, and offered a compromise in a low voice.
"If this is about what happened to Karin back then, we can compensate you! Whatever compensation you want, Kusagakure will provide it! Just please stop!"
But Kanae still gently shook her head, her face innocent and her eyes utterly cold.
"No need."
"You don't have to offer it yourselves."
"If there's something I want, I'll just take it with my own hands."
At that point, she remembered something else and reminded them earnestly.
"Oh, right! Don't forget to cry and scream!"
"You have to sound really miserable and really desperate!"
"Otherwise, this slaughter just feels like it's missing something."
As her words fell, the languor in Kanae's eyes vanished entirely, leaving nothing but murderous intent.
Her tiny body instantly became a blur, her speed several times more terrifying than before!
Alone, she charged straight at all of Kusagakure's remaining